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Post by gotmojo on Apr 28, 2022 9:38:02 GMT -7
Good gawd! Been playing this DB4 a lot lately, and A/B’ing it against my old tweed Deluxe/Vibrolux/Twin (25 watt). This amp is every bit as sweet as any of these, with a Brakelite in each. This is absolutely one of the best sounding amps I have ever played, and maybe the best touch responsive amps ever. My earlier mistake was to play it nearly dimed all the time. Now I’ve been running the Vol from 4-6 and the beautious nature if it is simply astounding in this range. Can’t wait to use on the next gig with the band. So different than the Wreck, my other fave, despite both being EL84 driven. The DB4 is very tweed-like, methinks. In the past couple years my tastes have run more American in tone, have eased away from the Vox’y brilliance/glassy jangle (I think to my band mates approval) that I got addicted to a decade ago, and this amp is simply stunning in that arena. Truly magic with a Tele. Straight in, no pedals, only the guitar volume and tone knobs for clean to smoothly mean? Quite frankly, I don’t see how it could get any better than this. Can’t quit playing once I get started on it. Dats a good thang!
jj
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Post by DRZ on Apr 28, 2022 10:16:08 GMT -7
Yes I agree with Gotmojo.
The DB 4 is an amazing amp , it still to this day Brad's favorite.
As you know the DB 4 stands for Doc & Brads fourth amp collaboration.
I had to pull it from my line-up do to a threat to be sued by the owner of Agular Bass Amps.
DB are his initials and he copywrite protected the DB , still to this day I'm not sure how he was allowed to that.
But his bank of attorneys threatened to sue me and wanted to know how many I built , wanted all the parts .
What a low life.
So one of my prize designs was taken off the list.
It is a 4 EL 84 amp that you would never guess is an EL 84 amp.
Z
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Post by daddyelmis (Greg) on Apr 28, 2022 10:25:58 GMT -7
How about renaming it the “BD Dyslexic 4”
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Post by DocMartin on Apr 28, 2022 11:28:53 GMT -7
I’m going to have to agree with y’all.. It’s an amazing amp for sure, and the one I’ve been gigging with lately.
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Post by KeithA on Apr 28, 2022 12:01:10 GMT -7
How about renaming it the “BD Dyslexic 4” I'd bring it back and call it the BDZ R1. Chevrolet produced a rare 2009 Corvette ZR1 (known as "The Blue Devil") and one of them fell into a sinkhole at the Corvette museum several years ago. The car has now been restored. So, BDZ R1 stands for Blue Devil ZR1 but can also stand "Brad & Doc's Z" R1. Brad may like the title with his affinity for Corvettes. www.kbb.com/car-news/blue-devil-corvette-zr1-sinkhole-survivor-at-sema/ |
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Post by daddyelmis (Greg) on Apr 28, 2022 13:04:44 GMT -7
Could also go with “FUA 4” — I’m confident you all can decipher that one.
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Post by Mark (Basement Enthusiast) on Apr 28, 2022 13:56:58 GMT -7
It is a 4 EL 84 amp that you would never guess is an EL 84 amp. That's for damn sure! The DB4 punches like I've never heard an EL84 amp punch before. |
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Post by gotmojo on Apr 28, 2022 16:39:49 GMT -7
Yes I agree with Gotmojo. The DB 4 is an amazing amp , it still to this day Brad's favorite. As you know the DB 4 stands for Doc & Brads fourth amp collaboration. I had to pull it from my line-up do to a threat to be sued by the owner of Agular Bass Amps. DB are his initials and he copywrite protected the DB , still to this day I'm not sure how he was allowed to that. But his bank of attorneys threatened to sue me and wanted to know how many I built , wanted all the parts . What a low life. So one of my prize designs was taken off the list. It is a 4 EL 84 amp that you would never guess is an EL 84 amp. Z I mean, I kinda like having it be a rare beast that’ll get inquiries at gigs, but ….. it’s a shame this one ain’t out there for Everyman to own. Really. I think more than any amp I’ve ever played, it gets a killer tone no matter where your guitar volume is rolled, it sounds killer from a whisper to dimed. Smoothest distortion (if that’s what you even call it) of any amp I own or have owned. Defines the term “creamy” in an amp. When I was on my glassy Wreck kick, I used to think it’s was too midrangy, but now it’s just perfect for every type song, every pickup setting to my ears. you gotta get this one out there again under another name. Could it be in a 15 watt version with a half power switch? I’m in!!! (Call it the Gotmojo!) jj |
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Post by doctorice on Apr 29, 2022 16:31:45 GMT -7
