dex45
Junior Member
Posts: 88
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Post by dex45 on Nov 12, 2022 19:57:52 GMT -7
I've read everything I can find about this amp. The constant comparison to the Z Wreck isn't very helpful. It's been said that it doesn't sound like an EL84 amp. I kind of get what the description is about, but does the DB4 sound more like a 6L6, KT66 or EL34 based amp? Also stated it sounds dark, thick, warm etc. I stayed away from the Route 66 for years due to the milkshake thick tone description. The Route 66 is a midrange tone machine (and to me) not milkshake thick. That's a compliment, since I love that amp and still have one. I'm beyond intrigued by the DB4 and would welcome what the amp is similar to, rather than what it doesn't sound like. Most of the descriptions and Dave Baker's video is highly confusing, especially including the Z Wreck in the video if the amps are truly that different. Thanks in advance for your help!
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Post by bryan0418 on Nov 12, 2022 20:54:26 GMT -7
Do you have access to a Kemper? I can send you some profiles I made of my DB4 and you can try it for yourself.
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dex45
Junior Member
Posts: 88
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Post by dex45 on Nov 12, 2022 20:57:15 GMT -7
Do you have access to a Kemper? I can send you some profiles I made of my DB4 and you can try it for yourself. Unfortunately I don't.
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Post by pcns on Nov 12, 2022 21:28:56 GMT -7
part of the problem you may be having with this amp is that it doesn't really sound like anything else. Doc designed this to be something different and it really is. The way the tone profiles work is you get multiple voice as you change the tone knob. it's very cool and gives you different tone pallets to create sound. The first one I heard I walked behind the several times to check the tubes. I found not belive they were EL-84s. I would like to own one these as I believe this is a very under rated amp. Todd
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Post by bryan0418 on Nov 12, 2022 23:24:05 GMT -7
Todd is exactly right. The amp is really its own sound. What I do with mine is set the rotary control to dial in the fullness. A humbucker guitar usually is on 2 and a tele is 3 or 4.
A good tone example of this amp is the Brad Paisley song, Without a Fight. Sounds like the DB4 and 2x12 blue cabinet.
It really is a great amp and I am sure you will love it. I know I do mine.
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Post by GuitarZ on Nov 13, 2022 9:20:28 GMT -7
Well, I guess I'm not up on Country Music or maybe new music. I hadn't heard the Brad Paisley tune yet. So, I fired it up on YouTube. Dang! That is a good guitar sound. And, if it's indicative of what the DB4 sounds like, it's a good video because the guitar is so dominant. Of course, Brad always sounds good. And, here it is.
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Post by Jaguarguy (Mike) on Nov 13, 2022 10:05:24 GMT -7
Where are you located?? Maybe there is someone around you with one that you can demo.
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dex45
Junior Member
Posts: 88
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Post by dex45 on Nov 13, 2022 10:26:34 GMT -7
Where are you located?? Maybe there is someone around you with one that you can demo. I'm near Tacoma WA.
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Post by helmi on Nov 13, 2022 10:56:54 GMT -7
Well, I guess I'm not up on Country Music or maybe new music. I hadn't heard the Brad Paisley tune yet. So, I fired it up on YouTube. Dang! That is a good guitar sound. And, if it's indicative of what the DB4 sounds like, it's a good video because the guitar is so dominant. Of course, Brad always sounds good. And, here it is. I’m not a country guy, but that’s a really great song and guitar sound. (I love when she knocks his hat off at the end)
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Post by KeithA on Nov 13, 2022 12:48:48 GMT -7
I'll post this picture just because I can. The coolest DB4 in existence IMHO
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Post by Ridgeback on Nov 13, 2022 13:15:41 GMT -7
That's a heck of a good looking stack.
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Post by sharkboy on Nov 13, 2022 14:27:58 GMT -7
I have a DB4 and a Route66. They are different. The tone selector switch is a bit like a Matchless DC30 with greater separation between modes. It’s like having several different amps and strikes me as at one end of the tone switch, brighter and tighter than the 66 and and the other, darker. Oddly, I find the brighter side to be nice with single coils and the darker side more favorable toward humbuckers. Your mileage may vary.
