Hot Rod Deluxe

I have a 2001 Fender Hot Rod Deluxe that I played for about four years on many gigs without issue, then one day my clean channel went silent...I took it to the only authorized repair shop in this area...three months later I finally got it back and within fifteen minutes I lost the drive channel...since I needed the amp for gigs, I just bought an overdrive pedal and moved on...it worked fine for several months and then two songs into the first set one night the whole thing went silent....so I bought a new amp...on the first trip to the "repair" shop they listed that they "repaired preamp and set bias"...on the second trip, they listed that they "replaced a 1 watt resistor, and IC Op amp 8 pin dip"
the amp has sat unused for over a year now, and I'd like to get it fixed, but I'm obviously reluctant to hand it back over to the morons at the only authorized Fender repair shop in the Springfield, MO. area. I'm not too bad with a soldering iron, and I've actually managed to fix some of my pedals and stuff, and if I knew what to replace, I'd just do it myself...I'd rather take it to someone who knows what they're doing and has the diagnostic equipment to find the issue...does anyone know of anybody in Southwest Missouri, Northeast Oklahoma or Northern Arkansas that may be able to fix this thing for good? It has power...it lights up and the tubes glow....just no sound at all...and the jacks are fine...

Id forget about the "Fender Authorized" thing and just find a good amp tech. Cant believe theres not a good amp guy in Branson. That city probably has 500 guitar amps per square mile in use.
Branson takes me back........ahh the good ol' days
I spent ALot of time in Mountain Home AK. My grampa used to play in a Band at a show outside Branson. And Silver Dollar city.....

This may not be a welcome "opinion" but I'd save the money on repairing Fender amps and buy a more exspensive but better built point to point amp that will not be breaking down eveytime you turn around. These Fenders are built to be disposable, the curcuit boards dont hold up to vibration and heat, They're like new cars these days, as soon as the warrenty and the payments are done you need a new one. You'll spend more money over your life time buying, repairing, replacing, and being aggrivated by these amps than if you buy a good one that will last a life time not to mention the improvment in tone and response that you'll get.

Yeah I thought surely there would be someone in this area that could address the problem, but Branson is a no man's land for guitar/amp repair for some inexplicable reason...

You're out of the 5 year warranty so why not take it to the best technician in the area? Who cares if it's a Fender technician when the warranty is gone? Good luck with the repair. My Hot Rod Deluxe is about 2 years old; no problems so far.

This may not be a welcome "opinion" but I'd save the money on repairing Fender amps and buy a more exspensive but better built point to point amp that will not be breaking down eveytime you turn around. These Fenders are built to be disposable, the curcuit boards dont hold up to vibration and heat, They're like new cars these days, as soon as the warrenty and the payments are done you need a new one. You'll spend more money over your life time buying, repairing, replacing, and being aggrivated by these amps than if you buy a good one that will last a life time not to mention the improvment in tone and response that you'll get.This is the correct answer. The Hot Rod series are but entry level amplifiers, neither designed nor built for the long run.

If you need reverb and the other things you've had on the HRD, I'd suggest an Allen Accomplice (http://allenamps.com/accomplice.php). Great sounding, built like a tank and come with a great warranty. If you don't want the reverb, etc., I'd suggest a 5F4 Super. Clay Hullett (http://hullettamps.com) can build you a good one.

Hey Jerome,
I just gotta ask where you play in Branson.
My parents lived there in the early 90s and still have a cabin near there.
Lots of good memories...

We play the majority of our gigs in Springfield, where there's more of a bar scene than in Branson. We have played Beverly's down here and The Outback Pub, as well as gigs in the outlying area around Branson. There are a few more clubs now that they've opened Branson Landing, so we're working on some bookings there. For the most part, Branson is about the theatre shows, which really isn't my cup of tea...for info about the band and current schedule check out www.myspace.com/therealthryllbilly

If the thing is shot, and you can solder, turn it into something useful. The trannys are good, you have a cab and a chassis, those are the expensive parts. Turn it into a 1-12 5F4 or 5e8, with diode rectifier.

steven

I had the very same problem on an older Fender Blues Deluxe and the AMP TECH fixed it for me. He had to remove the circuit cards from the chassis and re-solder EVERY CONNECTION on the circuit cards.

