The Official Reeves Bass Amp Thread

[N. Kentucky Bass]

I am interested in more power to drive one of the cabs crossed over with a 3015LF, and the Greenboy headcase-blasphemous, perhaps, but maybe untapped goodness waiting to be enjoyed. Just serious conjecture at this point, regardless.

Now THAT would be great. I have an LDS 15/6 and 12/6, which respectively use the 3015LF adn 3012LF.

Would you be using the Reeves as a preamp along with an external power amp for the juice?

 

[Captain Bob]

Hmmm...perhaps a preamp tube change may tonally prove more interesting.
My 225 was factory equipped V1 thru V4 respectivily: NOS Baldwin 12ax7 (USA) long gray plate, JJ ECC83s, NOS Sylvania 12at7 black shortplate, and EH 12ax7 Russian greyplate.
The Baldwin/Sylvania tubes are decent.

But, may I suggest; V1- Mullard shield logo (or Philips 7025, Or, if more clean and sparkle is desired a Telefunken smoothplate), V2/V4 - two 1950's GE Longplate, V3 - Mullard old white label (50's 60's), or RCA blackplate.

Let's recall Dave Reeves was formally a Mullard employee. The old Hiwatts were Mullard and Genelex equipped. And, all the great tube engineers existed during the era of that technology....certainly not today.
This tube swap would probably run around $200 for these preamp tubes depending on where you shop.

KT-88's? Well, none of us would want to afford today's prices for the old Genelex Gold Lion's that were used in a Hiwatt. Maybe present day Winged C's? YMMV.....

A final observation with respect to Reeves' QC measures. After looking at the 'internal gut' photos in Tom Bowlus' Bass Gear magazine review, I was quick to notice that my 225now sported purple inspection dye on all solder points. Reminded me of my old Hiwatt and the red inspection dye used by Harry Joyce's employees.
Bill Jansen and crew are paying attention and are super folks.

 

[father of fires]

This video makes me smile.

 

[edbass]

I was playing on a new prototype Reeves cab a few weeks ago, it’s a 410. Regretfully my schedule didn’t allow for extensive testing, so I only played it around the house for a week or so using a B15N amp to push it, and then gigged it hard with a Custom 225 a couple of times by itself in place of the two 15’s I normally use with the C225 head.
I’m off until mid Feb., so today I called to see if I could get it back for a more thorough heads up 115 comparison, but found out somebody else is currently testing it. However, they did tell me that it’s going into production, so I thought I’d mention it here.
Here’s my “Cliff’s Notes” observations: Closed cabinet, super light, has to be a neo. I’m more of a 15 kind of guy but it sounded real good, great bottom extension and upper mid/high end bite, clean strong mids. Good articulation across the board like a 410 should have.
I carry as much stage volume as I can get away with, and it was at an SPL disadvantage in the gig settings to the pair of vented 15’s. But it definitely hung in there; albeit understandingly not with the “thump” I’m accustomed to live. The way bottom was very strong and tight, I could feel it in the soles of my feet, but like I said not surprisingly the chest kicking 100hz ish of the reflex twin 15’s of wasn’t there. Also I didn’t have much time to really dial it in; they were pretty much “plug ‘n play” situations.
I’d like to spend some quality time with a pair of the 410’s to give it a more level playing field comparison.

 

[spellcaster]

Interesting news, Thanks Ed for the heads up!

 

[CDweller]

Now THAT would be great. I have an LDS 15/6 and 12/6, which respectively use the 3015LF adn 3012LF.

Would you be using the Reeves as a preamp along with an external power amp for the juice?

UB- sorry for the delayed response. Just gonna use the head as a regular amp. I've also decided to use the plain 3015- it should perform better with the amp's ~225 watts than a 3015LF.

I am looking forward to just having to bring one speaker cabinet and the headcase out for gigs. The rig is heavy, and it would be nice to reduce the load by one cabinet, if possible.

 

[bamba22]

This is too big for me

 

[tombowlus]

I called to see if I could get it back for a more thorough heads up 115 comparison, but found out somebody else is currently testing it.

 

[edbass]

That figures! Have you given it a good workout yet?

 

[tombowlus]

That figures! Have you given it a good workout yet?

Not quite good enough, but a light workout. NAMM got in the way...

 

[nysbob]

I've never played a 4x10" box I liked as well as a good
15"....and theirs is a GREAT 15".

I'm sure it'll be just the thing for some players, though.

 

[D.M.N.]

I don't suppose they'd make a bass 4x12?
I'd really like a vintage style square, closed, 4x12 for bass, and making it in the hiwatt style just makes it better.

Maybe a 4x15 to combine with it and the C225 for that J.E. Live at Leeds/Isle of Wight skull crushing tone?

 

[edbass]

I don't suppose they'd make a bass 4x12?
I'd really like a vintage style square, closed, 4x12 for bass, and making it in the hiwatt style just makes it better.

Maybe a 4x15 to combine with it and the C225 for that J.E. Live at Leeds/Isle of Wight skull crushing tone?

I think my back would prefer to make four trips with 1x15’s than try to lug a 4x15 around!

 

[Everhart]

I'm goin with D.M.N. on this one...

'course, I'll have to get another car first...

Been talking with Bill about a 225 - just waitin' on the coin.

 

[FFTT]

This video makes me smile.

Why thanky

There's a lot to smile about with this amp for sure.

I do wish more of you guys would add to the clips collection
especially if you have real studio access.

My new MSP7's reveal quite a bit more of that pesky computer fan noise than I was hearing through my old monitors.

For those who haven't tried this amp yet, it runs dead quiet.

 

[FFTT]

Are the 15"s going? Are you running one cab or a pair of them?

I have to be somewhat careful through my vintage CTS AlNiCo drivers
simply due to their age because this amp certainly has plenty of kick
to take out a weak speaker if you push it too hard.

 

[Destructobot]

Happy to help! hahaha


I'm actually considering adding another 2 KT-88's to the Reeves. The evil geniuses at Reeves left 2 holes in the tube chassis, and while nature abhors a vacuum, she don't mind a vacuum tube or 6. .

Not as simple as you might think. Depending on the transformers they use, you might not even get that much of a boost in power.

 

[FFTT]

Bill is not the first nor the last dedicated builder to go through some growing pains.

While I understand your perspective, every builder out there suffers through this
kinda stuff trying to recruit good help and dealing with QC from 3rd party suppliers.

 

[CDweller]

I agree, and have found him to be a man of integrity. I hope that it's clear that I am relating my experience as a singular experience, and not an indictment of nor indicator of Reeves' quality. I have also taken pains to describe this company as responsible and proactive regarding their qc processes- this is my experience with this company. It's frustrating to deal with the speaker and amp problems, but it appears that it was just my rig- the others out in the field are performing flawlessly.

 

[jokerjkny]

I have to throw my hat into this ring, as well. After reviewing the Custom 225 in issue #2 of Bass Gear Magazine, I had to add one to my personal collection. If you are a fan of clean tube tone, this is one of the best-sounding heads I have heard. I rank it right up there with my beloved SA200, which is saying something! In fact, there are many things that it does better than the SA200, so for a lot of people's preferences, this amp is right at the tip top of the food chain, IME/IMHO. YMMV, of course.

Tom.

up w/ the sa200 you say...

hmm...

btw, they're only available direct? i've seen a brand new head at ludlow guitars here in nyc.