Divided by 13

[tuffteef]

Anyone rocking a d13?

i know univalve is but i dont have access to play them to make my own decision but the thing ive found with most boobtique amps is there way too like trebly and trashy and not middy enough

anyone wanna chime in?
im interested maybe in the 9/15 mainly cause i like idea of having 6v6 and el84s as a choice

[univalve]

So i don't have to comment anything?

[tuffteef]

So i don't have to comment anything?

you have to by default
cause were just so broke to afford d13 unlike yourself ya know...

[univalve]

So i don't have to comment anything?

you have to by default
cause were just so broke to afford d13 unlike yourself ya know...

read that, how i financed that amp: viewtopic.php?f=42&t=26891&p=466286#p466286

Ok, here are my impressions regarding the divided by 13 JRT 9/13:
I tried a lot of amps and also owned a shitton of them. I will go bit through so you may have an idea where my impressions come from. So i started on cheap and shitty stuff, like almost everybody i guess, and got pretty quick the impression, that a decent guitar is good, but having a good amp is more important. So i got myself a Marsahll Valvestate, switched to a Engl Savage 120, got a Fender Blues Deluxe (original run), THD Univalve, Bivalve, Flexi, Mesa Boogie Blue Angel, Fender Deluxe Clone, Vintone Clipper, Hayden Essex Blonde, Ibanez TSA15H, Mesa Boogie Triple Rectifier, London City Super Amp, Bugera 1960, Bugera BVV3000 etc. (I'm sure i forgot some down the road but not that important.)
My buddy writes for the german mag "Grand Guitars" and often gets some amps for tests. We often met and checked out the stuff against my JRT 9/13. There were 65 Amps (lil' elvis, soho and monterey), other divided (C11, RSA23) and 3 Monkeys Orangutan, several Bad Cats (Classic Cat and others) and stuff i don't remember. I played all that shit loud at the practice space MYSELF. I think it is important to mention that. I'm not talking about checking stuff out at a shop. I talk about testing it in band ccontext.

Out of all that stuff none amp ever had a sound comparing in the areas of dynamic, complexity, texture and power with the JRT. It is by far the best amp i ever played.

Why is it that good?

Volume!
It is super loud. Don't be fooled by the size and watt statement. There is no amp with this tube configuration that has comparable volume.
Volume example: When i was playing with my former band slowgold two amps. The JRT for all the lead and riff stuff, a JTM 45 clone with KT66 (~50-60 watts) fully cranked for the guitar loop stuff.

The JRT was cutting through the whole band sound like nothing else with only 1x12". Against crash ride drums, 100 tube watt bass, PA samples and and a fully cranked JTM with a 2x12".
You find the songs in my signature - if it is not a guitar loop, the guitar sound is the JRT.

Bass!
The bass response is from another world. I have no idea how, but the amps sounds super huge. On 6V6 even more than with EL84.
Check out this file with headphones or decent speakers:
[soundcloud]http://soundcloud.com/blackflamingo-1/mf104m-moogah[/soundcloud]
It is my Tele 52 RI into the Moog Delay into the Divided. The 1x12" cab is miced with a 121. No post effects nor mastering on this track. So you may have and idea how full the amp sounds and how deep it reaches.

Complexity!
The amp has not triode preamp tubes. It features pentodes. I asume that is the main reason it sounds more complex, richer and with more texture than other amps. The only one i heard that came close to it was the EF channel of an handwired Vox AC15 - but it was a lot brighter.

Super simple controls that work!
I love how the JRT has not much knobs but a great variety of sounds. I took a picture for you:

Like old school amps you have two volumes, i would call them "normal" and "bright" not really, but it is a bit like that with a built in mixing cable. So you either go hi or low inputs and then mix your sound out of those two volumes. The left one is a bit more aggressive, the right one smoother. The tone knob has (i think) five settings that reacts on the overall sound and articulation of the mids. If you think, you don't cur through, you just click it one setting to the right. The cut knob cuts bass. Pretty good feature that helps you to not get boomy.