IMHO modern Fender circuit card amps are not designed to be used by professional musicians who play and haul their amps around on a daily basis.

You familiar with Fly By Night Music down in Neosho Mo? That guy has to know a good repairman. He's got tons of amps mostly vintage and with that kind of inventory he has to have a good repairman, maybe does it himself I don't for sure just a thought.

I get nervous everytime I take my HRDX out of the house. I never know whats gonna act up next. I've had just about everything go wrong with mine.

Now I only use it if its raining & I don't want to bring my good amp.

Those amps sound best when they don't power up.

Those amps sound best when they don't power up.I always thought they sounded best when they were burning.

The hot rod deluxe is an incredible sounding amp. I'm at a place in my life where I could pretty much get whatever amp I wanted. I got the hrdlx because I love the sound of it. It has a truly remarkable clean tone.

Mine has been played nearly everyday for the last four years without so much as a hiccup. I wish the tubes where chassis mounted but what can you do. I may have other amps in the future and I may try my hand at building a 5e3 sometime but it won't be because I think I can get a better tone, just a different one.

They are the deluxe reverb/bassman/twin etc... of the present age. A mass produced amp with a great tone. The rest is up to the player, but if you have one of these you have all the tools necessary in the amp department to make great music.

If I were in your shoes I would do just what your doing. Seek out information to see if you can address the problem yourself. If not, take it to a good repair person and try to get some kind of estimate as to the cost of fixing it. If the cost is going to run more than half the price of a used one in decent shape I would probably just get a used one and keep the other for spare parts or tinkering.

Entry level? Never thought of my HRD or my SuperSonic as entry but I guess I learn something ever day. I bought my HRD in 1998 so it is USA made but to be quite honest, I have never had a beter amp and I have many amps over the years. The Supersonic and the Twin stay at home when it is gig time. The HRD is my "go to" amp. Now granted, a Dr.Z would be nice BUT, with the current JJ tubes, read that AT7's in all but the 6L6 slots, and this thing sings. Never a glitch......ever! I do however run a Boss GT6 through the effects loop for the serious dist. sounds as it takes a great deal of volume to break up. The AT's help with this a little.

-Craig

This is the correct answer. The Hot Rod series are but entry level amplifiers, neither designed nor built for the long run.

If you need reverb and the other things you've had on the HRD, I'd suggest an Allen Accomplice (http://allenamps.com/accomplice.php). Great sounding, built like a tank and come with a great warranty. If you don't want the reverb, etc., I'd suggest a 5F4 Super. Clay Hullett (http://hullettamps.com) can build you a good one.

steve hickerson at tulsa guitar & electronics has a great reputation...(918) 742-4912

that sucks when gremlins haunt your gigging gear...:twisted:

The hot rod deluxe is an incredible sounding amp. I'm at a place in my life where I could pretty much get whatever amp I wanted. I got the hrdlx because I love the sound of it. It has a truly remarkable clean tone.

Mine has been played nearly everyday for the last four years without so much as a hiccup. I wish the tubes where chassis mounted but what can you do.

They are the deluxe reverb/bassman/twin etc... of the present age. A mass produced amp with a great tone. The rest is up to the player, but if you have one of these you have all the tools necessary in the amp department to make great music.

I agree wholeheartedly.

My name is Freterick M. Wilkes and I'm a Hot Rod Deluxe owner.

