Blues Deluxe or Hot Rod Deluxe?

[FFTT]

Originally Posted by 84K

Randall makes that quad preamp. Get that and the VHT Two/Fifty/Two Power Amp. BAM! Your dreams will become reality.... and your dreams are rackable.

******//www.randallamplifiers.com/pro...ts/mtsrack.asp

******//www.vhtamp.com/frames.html

The benefits of separate pre amp/power amps have gone forgotten in recent years. I could go into it, but that would be another thread.

There are several amps that offer the option to switch between 6L6's and EL34's, but
I'm not seeing anything out there allowing the option of 6L6's to EL84's

So a swapable Fender/ Marshall Sound and a Vox/Hiwatt/Marshall sound seem quite doable, but it doesn't look like anyone's making a Fender/Vox in the low to mid power
amps.

[84K]

Originally Posted by FFTT

There are several amps that offer the option to switch between 6L6's and EL34's, but
I'm not seeing anything out there allowing the option of 6L6's to EL84's

So a swapable Fender/ Marshall Sound and a Vox/Hiwatt/Marshall sound seem quite doable, but it doesn't look like anyone's making a Fender/Vox in the low to mid power
amps.

Opps... sorry, I forgot to add the THD Yellow Jackets to the equation.

******//www.thdelectronics.com/produc...low_jacket.htm

MY BAD. But there you have it.

[FFTT]

I'm having a rough time deciding,

The Bad Cat Tone cat looks amazing but dayam the price.!

I'm really starting to take a hard look at the hand wired Fender Vibro Kings.
A bit bulky to haul, but supposedly a super sweet hand built amp for around $2000.00.

What would make this amp a dream would be a custom installed half power option.

[6strings]

Originally Posted by chrisp2u

I just picked up a late '90's (USA made) hot rod. Haven't spent a ton of time with it yet, but it is a very usable amp.

I agree. And the drive channel IS nice for dirty tones, just not full distortion (FTR, I never touch the "more drive" channel) - I actually prefer the HR drive channel to my TS808 pedal. You just got to keep the drive control set reasonable (mine's under 4 right now) If anyone thinks they're going to get usable distortion from a Fender, then they're looking at the wrong amp. (Look at Marshalls instead) There's a reason why a lot of rock guys go with A/B rigs on stage. Anyway...

Differences between HRD and BD here:

******//studentweb.eku.edu/justin_hol...ml#bluesdeluxe

And I agree a lower watt model like the B Jr. will probably be better for studio use. Thought I assume you'll lose that Fender clean as you crank up and overdrive the Bjr EL34 tubes. Good for bluesy leads, I bet... Gotta get one myself.

[Jamz]

Just picked up the Fender Blues Jr. amp. For me a practical addition for recording purposes.
Very cool!
Small, light, very nice clean sound and when I want my Tele's to get that rockin sound...it's there. Inexpensive and don't need earplugs when cranked.

If you're looking for death metal guitar sound...look elsewhere.

[BadJones]

Difference between BD and HR.

I play gigs with a Blues Deluxe reissue 40 watt, a great sounding amp. I rarely push the volume above 2. Used with a fulltone overdrive and a Ts-9 you can get virtually any sound your looking for. Metal look else where. I couldn't stand the sound I got with the original speaker. You turn it up past any volume of 1.5 and would break up nasty. Put in a celestion V30 night and day difference. Recently replaced the V30 with a tone tubby and like it even more. I also own a Hot Cat 15 and keep it at home. The blues deluxe is all I need when playing out.

A freind of mine has a Hot Rod deluxe and sounds great thru it but has to play at a much louder volume to get the tone he wants, which doesn't work out too well at some venues.

For studio use I would prefer a much smaller amp. I like to use my bad cat mini cat, sounds great recorded.

[cramseur]

I own a BD and have for a long time now. I love it. I swapped out the original speaker (which was great).

I tried a Red Coat Patriot...eh. Then I got a Weber Alnico Blue Dog...wow. This amp sounds fuller and punchier and tonally more even and louder. I had a DRRI at one time, but never got adjusted to the brightness.

So count me in among those who like the original Blues Deluxe. It's really my tonal center.

ps...I only use pedals for dirt with this amp.

[FFTT]

The non-hot rod Blues Deluxe with a Vintage 30 gives you one great combo amp for your money.

If you want your speaker to break earlier, then you can try the various Alnico's
but you're going to have to watch your volume a bit.
The Tone Tubby and Red Coats can handle the output better than the Alnico Blues.


I just tested a single Vintage 30 in a stock Fender open back cabinet and it handled
my Bad Cat 100R head with no problem.

[whitepapagold]

Originally Posted by Jamz

BTW are you referring to the newer Princeton Recording Amp? I think it's 20 watts.
Cost is a grand.

