I was able to do the A/B test between the '65 DRRI and the Supersonic 22 in the end, and after a long session of tweaking, noodling and discussion I went for the former. The SS 22 is a great little amp and really versatile, but the DRRI had the old-school blackface 'mojo'. The SS 22 isn't, much to my surprise, simply a DRRI with a gain channel: its clean channel is in fact brighter than the counterpart in the DRRI, although the 'fat' switch is a neat addition. It was actually a little *too* bright for me and I couldn't dial out that shrillness. In order from bright to dark I'd say it's: SS 22 clean -> DRRI trem -> DRRI normal.

The DRRI's 'normal' channel is darker than I expected but the trem channel has what I wanted - a clear, chiming quality that isn't harsh (the trem and reverb are nice too). Running a Muff or Fab Tone through the trem channel is too bright-sounding, but my Rat sounds awesome. The amp takes pedals well now I've connected my home pedal chain setup, and although I was impressed with the SS 22 it was a little too cutting and 'modern'. I'm sure lots of people will find much to love about it though, and rightly so.

DRRIs aren't cheap but I took a meandering route to reach the simple realisation that I had to get a blackface amp for blackface cleans. It was worth comparing the two, and TBH it was a tough call - in the end I just went on what my ears were telling me, and if this post is of any help to the rest of you, so much the better!

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Guitar rig: CIJ Fender Jazzmaster -> TU-3 -> Fulltone OCD -> RV-5 -> custom IC Muff -> PS-2 -> Small Clone -> MXR Carbon Copy -> DD-3 -> RV-3 -> LS-2 -> Fender '65 DRRI & Mesa/Boogie F-50

Bass rig: Fender MIM Jazz Bass -> TU-2 -> Boss LS-2 -> custom RAT 2 -> Sansamp BDDI -> RV-5 -> USB preamp/mixer

Nice score. The DR's clean channel has been the backbone of a ton of great tones over the years. Can't go wrong with a DR clean as your starting point.

And "I had to get a blackface amp for blackface cleans" -- ain't that the hard-learned truth. Want A? Get A. Seems obvious when you sort it out, but there you have it.

Rock on.

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- IAN C. -
Rig: PRS | Schecter USA | Guild USA | Axe-Fx II | empress effects
Beta tester: Fractal Audio | empress effects