Fender Hot Rod Deluxe

[theGeek]

how's the clean headroom on this amp? I play bars and small clubs mostly and anything bigger would be mic'ed.

I played it today at a local guitar store and LOVED it so I'm thinking that its the way to go. I just need good clean headroom.

[pennywisdom]

I've got the Hot Rod Deville and I love it. Go back into the guitar store and crank it to try it out.

[Kyle S]

its loud.

[pennywisdom]

Quite, I can't put it up past 2 without my neighbors complaining. Then again the volume control on these things is a little biased. There is a HUGE difference from 1-5, and barely any from 6-10.

[kafka]

Originally Posted by pennywisdom

Then again the volume control on these things is a little biased. There is a HUGE difference from 1-5, and barely any from 6-10.

That's most amps. A lot of log pots aren't really log. They're just linear cut into two sections to approximate log.

[donsolo]

Those amps are so loud that you will have plenty of power from a clean channel.

Plus, just a touch of grit sounds great on everything (Wes Montgomery for example)

We had them everywhere at Berklee (all of the ensemble rooms, all of the labs)

Those were run constantly but I remember there was always one that was kinda crappy in each room. I think that was more of a maintenance issue than QC.

But I think that they (like all tube amps) do require frequent maintenance and care to keep them in really nice playing condition.

[Jonboy79]

Originally Posted by pennywisdom

Quite, I can't put it up past 2 without my neighbors complaining. Then again the volume control on these things is a little biased. There is a HUGE difference from 1-5, and barely any from 6-10.

I think he's asking how loud it can get before it breaks up, not how loud that amp is overall.

[pennywisdom]

Originally Posted by Jonboy79

I think he's asking how loud it can get before it breaks up, not how loud that amp is overall.

Ah, I'll do a little test when I get home.

[Kyle S]

mine has been down for about a year (tube i think, sounds like bit reduction almost) but it was so loud i could never really get it to break up unless i played from another room. of course then the entire ghetto i lived in could hear it.

im saving it for when i tour or something. its far too loud to play in the house and have the tone i expect.

[donsolo]

That has a separate Gain and Volume knob.

You can't really get great metal tones out of them but they do grit up pretty nice and if you're used to those touchy touchy knobs, you'll be able to tame that.

[theGeek]

Originally Posted by donsolo

That has a separate Gain and Volume knob.

You can't really get great metal tones out of them but they do grit up pretty nice and if you're used to those touchy touchy knobs, you'll be able to tame that.

Don't want high gain... I'm getting rid of my Mesa Rectoverb for that very reason.

[filthyrich]

I like the one that I have. Everything is stock. With pedals on clean channel, it sounds very nice...and LOUD. Especially with a 4 X 12. The reverb sounds nice too.
I'm bought a weber 50w blue dog to put in it. I'm going to swap tubes also. I'll let you all know how it comes out.

[Guitar Zero]

I have the 2x12 HRD and it is REALLY LOUD. I can't imagine this amp not having enough clean gain to play a club. I can't turn it up past 2 without peeling the paint off my walls.

[chrisp2u]

Originally Posted by Guitar Zero

I can't turn it up past 2 without peeling the paint off my walls.

See my posts here regarding this amp...
Hot Rod Delux for 425 or Blues Jr for 300

It sounds decent stock... but even better after some mods, a speaker swap, and trying out some non-GT tubes. I recommend anyone that has one of these amps to look into doing this stuff... at the minimum switch out the stock speaker (I have G12H Anniversary in there now... which made it a bit smoother and less flabby).

I like the HRD quite a bit for the money (I paid $325 used), but I've played through some stuff since I've had it that puts it to shame (even after all the mods)... like an older Bogner Shiva 6l6 reverb... of course that amp costs nearly 3x's more new... but I'm thinking it would almost be worth it if you're in search of the grail of tone.

Originally Posted by theGeek

Don't want high gain... I'm getting rid of my Mesa Rectoverb for that very reason.

I recently picked up a used Mesa Rectoverb myself... it's a pretty versatile amp. You can't get a decent tone out of that? In the limited time I've used it thus far, it isn't as warm sounding as my HRD, but it was better than I expected at most things... and I'm typically not a mesa fan.
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[dogonjon]

When my band says I'm to loud I say thanks, I like being loud.

[theGeek]

Originally Posted by chrisp2u

I recently picked up a used Mesa Rectoverb myself... it's a pretty versatile amp. You can't get a decent tone out of that? In the limited time I've used it thus far, it isn't as warm sounding as my HRD, but it was better than I expected at most things... and I'm typically not a mesa fan.
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I was impressed with the versatility of this amp but it wasn't as warm as I'd like it to be.

[chrisp2u]

Originally Posted by theGeek

I was impressed with the versatility of this amp but it wasn't as warm as I'd like it to be.

Yeah, as I stated, that's really my only complaint with it. I guess that's the Mesa thing... however, I'm curious about trying out some different brand tubes with it to see if I can warm it up a bit more.
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