Got To Play a DB-4 (review)
Apr 10, 2016 20:19:26 GMT -7
heynewguy (Ol’ Bill), Norrin Radd, and 9 more like this
Post by headshrinker (Marc) on Apr 10, 2016 20:19:26 GMT -7
Was up in Cleveland last week visiting family and the folks at the mother ship were kind enough to let me run a DB-4 and Surgical Steel through their paces. I ran a DB-4 head through a ZBest Cab using a Les Paul. The short of it is the DB-4 is a really cool amp that will please a bunch of people. As has been said repeatedly, it doesn't sound like a typical EL-84 amp. Definitely has more grunt to it than I have heard in an EL-84 amp. If you are a big bottle amp person, this one will make you happy. Though it sounds big bottle, it's hard to pinpoint a big bottle it sounds like for comparison. More mids than a 6L6, a little beefier than a typical 6V6 amp. Not quite EL-34, but maybe in that camp.
The 5879 preamp tube is one of my favorite preamp tubes. Have a Gibson GA-40 that uses them and it's one of my favorite amps. I've wanted another amp using 5879s for a long time. 5879s are like 12AX7s on steroids. More beefy than a 12AX7 and they break up relatively fast. They tend to give amps a Marshall character rather than Fender. Seems to me to give the DB-4 that or at least an English feel to it.
The rotary tone control starts out in the first position making the amp sound relatively flat EQ wise. That position has the most sparkle. Cleans with a little bit of hair are no problem in this position. As you turn the knob clockwise you get more mids in the EQ with an emphasis on adding lower mids. The idea is simple, find the spot you want, tweak with the cut to taste and start playing. That's all you need. Because of the simple design the amp is very responsive to the use of the tone control on your guitar.
The volume control has its sweet spot for me between 10:00 and 2:00, similar to a ZWreck. In that range you can get cleans by backing off on the volume, 3 or 4 on the Paul I was using. By the time you are at 7, you are getting a lot of overdrive. Folks have asked if the amp is loud. It's on par with a Zwreck. It's a 40 watt amp and it sounds like it. I would say about the same as a Fender Pro between the numbers 4 and 6 on the dial for comparison. The half power switch works well. It cuts the power and volume, but doesn't change the sound. There is a little different feel to the amp between the two settings, with the 40 watt setting being more immediate. My advice to most folks would be plan on getting a brake lite or airbrake if you are using the amp in small surroundings, especially if you are an at home player. Funny they call them a half power switch. Really should call them a full power switch. Want to hear how good it works? Like with attenuators, start by getting your sound with the amp in the half power position. Then, flip it to full power. Same sound, only louder. Do it the other way around and your ears and brain may trick you into thinking otherwise.
Sorry about going on, but I'm really excited about the opportunity to have another amp based around the 5879. Surgical Steel in a few days.
The 5879 preamp tube is one of my favorite preamp tubes. Have a Gibson GA-40 that uses them and it's one of my favorite amps. I've wanted another amp using 5879s for a long time. 5879s are like 12AX7s on steroids. More beefy than a 12AX7 and they break up relatively fast. They tend to give amps a Marshall character rather than Fender. Seems to me to give the DB-4 that or at least an English feel to it.
The rotary tone control starts out in the first position making the amp sound relatively flat EQ wise. That position has the most sparkle. Cleans with a little bit of hair are no problem in this position. As you turn the knob clockwise you get more mids in the EQ with an emphasis on adding lower mids. The idea is simple, find the spot you want, tweak with the cut to taste and start playing. That's all you need. Because of the simple design the amp is very responsive to the use of the tone control on your guitar.
The volume control has its sweet spot for me between 10:00 and 2:00, similar to a ZWreck. In that range you can get cleans by backing off on the volume, 3 or 4 on the Paul I was using. By the time you are at 7, you are getting a lot of overdrive. Folks have asked if the amp is loud. It's on par with a Zwreck. It's a 40 watt amp and it sounds like it. I would say about the same as a Fender Pro between the numbers 4 and 6 on the dial for comparison. The half power switch works well. It cuts the power and volume, but doesn't change the sound. There is a little different feel to the amp between the two settings, with the 40 watt setting being more immediate. My advice to most folks would be plan on getting a brake lite or airbrake if you are using the amp in small surroundings, especially if you are an at home player. Funny they call them a half power switch. Really should call them a full power switch. Want to hear how good it works? Like with attenuators, start by getting your sound with the amp in the half power position. Then, flip it to full power. Same sound, only louder. Do it the other way around and your ears and brain may trick you into thinking otherwise.
Sorry about going on, but I'm really excited about the opportunity to have another amp based around the 5879. Surgical Steel in a few days.
