Amp Decision Pain

[SecretMachine]

Hey

I'm looking to downsize my 1994 "Evil Twin" Twin Reverb to something more managaeable.

I play mainly noisy indie/space rock, Interpol meets Secret Machines sorta thing. We're planning on gigging soon and will be mostly playing mic'd up.
However during practices it's unmic'd so I need something loud enough to compete with an pretty heavy drummer.

I've been looking at Fender Hot Rod Deluxe and a Deluxe Reverb mainly. Anyone played either of these and have any input on them? Any alternatives?

I'm looking buy second hand in the UK. From my initial research the HRD's go for about £400 - 500, whereas the DRRI's are typically £700 - 850.
Both are within my range but I (my girlfriend) would prefer I went for something more affordable.

Cheers

[Boxbie]

DRRI. I dont care for hot rods.

[amnesiac305]

maybe keep the Twin for practice and get something easier to lug around for gigs since you will use a PA. The DRRI is a nice amp...nowhere near the power of the twin.

[blakestree]

DRRI. I dont care for hot rods.

[hbombgraphics]

(my girlfriend) would prefer I went for something more affordable.

as you gaze into each others eyes, with your willy nilly touching the outskirts of her pooper, like a vampire asking entrance into the residence of a young maiden, tell her you got it on sale.

All gear is "on sale"
The timing of when to tell her can be debated I guess......

[popvulture]

I personally hate the blackface reissues. If you open them up, they look like a computers inside, which to me is just totally unacceptable bullshit for a "reissue."

I feel like if you're going to go the newer design route, might as well go with one that looked like a computer inside from the get-go vs a sad recreation of a vintage classic, in which case I think the Hot Rods are great amps. Great clean channel, great verb, dirty channel sounds good at lower gain (I don't love the "more drive" setting, but I'm not really into that super saturated sound in general unless it's nasty fuzz). Plus you can get one on Craigslist seemingly any day of the week for like 400 bucks. I've said this a bunch of times on here—these amps are what I always recommend for someone looking for a good tube amp on a very reasonable budget.

I'd highly recommend the 410 over the 212.

[SecretMachine]

(my girlfriend) would prefer I went for something more affordable.

as you gaze into each others eyes, with your willy nilly touching the outskirts of her pooper, like a vampire asking entrance into the residence of a young maiden, tell her you got it on sale.

a poop vampire?

I personally hate the blackface reissues. If you open them up, they look like a computers inside, which to me is just totally unacceptable bullshit for a "reissue."

I feel like if you're going to go the newer design route, might as well go with one that looked like a computer inside from the get-go vs a sad recreation of a vintage classic, in which case I think the Hot Rods are great amps. Great clean channel, great verb, dirty channel sounds good at lower gain (I don't love the "more drive" setting, but I'm not really into that super saturated sound in general unless it's nasty fuzz). Plus you can get one on Craigslist seemingly any day of the week for like 400 bucks. I've said this a bunch of times on here—these amps are what I always recommend for someone looking for a good tube amp on a very reasonable budget.

I'd highly recommend the 410 over the 212.

I ended up going for a HRD for this reason. They're much more affordable and I can sell it off for something without losing too much value.
I've went for a George Benson Limited Edition version of the HRD. This deals with most of the issues the HRD's have by being generally less shirll apparently.
Plus it looks abit sexier.

[Hobbes96]

I'd throw my hat in for a music man. Those are about the same price as hot rods but imo better than twins.

[repoman]

I just got a DRRI. I LOVE how it sounds with guitar straight into the amp. It sounds glorious at about 5 on the volume. I've found its really picky with the effects I have though, which was never an issue with a HRD or Pro Jr. Modulation effects sound great, the overdrives and most delays I have sound tinny and weak (which sounded awesome on the other fenders). The one digital delay I have does sound good through it though.

Fender also has that one called the Bassbreaker you might want to check out.
Dunno how much power you need, Pro Jrs and Blues Deluxes are really portable and really really close to the level of output you get from a DRRI.

[hbombgraphics]

last couple of fender amps I have tried were bummers, both hot rod line things.

I don't really care about PC boards and such, but they just felt sterile and lifeless.

[rfurtkamp]

Hot Rods are fine, I prefer the older Deluxes with the Emi speaker (not a fan of the Celestions in a Fender anything).

Big thing is if you need headroom, the DRRI will not be your friend (if coming from an evil Twin). It also won't sound like the Evil Twin (6V6 will not get you 6L6 glass).

At the price point, the HRD is a fine amp (or outside it) for just the clean channel as a pedal platform. I am one of the few people alive who like the gain channel as an occasional thing (usually to just flat out destroy, it's not a *nice* distortion) as well.

Fit it with "no breakup" 6L6s and you're golden.

[hbombgraphics]

that's probably my biggest problem with the hotrods is I tend to set up amps now as kinda dirty all the time

[repoman]

Might also want to check out Vibroluxes, more power than a DRRI, not much heavier. More bass. I had a reissue that I thought was a very nice sounding amp.

[rfurtkamp]

that's probably my biggest problem with the hotrods is I tend to set up amps now as kinda dirty all the time

Then just steer clear of Fender stuff in general that's not colored tweed is my general advice!

[Iommic Pope]

(my girlfriend) would prefer I went for something more affordable.

as you gaze into each others eyes, with your willy nilly touching the outskirts of her pooper, like a vampire asking entrance into the residence of a young maiden, tell her you got it on sale.

10/10 pro tip.


Just the tip.