Hot Rod Deluxe for pedal steel? Alt tube practice amp?

Brian McGaughey · From: Orcas Island, WA USA

I want to find a tube amp to use for my "grag-n-go" rehearsal amp. I've got a SS 12" combo amp (that's very popular among us steelers), but I just like the sound of my other Fender and Carvin tube amps better.

So....I started poking around trying to find something near the same price as that popular SS 12" amp and came upon the Fender Hot Rod Deluxe.

I see it's 40 watts of clean 6L6 power, looks relatively light, and I figure if I bought a used one, I'd replace whatever speaker is in it with a 12" Weber Neo.

Ideas?

Advice on a grab-n-go tube combo amp?

David Higginbotham · From: Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA

You will have to do some tube swapping to get a clean sound that will still want to distort when pushed. I did extensive tinkering with the HR Deluxe. They are a great sounding amp at lower volumes. If I remember correctly, changing the 12AX7 in V1 slot to 12AT7 helped, although I tried 12AU7 and several other combinations.

There are modifications to the EQ and Reverb that make a world of difference and can be done by anyone who can follow step by step direction and handy with a soldering iron. The mods are here on the forum if you want to do a search. It makes the reverb sound like a true fender reverb and takes the thumpy/boxey sound out of the bass and mids.
Dave

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

HR Deluxe is a great little amp, I used one for a couple of years and even did double duty ( Guitar and Steel ) with one along with a second single 12 cab. I also tried to modify the front end to get some more clean headroom as it was kinda ok for the E9th but not even close on the lower ten, I finally found the modification that worked. I sold the HR Deluxe and got a HR Deville ! Huge difference in front end clean, just enough for a moderate gig on Steel. and for the Tele, well, first three rows get out of the way !

Huge difference in clean headroom.

t
_________________
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders , Eastman Mandolin ,
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years

CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website

Brian McGaughey · From: Orcas Island, WA USA

Thanks fellows.

I've got a '76 Vibrosonic that I gig with, so I was just looking for an amp for practice, I don't need gig volumes. My rehearsals are not all that loud.

Also, I have no "lower 10", just 10 string E9. I considered the DeVille but then I'm getting into more weight and moving away from "grab-n-go".

Marc Jenkins · From: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

It'll work fine, Brian, I used one for a while for the same purpose. I use a 15 watt Blues Jr quite a bit for rehearsals too, it rarely breaks up when the band is quiet enough to sing without amplification.

Eric West · From: Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.

I know it's not fair but my experience with one sucked. Even after a Weber Blue Dog.

FIrst off, it didn't take being punched all night. The 'tube guy" said it was just too much torture for the tubes. I tried retubing it a couple times and thought it might be loose solder. It just wouldn't hold being on 6 or 7 all night. It wasn't strong enough for loud gigs, and took too much space to "open it up" for small ones. I think possibly TP's had better luck with the Deville 2/12. I've had friends that destroyed them too. likewise the 410 DeVilles. By the time they're loud enough to sound good, they are too hard on the tubes and circuitry.

I traded mine for a MGDFX 100 half stack and a peavey raptor ebony strat copy. It does much better with handling the volume.

In the process I found a REAL GEM. A Blues Jr. Retubing it and a Weber Blue Dog mad it PERFECT. I can do gigs miked and need no other amp for even C6. (Miked mind you), and it's not destroying tubes every time I dime it like the HRDlx. I dunno why but it doesn't seem to break up as much as the HRD.

I think most of the reviews I read returned similar opinions. Not strong enough to be as loud, too loud for real small gigs, and just plain unreliable.

My latest combo is a Fender Stage 65r and my Blues Jr. Easly to carry, and the Stage 65 handles the bottom well enough with the highs cut. For loud and even some unmiked outdoor gigs. It'it's my Nvl400/Blues Jr. stereo out of a Podxt for the loudest ones. On those the Blues Jr is more of a stage monitor. Maybe the EL84s are more immune to sonic destruction than the close proximity 6L6s. I dunno..

