OK I love this amp I really do, But here is the problem, I live in an APT and well if I turn this thing on I have the upstairs guys stomping the floors for me to be quiet, and I am on 1. Is there a way to tame this beast? or do I need to admit defeat and turn it in for a smaller amp that I can use to practice and play gigs, when that happens with?
Fender Blues Deluxe Frustations
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- Rated: 4 ↑
Jun 25, 2008 6:25 a.m. noelweller:
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- Rated: 16 ↑
Jun 25, 2008 7:04 a.m. Gretschadelphia:
I had a Hot Rod Blues Deluxe. Good sounding amp, but way too loud for my basement playing. Problem is that the volume goes from 0 to 60 way to fast and of course the amp sounds much better cranked. I ended up trading it for a Blues Jr. which is much more managable for my volume needs. One thing you could try would be a good power attenuator. I've heard good things about the Webers (inexpensive and sound good) but make sure you get one that is at least twice the wattage of the Deluxe for it to work properly.
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- Rated: 4 ↑
Jun 25, 2008 7:10 a.m. noelweller:
I was thinking about trading it for a Blues Jr.. Kinda hoping for an even trade. But I will have to talk to a few stores to see if I can get a even trade.. My Deluxe is only a few months old so I am hoping I can
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- Rated: 44 ↑
Jun 25, 2008 8:28 a.m. Richard Hudson:
Cover it up with pillows.
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Jun 25, 2008 8:32 a.m. glrogers:
Well, if getting 'fuzz' is your goal, you have several options.
A good distortion pedal in front of the amp will get you breakup without loud volumes. An attenuator, as mentioned, will let you saturate both the preamp and power tubes of the amp. I have a Weber MiniMass and a Dr. Z Airbrake. The Airbrake is a very versatile piece of eq--it even has a special 'bedroom' knob.
I don't know if 'downsizing' is going to help you. Even a 5 watt Fender Champ with 1 6v6 power tube is probably too loud for most apartments.
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- Rated: 51 ↑
Jun 25, 2008 8:40 a.m. Curt:
I live in an APT and well if I turn this thing on I have the upstairs guys stomping the floors for me to be quiet, and I am on 1.
Turn it to ten and you won't hear the stomping...Think Weber Mini Mass
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- Rated: 9 ↑
Jun 25, 2008 8:45 a.m. Zol:
I have one also. Of the 2 inputs, the one on the right will give you a little more leeway, not a lot though. It's 6db less gain than the input on the left. It's still loud on 1, but not quite as bad.
You can get a lower volume, something the neighbors shouldn't hear, but the volume knob is pretty sensitive getting it there. Play around with it and you should be able to get it where you're not bothering anyone. It would be a bummer to give it up - they're nice amps. Good luck.
peace - Z
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- Rated: 37 ↑
Jun 25, 2008 9:19 a.m. Nobody:
Apartment life really stinks when you want to play. Sound is sound. Too loud on a Deluxe will be too loud on a Jr. too. Is it the bass the guy hears? Is it overdrive you're wanting? Are you playing late at night?
If the guy stomps at volume 1, and it's reasonably early in the day, he's being pathetic. I own a BD as well and I rarely get past 1-2 on my in-house volume.
If it's drive you're wanting, get a box. But don't trade down.
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- Rated: 40 ↑
Jun 25, 2008 9:34 a.m. tartan phantom:
Better yet, get one of these and blow that whiner's freakin' windows out!
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- Rated: 4 ↑
Jun 25, 2008 9:34 a.m. noelweller:
I hear ya to loud is gonna be too loud, No I don't play late at night I try to be respectful. As far as drive. really don't use too too much drive. Just that verge of break up. It's more tone I am looking for. When I tested this sucker out at the store i had it on about 2 1/2 and dang it was amazing. and it seems the lower the volume i just don't get that "Tone" I can't describe it but it was what i was looking for.
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- Rated: 55 ↑
Jun 25, 2008 10:42 a.m. fieldhdj:
The Weber Minimass is a great option - it is really more than just an attenuator. And it's smaller than a 5122! I used a Minimass until I got a 5222, and I'm thinking of going back to it, for at least some purposes.
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- Rated: 36 ↑
Jun 25, 2008 11:26 a.m. bobbyrivera:
I would secord (or third?) the use of a "power soak" or attenuator. You'll get the tone you want at a lesser volume. I can relate, as I have an Hot Rod Deluxe and it doesn't sound too impressive below 2 or 3. After that it cranks and sounds great. At lower volumes you really aren't providing enough power to drive the speakers and tubes to their "sweet spot".
Since I only use it for shows and band rehearsals, its no big deal. I have a Class A Palomino 16 watt that I use at home for practicing.
At $100 for the Weber you can't go wrong. That will tame your amp pretty well. It still won't be exactly like cranking the amp, but you'll notice less loss of tone.
I really wouldn't suggest trading down your deluxe. Aside from the fact that it not a good deal (I would suspect that any music store would be glad to take you up on your offer), when you start jamming with other folks or a band you'll probably regret it. Plus, the Blues Deluxe is a great amp.
