DG Custom 30

[aristotle]

Thanks Woundtight... I'm not sure what the "standard" construction is and how and where the baffle is done in my MDT 2x12, but the dealers I spoke with were saying "no baffle" for the DG cab. On the website, they talk about how the DG cab has modified internal construction and the fact that it's dual-ported in the back. I had half a mind (and I should really just stop with that statement...) to get the cabinet also since it just looks so darn nice. But my thinking is that I'm not a huge V30 fan typically, and I have a PRS 2x12 with V30s already.....though it would be a fashion faux-pas to mix that beautiful blond and cherry head with my blue cabinet. All I can say is that it's heaven with my open-back Vox 2x12 with Celestion Blues. Oh...and I found another even better pairing speaking of that. I plunked it on top of my Marshall 8x12 that came with the JTM45/100 reissue loaded with T652s. Huge sounding. Now if we can just get a gig at the Enormodome I'm all set.

I have a few more observations after gigging with the amp twice and playing it a bunch at home. First off, the amp really isn't trying to be anything other than what it is. Not a tweed, not a Marshall, not a Dumble. It has a raw aggressiveness that's more in synch with....say.....and old Magnatone. But it works and doesn't rattle.

I'd be curious to A/B this one with the 50W version. My understanding is that there are differences beyond the output power. No presence and input level control and of course EL34 vs EL84. But my observation continues to be that this amp is tuned just right at 30W for most club gigs. Master on 3/4 and volume just over 1/2 is great. On my second gig with it the place was more sensitive to our levels though so that was a bit much. Master on 1/2 was about the right output level and the amp still sounded great....just not as open. So I ran the amp through an Unleash and ran the Master at full, which was just stellar, even through the attenuator.

Using an OCD set rather dark, a bit of delay and selectively a Fulltone Univibe with this amp is a pretty close cop of DG's tone. That's not how I run it for band stuff though. We're more traditional classic and "modern" rock, which needs a bit more bite, and the amp delivers that perfectly with exactly the same equipment, just set differently (presence and input levels up, treble and mids up, and the OCD, when used, set brighter....and typically without delay...) It's been really fun learning a different style amp.

One last thing. The amp seems to magnify the differences between different guitars. Normally, I can run a Les Paul and a McCarty through the same amp, set the same way, and the differences is in nuances. Noticeable, but still a variation of the same flavor. Much more of a noticeable difference to me with this amp though...more so than with any other amp I have. Not surprisingly, the thing seems hyper-tuned to the DGT. Really a perfect match.

 

[martysnarf]

Thanks for these detailed reviews, aristotle! I was <this> close to picking one of these up myself; I had actually budgeted and planned to. However, when I heard the amps in person, I felt that the 30w was way too loud for the bars and clubs where I play. I use 16 watts now, and that's PLENTY. I know that I can turn the 30 down, but I- like you- subscribe to "The Grissom Philosophy" of a dimed Master. I thought that diming that 30w Grissom head was just WAY too much for the rooms where I play. Now that I have heard your reviews, it's good to hear that it's not too loud. I'll come see you guys play and it will help me determine if it's a usable volume for me.

Thanks again for the info!

 

[aristotle]

Yeah....well.... we probably play a bit louder than we should. Definitely would be cool to meet you in person at one of our gigs. Next public one is Irish Channel in Crofton on October 18th...10PM. And sorry I missed you at Experience (didn't get your PM until it was over!)

For my personal taste, anything over 3/4 on the master on this amp is really outstandingly good. If you need to go less than that, diming the master and going through an attenuator is the way to go (for my tastes, for a 30W amp, you're not really attenuating that much and the Unleash at least is pretty transparent at low attenuation levels)

 

[BlackMoons]

Thanks for the photos and details. Congrats on your purchase. Enjoy!

 

[prsrocker1988]

Very nice! The DG amp looks (and sounds!) killer. Love that color combination - very classy.

 

[guitarman23]

I'm really thinking of selling my HXDA to get one of these. I wonder if they'll let you get the 30 in a 1x12 combo for grab and go club gigs for when I move to Austin next month?

