Hot Rod Deluxe

Caper · March 31st, 2003, 09:06 PM

Any other HRD owners. Mine was made in 96. I bought it used in mint condition. I just retubed it with GT's, with 12AT7 in V2. Thinking about a speaker swap also.

Baard · April 2nd, 2003, 08:03 AM

I have gigged regurlarly with one for two years. Great clean tone, all stock. I just got a bit fed up with it...sold it and bought a SF super reverb. They use the same tubes. I can´t say one is better than the other, they are both good amplifiers,for the cleant twangy stuff, i just needed a change.......The HRD is more polished in the sound, and a bit flatter.....miked it makes little difference...

Baard

Smokey · April 2nd, 2003, 08:40 AM

Good clean tone, loud too. The OD channel sucks though. I sold mine a few weeks ago.

Ben Harmless · April 2nd, 2003, 03:30 PM

I think the HRD amps are actually great values from Fender, which these days is getting rarer. I've seen 'em used by blues bands, rock bands, ska bands, country bands, zydeco bands, and punk bands. In every case, the amp worked, and provided a usable tone for the given application.

I was considering getting a Hot Rod Deville for a little while, but when I cranked it up in the store, the 4X10s didn't seem to project as much sound as I would expect from a 60 watt amp. I'm thinking some higher efficiancy speakers would help that amp. Most people who buy from the Hot Rod range end up swapping the speaker(s) eventually.

As far as the OD channel goes, it could be better, it could be worse. I've found that a good clean boost makes it come alive - even at lower gain settings. Try a Blues Driver for that kind of thing. I got a very organic tone that way in the store.

In the long run, I bought myself a Reverend Hellhound, which is somewhere in that general price range, and I'm pretty happy with it. When I was working at a music store though, I sold a lot of new HRDs to players who didn't feel the need to spend a fortune on their amp, and a lot of used HRDs to kids looking for their first tube amp. None seemed to complain.

Kris · April 2nd, 2003, 05:24 PM

...for an Ashdown Peacemaker 40.

I liked the HRD clean tone just fine -- after I'd upgraded the speaker, replaced all tubes and had it biased hot. But I always felt it was a bit awkward: Awkward to carry for a medium combo, awkward with knobs on back panel with illegible markings, ...But the clean channel sounded just fine and interacted nicely with OD pedals.

Now that Ashdown! There's an amp!

Kris

Mike D. · April 3rd, 2003, 09:06 PM

I seem to have a love-hate relationship with this amp. Right now I am loving it. I recently retubed with a full compliment of JJ's from Eurotubes. Sounds great. Of course, I never use the OD channel, but it does accept pedals well. Doubt that I will ever sell it. Good utility amp.

joeboy · April 4th, 2003, 02:51 PM

i've had my HRD for about half a year.
that sapsucker is loud, i tell you what!

regarding tone, as most folks will tell you,
there's not much else i'd like from a clean channel.
for overdriven tones, i use a barber "direct drive".

now, as one fellow pointed out, i never have tried the
"direct drive" when using one of the hot channels.
that could be interesting.

i just bought a mesa engineering extension cabinet.
it's got a 12' celestion custom 90 speaker in it.
i really like the combination of the eminence stock
speaker in the HRD with the celestion extension.
question is, which one do i mike to go through the p.a.?

my two cents,
joe

FRETCOM · April 4th, 2003, 03:30 PM

I have the HRD and love it. I bought it new about 2-2 1/2 years ago. Recently had it re-tubed with Svetlana 6L6's and JJ 12AX7's...biased to 40. Boy what a difference the new tubes and bias makes compared to the stock GT's.

I have heard that it would do better with a different speaker but haven't tried that.

I like the amp all the way around. I use the distortion channels as well. I do not use a separate dist pedal...just purchased a Visual Sound H2O for chorus and delay and I think it will sound just great.

For the price, features, sound/tone, portability...it's a great amp IMHO.

FRETCOM
www.geocities.com/smilingrhinos

Lew UK · April 8th, 2003, 04:42 PM

had one,had it for 3 yrs it served me well,recently sold it to buy a SFVR,we have a one in one out piolicy in this house :)
Good amp

EMan · April 8th, 2003, 06:06 PM

I bought a HRDlx new in '99/'00. It did have a few electrical problems, which I fixed. Mainly poor connections with all them spade lugs in there.

