Help and Advice on Torres Kits please

PeterUK · September 28th, 2003, 07:44 AM

Hey Amp Heads

First post here!!

I'm now a seasoned (note I didn't say experienced or expert) guitar modder and although I'm happy with my amps, I'm interested in the Torres kit designed for the Fender Hot Rod Deluxe.

Theres the one on the American site (and one they sell through eBay, but only ship to US residents):

"The Fender HotRod Deluxe is a pretty good amp, but it has a problem sounding muddy unless you have the volume or drive control turned all the way up - often this is not the volume you want.

The clean sound also lacks that particular "sparkle" you hear from vintage Fender amps.

So we fixed it!!
This cool kit fixes the problem and keeps some nice brilliance when the volume and drive are turned down".

and this one:

*NEW ITEM* BAR-B-Q BASSMAN £205

Complete rebuild for the Blues Deluxe/Deville and Hot-Rod amps to produce a 'boutique standard' vintage classic: Basically replaces existing PCB and all related components including pots and tube sockets.

Now that sounds sexy.

Now the second one is new so it may not have been tried by any of you folks here, but has anyone tried the first one. Will it fit a UK-powered Hot Rod Deluxe.

Any help, feedback or abuse welcome.

Thanks in advance.

Peter

Silverface · September 28th, 2003, 11:40 AM

To put it mildly, Torres does not have the best reputation in the "tech community". Do a search in the "alt.guitar.amps" newsgroup....

I have, however, ordered a couple things from him out of sheer curiosity. I found instructions that didn't match parts, vague guidance, and my one phone call was met with complete indifference. Additionally, the "pre-CBS" kit I bought several years ago (on a whim - it was cheap and I was very curious what he might do differently from all the free/$2 worth of parts info on the 'net) was a strange mix of parts based on what he thought values would be like if they "aged" in an amp....and the instructions neither matched a typical Fender layout nor did the parts match the instructions. Yikes.

OTOH, the "mid boost" tone pot (a push-pull pot that uses an inductor to cut highs/lows...not really a mid "boost", but effective) I got from him is very cool.

So - it's your call. Most of the instructions for things similar to his "kits" are available free if you search around - if they're not, there's probably a good reason for it, if you get my meaning....

Tremo · September 28th, 2003, 05:58 PM

Here we go again...

I strongly recommend that you stay FAR away from Torres and his crap.

Lance · September 28th, 2003, 07:13 PM

You really don't want to mess with his stuff from everything I've heard (except the rare few that did acceptable experiences)

Bluedawg · September 28th, 2003, 10:16 PM

Yep,Tremo tried to warn me a little while back,I didn't listen.
Some people just have to learn the hard way.

PeterUK · September 29th, 2003, 01:26 AM

I am duly warned.

Anyway, I love the sound of my Hot Rod Deluxe as it is!!

Right, I'm off to Tele Tech.

Out of here!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Regards

Peter

hearmytrain · September 29th, 2003, 05:45 PM

[quote="PeterUK"] I'm interested in the Torres kit

a few months ago on one of my first posts, i chimed in concerning Torres...I won't go into detail, but, suffice it to say, I had a nightmare experience with Torres...stay far, far away!
Brad

September 28th, 2003, 07:44 AM	#1 (permalink)
PeterUK Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: . Posts: 2,816 4 Photos	Help and Advice on Torres Kits please Hey Amp Heads First post here!! I'm now a seasoned (note I didn't say experienced or expert) guitar modder and although I'm happy with my amps, I'm interested in the Torres kit designed for the Fender Hot Rod Deluxe. Theres the one on the American site (and one they sell through eBay, but only ship to US residents): "The Fender HotRod Deluxe is a pretty good amp, but it has a problem sounding muddy unless you have the volume or drive control turned all the way up - often this is not the volume you want. The clean sound also lacks that particular "sparkle" you hear from vintage Fender amps. So we fixed it!! This cool kit fixes the problem and keeps some nice brilliance when the volume and drive are turned down". and this one: NEW ITEM BAR-B-Q BASSMAN £205 Complete rebuild for the Blues Deluxe/Deville and Hot-Rod amps to produce a 'boutique standard' vintage classic: Basically replaces existing PCB and all related components including pots and tube sockets. Now that sounds sexy. Now the second one is new so it may not have been tried by any of you folks here, but has anyone tried the first one. Will it fit a UK-powered Hot Rod Deluxe. Any help, feedback or abuse welcome. Thanks in advance. Peter __________________ I Facebooked your Mother.

September 28th, 2003, 11:40 AM	#2 (permalink)
Silverface Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Hermosa Beach CA Age: 56 Posts: 1,877	Torres To put it mildly, Torres does not have the best reputation in the "tech community". Do a search in the "alt.guitar.amps" newsgroup.... I have, however, ordered a couple things from him out of sheer curiosity. I found instructions that didn't match parts, vague guidance, and my one phone call was met with complete indifference. Additionally, the "pre-CBS" kit I bought several years ago (on a whim - it was cheap and I was very curious what he might do differently from all the free/$2 worth of parts info on the 'net) was a strange mix of parts based on what he thought values would be like if they "aged" in an amp....and the instructions neither matched a typical Fender layout nor did the parts match the instructions. Yikes. OTOH, the "mid boost" tone pot (a push-pull pot that uses an inductor to cut highs/lows...not really a mid "boost", but effective) I got from him is very cool. So - it's your call. Most of the instructions for things similar to his "kits" are available free if you search around - if they're not, there's probably a good reason for it, if you get my meaning.... __________________ “No Chops – Great Tone” ©

September 28th, 2003, 07:13 PM	#4 (permalink)
Lance Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 2,163	Ditto.....skip it. You really don't want to mess with his stuff from everything I've heard (except the rare few that did acceptable experiences) __________________ Lance "not very good...but I make up for it by playing loud"

September 28th, 2003, 10:16 PM	#5 (permalink)
Bluedawg Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Mid-Atlantic,US Posts: 196	Yep,Tremo tried to warn me a little while back,I didn't listen. Some people just have to learn the hard way. __________________ Boom,Boom,Boom,Boom -J.L. Hooker

September 29th, 2003, 01:26 AM	#6 (permalink)
PeterUK Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: . Posts: 2,816 4 Photos	Gentlemen I am duly warned. Anyway, I love the sound of my Hot Rod Deluxe as it is!! Right, I'm off to Tele Tech. Out of here!!!!!!!!!!!!! Regards Peter __________________ I Facebooked your Mother.

September 28th, 2003, 05:58 PM	#3 (permalink)
Tremo Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Silicon Valley, CA, USA Posts: 3,678	Here we go again... I strongly recommend that you stay FAR away from Torres and his crap.

September 29th, 2003, 05:45 PM	#7 (permalink)
hearmytrain Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Marietta Ga Posts: 188	Re: Help and Advice on Torres Kits please [quote="PeterUK"] I'm interested in the Torres kit a few months ago on one of my first posts, i chimed in concerning Torres...I won't go into detail, but, suffice it to say, I had a nightmare experience with Torres...stay far, far away! Brad