Fender Blues Deluxe/Deville Retube Kit

The Fender Blues Deluxe (and Deville) is a close cousin to the Hot Rod series amps. These can be found in backlines, studios, concert halls, and your local bars. Whether it’s your main amp, your back up, or your practice amp, you’re sure to find the right tube lineup amongst these options.

All of our Blues Deluxe / Deville full Retube Kits are designed specifically for these amps. Every kit is configured to provide a specific sound/experience.

Note: If your amp is the original fixed bias non-adjustable version then stay with the JJ 6L6GC’s or 5881’s, we select these to run optimally in both the original-fixed bias Deluxe/Deville. The fixed bias point will be too low for the 6V6S’s.

The later Deluxe/Deville amps are adjustable bias and the bias must be checked and adjusted as necessary anytime you swap power tubes. If you’re using the factory test point we recommend the following settings: JJ 6L6GC = 70-90mV, JJ 5881 = 60-75mV, JJ 6V6S = 30-45mV.

The Default power tubes for our Blues Deluxe / Deville kits are the Special Double Mica version of JJ’s 6L6GC-DM (found only at ET). The Double Mica modification has no effect on the sonics of the tube, it simply helps to reinforce the internal assembly to minimize the chance of tube rattle. However you can use the Power Tube drop down to select the JJ 5881’s or the JJ 6V6S’s. The JJ 6L6GC-DM’s will maintain the OEM headroom/breakpoint for the output stage. 6L6’s are known for their bold cleans, deep bass, crystalline highs, and naturally scooped mids. The JJ 5881’s will drop the amps output power by about 20%. 5881’s have less bass extension, a crunchier mid-range, and bright jangly highs that compress when pushed. The JJ 6V6S-DM’s (also Double Mica) will drop the output power around 40%. 6V6’s will offer the most crunch while still cleaning up nicely at lower volume settings.

The Standard Retube Kit is as close to OEM as possible. Maintaining the amps stock level of headroom and gain while providing a warm but even handed overall sound. The kit includes one matched pair of JJ 6L6GC-DM’s by default, one Balanced JJ ECC83S for the phase inverter (V3, closest to power tubes), and two Standard JJ ECC83S’s for V1 – V2.

The Gold Pin Retube Kit uses the JJ ECC83S Gold Pin variants to provide a smoother, creamier, and more singing overall sound. This option is less aggressive and has less “teeth” when driven hard. If you like a classic raunchy gritty overdriven tone, we recommend looking elsewhere… If sweet, open, and more refined is what you’re after this kit will do it. The kit includes one matched pair of JJ 6L6GC-DM’s by default, one Balanced JJ ECC83S Gold Pin for the phase inverter (V3, closest to power tubes), and two Standard JJ Gold Pin ECC83S’s for V1 – V2.

The High Gain Retube Kit uses our hand picked high gain selected JJ ECC83S’s. If you’re looking for maximum crunch and grind this is where you want to be. Sonically this setup is very similar to our Standard Retube Kit but with a little extra gain on tap. The kit includes one matched pair of JJ 6L6GC-DM’s by default, one Balanced High Gain JJ ECC83S for the phase inverter (V3, closest to power tubes), and two High Gain JJ ECC83S’s for V1 – V2.

The SRV Retube Kit uses the JJ 5751 in the V1 position. The JJ 5751 is a purpose built low gain 12AX7/ECC83 substitute. Stevie famously used these to eek out a little extra clean headroom, and you can too. Expect about a 25% reduction in gain, which is like having an extra click on the dial before breakup sets in. Great for clean players and pedal users. The kit includes one matched pair of JJ 6L6GC-DM’s by default, one Balanced JJ ECC83S for the phase inverter (V3, closest to power tubes), one Standard JJ ECC83S for V2, and one Standard JJ 5751 for V1 (closest to input jack).

The Tweed Retube Kit uses a JJ 12AY7 in the V1 position. The 12AY7 was famously used in input stages by Fender through most of the tweed era. You can expect a noticeable drop in gain with a softer, rounder, cleaner sound, which will have more compression when pushed hard. Great if you’re after more headroom, or more of an old school crunch at high volumes. The kit includes one matched pair of JJ 6L6GC-DM’s by default, one Balanced JJ ECC83S for the phase inverter (V3, closest to power tubes), one Standard JJ ECC83S for V2, and one Standard JJ 12AY7 for V1 (closest to input jack).

The Tweed Gold Pin Retube Kit is the same as above but with a gold pin 12AY7 and gold pin ECC83S’s. This adds a little more refinement along with the creamier character the gold pins are known for. The kit includes one matched pair of JJ 6L6GC-DM’s by default, one Balanced JJ ECC83S Gold Pin for the phase inverter (V3, closest to power tubes), one Standard JJ ECC83S Gold Pin for V2, and one Standard JJ 12AY7 Gold Pin for V1 (closest to input jack).

The Low Gain Retube Kit uses a JJ ECC81/12AT7 in the V1 position. This provides a mid point between SRV and the Tweed kits. The ECC81 substitution also provides more input headroom which is great for players using high output pickups or line drivers. Ideal where more headroom is desired without any additional compression. The kit includes one matched pair of JJ 6L6GC-DM’s by default, one Balanced JJ ECC83S for the phase inverter (V3, closest to power tubes), one Standard JJ ECC83S for V2, and one Standard JJ ECC81 for V1 (closest to input jack).

The Max Headroom Retube Kit uses two JJ ECC81/12AT7’s for V1-V2 along with a cooler set of JJ EL84’s. This is the maximum amount of gain reduction that can be achieved before sacrifices in sonics and dynamics occur. Equally suited for jazz or country chicken pickin players, or anywhere maximum clean output is required. The kit includes one matched pair of JJ 6L6GC-DM’s by default, one Balanced JJ ECC83S for the phase inverter (V3, closest to power tubes), and two Standard JJ ECC81’s for V1 – V2.

The Harp Retube Kit was developed after lots of back forth with a couple of our regional harp players. This kits uses a JJ ECC81 in V1, a JJ ECC83S for V2, and a JJ ECC832 for V3. The magic in this kit is the ECC832 substitute in the Phase Inverter position. The ECC832 is a dissimilar section tube which will purposely push the PI stage out of symmetry. This provides more emphasis on the even order harmonics generated by the PI and output stage which really makes the unique overtones of the harp shine. The use of an ECC81 in V1 helps tame feedback and provides a little more input headroom from the amp. The kit includes one matched pair of JJ 6L6GC-DM’s by default, one JJ ECC832 for the phase inverter (V3, closest to power tubes), one Standard JJ ECC83S for V2, and one Standard JJ ECC81 for V1 (closest to input jack).