Discontinued clearance from a local independent dealer for $230.
So my new gigging rig cost me less than $500 (minus pedals). Quite proud of what I did for that budget. I've been after a good dynamic clean live tone but most of the venues I play are smallish yet still mic amps, leading to sound guys usually asking me to turn down to where the amp hasn't quite broken through. Went from a Twin to a Deluxe reverb and still had issues. This one gets good light breakup tone at lower volumes, I don't forsee the same issues with this.
My only complaints are that as a 2x10 it's a little heavier than it'd be as a 1x12, and that the reverb is before the preamp stage, so the louder you turn up the volume the less present the reverb is. I would have thought the included footswitch would turn reverb on and off, but instead it bypasses the volume and tone pots, hence "VAPORIZER". The volume difference makes this a bit impractical unless you're already using a high output guitar and cranking it in the first place.
It's apprently 5 lbs lighter than the DR (37 vs 42) though the vape is slightly wider and deeper making it feel pretty similar.
I do think the tubes and speakers could be upgraded at some point, and with 10" speakers and only 4 tubes to mess with it shouldn't cost much to fill out some low end and get some more clean headroom out of it. There's a long thread on tdpri about these amps so much of the trial and error has already been done.
I think much of the reason these aren't sold anymore is because of the reverb and "vaporizer" switch issues. It definitely has gimmicks but more than that this feels much closer every 60's catalog amp I've played than to anything modern-it's extremely touch sensitive. The mustang sounds good through it but until I swap out the pickups I'll primarily use my TV Jones equipped Ovation through it.
Been fantasizing about buying one of these for ages. Feels kinda gross to 90% be interested in something because of the aesthetics, but cheap surfy tube amps, yknow..
I actually connected it to the cab of my deluxe to see how a 112 would sound but the celestion v70 was way bright with it, which now has me questioning if that speaker is right for me even in the amp it's in. It did open it up a lot though compared to the cheap chinese speakers that it comes with though. There is a ton of room in the cab, you could certainly fit a 12" speaker in there, don't know if you'd be replacing the panel or just plan on cutting one of the holes bigger and mounting off center. Would definitely make it a lighter amp too. I hear you on the aesthetics but I must say, it looks almost exactly how it sounds.
Yeah I realized that too, kind of a shame cause there's been some nifty models in that range. The Ramparte can be had pretty cheap now as well, can't say I haven't thought about that one too.
These amps are so cool. I would have bought one if i won't own an excelsior which i really like.... pawn shop amps are so great. They sound really great and are amps with character.
