DGT 15 - Big disapointement...

[Greywolf]

It dawned on my that the 1x12 DGT cab will handle 60w ... which means as long as I don't get silly I could run my Blue Sierra 50 head into for the Cafe' for my 70th Bday gig ( love the 2x12 but no way I'm lifting that beast ) a slow wicked smile appears .... hmmm

 

[Ross Two notes]

For attenuators..I like my Captor X. The IRs via headphones are a neat deal too.

Ross from Two notes here! So pleased to hear you are enjoying the Captor X - if anyone has any questions about this, I am here to help!

 

[andy474x]

I may have just picked one up . I was browzing this morning on the verb as usual and found a good $ on a mint used head/ cab.
I got a quick offer .. but didn't realize right away it was from another shop ..and head only .. the caffiene finally kicked in and I told them cancel ..

I get a message back ... they think they can match it and throw in shipping .. and it's NEW .. hmm if it's a yes then I've got it. Essentially a Free cab .. good enough for me .

I love my DG30 and Blue Sierra but they are just too big for me to gig with . This should be perfect for the Cafe' needs.

It dawned on my that the 1x12 DGT cab will handle 60w ... which means as long as I don't get silly I could run my Blue Sierra 50 head into for the Cafe' for my 70th Bday gig ( love the 2x12 but no way I'm lifting that beast ) a slow wicked smile appears .... hmmm

I agree, you can't tell everything just from a clip. But you can tell some things. There are characteristic tones the 30 Watt has that are pretty obvious no matter how it's dialed in.

Having miked mine a zillion ways, it'd be hard not to hear those characteristics in any recording that wasn't completely messed up.

And now for an interruption from our alter-ego:

"Excellent use of the Past Pluperfect in that last sentence, Laz."

"Thank you! I blame 6 years of training in Latin."

Those characteristics are simply different in the imported amp.

'Different' doesn't mean 'better' or "worse'. If the DGT amp sounds good in and of itself, that's sufficient reason to own it.



I doubt the amp was designed around anything other than the idea of PRS offering a vintage-sounding amp with Grissom's name on it at a much more reasonable price than the Maryland amp.

If Grissom and PRS had wanted to create a no-holds-barred 15 Watt amp - as they did with the DG30 - I have no doubt the first choice would have been to build it in the US, hand wire it, etc.

All they'd have to do is pull a couple of output tubes and redesign a few parts.

That's why it's being made in China instead of Maryland. Wouldn't surprise me if it's been a big hit for PRS. It's a better price match with the strong-selling DGT SE that way, too.

None of this analysis means that the amp doesn't sound good, and none of it means that Grissom doesn't, shouldn't, or wouldn't use it himself.

The fact that Doug Sewell was able to come up with something Grissom was good with, at a very attractive price point, is remarkable.

To me, the 30 sounds more dynamic and punchy than the 15, in the comparisons I've heard, the 15 being slightly more compressed. I suspect having to do with the power section, as I'd imagine the preamps are probably identical. Putting the NOS Russian power tubes in my 15 did bring back some of that openness, but not all the way. Not that it's by any means a bad sounding amp, it's fantastic, I just don't have any illusions that it can equal the build and tone of the 30, with the way they make that amp. For someone wanting that basic tone with less volume, weight and size, I'd say it'll probably make a person very happy, it does for me.

A large part, for me, was the footswitching options as well. I used mine live a couple weeks ago and it was perfect. I had the base tone clean, and the boost with light breakup and tamed slightly by the master w/boost option, mostly using pedals for dirtier sounds, and time based effects into the front. Very functional amp, I can definitely tell that it was designed by and for someone who is gigging. I don't mind the "compromises" (mild as they are) at all considering the features.

The cab is a little killer, too. I think it's pine, it's certainly very light, and sounds excellent. I don't always get along with V30's, but this one is done right.

Ross from Two notes here! So pleased to hear you are enjoying the Captor X - if anyone has any questions about this, I am here to help!

I used my Two Notes rig (Cab M/Captor) for silent stage at that event, love it! I profile my cabinets and run them through the IR loader, which I appreciate how easy it is with the Two Notes ecosystem, and use some of the DynIR's too.

Your company should try to get together with PRS and explore putting a reactive load and IR loader in their amps. I know they're pretty strict on keeping things old school and straightforward on their amps, and I appreciate that. But, from another perspective, it's a feature that will make it convenient to keep using tube amps in environments where blasting a cabinet and getting the amp working like it should just isn't allowed. Especially on their smaller amps that are designed to be a grab and go - I'd love to have a load and IR capability in the DGT15, HDRX 20, MT15, I'm already using the tech with them anyway.

