Will the Hot Rod Deluxe III stay clean over a drummer?

Justyn · Post by **Justyn** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 2:41 am

I know the reputation these amps get, but I still pulled a n00b move and bought one

foofoo982 · Post by **foofoo982** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 6:31 am

I don't see why they wouldn't. Might need more speakers for volume, but amp wise it should be fine.

mickie08 · Post by **mickie08** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 5:18 pm

It will stay clean no problem, but not like a twin or something. You may start to hear some slight coloration of the sound.

That said, ther reason they get dumped on is the OD channel sounds like shit typically (although can be improved via tubes/etc). Over the pond (UK) they are overpriced and there are better amps for that price.

Here in the US, you can pick up hot rods used for 3-400 pretty easily so at that price they make pretty good amps if you use the clean channel and pedals for your tone. I would take a hot rod anyday over a peavey classic 30 or 50 (whcih for some reason get alot of love on here). Ihave owned 2 hot rods and 3 peaveys and I could never get the peaveys to sound very good on the OD and the clean was thinner sounding than the fender. The ones I bought I flipped to make some $.

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 5:47 pm

mickie08 wrote:I would take a hot rod anyday over a peavey classic 30 or 50 (whcih for some reason get alot of love on here).

park me here.

op- it won't be solid state clean, but if you wanted that you'd have bought a solid state amp... i reckon you'll be fine though.

sp3k · Post by **sp3k** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 6:04 pm

I have no trouble keeping mine clean playing with my drummer. The only way to break it is playing with humbuckers way to loud. It's a fine amp if you want to use it with pedals. Changing the stock valves really improved the sound btw

mickie08 · Post by **mickie08** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 6:19 pm

they are a bit pricey over there (UK/Europe) correct? I always put that down for the reason people seem to hate them.

Over here they are so cheap that theya re kind of a no brainer if you want a clean fender tone combo for cheap. Frop a set of JJ tubes in them and you are good to go for sure. You should be able to find one over here for under 400 USD in good shape even counting putting new tubes in it.

Justyn · Post by **Justyn** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 7:16 pm

I read on one guys site that you can remove the drive channels and that will increase the clean headroom

Think I'll still get that nice full and bassy sound?

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 8:46 pm

the EQ on the amp itself isn't the bassiest... or it could be the stock tubes? i dunno.

sp3k · Post by **sp3k** » Thu Apr 28, 2011 12:28 am

actually i get lots of bass with my tele custom deluxe, i have it at 3-4, and theres still lots of bass. But i think the space you play in really affects the how much bass you get from an amp...

cobascis · Post by **cobascis** » Thu Apr 28, 2011 12:35 am

You should have plenty of headroom with a HRD. The other guitarist in my band keeps his at 4, like.

johnnyseven · Post by **johnnyseven** » Thu Apr 28, 2011 8:58 am

This guy is tang a bout the new HRD III, they have supposedly made the drive channel better on this model.

I used to have an HRD and it could get plenty loud and stay clean, with humbuckers though it would start to break up a bit. I loved it whilst I was using it, I don't know why people slate them so much.

Justyn · Post by **Justyn** » Thu Apr 28, 2011 12:22 pm

Well I suppose when I can afford demoing stuff I shall do an demo

DGW · Post by **DGW** » Sun May 01, 2011 12:03 am

Great amp..It will but you will need a extention cab..The new fender VM 2x12 cab is sweet,,or get the Fender oversize 1x12 cab~(bravo)

Justyn · Post by **Justyn** » Mon May 02, 2011 10:47 pm

You know, I'll have to see how it looks at first, but I may go with a 212 cab as opposed to the single 12" one just out of aesthetics.
Mite b cool

ambientnoize · Post by **ambientnoize** » Tue May 03, 2011 1:01 am

mickie08 wrote:they are a bit pricey over there (UK/Europe) correct? I always put that down for the reason people seem to hate them.

Over here they are so cheap that theya re kind of a no brainer if you want a clean fender tone combo for cheap. Frop a set of JJ tubes in them and you are good to go for sure. You should be able to find one over here for under 400 USD in good shape even counting putting new tubes in it.

Brand new the HRD III i've seen priced at Â£900+

The older HRD's were generally Â£600 new, and about Â£3-400 used. I got mine for Â£350 with a hard case.

A bit more expensive than in the US, but generally most stuff is.

I have no bother keeping up with my drummer.

Justyn · Post by **Justyn** » Tue May 03, 2011 1:43 am

Even unmiked for like practice or whatever?

johnnyseven · Post by **johnnyseven** » Tue May 03, 2011 8:56 am

DGW wrote:Great amp..It will but you will need a extention cab..The new fender VM 2x12 cab is sweet,,or get the Fender oversize 1x12 cab~(bravo)

When I had an HRD I played it on about 2.5 on the volume pot (it goes up to 12) and I had no problem keeping up with our drummer - who tends to hit really hard. They are pretty loud. I think an extension cab maybe a bit overkill, i'd try it first before you splash out on something to find you don't really need it.

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Tue May 03, 2011 12:26 pm

Justyn wrote:Even unmiked for like practice or whatever?

Unless you're 30 feet away from your drummer in a big echoey room (or want to damage your hearing) there's no need to mic an amp that size in rehearsal.

mickie08 · Post by **mickie08** » Tue May 03, 2011 3:11 pm

stewart wrote:
Justyn wrote:Even unmiked for like practice or whatever?
Unless you're 30 feet away from your drummer in a big echoey room (or want to damage your hearing) there's no need to mic an amp that size in rehearsal.

Yeah. You will not need to mic it unless you are playing ampitheaters really. (though it never hurts to have it mic'd at gigs and let the PA do more of the work if you got a good soundman and PA

Gabriel · Post by **Gabriel** » Tue May 03, 2011 4:41 pm

You should be fine, you can always muck around with valve types. I've used 12AT7s and 12AU7s to clean up amps before - it does work. Should be ok though unless you play really loud - the break up sounds good anyway and it totally controllable by the volume control. I did a gig with a cranked up HR Deville that belonged to a friend and another friends epiphone les paul, using the volume control on the guitar (with neck pickup of course - where all the best sounds lie) to get clean sounds. I was really happy with the sound I got.