Hot Rod Deluxe owners...?

[frigid midget]

I'm pretty sure there's got to be a lot of guys here who (used to) have a HRD, right?

I'm just curious if you guys ever tried a VOX AC-whatever and care to compare both amps, beyond the obvious stuff that I can read in the spec sheets...
Fwiw: I play teles and jazzmasters. The HR series is sorta known to sound ice picky and super sharp and glassy, right? In an unpleasant way I mean, especially with guitars that tend to sound trebly and clear...Right? I love a spanky percussive attack and all, but from what I remember (10yrs ago, so not sure) the HR series cab be a bit overbearing if you're not into blues/jazz. So can that be effectively tamed with the amp's eq, without just muffling everything or compromising somewhere else?

I'm trying to sell my AC15C2 for the same amount as what I payed a year or so ago. I just need the cash, but if I *were* to replace the vox, I would go for something smaller/lighter/quieter/cheaper that also sounds a bit better with fuzz...

I'm not getting any decent bids, just shitty trading proposals. So now someone asked to trade for his HRDIII.

Volume and pedal friendlyness kinda go together I suppose, and I do have a decent attenuator, so the fact that the HRD is louder shouldn't be a huge problem.
It's not lighter either though, and I'm not sure I like the idea of giving up my pair of Greenbacks for a single G12P-80 :s

If I were to flip it, you guys think the HRDIII should be worth as least as much on the used market as the Vox? Cheers.

[blakestree]

I, personally, wouldn't make that trade. I've never played a Hot Rod Series that really grabbed me. I had a Pro Junior that sounded good at uncomfortable volume. But, it replaced character with noise at lower levels. I, now, have an AC4-12 and it is awesome at reasonable volume. Not much headroom, but I have a Bassman Ten for my big clean. A Tele is my main, too, fwiw.

[CyaNitrate]

I think the best thing to do, if you're actually interested, might be to put face value aside (new, yours is ~$70 more) and play the two side by side, if the other party would allow that, and let your ears decide.

I'd say also try to swap speakers between the amps, but the hrd could blow a single greenback. Ohms line up but the wattage does not.

[Uncle Grandfather]

I've got original 95ish blues deluxe, they are based on the bassman and nail that tweed era bassman clean/dirt. Not really certain what changes the HR made but think its still basically a tweed bassman? I know they changed to black tolex but dont think its voiced like a blackface bassman, but dunno. Ive got a voc ac15 too and the fender is considerably louder and physically heavier. It's almost too loud for when I lived in apts. Could never push it past 1-2 on volume to get into that magical zone when it's on the verge of breakup, that is much easier to do with the vox at lower SPLs. So yeah, if you like tweed bassman cleans and dirt it does a great job of capturing that vibe in a cheaper/smaller package. That sound is about my favorite, and it takes pedals great but the breakup is really the reason for the amp to exist. I think the ac15 is a great pedal platform too for lower SPL and it's also got a lot of trademark character of its own that is rather distinct from the fender. At lower SPL if I wanted to use fender cleans as pedal platform I would probably pull out the Princeton, but I'd obviously get more headroom with the blues deluxe.

I dont think I've ever thought the blues deluxe sounded ice picky or sharp/glassy. It's got what i would call that trademark fender clean. But, while you can certainly effect the sound with tone controls there really isn't too much tonal variation with it, sorta just gives that famous bassman breakup. The reverb is over the top, and apparently there is a mod to get more range out of the reverb but I've always liked how unique it sounded so never bothered. So I dunno how the circuit changed from blues deluxe to hot rod deluxe and whatever reissues, but it you can take advantage of moving more air than the ac15 and/or want that particular famous bassman/plexi voice in a smaller albet still loud package I don't think you'll be disappointed. never used an attenuator so don't know how that would sound, being able to tap into that dirt at lower SPL would be great if you can't use the high volume needed to normally get there.

[frigid midget]

Cheers.

If the HRD sounds even the least bit like a Bassman I guess it's worth checking out after all. The reason I'm not just driving over there to make a test spin, is that the seller is a couple hours away from me. The reason I am seriousmly concidering a trade: There's a couple bands/guitarists I know that manage to sound stellar using a HR series amp. Plus, like I said, it doesn't look like I have a lot of better options if I want to part with the Vox. And for the record, the $70-ish price difference is in my advantage, here in Europe the vox costs a bit less than the fender...

[PeteeBee]

One of the guys I play with the most plays through a hot rod deluxe or two, depending on his mood. I always think his tone is great except for the ice pick top that has been mentioned. Not sure if that could be dialed out. He listens to way different music than I do, so it might just be u wanting different things.

[echodeluxe]

ive owned a few of each. i preferred the hrd overall. better volume, stronger more authoritative cleans, sounds great with any pedals.

[OddKnowledge]

I recently picked up a 93 Blues Deluxe and i really like the sound that i get from it with my tele (neck pickup into the clean channel). Like mentioned before, its possible for it to be a little too bright for my tastes, but i think i found an eq setting that works for me. The clean channel breaks up nicely when its turned up or pushed by a drive pedal. I don't really bother with the drive channel, but it can sound good with the gain low.

I used to have an ac15c1 and think that the blues deluxe has more bass and i prefer having extra headroom and clean volume.

[rfurtkamp]

I prefer the Emi-speaker era HRDs, not a fan of Celestions with a Fender tone stack.

The HRD is a LOT cleaner/headroom than a Blues Deluxe on the clean channel.

I've played various Vox amps and never found one I loved.

I play the most icepick of icepick combos (stainless strings, Jaguars/hot ceramic pickups/etc) and don't have any issues but I'm not opposed to top end.

Big thing on them IMO is the tube choice. You don't have to go expensive but a decent set of Tung Sol RI 6L6s rated for no breakup get you straight in BF Fender land.

[frigid midget]

The thing is, twin reverb reissues don't cost a whole lot more on the local used market. Not that I have use for another amp, let alone a big ass 2X12 65watt combo....
It just seems like the HRDIII is kinda pricey for what you get imo
The drive channel(s) and reverb don't get the best comments, so aside from that all that's left is basically a made-in-mexico 40 watt combo with tubes and a speaker that are supposedly best upgraded

Not saying it can't still sound good, but again, nowadays $700 gives you a nice choice of amps that a have better specs

[rfurtkamp]

Reverb is something that I've heard very few complaints about. It's typical Fender spring, which is typically the gold standard.

Drive channel isn't what you're buying the thing for. It's the clean channel.

A HRD3 isn't something I'd buy because of the Celestion, some folks like them apparently. I certainly would not pay a premium over a 2 or even a 1.

But they're generally solid and the big issue is consistency; they generally work and work well if you know what you're getting and know how to drive 'em.

And I can't think of *any* amp in its price range that doesn't benefit from a tube upgrade.