DGT15 and California Tweed

[Markcarl]

I’m interested in the DGT15 and Mesa California Tweed amps. These are both single channel tube amps. I mostly play rock / blues / ambient style music at home. I’m starting to play out again at open mics and at friends houses. Does anyone have experience with both of these amps? If so, how would you compare / contrast them? Is one better than the other at getting edge of breakup tones at different volume levels?

Note: If I were to get the California Tweed, I’d get the head version.

Currently, I only have 2 “real” amps - a 76 Fender Deluxe Reverb and Katana Gen3 Head. I mostly play a Fractal FM-9 and AXE-Fx 3 out of EV PXM-12MP powered speakers and Adam Audio A7V studio monitors. I really like the Fractal systems. I just got the Katana and like it too so far. The main reasons I’m Interested in getting another tube amp are the desire to:

- have a modern tube amp to compare / contrast with my Fractal systems and existing amps
- have a convenient grab and go system (just a head and small cabinet) for playing out

 

[László]

This should be an interesting thread!

I have two amps that are closely related to the two you're interested in, and I'm also an edge of breakup player.

These are the DG30, on which the DGT 15 is based; and the Mesa Fillmore 50 that's the descendant of the California Tweed (for some reason the Fillmore was released earlier, but Randall Smith said the Cali Tweed was developed first).

Though the Fillmore has two "channels", they're absolute clones of each other, and it operates exactly like a single channel amp with several modes (clean, crunch and higher gain). The cloned channel has the same tone and the same modes, the idea being that the clone can be set up in a different mode or at different settings.

I haven't tried the DGT 15, though several people here already own one, and the demos sound quite good, similar yet a bit different from the DG30.

The only reason I'm posting (I haven't yet played through the DGT 15) is to mention a few details to consider.

The California Tweed, like the Fillmore, is one of Mesa's takes on the Fender Tweed amps. However, both amps have more headroom on tap, and the Fillmore can go into higher gain settings than the Cali. But the tone is Fender-based.

I've done ads using the Fillmore for a client who likes the tone of Tweed amps best, and he's been happy.

The Grissom amps are based on a blend of a Tweed, a Vox AC30, and the tone stack of the old HiWatt amps. So while both amps you're looking at are single channel amps, they're not tonally interchangeable.

When the DG30 breaks up, there's a certain midrange concentration that I love. It's almost horn-like, and it's very 'Grissom' a la his 'How It Feels To Fly' album. The 15 appears to have a similar quality.

Set to edge of breakup, my Fillmore has a more 'open' and Fender-ish sound that I believe is similar to the Cali Tweed, with maybe a bit more noticeable grit.

 

[andy474x]

I’d strongly second what @László has to says about the tone of the DG line. I have the 15, and it has a “hardness” to the midrange (in a good way) that reminds me of the mids of a plexi, with a twist of its own flavor, but that kind of prominence.

The 15 is a fantastic sounding amp cranked up, but I’ll immediately follow that up by saying it doesn’t sound particularly good at lower volumes - it lives in about the top third of the range of the MV. Realistically, lower stage volumes to keeping up with a fairly loud drummer is where I think it’ll thrive. I’ve thought of putting a mini Ironman attenuator in mine.

Haven’t tried the Cali Tweed, but I’d dare say it might have a wider range of volume with the power modes available. The edge of breakup tones on the Fillmore are incredible, and it has a MV… just something to chew on.

 

[László]

The 15 is a fantastic sounding amp cranked up, but I’ll immediately follow that up by saying it doesn’t sound particularly good at lower volumes - it lives in about the top third of the range of the MV. Realistically, lower stage volumes to keeping up with a fairly loud drummer is where I think it’ll thrive. I’ve thought of putting a mini Ironman attenuator in mine.

Now that I have 10 years on the DG30 (!), I'll make the observation that at first I thought the amp needed more wide-open master volume than I now find it really needs.

It took me a while to learn how to get the most out of the amp; my usual habits setting up and amp needed a mental adjustment when setting up the DG30.

Granted, it sounds glorious at higher volumes, but I get good tones out of it at moderate volumes for practice when necessary.

I haven't tried the DGT15, so I can't really say how it responds; the videos sound good. Anyway, you might find that you can dial in good tones at lower volumes after spending a bit more time with it.

I'd never sell my DG30. It, and the HXDA, are the non-negotiable keepers in my studio. With the 15W version, which is a fraction of the price of the 30 because it's made overseas, I'd have to play through it to know how it responds.

I like that the Cali Tweed is a US-made amp, so there's that.

 

[GGJJGG]

I have the Cali Tweed head and two 12 cabinet. I got them very early on. Definitely Fender based. But I think there is a lot more than just a tweed sound to them. The Mesa videos give a pretty accurate view of what you get.

I am no pro like Les Lazlo, but it is a super amp. The different wattage settings are also a huge bonus. I think it will end you up at a higher price point than the DG15

I also like my /13 EDT as it has a fender thing but then you can crank up the KT66s to something much different.

 

[László]

I have the Cali Tweed head and two 12 cabinet. I got them very early on. Definitely Fender based. But I think there is a lot more than just a tweed sound to them. The Mesa videos give a pretty accurate view of what you get.

Even though I have the Fillmore 50, I've still been tempted by the Cali Tweed. It's a really nice amp!

 

[GGJJGG]

It also gets a better tone when there’s an echoplex type pedal in front of it. I have been using the Belle Epoche

 

[László]

It also gets a better tone when there’s an echoplex type pedal in front of it. I have been using the Belle Epoche

I used a Fulltone Tube Tape Echo in front of my amps for a long time (clone of the tube Echoplex, and no longer made, sadly). But back in the day I used one of the originals. Yeah, I'm THAT old.

 

[GGJJGG]

I am a Hi-Tone kick lately, so I would suggest looking at their lower watt options. Clayton is great to deal with and the amps are really really good.