That sounded great! I always love your videos. Because of you I need a Pig nose now also.

My gigging harmonica amp. A 94 Blues Deville 4x10 made in Corona, CA. I swapped JJ 12AT7's in V1 and V2. An EH5751 in V3. Solved a lot of issues including hyper-sensitive volume control, feedback and just plain smoothed out this beast of an amp. Can turn the volume up to 4 or 5 now and actually get some power tube soak in there as opposed to just that raspy preamp distortion and ear piercing spikes. Responds so much better to my pedal board in the front end and is now an excellent platform. Easily keeps up with the loudest drummers/pluckers.

I changed one 12ax7 for a 12at7 on my 2x12" blues deville and did notice a difference, thanks!

Pretty sweet tones you're making there, Nelson. And that amp looks killer, too. You can't beat the look of a well worn fender tweed 4x10 combo.

For everyone screaming you can't put a 12AT7 in the preamp section, personally I don't know what it will do to V2 and V3 but on the HRDx series, 12AT7 in the V1 position is one of the mods made, by Fender, for the George Benson amp. It is perfectly safe, according to Fender, on a Hot Rod Deluxe, and by default, also on the Hot Rod DeVille (same circuit, more powerful transformers). This mod, cuts your volume on the back half. As for this particular amp, I do not know what the long term consequences might be, if any at all. I personally have used 12AY7's in several Fender amps, to keep it clean at higher volumes, with absolutely no issues. But I'm buying a HRDx today, and that 12AT7 is the very first thing I am doing to it. I live in an apartment with an extremely crabby spiderwoman downstairs. I don't need to listen to her crap, while trying to listen to my crap playing... Bob in Germany

May I suggest that you try 12AY7 tubes? In my experience, the 12AT7 tube is good as a phase inverter/driver or a function tube, but for tone I have never thought they were the best by any means, 12AY7 tubes were used by Fender in earlier amps for an sweet, clean sound. I would keep the 12AT7 phase inverter (closest to your power tube) and use a 12AY7 in V1 (farthest to the right) and keep a 12ax7 in the V2 (middle). That should give you sweet cleans and still give you good drive on the OD channel. Best thing to do is "roll" tubes (keep swapping them around) until you find the combo your amp likes.

It’s good to see that Phillip’s trick worked for your amp too. That’s the beauty of people sharing on KZfaq. The amp sounds great as well as your playing.

Saw this just before I put a 12AT7 in the V1 slot of my Hot Rod Deville. You confirmed some info for me. Thanks. I saw the Phil McKnight video too. Great video that, and yours was very helpful,seeing you do the work.

A simpler method is to simply plug into jack 2 which cuts the db's. A common replacement Preamp tube for V1 is a JJ 5751 and this works on most Fender amps.Some Amp Techs recommend against using 12AT7's [normally a reverb circuit driver] in the Preamp because it pushes higher current levels and dulls the treble and recommend instead using the 12AY7 in V1. Several of the Tweed era amps used the 12AY7 in the preamp.

I have a Hot Rod Deluxe. I swapped out the 12AX7 in the V1 position for a NOS Mullard CV4024 / 12AT7. It not only gave me more control over the volume but the improvement in sound was somewhat of a revelation! The Mullards can be had for very reasonable money. I still have a 12AX7 in V2 and a balanced 12AX7 in V3 (PI). I haven't tried swapping out all three 12AX7 tubes for 12AT7 but I would strongly recommend the Mullard CV4024 in V1.

Taming the beast!!! Back in the day, I had a Sidekick reverb 65(Studio Amp), and it was a beast as well. It is unfortunate that I don't have it any more (Traded it w/cash for a Marshall half stack w/Head) should've kept it! Sweet fender amp!!!! She's a keeper. Good video

I`ve tried similar on the same amp. 12AT7 in V 3 phase inverter tends to make the power stage more clean, a bit a like a blackface fender. I found the 12AY7 a much better choice in V1. 12AT7 tends to be too sterile or lacking in body of tone. I went with 12AY7 V1 12ax7lps V2 & 12AT7 V3. Very pleasing overall.

i replaced the 12ax7 's with 12 at7 's but then I realized ( duh , the preamp isn't the problem having too much volume ) It is the drive tubes , so i got the jet City attenuator , that did the trick , it sounds great and at manageable volumes , i did make a base for the attenuator to sit on using an old computer fan as the attenuator gets hot

Sounds really cool N. You have been working on your vibrato. Well done!

I did that for my HRD and it brought me sanity

Sounds great at this end, I think the factory just bungs 12x7 in every pre stage because they cost less as more are made. All I know is 12x7 are 100 rated, 12at7 60, 12au7 20 so the less the preamp pushes the power tubes the cleaner the sound gets as well as the head room increasing so you could even try a 12au7 if you find one.