 

[justmund]

I'm really thinking of selling my HXDA to get one of these. I wonder if they'll let you get the 30 in a 1x12 combo for grab and go club gigs for when I move to Austin next month?

What aren't you digging about the HXDA?

 

[aristotle]

I'm really thinking of selling my HXDA to get one of these. I wonder if they'll let you get the 30 in a 1x12 combo for grab and go club gigs for when I move to Austin next month?

Hmmm... The DG30 and HX/DA are very different amps in my opinion. The DG30 sort of reminds me of Marshall's Vintage Modern (2466) in LDR mode....not that they sound similar (they don't), but they both are hyper responsive to guitar volume and tone controls, and they strongly suggest to you that you that you want to set it up to go from great clean to crunch using guitar volume control (and pick dynamics) and use a pedal to go beyond that.

The HX/DA on the other hand really begs (me at least) to be played dirty, and backing off from that to a sort of crunch using the guitar volume. Want clean? OK then...go to the amp and futz with the controls if you really insist on that.

In a cover band environment, the DG30 works better for me, but that's a function of the style of music that we play. It just does a nicer and more complex clean tone at gig volume better than the HX/DA in my opinion, and it takes pedals better than other PRS amps I have. On the other hand, if I were in an all southern rock band, or an all blues band, the HX/DA might work better for mE. And if I were recording and wanting to get a variety of dirty tones from the amp, the HX/DA would probably work better. You definitely want to try before you buy thought because these are definitely different amps.

Regarding a combo version, I don't know...the CAD department might do something UP for you if you go through a dealer who commissions such things. As a general statement though, I almost always find head with 2x12 to be easier to haul to a gig than a combo (even if the combo is a 1x12.)

On the third hand, I've configured the ultimate small stage rig (for this month at least....I tend to be a bit fickle about such things). It consists of a 2x12 with an MDT head on top, and the DG30 on top of that. I run both amp outputs through a radial headbone, which lets me footswitch between the MDT and the DG30. So, if I want BIG marshalesque dirt, kick over to the MDT. Otherwise, get everything else from the DG30. Really the best of both worlds. I used the MDT over the HX/DA, just because that's how I roll. Most everybody here prefers the HX/DA, but for in-your-face gain tone, nothing beats an MDT in my opinion.

 

[guitarman23]

I have a hard time getting a thick creamy tone out of the HXDA w my DGT. It either gets fizzy or muddy as i try to smooth it out. Maybe I'm setting it up wrong. That's why I thought the DG Custom may be a better amp for me. I've thought about sending in the HXDA for a fat switch mod and reverb. I appreciate the write up on the DG Custom. Overall it's a tough decision, especially since I'd have to sell the HXDA and a Category 5 amp to make up the difference for a new DG Custom.

 

[László]

I have a hard time getting a thick creamy tone out of the HXDA w my DGT. It either gets fizzy or muddy as i try to smooth it out. Maybe I'm setting it up wrong.

How are you setting it up? It's the thickest, creamiest amp I've ever used!

 

[guitarman23]

How are you setting it up? It's the thickest, creamiest amp I've ever used!

I'm starting to wonder about one of my speakers in my 2x12 actually or maybe even tubes. I set the amp up w/ DA, DA, HX or at times DA, HX, HX, treble gain at 11, bass gain at 8, treble at 10-11, middle at 1-2, bass at 11-12, presence at 9. It's not thick or creamy. It has this fizzy, loose, flubby tone to it. In my 2x12 I have a Reinhardt 65 w/ is a variation on the WGS ET65, and a WGS Veteran 30. The Reinhardt almost sounds flubby if that makes sense? It has a very loose bass, muddy type of tone. I started noticing this a few gigs ago, but at the last gig I used that cabinet w/ my Category 5 Vera ( Warren Haynes style amp) and it sounded awesome. I'd love to get this worked out because I'd like to be able keep the amp. When you have to sell 2 quality used amps to buy the new flavor, I'd rather not go there. Any help would be appreciated. I don't mean to hijack the thread! Damn that DG 30 sounds killer but I also know DG could make just about anything sound amazing.