After that, it was great. I was really kind of amazed that the amp had 'so much'. Loud and really great clean tone.

I used the "drive" channel a few times..but found the secret to that feature was volume. You had to get the amp way up there for it to start singing.

Unfortunately, that was a little too loud.

I sold it to a metal dood, and he's still hammering it with no complaints. I replaced it with a SFDR('72).

Ian · April 9th, 2003, 02:20 PM

I've had my HRD for @ 4yrs , and depending on the day...I love it...sometimes though.....notsomuch !!!
What mods have folks made ? What styles to you play w/ it ? I 've only re-tubed mine with the same tubes that came stock.
Hey Caper!! How's life back east?? I do miss the Ocean...Grecko.....St. Johns..Halifax...Musicstop...ect!! Alberta's been good to us but it AIN'T home!!!!
CHEERS!!!

JDO · April 9th, 2003, 03:05 PM

i haven't owned or played one but there was an interesting thread on the fender forum about making a BD sound like DR. i think this is the thread. http://www.fenderforum.com/forum.htm...-04-0322:31:51

i don't have a way to try it or deny it but it was an interesting read.

Caper · April 9th, 2003, 03:32 PM

Ian as a matter of fact I live by the ocean. I live in a small community called Florence, I can watch the boats leave North Sydney headed for NF. It was a long cold winter here with the most snowfall we've seen in 10 yrs. I have family in Alberta as well. Speaking of Musicstop I deal with them in Sydney. Good hearing from another Ol' Salt

March 31st, 2003, 09:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
Caper Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 2,151 6 Photos	Hot Rod Deluxe Any other HRD owners. Mine was made in 96. I bought it used in mint condition. I just retubed it with GT's, with 12AT7 in V2. Thinking about a speaker swap also.

April 2nd, 2003, 08:03 AM	#2 (permalink)
Baard Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Denmark Posts: 668	I had one I have gigged regurlarly with one for two years. Great clean tone, all stock. I just got a bit fed up with it...sold it and bought a SF super reverb. They use the same tubes. I can´t say one is better than the other, they are both good amplifiers,for the cleant twangy stuff, i just needed a change.......The HRD is more polished in the sound, and a bit flatter.....miked it makes little difference... Baard

April 2nd, 2003, 03:30 PM	#4 (permalink)
Ben Harmless Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Albany, NY US of A Posts: 2,951 5 Photos	I think the HRD amps are actually great values from Fender, which these days is getting rarer. I've seen 'em used by blues bands, rock bands, ska bands, country bands, zydeco bands, and punk bands. In every case, the amp worked, and provided a usable tone for the given application. I was considering getting a Hot Rod Deville for a little while, but when I cranked it up in the store, the 4X10s didn't seem to project as much sound as I would expect from a 60 watt amp. I'm thinking some higher efficiancy speakers would help that amp. Most people who buy from the Hot Rod range end up swapping the speaker(s) eventually. As far as the OD channel goes, it could be better, it could be worse. I've found that a good clean boost makes it come alive - even at lower gain settings. Try a Blues Driver for that kind of thing. I got a very organic tone that way in the store. In the long run, I bought myself a Reverend Hellhound, which is somewhere in that general price range, and I'm pretty happy with it. When I was working at a music store though, I sold a lot of new HRDs to players who didn't feel the need to spend a fortune on their amp, and a lot of used HRDs to kids looking for their first tube amp. None seemed to complain. __________________ "I think I'll go for the life of sin, followed by the last-minute, presto-change-o, deathbed repentance." - B. Simpson

April 2nd, 2003, 05:24 PM	#5 (permalink)
Kris Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Reykjavik, Iceland Posts: 352	Traded mine in... ...for an Ashdown Peacemaker 40. I liked the HRD clean tone just fine -- after I'd upgraded the speaker, replaced all tubes and had it biased hot. But I always felt it was a bit awkward: Awkward to carry for a medium combo, awkward with knobs on back panel with illegible markings, ...But the clean channel sounded just fine and interacted nicely with OD pedals. Now that Ashdown! There's an amp! Kris

April 3rd, 2003, 09:06 PM	#6 (permalink)
Mike D. Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 569	'94 Blues DeVille 2x12 I seem to have a love-hate relationship with this amp. Right now I am loving it. I recently retubed with a full compliment of JJ's from Eurotubes. Sounds great. Of course, I never use the OD channel, but it does accept pedals well. Doubt that I will ever sell it. Good utility amp.

