Headrush Amplifiers
’59 Tweed Deluxe
Inspired by Fender Tweed Deluxe
The model '59 Tweed Deluxe it is based on the classic Fender Deluxe 1959 (tweed).
Main features:
- Overdrive natural and vintage
- Early breakup → soft crunch already at medium volume
- Warm sound, rich in mids and dynamic
- Ideal for blues, rock, country and expressive leads
Compared to the Deluxe Gain Mod, the Tweed Deluxe is more "transparent" and dynamic, less compressed.
BluesRockHard RockHeavy MetalCountryAcousticBassJazz
Controls
Tone
Control the balance of high frequencies:
- Low → warmer and darker sound
- High → brighter and sharper sound Recommended: adjust depending on the guitar and pickup to avoid excess brightness
Inst Vol
Instrument / guitar input channel volume:
- Controls the level of the signal entering the preamp
- High → more natural gain and crunch
- Low → clean, less saturation
- Interacts with the
- Tone: more inst vol = more breakup → higher the perceived tone
Mic Vol
Volume of the cabinet's virtual microphone:
- Controls the level of the simulated internal output of the microphone
- High → greater presence and punch
- Low → softer sound Serves to balance the final tone or create differences between direct and miked sounds
Output Level
Final amplifier volume control:
- Negative values → attenuation 0 d
- B → neutral volume
- Positive values → final signal boost Does not alter the timbre, only the overall level
Pro Tips
BEHAVIOR OF THE AMPLIFIER
- Natural breakup already at medium volumes
- Answer very dynamic: varies depending on the picking and volume of the guitar
Tone and Inst Vol work together to define crunch
- Inst Vol high + Tone high → bright and aggressive sound
- Low Vol Inst + Low Tone → soft clean
FINAL ADVICE
- Deluxe Tweed Key: dynamics + guitar volume control
- Inst Vol adjusts the natural crunch
- Tone modulates brilliance and definition
- Mic Vol helps shape the final sound without touching the gain
Setup Examples
Clean vintage
Tone45%
Inst Vol30%
Mic Vol50%
Output Level0dB
Blues / light crunch
Tone55%
Inst Vol50%
Mic Vol60%
Output Level0dB
Cantabile lead / solo
Tone60–65%
Inst Vol65–70%
Mic Vol60%
Output Level0–+2 dB
Eric Clapton Style (“Bluesbreaker / Woman Tone”)
Tone (%)50–55% → warm but defined
Inst Vol (%)35–45% → light natural crunch
Mic Vol (%)50–55% → moderate presence
Output Level (dB)0 dB → neutral volume
Overdrive / Boost (optional)
- K Drive / S1 Drive
- Drive: 10–15%
- Level: 60–70%
- Tone: 50–55%
- Light boost to make the notes sing without dirtying the tone
Sound
- Clean → warm and round
- Strong attack → light natural crunch
- Lead → long notes “sing” like the classic Les Paul / Tweed amp
Recommendations for use
- Neck pickup → soft lead
- Bridge / center pickup → defined rhythm
- Guitar volume:
- 6–7 → clean
- 8–10 → light crunch
- Technique: Wide Vibrato, Volume Control with the right hand, Expressive Bending
More aggressive / blues-rock variant
- Inst Vol: 50–60%
- Tone: 55–60%
- K Drive / S1 Level: 70–80%
Gary Moore Style (Blues/Rock Lead)
Tone (%)60–65% → brighter and punchier
Inst Vol (%)55–65% → medium-high crunch
Mic Vol (%)55–60% → greater presence
Output Level (dB)0–+2 dB → slight boost for sustain
Overdrive/Boost
- S1 Drive / K Drive
- Drive: 20–35% → sustain and pronounced crunch
- Level: 70–85%
- Tone: 55–65%
Fundamental to Gary Moore's signature “singing” sound
Sound
- Clean → light crunch with natural dynamics
- Lead → long, sustained notes
- Full-bodied and warm sound, with pronounced mids
Recommendations for use
- Neck pickup → soft lead
- Bridge pickup → sharper solo
- Guitar volume:6–7 → light crunch8–10 → singable solo
- 6–7 → light crunch
- 8–10 → cantabile solo
- Technique:
- Wide vibrato
- Light right hand touch for dynamics
- Expressive and controlled bending
Final advice
- Clapton → warmer and softer, more dynamic
- Moore → more incisive, singable lead, pronounced crunch
- Always check the guitar volume to modulate the natural crunch of Tweed Deluxe