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- Rated: 4 ↑
Jun 25, 2008 12:03 p.m. lizardville:
Hi guys! Maybe thats the way i should move.I modified ny marshall jcm 800 100 w to half power in order to be able to get some juice out of it. To my surprise,there wasnt much change in the amp attitude ,so im thinking about getting a attenuator. could you guys recomend me the right model for my combo.And do you know if weber ships to Europe??.
thanks in advance
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- Rated: 19 ↑
Jun 25, 2008 12:10 p.m. TyPierce:
I'd also advise against the trade-in thing. You'd definitely take a bath on that, and as soon as you had a live-volume practice or gig you'd miss the Deluxe.
Attenuator/soak seems like a great solution. Also - and others can speak to this better than I - but isn't it a common mod to swap the volume pot on the BD to a different taper and tame the "0 to 60" factor?
That won't help with getting the tone you liked so well at 2 1/2 on the volume, but it might make the amp playable for practice in your apartment.
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- Rated: 40 ↑
Jun 25, 2008 12:23 p.m. tartan phantom:
Good alternative there Ty. for the life of me, I've never understood why Fender insists on using linear taper pots for the volume controls!
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- Rated: 36 ↑
Jun 25, 2008 12:31 p.m. bobbyrivera:
Ty- That mod will adjust the odd ratio on the volume pots and may give you an easier to access "in between" volume, but I would think that the tone issue will still be there.
The Fender volume controls (at least on all of the Fenders I have had) are a bit fussy in that area, but since I usually only play them at live volumes it has never been an issue for me.
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- Rated: 41 ↑
Jun 25, 2008 12:53 p.m. J(esse James)D:
Yes, don't trade "down"
Virtually amp tube amp in an apartment will piss somebody off.
"Power Soaks" do a great job of allowing an amp to "overdrive" at a lower volume. I've used several WeberVST's with good results.
That being said, even a couple of "watts" are LOUD, especially in an apartment. Less "bass" but still LOUD.
IMO, and please don't misunderstand this, there's just ain't a good amp for an apartment.
Noise level is noise level, and the neighbors just may not stay "freindly"
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- Rated: 20 ↑
Jun 25, 2008 12:57 p.m. TAG4:
There may not be a solution if you live in an apartment. Headphones may be the only answer--if you continue to live there. Big amp OR little will disturb neighbors if it's too loud...
TAG4
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- Rated: 14 ↑
Jun 25, 2008 1:49 p.m. Slowmo:
I wonder if putting the amp on your couch would at least prevent vibrations from traveling so easily throughout the structure of the building.
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- Rated: 37 ↑
Jun 25, 2008 7:24 p.m. roadjunkie:
Keep the BD for those special ocassions but instead pick up a Vox DA-5 or Roland Microcube. Great clean channels distorted is iffy but you do have a headphone jack!
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- Rated: 51 ↑
Jun 25, 2008 8:03 p.m. Curt:
I'm not a headphones fan because I haven't found a pair that hear right. My opinion is that you need to hear ambient tones and the Weber cooks the tone.
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- Rated: 37 ↑
Jun 25, 2008 8:44 p.m. roadjunkie:
Curt I don't know if you had the chance to play with my Tophat in Nashville but it has a great master volume. That 45 pound monster would be a great but expensive apt. amp. I will admit though it sounds best balls to the wall! I wasn't much of one for MV amps until I ran into these years back! But Proteus needs reverb so maybe next time I'll show up with an Ambassador!
As far as headphones go I keep the volume down for 2 reasons. To save my ears and to keep the HP speakers from farting out.
I have a Microcube and it would be perfect here in this situation. The Fender Vox and tweed sims all sound great even at talking volumes but like I said I stay away from the marshall mesa wannabe channels!
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- Rated: 4 ↑
Jun 25, 2008 11:31 p.m. noelweller:
Would the Weeber Power Tap be the same thing? This sounds dumb but i like it cause i can get it to match the looks of my amp.
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- Rated: 36 ↑
Jun 25, 2008 11:47 p.m. bobbyrivera:
Yep- It sure is. It looks pretty too.
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Jun 26, 2008 8:09 a.m. glrogers:
The Power Tap is based on a different principle than most other attenuators. It has an actual speaker 'motor', but no cone. Think of it as a castrated speaker.
When you pump your amp through it, the little thing is moving back and forth, in a futile effort to produce sound, but there's just no cone. We always talk about getting a less 'efficient' speaker to tame an overly loud amp--this is the far extreme of that--a completely inefficient speaker. The power of your amp is divided between this gelded speaker and your actual speaker, so you can crank the volume a little more and get the pre-amp and power tubes into a bit of distortion without as much volume. It's considered a more 'natural' way to attenuate the signal by some.
Regular 'resistor' based attenuators pump the amp through the resistor, and basically dissipate the power by turning it into heat.
I agree that the PowerTap comes in a very handsome package.
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