Yes I agree with Gotmojo. The DB 4 is an amazing amp , it still to this day Brad's favorite. As you know the DB 4 stands for Doc & Brads fourth amp collaboration. I had to pull it from my line-up do to a threat to be sued by the owner of Agular Bass Amps. DB are his initials and he copywrite protected the DB , still to this day I'm not sure how he was allowed to that. But his bank of attorneys threatened to sue me and wanted to know how many I built , wanted all the parts . What a low life. So one of my prize designs was taken off the list. It is a 4 EL 84 amp that you would never guess is an EL 84 amp. Z A reasonable person would have said "please stop using that name as it infringes on our trademark", but would not have take the stance those a**holes did. Remember what happened between Gretsch and Fender regarding the "Broadcaster" name. After a brief period of "nocaster" we got the Telecaster. But that was the 1950s. There were, I bet, a lot fewer lawyers per capita in the US back then. |
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Post by KeithA on Apr 30, 2022 1:37:08 GMT -7
Yes I agree with Gotmojo. The DB 4 is an amazing amp , it still to this day Brad's favorite. As you know the DB 4 stands for Doc & Brads fourth amp collaboration. I had to pull it from my line-up do to a threat to be sued by the owner of Agular Bass Amps. DB are his initials and he copywrite protected the DB , still to this day I'm not sure how he was allowed to that. But his bank of attorneys threatened to sue me and wanted to know how many I built , wanted all the parts . What a low life. So one of my prize designs was taken off the list. It is a 4 EL 84 amp that you would never guess is an EL 84 amp. Z A reasonable person would have said "please stop using that name as it infringes on our trademark", but would not have take the stance those a**holes did. Remember what happened between Gretsch and Fender regarding the "Broadcaster" name. After a brief period of "nocaster" we got the Telecaster. But that was the 1950s. There were, I bet, a lot fewer lawyers per capita in the US back then. Reminds me of an old joke. What do you call 1,000 lawyers at the bottom of a lake? A good start 😀 |
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Post by doctorice on Apr 30, 2022 16:13:34 GMT -7
"Let's kill all the lawyers" is a line from William Shakespeare's Henry VI, Part 2, Act IV, Scene 2
I'm not advocating that, but displeasure with some in the legal profession clearly goes back a long time  |
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on May 2, 2022 1:26:12 GMT -7
I think the McDonalds hot coffee lawsuit that resulted in the "CAUTION: MAY BE HOT" labels on a cup of HOT COFFEE inspired an up and coming group of lawyers to make their $ on frivolous lawsuits.
They've been choking us with legislation ever since.
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Post by doctorice on May 2, 2022 7:26:03 GMT -7
I think the McDonalds hot coffee lawsuit that resulted in the "CAUTION: MAY BE HOT" labels on a cup of HOT COFFEE inspired an up and coming group of lawyers to make their $ on frivolous lawsuits. They've been choking us with legislation ever since. At the risk of infringing on the "no politics" rule here, it's worth noting that trial lawyers are huge donors to politicians. As a result, the US does not generally have a system of "loser pays", which countries such as the UK do have. As a result, there is potentially huge upside in threatening and pursuing lawsuits here in the States, with limited downside. It's the old story: follow the money 
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Post by tumeniamps (Tom) on May 20, 2022 14:47:31 GMT -7
I have to agree. I have 21 Z's at the moment and my DB4 head is one of the greatest amps ever built (by any builder). The only thing I did to mine was add a 3-way bright switch. That allows me to get the big full sounds of the tone in the 4 & 5 positions, run the cut low and bring in my highs with the 2 different value caps I can select (or no cap at all in the middle position. It made an already phenomenal amp just a little better for my tastes. If you've never tried one, I hope you get to try one guys, a true masterpiece. It's a shame it had to be discontinued.
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Post by bryan0418 on May 28, 2022 18:33:55 GMT -7
The DB4 is still one of my favorite amps. The secret is to use the Russian 6N14N output tubes. I run the DB4 into a Fryette Power Station with a little delay in the loop. There is nothing better.
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Post by jhen86 (jordan) on May 29, 2022 4:32:04 GMT -7
I have to agree. I have 21 Z's at the moment and my DB4 head is one of the greatest amps ever built (by any builder). Say what!!?! And where abouts might you live? Do you have any Holiday plans tomorrow? I’ll be right over. |
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Post by tumeniamps (Tom) on May 29, 2022 8:19:07 GMT -7
I have to agree. I have 21 Z's at the moment and my DB4 head is one of the greatest amps ever built (by any builder). Say what!!?! And where abouts might you live? Do you have any Holiday plans tomorrow? I’ll be right over. If you're in the Allentown, PA area in wide open!! |
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Post by jhen86 (jordan) on May 29, 2022 11:53:44 GMT -7
Not even close. But if I find myself nearby some day, I will let you know |
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