Harmony Central is where I read the best reviews od the HRDlx. Basically what I get is that it's a failed try at putting that much wattage in a small combo cabinet. Also problems with weak cheap sockets and poor wave soldering..

I did have some new sockets put in the Blues Jr. ANd a Weber BLue DOg. I still like it best.

YMMV.

Smile

EJL

Brian McGaughey · From: Orcas Island, WA USA

Eric,

I know from reading your posts on the forum that you've got quite a road test for an amp before it makes it into your herd.

Now me, call me a Seattle urban wimp if you will, put I have yet to "dime" an amp! Oh Well

Like I mentioned before, I don't need another gig amp, but looking for a practice amp that's as reliable and light as the P**v** N*shv*ll* 112 but with tube output.

Thanks Marc.

Eric West · From: Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.

Well my vote is definitely for the Blues Jr.

I'm a real bad one for not reading initial posts... I didn't read the "practice" part.

I ALWAYS use the Blues Jr for band practice (and in stereo with other amps for gigs). Mind it's through a Podxt, but it's more than adequate. I really have no qualms about the few things I've elected to do like the speaker, and replacing sockets. they didn't "go out", it was just suggested considering how hard I've worked it.

Like I said, the HR series really needs to get loud to show it's stuff, and that's too loud for things like practice. In the HRDlx112 case, it's also too hard on tubes.

My vote's for the Blues Jr. No rebiasing for replacing EL84s either.

Smile

EJL

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

Yes I have had way better luck with the HR Deville 2x12, but even at that, it is not the holy grail answer but it is an acceptable alternative to carrying two amps. The Deville is hands down a superior amp to the HR Deluxe when it comes to cleaner headroom at moderate bandstand levels, no tube swapping required.

On larger gigs if I am doing double duty I will carry a Nashville 400 and the HR Deville, seeing I don't have a Twin anymore this is what I do.

If we practice here at the house, we use the Deville for the Steel.

I have no experience with the Blues Jr .

t
_________________
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders , Eastman Mandolin ,
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years

CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website

Bill Myers · From: Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, USA

I know your post said a hot rod deluxe, but I have been using a traynor ycv40 with a JBL and it has far better tone than any of the newer fenders I have tried. It will even handle some c6th neck at lower volumes. They sound great for guitar and steel in the stock form, but they really wake up with a JBL! They are 40 watt all tube with 6l6's for the mai power. I have had comments from several people who can't believe the tone coming out of that little amp.
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Carter D10 9 x 5, Nashville 112, Goodrich L10K

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

Bill. I don't think it's about the tone, I loved my HR Deluxe "sound" when I had one, this issue is in regard to clean headroom.

The Traynor is also a nice amp but I suspect has the same proportionate amount of clean headroom.

t
_________________
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders , Eastman Mandolin ,
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years

CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website

Brian McGaughey · From: Orcas Island, WA USA

I think all of us can agree that generally speaking if we play pedal steel with other amplified instruments, amplified voices and drums we need at least 80 to 200 watts of power with a gain structure such that we have clean undistorted tone "to the top".

My original intent was to find a tube amp for practice only, not stage volumes, that has weight, size, price, volume and reliability comparable to the NV 112. Something easy to carry and head out with.

Appreciate your opinions Bill and Tony.

(Sorry, I'm not always clear in my posts. Oh Well

)

robert kramer · From: Nashville TN

Lloyd Green's "Revisited" CD (2003) was recorded with a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe with a 15" JBL D-130 replacing the 12" stock speaker. It very possible the amp was also voiced for steel by a amp tech. I know you can run the bias hotter on these amps as the factory sets the bias low so the tubes will outlast the warranty. I bet the amp would still sound good with the 12" speaker.