I just put a 12at7 in my deluxe loved it. Gonna put one in my 2×12 deville as well.

I was told that all those models that came after this - the hot rods, etc - all have solid state gain stage. So the power amp might be pushed by tube power, but it’s voiced by ss transistors. Not sure, but it does explain the change in headroom that you’re addressing.

Nice to hear you playing thru a clean amp for a change. Your early vids sound like a box of bees. Way to much distortion. And yes, your playing has improved immensely. Keep up the good work.

The way that laptop is set up while you're playing it looks like you have another camera to capture the reaction of your cleaning fluids. They're pretty stoic.

Gotcha a good audio Nelson...remember the Beast is only on a leash for now...Take care..Buddy..!

The Blues DeVille amps were never meant as a practice amp. I own 2 of them and would NEVER modify them in that fashion. ***Both of mine have been modified so that they can be biased. ^^^ I'm not trolling or hating, just stating my opinion. If that works for you then by all means carry on. I just prefer lower wattage, single speaker amps for practice. 😎😎😎

Glad it made the amp more usable for you!

I put a 12au7 in V3 phase inverter; calmed the amp,changed the tonal character and sounds great!!! I Tried 12At7 in v3 and it sounded thin so took it out. I want to leave the 12au7 in v3 but I have read it has higher current draw because of lower plate resistance and can fry resistors if not properly rated. I know the older non reissue amps had 1/4 watt resistors. So I am concerned if the resistors in my 2007 Blues Deluxe Reissue can handle it. Any one have any long term experience leaving 12au7 in Blues Deluxe Reissue?

Nice to see that you use a mic in this vid! love it

That is a nice sound, love it!

Hi mate.. try a 12ay7 or 5751 in V1. I found the best tonal and drive balance for the blues deville is 12ay7 V1 A quality 12ax7 V2 like a Tung Sol or JJ and V3 ( PHASE INVERTER ) best choice is a 12ax7-LPS (Long plate spiral ) or a 12at7. A 12at7 in V3 will tend to give the blues deville a little more Blackface fender tone.. where as the 12ax7-LPS will drive the power tubes just a little harder for more of a blues or classic rock tone and attitude. I ran a 12at7 in V3 for funk and jazz gigs.. and put in the 12ax7-lps for classic rock and blues. The above is a good combination of tubes. The problem with 12AT7 is V1 or/and V2 is the 12AT7 was not designed as a tone generator tube and tends to make a tube amp sound a bit thin and brittle in tone. Cheers..

DOES THE REVERB STILL FUNCTION

You can use the 12AT7 in V1 position and 12ax7 on the last two should give you a little more bite.And change the volume pot for a taper .That way when your turning it up it don't hit you in the face with all your volume at 4 to 6 and nothing on the top end.I think I saw the video on the amplified parts channel or the director channel.Good luck.The George Benson deluxe has a 12at7 at the first position.✌

Did you try the volume knob

Great tone! When your amp is to loud consider an attenuator.

Sounds great. You've definitely tamed the beast. Btw it's long johns weather, at least on the prairies. :)

Have the Fender Blues Deville 212 (USA) and also like it. However, if you're swapping tubes just to reduce volume and get it playable in a bedroom setting, you should look into swapping out the pots on the "Bassman" channel and the Master Vol with a log taper pot. These have linear tapers in them for Lord knows what reason. Everyone complains about the vol jump between 2 and 4 on the gain setting. That said, swapping tubes is fun and I dug the vid. I prefer the 5751 in the Phase Inverter position (this is also a common mod and apparently SRV's preferred tube in that pos).

No need to be flashy. You got the tone, Man. Less is more. That is some sweet, blue tone. Nice job!

nice video! i have one since last september and haven't thought about it until finding your video... i tried some set ups mixing 12at7, 12ay7 and the 12ax7...until now, the one that i found more pleasant its the 12ax7 on v1, 12at7 on v2 and 12ay7 on phase inverter... i'm about to change my power tubes and i think i'm gonna put some 5881's... gonna lost about 10 watts...i think it will be a beast

Nice vid man, thanks! I just wish there was a before and after sound comparison.

30 watts seems like the sweet spot for club gigs. I don't know why more amps ae not built with variable power output.

Hi guys, so I have this amp and i'm going to mess with a few tube configs but I need a quick clarification. When a few of you guys are talking about the tube positions of V1, V2 and V3, is V1 the tube closest to the larger tubes, or furthest away? Thanks.

Don’t buy too big of an amp to begin with. Or try a hot plate.

Right on man. Do you watch Uncle Doug? He has vids on how biasing works... I think he shows how to bias in a situation like you have... If you've got a matched tube set, it may not matter.

