BadgerDave Posted August 25, 2013 Posted August 25, 2013 Divided by 13 CJ11 Saw this on ebay and noticed that the seller was a local music store - Music Gallery in Highland Park, IL. I wasn't all that serious about picking up another amp, but I had some uncommitted time yesterday morning and, since it was only 20 minutes away . . . I threw a few guitars in the car as trade possibilities, just in case. While I was waiting to try out the amp in the "Sound Chamber" I struck up a conversation with the owner. Turns out he knew Paul, Jol, John Montgomery and Dean Zelinsky and was one of the early Hamer and Dean dealers. A genuinely nice, interesting and engaging guy. Gave me a great deal on the amp, too! Speaking of the amp, It is an 11 watt, 1x12 combo. 2 6V6 power tubes, a 12ax7 preamp tube and a GZ34 rectifier. Essentially, a refined Fender tweed Deluxe. The speaker is a Celestion Greenback. I have a couple of 6V6 amps already, including a Blackface Deluxe Reverb and a Swart AST, which is essentially the same circuit, so I assumed this amp would sound similar. I was wrong - mostly. The CJ11 has much more pronounced and aggressive mids, along with none of the fuzzy low end I associate with Blackface Fenders. It is tight, punchy and "in your face". Not a lot of clean headroom, but what there is sounds full, lush and "swirly". No need for reverb - it's that good. It really excels when pushed just over the edge of breakup. You can use the volume control on your amp and pick attack to move between slightly gritty to classic sustained lead tones. This is one of the best sounding amps I've played. It's completely different, but I'd rank it right up there with the Bogner Shiva I once owned, and my '67 Deluxe Reverb. Not very flexible, but it does a couple of things perfectly. Oh, and with its cream and gold tolex and backlit logo, it has "the look"!
veatch Posted August 25, 2013 Posted August 25, 2013 Congrats! The one I played was the most dynamic amp I think I have ever played. Very cool amps!
JES1680 Posted August 26, 2013 Posted August 26, 2013 Great Score! These are nice, I ended up putting a G12H30 in mine. Some of the models can be very aggressive, and they all really shine at live volumes. If you get a chance try an EDT, and BTR. These are my favorites of his, course the JRT is really nice too. I don't think I will ever sell my RSA.
rj2858 Posted August 27, 2013 Posted August 27, 2013 Congrats, nice description on the amp, and Frank is one of the best people you can deal with.
gorch Posted August 27, 2013 Posted August 27, 2013 Great score! I ever wanted to try one, but thought they were pricey.
BadgerDave Posted August 27, 2013 Author Posted August 27, 2013 This was the used first one I've come across. They had it tagged at $1,495 and I was able to do a straight trade for a couple of guitars that I may have been able to get a couple hundred more for on ebay.Since I can never leave good thing alone, I'm already thinking about experimenting with swapping tubes and the speaker. I have a Celestion Blue that I suspect will sound great in this amp as well as a set of Brimar 6v6's that I bought from Poe years ago. Also thinking that a lower output preamp tube might be interesting. Hmmmmmm . . .
gorch Posted August 27, 2013 Posted August 27, 2013 This was the used first one I've come across. They had it tagged at $1,495 and I was able to do a straight trade for a couple of guitars that I may have been able to get a couple hundred more for on ebay. Since I can never leave good thing alone, I'm already thinking about experimenting with swapping tubes and the speaker. I have a Celestion Blue that I suspect will sound great in this amp as well as a set of Brimar 6v6's that I bought from Poe years ago. Also thinking that a lower output preamp tube might be interesting. Hmmmmmm . . . Do so and report.
lincsman Posted August 27, 2013 Posted August 27, 2013 Congrats ,I have always had a soft spot for Divided by 13
hamerhead Posted August 28, 2013 Posted August 28, 2013 The guy who took over my spot in the band uses a JRT 9/15 (I think) and it sounds incredibly thick. And it has amazing volume for such a small amp.Nice grab, Dave.
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