No. A 1959 princeton. The minute you hear a good old tweed or blackface, new Fenders sound broken....

People seem very excited about that new Princeton Recording amp though.

[FFTT]

Your choice of amp pretty much depends on what kind of sound you're going for as a priority.

If you want superior sustained lead tones at lower volumes, with no pedals, Class A 5-18 watts is the way to go.

If you want greater clean headroom and clarity, you're generally going to need
something in the 30-40 watt range.

The Blues Deluxe gives you a lot of bang for your buck, but it's easy to spend
tripple that amount on an all tube hand wired PTP amp.

The only weak selling point to the Blues Deluxe is that if something goes in your
P/C board, you might as well toss the chassis.

[Jamz]

Originally Posted by whitepapagold

No. A 1959 princeton. The minute you hear a good old tweed or blackface, new Fenders sound broken....

People seem very excited about that new Princeton Recording amp though.

59...Nice! When I played out years ago (drummer) the guitar players always had "vintage" guitars and tweed amps from caveman years. A few of them were fairly big time collectors. I'm not a guitarist by trade. Therefore, my needs are more pedestrian in nature. I do like the Blues Deluxe. I'm sure I would love an old Princeton or tweed/blackface. My writing needs certainly don't require a stack of Marshalls. I'm more interested in warm clean sounds with nothing rattling and that "Keith" distorted Tele sound. When I hire a guitarist to record he usually brings his own rig or he's OK with what I have available. Fortunately, these guys are very good players and much of the sound seems to come with them while our time is spent more on working out the parts.
I bought the Blues Jr. and added it to the ranks joining my Super Champ and Pod. The Victoria and AC 30 on loan come in handy. I'm picking up a (new) Telecaster Deluxe to join my 78 Telecaster. Maybe one day when I have extra funds I'll look into something vintage and keep that 59 Princeton in mind. I haven't even gotten into the whole swapping out speakers and tubes craze.

[whitepapagold]

Originally Posted by Jamz

I haven't even gotten into the whole swapping out speakers and tubes craze.

I swapped tubes and was happy I did BUT the difference is subtle compared to other aspects of tonality.

I've only heard great things about the super champ.

Its strange to see all the people saying how much they like a Blues Deluxe set on like 3. That is the WORST possible setting for that amp. Im glad I don't play out anymore and was able to live with just the little Princeton. Seriously, EVERY person I a/b them for says "nice" when I first play the Blues Deluxe, then they hear the Princeton and say "OOOOOOOH, thats what you mean...." But yeah they are expensive. Mine was 1500...
All the people saying the BD is a fundamental aspect of their tone, can't afford (or choose not to try) a better amp. Otherwise you wouldn't say that! Ive owned one since 96.... They just suck. But they are also 400 used.... They are the "Behringer" of amps! Thrasher for the road or cheap for the bedroom.

I think the Blues Jr might work well for you. You MUST crank these guys to get decent tone..... ( But again, the 59 sounds GREAT at 2 or 8.... 10 pushes that old speaker too hard! )

[FFTT]

Once again great tone is all about perspectives and what you hope for at certain volumes, with or without a live band etc.

Lead players are usually looking for how an amp/speaker combo breaks up and sustains, so a small low wattage amp cranked works great for that application.

Personally, I'm more interested in how clean and accuarate the amp reflects the guitar's tone BEFORE it breaks into distortion. But that's me.

A Tele player usually wants much more clean tones and sparkle than you're going to get with most mini amps, but again it's all relative to the kind of material you're playing.

Anyway, I think the Blues Deluxe is a great amp for the money, but it's better
with a Vintage 30.

[Jamz]

Originally Posted by FFTT

Once again great tone is all about perspectives and what you hope for at certain volumes, with or without a live band etc.

Lead players are usually looking for how an amp/speaker combo breaks up and sustains, so a small low wattage amp cranked works great for that application.

Personally, I'm more interested in how clean and accuarate the amp reflects the guitar's tone BEFORE it breaks into distortion. But that's me.

A Tele player usually wants much more clean tones and sparkle than you're going to get with most mini amps, but again it's all relative to the kind of material you're playing.

Anyway, I think the Blues Deluxe is a great amp for the money, but it's better
with a Vintage 30.

I totally agree with your comments. Perhaps owning a Tele explains why I've always liked the Vox AC30.
I took a look on Ebay to see what Super Champs are going for and I was amazed. I have a 1984 amp and it appears they're selling for 3x what I paid for mine back in the 80's. It really is a nice little amp. 18 watts, 10" speaker and actually has more sparkle and perhaps depth than the Blue Jr. The Jr. is 15 watts with a 12" speaker. It's got a "dryer" more in your face sound than the Super Champ. While I haven't recorded with it yet I'm sure that between the 2 amps I'll be able to get nice clean sounds. Perhaps it's age or the fact that I've never changed the tubes in the Super Champ but when close mic'd I do hear a little rattling which annoys me.