 

[Ross Two notes]

To me, the 30 sounds more dynamic and punchy than the 15, in the comparisons I've heard, the 15 being slightly more compressed. I suspect having to do with the power section, as I'd imagine the preamps are probably identical. Putting the NOS Russian power tubes in my 15 did bring back some of that openness, but not all the way. Not that it's by any means a bad sounding amp, it's fantastic, I just don't have any illusions that it can equal the build and tone of the 30, with the way they make that amp. For someone wanting that basic tone with less volume, weight and size, I'd say it'll probably make a person very happy, it does for me.

A large part, for me, was the footswitching options as well. I used mine live a couple weeks ago and it was perfect. I had the base tone clean, and the boost with light breakup and tamed slightly by the master w/boost option, mostly using pedals for dirtier sounds, and time based effects into the front. Very functional amp, I can definitely tell that it was designed by and for someone who is gigging. I don't mind the "compromises" (mild as they are) at all considering the features.

The cab is a little killer, too. I think it's pine, it's certainly very light, and sounds excellent. I don't always get along with V30's, but this one is done right.



I used my Two Notes rig (Cab M/Captor) for silent stage at that event, love it! I profile my cabinets and run them through the IR loader, which I appreciate how easy it is with the Two Notes ecosystem, and use some of the DynIR's too.

Your company should try to get together with PRS and explore putting a reactive load and IR loader in their amps. I know they're pretty strict on keeping things old school and straightforward on their amps, and I appreciate that. But, from another perspective, it's a feature that will make it convenient to keep using tube amps in environments where blasting a cabinet and getting the amp working like it should just isn't allowed. Especially on their smaller amps that are designed to be a grab and go - I'd love to have a load and IR capability in the DGT15, HDRX 20, MT15, I'm already using the tech with them anyway.

Noted and understood! Consider it added to our list!
Thanks for the suggestion and I'm so pleased to hear our solutions are working out well for you!

 

[László]

To me, the 30 sounds more dynamic and punchy than the 15, in the comparisons I've heard, the 15 being slightly more compressed.

They're two different amps, and other significant sonic differences are there. It's difficult to put sound into words, kind of a monopthong-vowel characteristic. I'll leave it there because it's the best I can do in terms of a description.

 

[ruger9]

The summary (for me) of this thread:

If you've loved David's DG30 tone, don't buy the DGT15; it's close but no cigar. Just like buying a Core DGT over the SE, if you want THAT, you must buy THAT (and deal with the volume).

 

[László]

if you want THAT, you must buy THAT (and deal with the volume).

The master volume on the DG30 actually works well enough to be useful for low volume situations, and the amp still retains its character. Even in Boost mode it's very good that way.

However, my recording experience of many years with good session players taught me that most pros like to play through any amp as wide open as they can.

For the most part I do that when possible, too.

That includes my Mesas, Two-Rocks, Roccaforte, Bogner, Bad Cat, and all the other amps I've had over the last 30 years.

That's why Grissom runs his wide open, too. But you don't have to just to get a good, useful tone.

 

[Lavi]

I took at crack at this amp when it was first released. I really did like it. However, used at home for dad rock (~90db), I found I needed an attenuator to get the power tubes toasty. Dr Z brake-lite to the rescue.

And, the tube trem is killer.

Some day I may find a gig where I can open it up. But for now, dad rock it is.

 

[presence]

Hi, am I the only one totally disapointed with this new DGT 15 amp ?
I was looking at the promo videos with all those lush overdrivres texas style.
I told myself, wow! what a nice little head, packed with many features like a master volume, a reverb and a tremolo that can deliver sweet crunch at a very friendly price.
What a deception I had when I got the amp and I finally realized that to get this sweet sound you have to crank the master volume way up at 11 (making an anoying "no-more headroom" noise) and trying to get a reasonanble family friendly volume by adjusting the pre-amp gain...which is totally counter-intuitive. I get the point that David Grissom likes to get his crunch directly from the power tubes, but this is really not what I expected. I consider impossible to get any overdrive sound from this amp at bedroom volume since the master volume is not made for this...big disapointement...The clean, reverb and tremolo are very good by the way. But don't count on this master volume...

It's unfortunate that your are disappointed, but I don't understand it. DG himself says that the amp wants to be driven with the master set fairly high. I think it's fairly clear that this amp is marketed as an amp where the overdrive comes from the power tube stage instead of the preamp. I think the amp should be evaluated based on "does it do what DG intended it to do." I don't see anywhere that DG said it was a bedroom amp.

I think this GC video is actually a great video for explaining the amp. "This is an amp that wants to be turned up."

That being said, for low volume use, the DGT 15 seems to work just fine with an overdrive pedal as most people seem to do with most amps.

Personally, I intend to get an attenuator/reamp like the new Two Notes Reload II to use with my DGT 15 and other amps.