April 2nd, 2003, 08:40 AM	#3 (permalink)
Smokey TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 78	Good clean tone, loud too. The OD channel sucks though. I sold mine a few weeks ago.

April 4th, 2003, 02:51 PM	#7 (permalink)
joeboy TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: san jose, ca Posts: 20	deluxe i've had my HRD for about half a year. that sapsucker is loud, i tell you what! regarding tone, as most folks will tell you, there's not much else i'd like from a clean channel. for overdriven tones, i use a barber "direct drive". now, as one fellow pointed out, i never have tried the "direct drive" when using one of the hot channels. that could be interesting. i just bought a mesa engineering extension cabinet. it's got a 12' celestion custom 90 speaker in it. i really like the combination of the eminence stock speaker in the HRD with the celestion extension. question is, which one do i mike to go through the p.a.? my two cents, joe __________________ forget your nose; pick a Tele!

April 4th, 2003, 03:30 PM	#8 (permalink)
FRETCOM TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 31	I too have an HRD I have the HRD and love it. I bought it new about 2-2 1/2 years ago. Recently had it re-tubed with Svetlana 6L6's and JJ 12AX7's...biased to 40. Boy what a difference the new tubes and bias makes compared to the stock GT's. I have heard that it would do better with a different speaker but haven't tried that. I like the amp all the way around. I use the distortion channels as well. I do not use a separate dist pedal...just purchased a Visual Sound H2O for chorus and delay and I think it will sound just great. For the price, features, sound/tone, portability...it's a great amp IMHO. FRETCOM www.geocities.com/smilingrhinos

April 8th, 2003, 04:42 PM	#9 (permalink)
Lew UK Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: UK Posts: 1,388	had one,had it for 3 yrs it served me well,recently sold it to buy a SFVR,we have a one in one out piolicy in this house :) Good amp

April 8th, 2003, 06:06 PM	#10 (permalink)
EMan Tele-Holic Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 939	I bought a HRDlx new in '99/'00. It did have a few electrical problems, which I fixed. Mainly poor connections with all them spade lugs in there. After that, it was great. I was really kind of amazed that the amp had 'so much'. Loud and really great clean tone. I used the "drive" channel a few times..but found the secret to that feature was volume. You had to get the amp way up there for it to start singing. Unfortunately, that was a little too loud. I sold it to a metal dood, and he's still hammering it with no complaints. I replaced it with a SFDR('72).

April 9th, 2003, 02:20 PM	#11 (permalink)
Ian Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 634	Bias /Speaker mods...what did everybody do ?? I've had my HRD for @ 4yrs , and depending on the day...I love it...sometimes though.....notsomuch !!! What mods have folks made ? What styles to you play w/ it ? I 've only re-tubed mine with the same tubes that came stock. Hey Caper!! How's life back east?? I do miss the Ocean...Grecko.....St. Johns..Halifax...Musicstop...ect!! Alberta's been good to us but it AIN'T home!!!! CHEERS!!!

April 9th, 2003, 03:05 PM	#12 (permalink)
JDO Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Pittsboro, NC Posts: 597	i haven't owned or played one but there was an interesting thread on the fender forum about making a BD sound like DR. i think this is the thread. http://www.fenderforum.com/forum.htm...-04-0322:31:51 i don't have a way to try it or deny it but it was an interesting read. __________________ clean as a whistle

April 9th, 2003, 03:32 PM	#13 (permalink)
Caper Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 2,151 6 Photos	Ian as a matter of fact I live by the ocean. I live in a small community called Florence, I can watch the boats leave North Sydney headed for NF. It was a long cold winter here with the most snowfall we've seen in 10 yrs. I have family in Alberta as well. Speaking of Musicstop I deal with them in Sydney. Good hearing from another Ol' Salt