which has more headroom compared to my HR DELUXE?

chicknpikr · September 4th, 2007, 05:20 PM

AC 15, OR A VALVETRONIX 30 WATT..THINKIN ABOUT DUMPIN THE hr

marshman · September 5th, 2007, 09:24 AM

Wellll, I guess it would help to have a bit more info. For starters, the one thing I'd never complained about with my HRDx was lack of headroom. Perhaps a fresh set of tubes and a bais check would be in order, before you change amps. Maybe a look around the "Unofficial home of the HRDx" would help you out...http://studentweb.eku.edu/justin_holton/

That being said, the choices seem a bit odd. In theory, headroom is a function of power, and both of the amps you've listed are lower powered than the HRDx, and would therefore probably both have lower headroom than the HRDx.

If you're looking for maximum versatility, the Valvetronix is probably the better choice. It is very reasonably priced and includes modeling capacity and some built in effects. The AC15 is going to be a much more straightforward amp with much less in the bells and whistles department. if you're tube nut like most of us, the choice is already made for you, however. EL84s are loud, especially with a good speaker, but you're still not likely to get Hot Rod beating headroom out of one.

Happy hunting

klast · September 5th, 2007, 11:31 AM

The HRD has lot's of headroom, and when I tested it against a 50 W Peavey ValveKing, the HRD was considerably louder!
As for the Vox AD30VT, if you are thinking of the "old" model, with 10" speaker, it's definitely not as loud as the HRD. The new XL model has a 12" speaker, but I doubt whether it can compete with an HRD.
I have the "old" model and we use it at band practice with a fairly loud drummer. It cuts through alright, but not with much margin.

The Vox AC15CC has a warmer sound than the HRD, but I don't think it can match the HRD's headroom.

Klas

chicknpikr · September 5th, 2007, 08:16 PM

AT OUTSIDE GIGS i have to crank it up at least to 7 1/2 or 8 ..then it starts to break up..especially on the a and e strings I get a nasty distorted tone.I heard all this talk about tube rattle and the wrong kind of volume pots and replacing tubes..if I have to spend 2 or $300 on this amp to have it modded whats the point?

Fret Wilkes · September 5th, 2007, 08:33 PM

1st I would suggest, if you haven't already done this, you try turning the bass down as the voulme goes up. The HR Deluxe has a lot of bottom anyway.

I just played an outside gig last Saturday with my 52RI a Nobels ODR-1 for just a little dirt and my stock HR Deluxe on the Clean channel only. I had the Volume straight up which I think might just be 7, I had the Mid about 8-9, Treble about 5, Bass about 2-3, and Presence on 2. I do not use the internal Reverb, as I have a Holy Grail in the effects loop.

The amp sounded GREAT with a nice tight bottom end and was plenty loud, I would go so far as to say dominant on the stage with 2 other guitars!

If you've already done the bass thingy, then you might want to invest in a Weber California Ceramic 12 with a paper cone. I had one in a HR Deluxe and it was awesome. It made the amp very present and tightened the bottom even more.

As mentioned earlier though, a fresh set of tubes biased correctly may just do the trick.

Good luck,
Fret

chicknpikr · September 5th, 2007, 08:55 PM

I do usually run my bass full..I will try this idea

September 4th, 2007, 05:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
chicknpikr Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 168	which has more headroom compared to my HR DELUXE? AC 15, OR A VALVETRONIX 30 WATT..THINKIN ABOUT DUMPIN THE hr __________________ If the club owner tells you to turn down you must be doing something right!

September 5th, 2007, 11:31 AM	#3 (permalink)
klast Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sweden Age: 59 Posts: 196	The HRD has lot's of headroom, and when I tested it against a 50 W Peavey ValveKing, the HRD was considerably louder! As for the Vox AD30VT, if you are thinking of the "old" model, with 10" speaker, it's definitely not as loud as the HRD. The new XL model has a 12" speaker, but I doubt whether it can compete with an HRD. I have the "old" model and we use it at band practice with a fairly loud drummer. It cuts through alright, but not with much margin. The Vox AC15CC has a warmer sound than the HRD, but I don't think it can match the HRD's headroom. Klas __________________ ...all the times I've had to play while people sat there drunk...

September 5th, 2007, 08:16 PM	#4 (permalink)
chicknpikr Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 168	ok here's why I am not liking my HR AT OUTSIDE GIGS i have to crank it up at least to 7 1/2 or 8 ..then it starts to break up..especially on the a and e strings I get a nasty distorted tone.I heard all this talk about tube rattle and the wrong kind of volume pots and replacing tubes..if I have to spend 2 or $300 on this amp to have it modded whats the point? __________________ If the club owner tells you to turn down you must be doing something right!

September 5th, 2007, 08:33 PM	#5 (permalink)
Fret Wilkes Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Harmony, R.I. Age: 51 Posts: 872 21 Photos	1st I would suggest, if you haven't already done this, you try turning the bass down as the voulme goes up. The HR Deluxe has a lot of bottom anyway. I just played an outside gig last Saturday with my 52RI a Nobels ODR-1 for just a little dirt and my stock HR Deluxe on the Clean channel only. I had the Volume straight up which I think might just be 7, I had the Mid about 8-9, Treble about 5, Bass about 2-3, and Presence on 2. I do not use the internal Reverb, as I have a Holy Grail in the effects loop. The amp sounded GREAT with a nice tight bottom end and was plenty loud, I would go so far as to say dominant on the stage with 2 other guitars! If you've already done the bass thingy, then you might want to invest in a Weber California Ceramic 12 with a paper cone. I had one in a HR Deluxe and it was awesome. It made the amp very present and tightened the bottom even more. As mentioned earlier though, a fresh set of tubes biased correctly may just do the trick. Good luck, Fret __________________ See, I didn't reconize ya when ya first drove up till ya stuck yer hand out and wove then I seen right off who ya was and knowd ya. Epiphany: The Ignore List can make the TDPRI and even BETTER place to be!

September 5th, 2007, 08:55 PM	#6 (permalink)
chicknpikr Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 168	thnx I do usually run my bass full..I will try this idea __________________ If the club owner tells you to turn down you must be doing something right!

September 5th, 2007, 09:24 AM	#2 (permalink)
marshman Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: SE PA Posts: 644	Wellll, I guess it would help to have a bit more info. For starters, the one thing I'd never complained about with my HRDx was lack of headroom. Perhaps a fresh set of tubes and a bais check would be in order, before you change amps. Maybe a look around the "Unofficial home of the HRDx" would help you out...http://studentweb.eku.edu/justin_holton/ That being said, the choices seem a bit odd. In theory, headroom is a function of power, and both of the amps you've listed are lower powered than the HRDx, and would therefore probably both have lower headroom than the HRDx. If you're looking for maximum versatility, the Valvetronix is probably the better choice. It is very reasonably priced and includes modeling capacity and some built in effects. The AC15 is going to be a much more straightforward amp with much less in the bells and whistles department. if you're tube nut like most of us, the choice is already made for you, however. EL84s are loud, especially with a good speaker, but you're still not likely to get Hot Rod beating headroom out of one. Happy hunting