The cab!
I love the 1x12" design they did. If you want to get that amp, get the cab too. It is worth the price. I bought two more of these - didn't care about the price and shipping - because they are also the best open back 1x12" i ever played. And that mini stack looks sexy as hell.

Different tubes!
You want it more british? EL84 and crank the amp. None of the 65 Amps had a better sound (and i have no more 65 Amps Gas ). I play it 90% on the 6V6 setting. Just my favorite setting

Ok, some random final thoughts. The amp is not too bright. Even with my 52 RI Tele it is very well balanced.
AFAIK the other divided amps are not really the shit. CJ11 was disappointing. It should be a take on the Fender (Tweed) Deluxe and it did nothing for me. The 200 watt bass amp is good, but only check it out at the Musikmesse - not at the rehearsal space. RSA was also not the real deal
If i would get another divided, i would for sure get the JRT 9/13 again.

I have two drummers in different bands. My drummer in the "rock combo" requested last week, that i should bring the divided back into practice space. (right now i'm playing the London City w/ 4x12.) The guitar never sounded that good to him. If that says a drummer the difference should be really audible

If you have any questions or want a soundfile etc, just let me know.

[Holy Schnikes]

Goddamn that was one of the most informative posts I've ever seen!

[Ryan]

I think these are among the coolest looking amps available... good to know they sound as good as they look!

[madmax1012]

I usually can't stand small build amps that cost a shit ton more than the amps that allegedly inspired them, but I'd get a D13 in a heartbeat if I had da cash

[tuffteef]

thanks so much for the massive write up love you bby

so your saying its kinda like the ef86 handwired channel but darker? in the el84 mode?

how would you say the 6v6 channel is voiced comparing it to classic amps

[sylnau]

univalve, have you tried this one.
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/DIVIDED-13-RSA-2 ... 4abd0cb67c

This is a local dealer. It's probably used.

I wish those amp has reverb and trem.

[zRobertez]

Now I want one.... lol

[univalve]

so your saying its kinda like the ef86 handwired channel but darker? in the el84 mode?

uhm, yeah, a bit like that. I used it for the texture, complexity and preamp pentode comparision. The JRT has a different pentode (5879, btw which to my knowledge is not used in any other guitar amp design other than divided by 13) and sounds "even more fuller" with more ow end. So if you check out the EF Vox at a shop you have an idea how the divided will react and what details will come out.

Just a side note: "Channel" vs. powertubes
The amp has two volume knobs that are voiced pretty different. I'm always into the mix mode (compare picture above). I would call these two knobs more a kind of channels. The power tube switch is audible, at lower volumes by far not that drastical like the two preamp volumes.
So to get it "british", you have to set it to EL84 and adjust those two volumes accordingly (to your taste).

how would you say the 6v6 channel is voiced comparing it to classic amps

I would say kind of Deluxe Reverb BF but fuller with a later breakup.

That amp has a pretty late breakup. So there is plenty of headroom and it loves pedals. Just one thing you should be aware: sloopy playing, shitty effects, bad cables etc. will be more present and audible with this amp. May be a downside for some people.

univalve, have you tried this one.
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/DIVIDED-13-RSA-2 ... 4abd0cb67c

This is a local dealer. It's probably used.

I wish those amp has reverb and trem.

I played that one. But it was not that lively as the JRT. I somehow had the thought to get the smaller head version of this (to fit on my 1x12" cabs) but i think, if i ever get another one, again a JRT.
But you can check it out. Would be interesting what you think.

Regarding reverb and tremolo: i have the Fender outboard reverb (and tuffteef has one too i think) and that fits my needs perfectly. I love tremolo but never really use it. For recording purpose i have a goatkeeper that i can sync to click. That is pretty important to me so i don't care anymore about built in tamp tremolo (that sounds amazing for sure!).

I'm happy if some people found that write up useful. I have the amp now 4 years and i think after that time you can really sum things up seriously.

[coldbrightsunlight]

Great write-up! The JRT is pretty much my dream amp atm, and that review only cements the idea.