Delta Blues 115-Tweed Review

Classic style, classic tone and modern versatility. If the blues is your way of life, this is your amp.

Features:	9
Sound:	8.5
Reliability:	9
Impression:	10
Overall rating:	9.1
Users rating:	8.9
Comments:	6

overall: 9

Featured review by: XgamerGt04, on october 23, 2007

Price paid: $ 600

Features: My amp was made in 2003 in Mississippi. My first thoughts when I got a chance to play the amp were pure amazement at the clean channel. I had gone shopping for an amp to play hard rock with but these cleans really sold me for some reason. The Delta Blues, in this case, is a combo amp with a 15 inch speaker. The speaker really lends itself to the amp, it gives very nice low frequency response, while also allowing great treble response. The amp has spring reverb, yes, real spring reverb. The reverb is pretty good, I don't think that I use it enough to give a good review however. The amp also has tremolo but the same with reverb, I don't use it very much. There is a overdrive channel, which has separate volume controls. The overdrive channel can get into some light distortion, but with a nice overrive pedal or distortion pedal you can really push the amp into metal territory. Overall a very solid amp, the treble boost helps some but unless you can really crank the amp it gives it a bit of a nasally sound. It's all tube. // 9

Sound: When I first bought the amp, I used an Ibanez RG equiped with EMG's. This amp really let the sound of the EMG's Shine through, and it was very good for progressive metal and other rock sounds, but the clean was just a tiny bit lacking. Later when I acquired a Gibson Les Paul I was able to not only get the metal and rock sounds but the clean was amazing. I play anything from country to blues to rock to metal and with one distortion pedal, this amp can do it all. I've not been able to crank the amp much because of the parents but when I get the chance the amp sounds amazing. // 8

Reliability & Durability: I would always bring a backup amp to a gig just in case, but I do feel like this amp would survive a gig, or a couple hundred of them. As always bring an extra set of tubes would be a good idea. Mine also has the tube rack in the back to protect the tubes, which I've heard some of the earlier didn't. I've almost had the amp a year and it's still going strong, I did put different tubes in the amp but that was to change the sound somewhat. // 9

Impression: This amp is great for many styles, if you want hard metal then you might need a distortion pedal in front of it but with the right set-up you'll get there. If this amp would stolen I would chase down the motherf--ker that stole it and beat his ass, then take it back. If I couldn't then I'd buy the amp again when I had the money. The real defining feature is the 15 inch speaker that adds so much to the sound. I've been able to play my bass guitar through this amp, although I would not recommend it to anyone else in case something goes horrible wrong, and it actually sounds very good. I compared this amp to a Hot Rod Deville and a Windsor and made the choice of this amp. // 10

overall: 9.3

Reviewed by: lavazza, on august 10, 2009

Price paid: € 375

Purchased from: Used

Features: I got my Delta Blues in april 2009, since it was second hand, I think it was already one or two years old. The major reason why I got it was the awesome clean channel, it sounds close to perfect for my purposes and with its EQ you can suit this amp for nearly any guitar. While having it I also found my love for the Reverb, I´ve never been a fan of that before, but since I use this amp I always use a bit of it (2 of 12). The second channel, has a pre and a post gain, so you can get a good distortion even at low volume levels. This channel is fine as well, though it doesn´t have the singing distortion I wanted, it´s rather like ZZ Top in my opinion. At last you can add a tremolo, I use it, but to compare I don´t have enough expereinces with it, though I prefer it to a tremolo from a multi effect.

I´d advice anybody to get a foot switch, since otherwise you cannot Switch of the tremolo without putting it to 0, I use a Switch from an old amp, which isn´t a Peavey. I already played some gigs with it, in pubs but also on bigger stages, and I was never able to make it louder than 5 of 12 of the one-knob clean channel. So it loud enough for most purposes.

All in all I really like this amp, though I don´t think it´s as versatile as some people say, because it always sound "bluesy" and I wouldn´t use it in my punk band for example and I doubt it´s the dream of metalheads. // 9

Sound: I mostly use this amp with a Cort M600 with the bridge humbucker turned on, but also from time to time with an Epiphone ES-175.

As said before I really like the clean sound, with my Cort, it gives a really warm tone, which is really round, and has practically no edges (in a positive way). Since it has a Treble Booster, you can also play fine melodies, with it and the tone keeps the way you want it. Whenever I played the amp also with my Vester 1400 with single coils the clean channel remains clean. Another person once used it with an Ibanez with single coils, and he had problems that it distorted though it might be because of the guitar.

The distortion channel has a full ground, so good for I know as Texas Blues or also Classic Rock. I don´t use it when I want to have a singing tone, but since the amp works fine with pedals it´s no problem. The distortion overall isn´t heavey enough for metal as far as I can judge. // 9

Reliability & Durability: Since I don´t have it for such long time I cannot judge fully, but I never had any problems with it. You just always have to handle it like a tube amp, so you cannot treat it like a solid state. The first owner upgraded a tube tamer, therefore these cannot break so easily.

When I have money I'll get some extra tubes to take at gigs, but till now there haven´t been any problems. // 9

Impression: I use it for kind of Blues or 60s Rock, à la Doors or some Jazz, all in all a certain variety of music. I really love it and didn't play any amp that suits this music better than this. Before that I used an old Fender FM100 half stack that was standing there and my Marshall MG 30DFX (which is better than its reputation), but none of these came even close to that amp.

When I wanted a new tube amp, I checked lots of them. Twin Reverb, Classic 30 and 50, JCMs, Hot Rods, some Orange have been ok, others have been completely disappointing, but the Delta Blues was first choice and therefore I was lucky to find on in my price range.

It's all in all easy and has still all th options you need, not a mass of effects, that get on your nerves. It's relatively easy to transport and still loud enough. So when you like to play Blues or Rock or also Jazz it´s your amp. After losing it I'd try to get the money to get it again. // 10

Comments

[SicSeb]

Sounds like a nice amp. I wish I could play the Blues =]

[Amroth]

Doesn't everyone know how to play the blues..? It's the music style everyone should know by heart if you ask me.

[Epimaster]

I like the blues a lot but I won't go a whole day with playing just that... 3 or so chords gets tedious...

[The Pickle Man]

Epimaster wrote:

I like the blues a lot but I won't go a whole day with playing just that... 3 or so chords gets tedious...

That made me laugh quite a bit. I'm glad that you've totally mastered playing blues to the point where its lack of expression or variation bores you.

Ha.

[jut150]

That made me laugh quite a bit. I'm glad that you've totally mastered playing blues to the point where its lack of expression or variation bores you.

Ha.

LMFAOOO

[Emerman]

I just bought this amp its amazing, i dont even play blues but when i tried it in the store i just had to get it the clean tone is absolutely amazing, it doesn't have great over drive but with my digitech GNX4 multieffects processor it can play anything nand still sound absolutely amazing.