Siegmund Guitars Tweed Deluxe Mod

This review is of a modification that Chris Siegmund made to an existing Tweed Deluxe clone built by one of the top American boutique amp builders. As a straight Deluxe clone (with reverb added), the amp was excellent; warm, sweet, great compression, and just enough chime from the Celestion Blue 12? speaker. It was louder and more articulate than most Tweed Deluxes. However, after I acquired a Midnight Special from Chris, the Deluxe was left unused, (used only occasionally at harmonica gigs, which it was great at that as well). So I had a choice of selling it or trying an experiment to get more volume from it. The result is very satisfying, and the amp is not only louder, but much more dynamic.

As a starting point, the original amp builder fabricated a larger combo cabinet, into which Chris added a 10? Tone Tubby 10" to the existing 12? Celestion Blue. A new output transformer (a design Chris worked with Mercury Magnetics to produce) was substituted for the smaller tweed style transf. The new transformer has three settings optimized for different output tubes. Chris?s modifications included changing most of the caps to brighten the amp in general and made the tone knob much more versatile. A master volume was added that has a push-pull that can bypasses a certain cap that controls brightness roll off. He also took the time to really break in the speakers before he shipped the amp back to me.

I'm very satisfied. There is nothing ?bright? about it?s tone. In fact, the opposite. With P-90?s, the amp is very warm, bluesy and breaks up early; very smooth and sweet with a duet of 6V6's. It won?t give a 100% clean sound with the pre amp tubes I currently have in it (a 6072 in the first stage, and a 5751 in the second stage). However, perhaps due to the hi fidelity of the new transformer, the amp has more complex harmonics than before. It?s range of over driven sounds is amazing at medium volumes -- it makes ?big? sounds at low volumes, and still allows the texture of the string attack to be heard at the beginning of single note riffs. If I need more volume, it?s much louder than before, while still holding onto this articulate driven sound. Doesn?t really need a pedal at all, but using Chris?s Double Drive pedal for solos gives additional EQ control, presence, and beautiful ?airy? sustain (no buzz) that won?t quit. I play in a blues band another guitarist who plays a Strat through pedals through Bassman RI with a Strat, and my setup with this amp really complements his brighter tone.

Chris absolutely stands behind his products; he will also keep his customers up to date with improvments.

If you have read this far, it?s obvious that this is not an amp ?to buy?. (I don?t think that Chris would have necessarily taken on this experiment unless I was already one of his customers.) This review is more of an endorsement of what comes along with the purchase of one of Chris?s amps or guitars; he will enthusiastically answer your questions, and help you get the most out of your set up. His problem solving is very methodical and disciplined and yet he is by nature creative and inspired. In this case, his choices for mods were very carefully considered and respected the origins and limits of the existing amp; in the end, however, he was committed to great tone and not just a great clone. He ?hears? the complexity in sound, and that drives him to build that sound into his designs. I hope he can remain as accessible and openly creative as he was on this particular experiment. I play the smaller of the two production Siegmund Amps, (the Midnight Special) and it is a wonderful tool that will show well, if not best, any 12? combo out there. I think we will see more great designs from him in the future.

This amp mod fills the middle volume zone - between my Midnight Special and a Clark Bassman 410. I have also 115 Bandmaster circuit combo, but this amp has more presence, and will give up great overdrive at a greater range of volumes. For cleaner tone at lower volumes, I'll go to the Midnight Special, or my Ampeg Jet with EL84's. This amp is not for everyone, but for gutsy blues tone, it is amazing.