Negatives to Modding DRRI?

[WolfmansBrother]

I've been searching for threads on modding a DRRI to have reverb/vibrato on both channels and I've came across a few things, but I'd like to find out if anyone has experienced any negatives to doing the mod (i.e. damage to the amp), either immediate or in the long term. Any thoughts?

Thanks.

[daddyo]

I haven't done the mod because I like having a non-vibrato channel. And even with the vibrato off, the stage is different than the non-reverb channel. I haven't even cut the bright cap because it is most noticeable at low volumes where I think it works OK. So I'd just by an inexpensive a/b/y box and switch between the channels and, if the bright cap bugs you, snip it.

[picnic]

I have had 4 DRRI's. Most of them got JJ's and various upgraded speakers. Never did anything to the guts. All were sold to friends eventually. It's a nice amp to have and can handle most gigging situations or be a fun house amp.
I thought though, rather than spend any serious money on mods, check out the clones. For a few hundred more, there are lots of other, better built BFDR clones that deliver the goods. GAS is good.

[lpdeluxe]

Any mods will turn an amp with pretty good resale into a mutt. This is a popular model as is. I'd suggest getting something less valuable and playing with that.

[theroan]

Originally Posted by picnic

I have had 4 DRRI's. Most of them got JJ's and various upgraded speakers. Never did anything to the guts. All were sold to friends eventually. It's a nice amp to have and can handle most gigging situations or be a fun house amp.
I thought though, rather than spend any serious money on mods, check out the clones. For a few hundred more, there are lots of other, better built BFDR clones that deliver the goods. GAS is good.

Which clones would these be? The ones I've found are like $2000

[picnic]

Fargen Blackbird 1200
Allen Accomplice 1100
68 SFDR 1600
Tone King Meteor IIA 1800
All used from here

[daddyo]

Actually
A used DRRI is a fairly cheap amp. You should be able to find a decent usednone for $600-700. So doing a few mods probably insn't the end of the world. So you lose $100 after playing it for a few years. Mine came with a RI jensen p12Q and blonde tolex and I swapped the tubes for a mix of Tung Sol reissues and NOS. I'm very happy.

[WolfmansBrother]

Thanks for the replies.

I was just curious about this mod because I love the amp's reverb and would like to have it on both channels. But I don't want to have it at the expense of a perfectly good amp, so I was hoping to hear thoughts about the mod and any personal experiences (good or bad).

I'm not worried about resale value, as I plan on keeping this amp for a long time, and I'm not concerned about altering the vib channel to make it more pedal friendly. I use an A/B/Y box when I want channel switching and I like that each channel has a different "voice," so I wouldn't snip the bright cap or change anything otherwise. Just looking for some reverb on channel 1 to increase the amp's versatility without having to use pedals. But I'd like to know if the mod might decrease the amp's integrity in some way before I have it done.

[blackba]

This looks like a good amp for modding. http://www.thegearpage.net/board/sho...d.php?t=672408

The biggest issue with modding a DRRI is working with the PCB. That wouldn't be an issue for me as I work with PCBs on a regular basis, but for some it might. Also you can lift a trace on the PCB if you are not careful.

[kelvinator60]

Originally Posted by picnic

I thought though, rather than spend any serious money on mods, check out the clones. For a few hundred more, there are lots of other, better built BFDR clones that deliver the goods.

This.