 

[DISTORT6]

It's unfortunate that your are disappointed, but I don't understand it. DG himself says that the amp wants to be driven with the master set fairly high. I think it's fairly clear that this amp is marketed as an amp where the overdrive comes from the power tube stage instead of the preamp. I think the amp should be evaluated based on "does it do what DG intended it to do." I don't see anywhere that DG said it was a bedroom amp.

I think this GC video is actually a great video for explaining the amp. "This is an amp that wants to be turned up."

That being said, for low volume use, the DGT 15 seems to work just fine with an overdrive pedal as most people seem to do with most amps.

Personally, I intend to get an attenuator/reamp like the new Two Notes Reload II to use with my DGT 15 and other amps.

Don’t worry about it.
The OP posted his disappointment and was never heard from again.

One and done.

 

[ruger9]

It's unfortunate that your are disappointed, but I don't understand it. DG himself says that the amp wants to be driven with the master set fairly high. I think it's fairly clear that this amp is marketed as an amp where the overdrive comes from the power tube stage instead of the preamp. I think the amp should be evaluated based on "does it do what DG intended it to do." I don't see anywhere that DG said it was a bedroom amp.

I think this GC video is actually a great video for explaining the amp. "This is an amp that wants to be turned up."

That being said, for low volume use, the DGT 15 seems to work just fine with an overdrive pedal as most people seem to do with most amps.

Personally, I intend to get an attenuator/reamp like the new Two Notes Reload II to use with my DGT 15 and other amps.

If that's the case, I'd just get the 30. It's more money, but it's handwired, has bigger transformers, and is more attractive looking.

If that's the case, the only benefit to the 15 is the lower cost, and the new boost/switching feature.

 

[presence]

If that's the case, I'd just get the 30. It's more money, but it's handwired, has bigger transformers, and is more attractive looking.

If that's the case, the only benefit to the 15 is the lower cost, and the new boost/switching feature.

Interesting. DGT 15 features that DGT 30 doesn't have are footswitchable tube trem, boost and reverb and switchable master off and bright off with boost. The switchable master and bright off with boost are great and unique features.

 

[GGJJGG]

Having had 15 and 3o watt versions of the Matchless DC/HC, the bigger wattage or transformer makes a difference in sound (unless you are a potential buyer eyeing the 15 watt at Motor City Guitar…). On the other hand, my 8 watt Little Walter amp is just great. Hard to figure all that stuff out. I would probably flunk out of the amp garage…

 

[DreamTheaterRules]

Don’t worry about it.
The OP posted his disappointment and was never heard from again.

One and done.

And, we've bumped this thread with the cringeworthy thread title for over 4 months since he did.

We really need to get a mod to change the thread title.

 

[DreamTheaterRules]

Having had 15 and 3o watt versions of the Matchless DC/HC, the bigger wattage or transformer makes a difference in sound (unless you are a potential buyer eyeing the 15 watt at Motor City Guitar…). On the other hand, my 8 watt Little Walter amp is just great. Hard to figure all that stuff out. I would probably flunk out of the amp garage…

Because it's the synergy of the parts that matters. The old Champs that people loved and recorded massive hit albums with in the 60s and 70s that had the sag and bloom they were loved for... they had 3 watt transformers and small filter caps. The feel that many loved was because the OT didn't even have the power to push the tube to it's full wattage. But it worked. I changed the OT in a Valve Jr to a 15 watt model and it completely changed the amp from saggy and vibe to punchy and much more powerful.

 

[ruger9]

Interesting. DGT 15 features that DGT 30 doesn't have are footswitchable tube trem, boost and reverb and switchable master off and bright off with boost. The switchable master and bright off with boost are great and unique features.

Features, yes. But I'm talking about the tone and headroom. If you've been listening to Grissom play the DG30 and love THAT tone, the DG15 won't get you all the way there. It's the simple difference between a 30W and 15W amp. Same reason a 15W "Bassman" can't sound like a 1959 tweed Bassman.

My point was, if I have to run the MV wide open on the DGT15 to come close, I'd rather have the 30 and get ALL THE WAY there. I don't need tremolo onboard my rock amp. And while I do love the foot switchable boost feature, I'd rather have the DG30 tone. I haven't purchased a DG30 because I know it's got top be loud to get THAT tone... apparently the DGT15 does too. So neither does me much good. Even in Grissom's own demos of the amp, I can easily hear the difference in tone and headroom between the DG30 and DGT15.

But this is my $0.02. If you're happy with the DGT15, that's great.

For me, I'd want to play the DG30 in my rock band, and that would likely require me adding a good attenuator or re-amper to the rig (like a Fryette Power Station), and it's just too much money and trouble for a bar band gig, when my Hot Cat 1x12 does the job just fine. But I will always lust for a DG30.