[FFTT]

I read somewhere that the bell of the speaker itself rattles a bit on some Alnico Blues.
Not sure where I read this, but they were talking about AC30's.

Someone said he solved his problem with a large wide rubber band on the bell
to help dampen the rattle.

[whitepapagold]

Originally Posted by FFTT

Once again great tone is all about perspectives and what you hope for at certain volumes, with or without a live band etc.

Lead players are usually looking for how an amp/speaker combo breaks up and sustains, so a small low wattage amp cranked works great for that application.

Personally, I'm more interested in how clean and accuarate the amp reflects the guitar's tone BEFORE it breaks into distortion. But that's me.

A Tele player usually wants much more clean tones and sparkle than you're going to get with most mini amps, but again it's all relative to the kind of material you're playing.

Anyway, I think the Blues Deluxe is a great amp for the money, but it's better
with a Vintage 30.

A speaker switch may not be a bad idea.... My BD is literally sitting there as a coffee table. Though I still disagree, the amp does NOT produce a nice clean tone, actually rather brittle but again a speaker switch may help. I have a strat(my main) and Les Paul and also played Teles and a few PRS through that amp- it just doesn't measure up in any way other than cost. IAnd thats something we all agree upon- for the money its not bad at all!

+1 to the early break up on the Princeton-but of course thats the whole point!

Hey FFTT, you don't have any treble issues with the BD? Thats my BIGGEST complaint but you are satsfied? Curious!

[FFTT]

I really liked my Blues Deluxe for it's all around versatility from clean guitar or it's growl
with FX and pedals and as a great little bass amp for jams and rehearsals and the fact that mine was $350.00 new when I bought it.

Sure I'd rather have a hand wired AC30, but thems a whole different ball game.

[Jamz]

Picked up the Tele deluxe. The jack was broken. I left it for them to fix and when I picked it up there were scratches all over the pick guard plate around the knobs. A new plate is on order. I stayed with this guitar because I liked how it felt, played, stayed in tune and sounded next to the other ones I tried.
I do like the BD but the Jr. will due for now. We'll see how it records. A big to 84K for his input.

[Booda]

Originally Posted by FFTT

The non-hot rod Blues Deluxe with a Vintage 30 gives you one great combo amp for your money.

If you want your speaker to break earlier, then you can try the various Alnico's
but you're going to have to watch your volume a bit.
The Tone Tubby and Red Coats can handle the output better than the Alnico Blues.


I just tested a single Vintage 30 in a stock Fender open back cabinet and it handled
my Bad Cat 100R head with no problem.

Hi - what is the "non-hot rod" Blues Deluxe?
Is it the original which was built in the us?
Mine is built in mexico and its a hot rod isnt it?

Booda

[FFTT]

I think it says Hot Rod on the back plate if it's that version.

Mine is a standard Tolex 90's USA model and the front plate Just Says Fender.

This thread goes back a ways and the replacement Blues Deluxe mentioned here
ran me $505.00 with a cover shipped on E-bone.

It is one of 4 amps I've purchased in the last 12 months.

Try the Vintage 30 and a good pedal.

Also if you turn off your Reverb and Presence controls, this bypasses
the P/C board FX circuit, so you're going pretty much straight tube.

If you had this amp built point to point, you'd have a 6L6 tweed bassman.

[Booda]

No it just says fender as well on the front but made in mexico on the back.
Thouigh it sounds nice I'll give it back cos it is way too loud.

[Booda]

I think I'll get a 65 Deluxe Reverb!

[FFTT]

I wonder if anyone has tried to re-bias a Blues Deluxe for EL34's or drop it down
to 20 watts with 6V6's?

The classic Deluxe Reverb has many all hand wired alternatives.

It's a simple 6V6 based Fender circuit with reverb.

[C7b9]

On testing side by side the Blues Deluxe RI, Hot Rod Deluxe, and 65 RI Deluxe, my conclusion was that although the clean channel of the Hot Rod sounds good on it's own, when compared to the Blues Deluxe, the Hot Rod sounds very thin. Comparing the Blues to the 65 RI, I thought that these two were very close in sound. Both sounding great. The overdrive on the Hot Rod is not even worth considering although I could live with it if I had to. My advice is to go with the blues deluxe and have a great amp with great sound without spending the extra coin for the 65 RI. A speaker upgrade would be the only suggestion I could make if you wanted to bring it up to the next level.

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