Randy Brown · From: Knoxville, Tennessee, USA

I recently bought a HRD from here on the forum for the same reason... a small tube amp to practice/jam with on guitar and steel. It sounds wonderful! Very clean bright tone at home practice levels - also sounds great at intimate rehearsal levels (e.g. the trio I've been playing with: piano/acoustic/vox/steel). However, it will distort when getting up to the level of a "full band". I haven't gigged with it yet but all the gigs I do (infrequent) are miked so it shouldn't be a problem.

I also have a NV112 and a NV400. They obviously stay cleaner louder, but I can't dial in anything close to that bright fender tone with them. And I can't get a decent tele tone with them unless I use my PodXt. The HRD is great for both steel/tele - just plug in and play...

Obviously I can't speak for reliabiity since I've only had the HRD for a short period of time.

For what you've described I think the HRD would be a great fit, especially since you can pick these up pretty cheap nowadays...

I hope this helps.

Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

Dominic Macrone · From: Florida, USA

How about a Rivera Sedona Light? Clean amp with 1 - 12" + horn and lots of flexibility. Small and light tube amp. A bit expensive though....bought mine used for around $1100???

Brian McGaughey · From: Orcas Island, WA USA

Robert, I had forgotten about Lloyd using an HRD on that record. There's no tone shortage there.

Randy, your experience of NV series -vs- Fender tube is the same as mine, just can't get "that sound" from the NVs, to my ear anyway.

Tony, yeah, we got 'em out here on craigslist for between $425 to $500.

Eric, my amp tech says indeed that the HRD is not a reliable road amp. They don't take any abuse and will quit working when not handled lightly. So clearly this would not be first choice for a reliable road amp.

Dominic, you play your steel through an amp with a horn?

I'll tell you what looks like the perfect grab-n-go that fills all my criteria except the price point: Ken Fox's new prototype. Look for the post here in electronics http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=172785
92 real watts of tube power into a 15" neo at 46lbs...unreal! It is indeed a bargain for a handbuilt amp with botique parts.

I'll probably pull the trigger on a used HRD and give my amp tech some dough to go through it and so his thing. He says he knows 'em inside and out because he sees so many of them. (That's probably not good, right?)

Brian McGaughey · From: Orcas Island, WA USA

My first ever double post...How'd I do that?...

Rich Hlaves · From: Wildomar, California, USA

Brian,

I own three HRDs. I use them for backline when the group ain't payin' for blackface. I use them myself for the right sized gig too. One of the chassis is in a 4-10 deville cab I had JD Newell build me. That is sweet too and still of grab-n-go weight (alnico Jensens).

These amps have never, I repeat never failed me. Even with metal bands cranking through them. If you ask me, they are more reliable than re-issue BF Fenders. The HRD or even the Blues Deluxe has the best power to weight ratio in the mass production tube amp business. You see them on a lot of big stages too.

Just my 2c,

Rich

Brian McGaughey · From: Orcas Island, WA USA

Hey Rich, thanks for sharing your observations.

I assume you must work for or own a business that provides stage gear and sound reinforcement.

Walter Bowden · From: Wilmington, North Carolina, USA

I have a Deville Deluxe 2 X 12 amp and one thing I changed out are the crappy plastic/metal input jacks with Switchcraft all metal ones. I think the HRD and other amps of this type could benefit from this retrofit.
_________________
Emmons S10, p/p, Nashville 112, Zion 50 tele style guitar, Gibson LP Classic w/Vox AC30, Fender Deluxe De Ville and a Rawdon-Hall classical

Rich Hlaves · From: Wildomar, California, USA

I do sound and backline here locally. It's not an official business but sometimes it keeps me pretty busy. It's all my own gear and I always go along with the package to keep thing "properly connected"

I agree that the input jacks are a week point on the Hotrod and Ddeville amps. Blues Jr. & others too for that matter. I've got a couple from the 'early '90s that are still working fine with the original parts.

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