What is kind of great about this amp is that it’s productive in getting to a tone again. Like most of the good Doc’s amps, it has few adjustments to futz with. I’ve gotten great sounds out of each of the tone switch settings with some guitar combination.
This all said, my two favorite amps are the Route66 and the ZWreck.
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dex45
Junior Member
Posts: 88
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Post by dex45 on Nov 13, 2022 15:20:27 GMT -7
I have a DB4 and a Route66. They are different. The tone selector switch is a bit like a Matchless DC30 with greater separation between modes. It’s like having several different amps and strikes me as at one end of the tone switch, brighter and tighter than the 66 and and the other, darker. Oddly, I find the brighter side to be nice with single coils and the darker side more favorable toward humbuckers. Your mileage may vary. What is kind of great about this amp is that it’s productive in getting to a tone again. Like most of the good Doc’s amps, it has few adjustments to futz with. I’ve gotten great sounds out of each of the tone switch settings with some guitar combination. This all said, my two favorite amps are the Route66 and the ZWreck. Thank you, that is very helpful. I appreciate the Route 66 comparison..
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Post by sharkboy on Nov 13, 2022 15:40:46 GMT -7
Yeah. Here’s the thing. The other two are my favorites, and any one of the three would be great for a gig. That said, top dog for ease of getting to a very small stable of sounds- no waiting- would be the DB4. That’s also a productive choice for studio recording if you’re paying for time.
On the other hand, the granularity of dialing in sounds is finer with the Route66. I haven’t played a Z amp that wasn’t great, though.
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Post by bryan0418 on Nov 13, 2022 21:13:58 GMT -7
Just wanted to add that the DB4 is all over Brad Paisley's Love and War album. Of course he uses his Trainwrecks and such but I hear the DB4 a lot as well.
He did an interview with Reverb a while back when the DB4 was just coming out. He couldn't even say the name but that was the "new amp." I still think Brad uses for his live setup a DB4/Z Wreck pair.
Here is the Reverb interview. Fast forward to 6:30
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Post by bryan0418 on Nov 13, 2022 21:18:24 GMT -7
1 more about the DB4 from Brad
Fast forward to 3:25
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Post by cooluke on Dec 11, 2022 17:53:05 GMT -7
I've read everything I can find about this amp. The constant comparison to the Z Wreck isn't very helpful. It's been said that it doesn't sound like an EL84 amp. I kind of get what the description is about, but does the DB4 sound more like a 6L6, KT66 or EL34 based amp? Also stated it sounds dark, thick, warm etc. I stayed away from the Route 66 for years due to the milkshake thick tone description. The Route 66 is a midrange tone machine (and to me) not milkshake thick. That's a compliment, since I love that amp and still have one. I'm beyond intrigued by the DB4 and would welcome what the amp is similar to, rather than what it doesn't sound like. Most of the descriptions and Dave Baker's video is highly confusing, especially including the Z Wreck in the video if the amps are truly that different. Thanks in advance for your help! This is close to what I hear with my Telecasters and the DB4 combo.
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Post by cooluke on Dec 14, 2022 17:09:37 GMT -7
Ya know... There are the Brad Paisley/Sweetwater interviews in his garage where he plays a DB4 a whole bunch. I think the Blues break up a bit quicker that the gold. It's been a while since I had an amp with a blue though. You can hear it with the tone rolled off and with the volume up and down. Thats that sound I hear with mine basically.
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Post by eggman on May 3, 2023 11:03:32 GMT -7
Well, I guess I'm not up on Country Music or maybe new music. I hadn't heard the Brad Paisley tune yet. So, I fired it up on YouTube. Dang! That is a good guitar sound. And, if it's indicative of what the DB4 sounds like, it's a good video because the guitar is so dominant. Of course, Brad always sounds good. And, here it is. There's Country-meets-Keith Richards going on here. Tasteful playing and enviable tone. I dig it.
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