Thanks for this vid. Just replaced mine this afternoon and it worked just like you showed 👊

Oooohhhhhh! Look at your Deville! Mine's Black n silver 🙃. I just Benson modded mine yesterday. But the Amp tech said, "Oh no, no, no, don't go the 12AT7's, go this other, better one" (who's name escapes me right now. Some Ibanez-esque list of random characters..like, Xt2H62fm's...but not that! Haha). So he sold me the "better" tube... And I gotta say... I am struggling to hear the difference! There is a slightly less severe roll of the volume into thunderclaps, but it's still there, just back a touch! Is this the result you are getting with your mod??

Cool stuff, Dwayne here has is Deville (US 4-10) and he's thinking of doing the same.

12AY7 IS THE WAY

would this work with a blues jr and should i just change 1 of the tubes

couldn't you just build a volume box with a potentiometer that has more resistance, and use that as your volume knob?

I didn’t hear any gain on the gain channel

Hi I have the fender deville 410 180w. I’ve never changed a single value or serviced it. No wd40 squirted - nothing I love it do I wd40 something or not ??

What do you have the mic running into/ plugged into?

Great idea, but an OD pedal did it for me. It atenuates.

Sweet tone!!!

i.have a guitar. i would love u to fix if u would and no big rush how would i send it im n jacksonville nc

The amp does not have a problem, you bought the wrong amp for your needs.May I suggest a Princeton reverb?.I went through the same thing.

could I do this on a fender pro junior?

You can self-deprecate yourself as much as you want to me, brother, but I see you! Thank you for sharing your video - I recently picked up a Blues DeVille locally for a measly $350 USD. I was FLOORED! I’ve been searching for this particular amp for what I considered “affordable” for YEARS! I can’t believe I finally snagged one for so cheap! I’m definitely going to use your mod for my house. I’m SO EXCITED! Keep showing off your underwear, playa. 🤣

Try a 5751 in the V1 and V2 position 12AT7 will work but they are better in the phase inverter. The second thing you can do is change out the Volume Pot. The Volume Pot comes with a linear taper Potentiometer which is out of control at level 2. An Audio taper pot is what should be used for the volume. If you can rock a soldering iron on a delicate printed circut board without burning it up. Its a $6 part. If you dont have the skilz take it to an amp tech. Have him Replace all the damn filter caps in that thing they are the I.C. brand. " Illinois Capacitor" they are prone to leaking will destroy your amp and they just Suck. Get some F and T caps. Have them perform the reliability repairs which replace. The Reverb brick electronics. Resistors I think lots of them get them up off the board in the process. They get hot and burn up the boards. Replace the caps and resistors in the low voltage power supply and that thing will run for 20 years without problems.

Huge Fender tweed guy. Just got a Blues Junior tweed

Put the 12ax7's back in except use a 12au7 in the phase inverter. It sounds killer that way. You sound great now too but I'd like to hear your opinion on it the way I suggested.

My HRD has 12AX7 in V1, 5751 in V2, 12AT7 in V3.

I use an ibanez ge9 in the loop. That works

Fender, esse é o nome. Esse é bom!

Anyone ever tell you you look like and kinda sound like Kenny from Kenny vs. Spenny?

USE 12AY7A... 12AT7'S ARE TOO WEAK AND CAN CAUSE INTERNAL ISSUES

Jhs Little black box. Effects loop. Done

thanks ill.try that on my amp

Try a 12au7 in the phase inverter.

Nice video, but I think you meant "Gangster," not "Ganster," lol! :) Cheeky Canadians!

I like the dual camera's

this sounds like a circuit amp. choked and lacks dynamics. no sensitivity or vibrance to it's color. but its an approachable amp i suppose. it'll get you into the 410 area cheaply and offers a base level quality with high reliability. the early circuits really were terrible and don't age well...today however, i've been thoroughly impressed with their amps that have circuitry.

I thought so .

Volume Pedal

nice toque

SO. I HAVE TO PUT IN TWO. i ONLY ORDERED ONE. i THOUGHT i ONLY NEEDED ONE. i WATCHED PHILLIPS VIDEO BUT HE NEVER GOT BACK TO ME. gONNA TRY ONE.

I recommend checking with pro amp techs before putting videos like this out there...Utube is full of misinformation given as truth..putting a 12at7 where a 12ax7 was designed is asking for trouble....12at7 was not designed to work in the ax circuitry. Possible amp damage due to wrong currents... a doable swap is with a 12ay7..which will cut your volume but still be safe to be in that position....some fool might blow their amp because he saw it on utube....not good...ps this info was passed on to me by my amp tech who has been fixing tube amps for over 50 yrs....he knows what he is talking about

AND GET A STRAT

kool

i would rather have a solid state amp than that sound it's flat and lifeless

You loose all of this amp power

You played the same thing over and over and over and over

great guitar, great amp. bad guitar player imo

Cool stuff, Dwayne here has is Deville (US 4-10) and he's thinking of doing the same.