Brighter alternative to DV Mark Little Jazz

[lorenkii]

People on the forum turned me on to the DV Mark Little Jazz, which I have used to play a lot of gigs; however, the tone is pretty dark for me, and even fiddling with all the knobs doesn’t really seem to do it for me. I love the amp’s size, volume, direct out, weight, usable reverb, I just wish I could get it in a little bit more of a ‘normal’ guitar tone that isn’t quite so mellow. Any suggestions?

[Gitterbug]

The DV Mark amps are inherently darker than Fenders or Quilters. I happen to like them for that reason. There's an old thread here about the Little Jazz's speaker. If I recall correctly, it's glued in place, making a swap difficult.

[osloutah]

ZT Lunchbox.

[D.G.]

Fender Deluxe Tonemaster

[rpjazzguitar]

It can be brighter with external EQ and, importantly, not using it flat on the floor.

[sgosnell]

The Little Jazz can get pretty bright with the treble control turned way up, and the amp elevated. Put it in a chair, on a bench, or whatever is available to get it a couple or four feet above the floor. At least tilt it at a 30 degree angle or more. That alone helps a lot. If that doesn't get it bright enough, I don't know what else to recommend.

[st.bede]

I have a bunch of different pedals to shape the sound going into a amp. I think my two favs are: Homebrew Electronics (HBE) detox eq, and JHS clover.

If I remember correctly the detox eq uses germanium and imparts a warm sound. It does not sound clinical and precise. It was designed to work with a dimed amp as a volume roll off for cleaner sounds. It think that is why it is voiced warm. I do not use it that way.

The clover is a full preamp and imparts some extra clarity and note separation. I guess it sounds like a musical non fatigue-ing sonic maximizer. (Not a huge fan of the BBE stuff. However when needed and used with some restraint they can be very useful).

Also, often I can blend in my bridge PU with then neck PU to help get some clarity and bite. That with adjusting the eq on the amp itself might be helpful.

Sometimes I just get bored of the same amp or guitar and I switch out. I then dial in the new amp or guitar to basically sound almost the same as the pervious ones. My friends and fellow musicians say, I sound the same, however I hear a little difference. That is enough to make me happy.

[John A.]

People on the forum turned me on to the DV Mark Little Jazz, which I have used to play a lot of gigs; however, the tone is pretty dark for me, and even fiddling with all the knobs doesn’t really seem to do it for me. I love the amp’s size, volume, direct out, weight, usable reverb, I just wish I could get it in a little bit more of a ‘normal’ guitar tone that isn’t quite so mellow. Any suggestions?

Fender Champion 20 (similar size and weight, but not as loud as the LJ) or Champion 40 (a bit bigger and heavier, around the same loudness, or a bit more, due to the larger speaker). Both have a bunch of tweed and blackface emulations that are brighter and more Fendery than the DV. I have the 20, which I find loud enough for the gigs I do, FWIW.

[rpjazzguitar]

The DV Mark Jazz 12 is on sale at GC for nearly half price. I just bought one. $260 + tax, free shipping.

Same electronics as the LJ, but a 12" speaker. Cabinet is pretty big, but doesn't weigh much. It's open back, not ported like the LJ.

At home it seemed to sound pretty much like the LJ, but I played my big band thing with it last night and it sounded fine -- where the LJ seemed a little harsh.

[DanielleOM]

I currently have the DV Mark LJ, a Henriksen Bud 6, and a Boss Katana 50. The Henriksen Bud 6 is the one that I use, with the EQ controls set at 12 O'Clock.

[monkmiles]

Try a Quilter. Maybe the Super Block US if you don't need high power. Not only is it tiny, it's got good EQ control, an xlr direct out, and usable reverb.

[Karlos]

People on the forum turned me on to the DV Mark Little Jazz, which I have used to play a lot of gigs; however, the tone is pretty dark for me, and even fiddling with all the knobs doesn’t really seem to do it for me. I love the amp’s size, volume, direct out, weight, usable reverb, I just wish I could get it in a little bit more of a ‘normal’ guitar tone that isn’t quite so mellow. Any suggestions?

You could fit thinner strings, the sound will be brighter

[pingu]

maybe put a graphic eq in front
of it ?
these are ok apparently
and worth a try for very little
dough
Behringer EQ700 – Thomann UK

[rpjazzguitar]

Can't say I've had much luck with this, but lowering the pickup and raising the polepieces is supposed to help. The explanation is that it allows the pickup to sense a smaller area of string which means more higher order harmonics are sensed. Or something like that.