I use the clean channel only, currently with a Boss RV-3 set for a delay/reverb mix in the effects loop. The thing sounds GREAT...plain and simple. I did 3 gigs this week with it and a 52RI or TDPRI Partscaster Thinline and got MANY unsolicted compliments on my tone. I was thrilled to hear that 'cause I was digging the H-E-double-hockey-sticks out of my sound. I was just plain tickled, and it was nice to know that others heard the same thing that I was hearing.

The amp is 6 years old and I've never had a problem. I don't baby it, but I don't throw it down the stairs either.

For the money spent you can not beat the value, no matter what ANYONE says. I would find it hard to believe that a Strat with a talent lever wouldn't sound outstanding with the setup I have right now, especially in the hands of a master because it sounds wonderful in the hands of this bush leaguer.

One of the best things about the Hot Rod Deluxe is that it gives us a topic on the TDPRI that we can DIScuss over and over and over, just like the Telecaster.

I just recently sold a blackfaced Vibrolux Reverb that I bought from David Allen. The amp was outstanding yes, but it didn't sound any better than the HR Deluxe. In fact when I got the amp (completey refurbished by David) I expected to be blown away as all I've had for sometime now is the "lowly" HR Deluxe. I was thrilled to have the coveted Fender amp, but at the same time I was singing the old Peggy Lee hit "Is that all there is my friend?" I sold the expensive amp and kept the cheapy.

The Hot Rod Deluxe is a fine amp for the getus...PERIOD. (IMHO, YMMV, UYA, EMS, ETC., ETC.)

Here's the HR Deluxe in action and sounding GREAT...HONEST!

http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/546/Mill_Rats.JPG

I agree wholeheartedly.

My name is Freterick M. Wilkes and I'm a Hot Rod Deluxe owner.

I use the clean channel only, currently with a Boss RV-3 set for a delay/reverb mix in the effects loop. The thing sounds GREAT...plain and simple. I did 3 gigs this week with it and a 52RI or TDPRI Partscaster Thinline and got MANY unsolicted compliments on my tone. I was thrilled to hear that 'cause I was digging the H-E-double-hockey-sticks out of my sound. I was just plain tickled, and it was nice to know that others heard the same thing that I was hearing.

The amp is 6 years old and I've never had a problem. I don't baby it, but I don't throw it down the stairs either.

For the money spent you can not beat the value, no matter what ANYONE says. I would find it hard to believe that a Strat with a talent lever wouldn't sound outstanding with the setup I have right now, especially in the hands of a master because it sounds wonderful in the hands of this bush leaguer.

One of the best things about the Hot Rod Deluxe is that it gives us a topic on the TDPRI that we can DIScuss over and over and over, just like the Telecaster.

I just recently sold a blackfaced Vibrolux Reverb that I bought from David Allen. The amp was outstanding yes, but it didn't sound any better than the HR Deluxe. In fact when I got the amp (completey refurbished by David) I expected to be blown away as all I've had for sometime now is the "lowly" HR Deluxe. I was thrilled to have the coveted Fender amp, but at the same time I was singing the old Peggy Lee hit "Is that all there is my friend?" I sold the expensive amp and kept the cheapy.

The Hot Rod Deluxe is a fine amp for the getus...PERIOD. (IMHO, YMMV, UYA, EMS, ETC., ETC.)

Here's the HR Deluxe in action and sounding GREAT...HONEST!

http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/546/Mill_Rats.JPG


I don't think the beef on this forum with the HRD is tone but the quality of construction and RELIALIBITY issues for people that gig and haul the amp regularly. I have owned both the Blues Deluxe and Hot Rod Deluxe and if you keep and use one long enough you will also find out their flaws.I hope you have another amp along side of you for use when the HRD goes silent with the power on.
Both amps sound very good and that is why I bought them in the first place.The second happiest day of a BD or HRD owners life is the day he/she sells them. Good luck with your amp.

I like my HRDeV very much, but I don't gig with it and it doesn't move much.

