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Topic: Blues Deluxe Reissue |
Larry Robbins
From:
Fort Edward, New York
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Posted 20 Jul 2008 8:07 am |
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I have a chance to pick up one of these amps pretty reasonable. Thought it would maybe make a decent back-up amp for my Tele ( NOT STEEL) anyone have any experience with these? Thanks. 
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Twang to the bone! |
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Eric West
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 20 Jul 2008 11:51 am
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Get a back up for it.
They SUCK.
Evey one I know that has one OR a Hot Rod Deluxe has had them crap out, and not had ANY luck at getting "Intermittent Failure" problems FIXED by "Authorized Repair Shops". They hust retube it at your expense, "plug it in and try to get it to "do it again" and give it back to you to have it crap out on a #7 volume gig.
I and a friend that has one have had them crap out, send them in and get them back with "new tubes" only to have it happen again. Just like I did.
Ken Fox says it's through resistors that are faulty and "cold solder" issues. I dunno. I just use mine in the basement so I'm not stuck with a blown amp at a gig..
You pretty much have to have the whole system redesigned. OR send it in again and again until somebody FINALLY can "find the problem"..
They Suck.
Get a Peavey Classic 30 or 50. I got a new 50 for 400$ off the floor with a warrantee, and I like it.
The HRDlx sits..
600$ wasted, or I could give somebody a "good price" on it. Lots of people are doing the latter.
JMHO.
EJL |
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Larry Robbins
From:
Fort Edward, New York
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Posted 20 Jul 2008 12:19 pm
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Thanks for the heads up, I think I may just let this one pass...it was a good deal on a fairly new amp...thought I might get it for a back up in case my Twin
dies and I need a quick backup....anyone else have any thoughts? most the players around here seem to like them but then again....you dont tell the compitition whats NOT working!!  Thanks 
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Twang to the bone! |
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Jim Peters
From:
St. Louis, Missouri, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 20 Jul 2008 1:30 pm
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Eric,If you think the HR Deluxe has problems, try to get your Classic 30 to last. The HRD has a better rep around here(St. Louis). Both are good amps that need a little help to bulletproof. JP
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Carter,PV,Fender |
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Steve Feldman
From:
Central MA USA
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Posted 20 Jul 2008 2:56 pm
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I had one of the original Blues Deluxes (~1995) that was really pretty good. These pre-dated the HRDs, btw. Never had a problem with it except for 10 years later I needed to re-seat a chip on the board. I also re-tubed it at year ~8. At 40w, a very respectable tone in both the clean and especially the drive channel. Never used it for steel.
They made a re-issue in the early-mid 2000's (?). I have no info on those.
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"...An admission of interest in protracted commentary is certainly no reason to capitalize on surmised aberations that do not exist." - BH |
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Eric West
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 20 Jul 2008 4:40 pm
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Hmm.. Well it's a new Classic 50, and I haven't had ANY problems with it.
Neither have I with my Blues Jr, though people say that the wave soldering job has imperfections.
I'll just keep punishing it...
I've had such good luck with Peavey Solid Staters that I'm spoiled over the years...
I thought the HRDlx would be a good choice, but I've "blown it" twice, and had a BS experience with an AuthRep.
I'll send it to Ken fox and have him redesign and replace some things as I get time this winter, provided I do.
I also broke a connection in my Nvl112 from hitting the preamp knob, and need it resecured. Because of the knob placement on the 112s I have to go thumbs down on them too. I know I can "mod" it, but I want it right the FIRST TIME.
I'm pretty picky I guess, and like I said, spoiled by my Session 500 and Nvl 400. 1 cap and one speaker in almost 30 years..
EJL |
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Jerry H. Moore
From:
Newnan, GA, USA
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Posted 20 Jul 2008 7:47 pm
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This has been a good site for me. http://studentweb.eku.edu/justin_holton/It's for mostly Hot Rods but they're similar. I've done the input mod on mine. Thats a weak point for pickers if you don't tie off your cord to the amp. I thought this was law (to dog off at the amp)but I've fixed several and upgraded two. I really like these amps but they do have their problems. The volume at a low setting is my main problem. There's a section on this in the website mentioned.
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I'M GLAD RALPH MOONEY IS DOING WELL! |
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Michael Brebes
From:
Northridge CA
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Posted 21 Jul 2008 9:26 am
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I also have the original Blues Deluxe and haven't had any problems with it. But I did change out tubes and replaced the speaker with an EVM12L.
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Michael Brebes
Instrument/amp/ pickup repair
MSA D10 Classic/Rickenbacher B6/
Dickerson MOTS/Dobro D32 Hawaiian/
Goldtone Paul Beard Reso
Mesa Boogie Studio Pre/Hafler 3000
RP1/MPX100 |
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Twayn Williams
From:
Portland, OR
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Posted 21 Jul 2008 2:46 pm
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I had a Hot Rod DeVille for a while and never had a problem. And then I had a '59 Bassman RI and had the screen resistors go out. It's just how tube amps are, I think. There are some design flaws in the Hot Rod series that have to do with board mounted jacks and what not, but with some judicious TLC they're all perfectly workable. It's pretty much the same thing with anything in that price range, sometimes you get a good one, sometimes you get a lemon.
Eric, NEVER take an amp to an "authorized repair center" unless the amp is still in warranty and you don't want it back very quickly. I recommend Jefrey Leighton over on NE Missisippi.
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Primitive Utility Steel |
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Eric West
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 21 Jul 2008 5:03 pm
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Thanks TW, I'll do that.
He's only a few blocks from me.
I've been expoxed to about three Dr Zs lately. Al Jones, and Bob Galliaso. MAN, those are some amps...
I think even after I get the HRDlx reworked I'll use the 112 as my "low end" amp and my Blues JR with the Weber Blue Dog as the high end. Gotta get it in to get the preamp knob resoldered though.
The Classic 50 has a kind of crunch in the high mids that seems to disappear 20 feet out, and it's really a better guitar amp, but it does hold it's own for PSG..
Wish I had more time to fiddle with thhem, but I'm lucky to be back working/gigging..
EJL |
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Jim Peters
From:
St. Louis, Missouri, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 21 Jul 2008 6:16 pm
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My kid just got a HRD special edition, white thunder, the coolest amp I've seen in years. It has a Neodymium Celestion, weighs next to nothing. The only problem with the amp is all the screws were loose! The baffle board rattled like a snake, tightened screws, all is well. He had a classic 30 that also sounded great, sold it to get an AC 30, lotsa troubles with that one! Sold the AC 30 to get the HRD. In between amps, he uses my SF Deluxe for smaller gigs, and my Reverend Hellhound(killer amp!) for louder gigs. There is a lot of great stuff out there, some just needs a few tweaks. JP
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Carter,PV,Fender |
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