From an eng's point of view there's a few head scratchers (audio taper volume pot?? & alot of mechanical stresses where I wouldn't have put them) but I think those are mostly due to cost issues.

I'm not terribly scared of something going wrong because I have this overriding sense of hubris that I can fix it.

I don't think the beef on this forum with the HRD is tone but the quality of construction and RELIALIBITY issues for people that gig and haul the amp regularly. I have owned both the Blues Deluxe and Hot Rod Deluxe and if you keep and use one long enough you will also find out their flaws.I hope you have another amp along side of you for use when the HRD goes silent with the power on.
Both amps sound very good and that is why I bought them in the first place.The second happiest day of a BD or HRD owners life is the day he/she sells them. Good luck with your amp.

I've been gigging this amp REGULARLY for the last 6 years with absolutely no problems.

A backup amp is a good idea for a working musician regardless of the platform he is currently using....s#!t happens. Contingencies!

Thanks for your opinions and I HAVE had good luck with my amp.

:wink:

I think the most important issue is not whether or not you have a PTP or a PCB amp, but whether you have a decent amp tech or not. No matter what your amps construction it can fail, and probably will if you gig it often enough.

I'm afraid I just don't buy the advice to "get yourself a real amp" as it were. I've seen Doyle Bramhall and loads of others among the world's top players play Fender Hot Rod amps. In fact there are probably 10 times as many Fender HR amps being played by gigging pros as every single boutique amp in the world put together. I don't doubt that they're less reliable than an excellently manufactured ptp amp, but I'm absolutely sure that ptp amps fail too.

http://www.tdpri.com/telephoto/data/500/HTRD.GIF

Brother Fezz has the right idea.

I don't doubt that they're less reliable than an excellently manufactured ptp amp, but I'm absolutely sure that ptp amps fail too.

That's very true,It's when you go to fix a PCB amp that causes the problem. Most of us can't deal with doing anything with a PCB board amp, and even trained techs take more time (IE: more $ from you) to repair them. I've had to remove the entire board from a Bassman Reissue just to replace a screen resistor.

This takes amybe 1/2 hour on a PTP amp but all day (for an amature like me, a pro could do it faster).

Most pros you see with these amps certainly have a backup, and they're usually supplied by local companies. Even if they do drag one around with them, they can usually afford to just buy another one. Not an option for most of us.

Those amps sound fine (I've heard great players make them sound great) to me, except for the overdrive channel, and they are certainly modern classics. I do think a nice PTP amp does sound better, but that's just my opinion.

In my experience, ANY tube amp will sooner or later have some sort of problem, and I'd rather be able to fix it myself with simple tools and my level of soldering skills. I've never had a problem with a PTP amp that I couldn't fix myself , but I've experienced the frustration of waiting for DAYS to get a PCB amp fixed. The only amps that I've had fail on stage have been PCB amps, as well.

I've heard the analogy of old cars vs. new ones, and while useful, it doesn't hold up. Old cars were easy for the "shade tree" mechanic to fix with simple tools, but they tended to break down WAY more often than todays vehicles. The old cars didn't perform nearly as well as the new ones do, either. None of that is true in the PCB/Handwire comparison. The only real advantage PCB Construction has (at least the way Fender does it) over point to point is that it is cheaper to make.

So, if you have one of the modern Fender amps and love the sound of it, get yourself one of those crate powerblock amps for a backup and carry on. Just don't expect to still be using it 30 years from now or give it to your kids as an heirloom.

While I am definitely tempted to try the Fezz approach to amp maintenence, I'd still like to have my HotRod back...

steve hickerson at tulsa guitar & electronics has a great reputation...(918) 742-4912
this is a good place for warrenty work so i give a +1 for this recommendation

but if you want the hands down best amp tech in the tri-state area, from what i hear, that would be Rick Potter. i can get his contact info if you are interested... he does mostly PTP work though... not sure about what his interest would be with the PCB stuff like current Fender offerings, etc...