Fender Hot Rod Deluxe III

The Fender Hot Rod Deluxe III is the brands newest addition to the Hot Rod series. The amp features 40 watts of 6l6 power coupled with an all 12ax7 preamp section. Fender has revoiced the drive sounds in the amp to make them more flexible and appealing to contemporary musician's. The amp has three modes that share a single tone stack, an effects loop, global master volume and presence controls, and a bright switch. The amp isn't a terrible exciting thing to look at, but the simplicity of it's design has a sense of class that is oftentimes overlooked in other affordable combos.

UTILIZATION

The Hot Rod III takes very little tweaking to deliver a decent sound. I learned about the amp while looking for an affordable solution that could take pedals well -- this amp definitely delivers in this regard. The footswitch is small and unobtrusive, the sound is very loud, and the construction is solid. These characteristics together with the amazing used prices available, makes this version of the Hot Rod an excellent solution for the gigging musician.

SOUNDS

I played through the Hot Rod Deluxe III with a Gibson Les Paul Traditional w/ stock pickups. A Carl Martin Plexitone pedal was used in front of the amp while a Strymon El Capistan was used in the loop.

The sounds are surprisingly good even without the aid of pedals. Fender's heritage for excellent clean sounds are available in this amp in spades. The drive channels have a sense of focus and responsiveness that I've not experienced in a fender combo previously. The El capistan added an excellent hi-fi sheen over the sound and gave it the "finished" feel of a recorded guitar track. I had originally purchased the Hot Rod to use in conjunction with the Carl Martin, and while the distorted sounds do not lack for much, the plexitone brings another level of crispness to the sound. The sounds were good enough to convince to retire my Mesa Boogie backline and use this rig for good stretch of time.



OVERALL OPINION

The Fender Hot Rod Deluxe III is an affordable and elegant pedal platform that can survive just fine on it's own, if need be. The used prices out there are certainly a steal, and competition in terms of sound quality are few and far between. I highly recommend trying out one of these with your favorite pedalboard, you might just find it replacing your current rig and putting cash back in your pocket.

There are a couple new features in the Hot Rod Deluxe lll that are very important to me. The first one being that speaker that is standard is actually usable. They used to have some cheap speaker in there that wasn't very musical and a lot of guys would switch out the speaker for something much more sweeter in tone. The next feature is a usable gain channel two and three. Before they gain channels were so bad that I never even used them. They sounded terrible and nothing like a tube amp distortion.


Fender Hot Rod Deluxe III Combo Guitar Amplifier Features at a Glance:

* Amplifier type: Tube
* Output power: 40W
* Speaker: 1 x 12" Celestion G12P-80, 8-ohm speaker
* Output impedance: 4 ohms or 8 ohms
* Preamp tubes: 3 x 12AX7
* Power tubes: 2 x 6L6
* Rectifier: Solid state
* Inputs: 2
* Channels: 3 selectable channels (Normal, Drive, and More Drive)
* Controls: Presence, Reverb, Master Volume, Middle, Bass, Treble, Drive select switch, Drive Volume, Bright switch
* Effects: Spring reverb
* Effects loop: Preamp output/power amp input
* Speaker jack: Extension speaker jack
* Covering/grille cloth: Black textured-vinyl covering with Blackface-style black/silver grille cloth
* Height: 18.75"
* Width: 23.5"
* Depth: 10.5"
* Weight: 45 lbs.
* Footswitch: 2-button, 3-function footswitch included
* Cover: Amplifier cover included

UTILIZATION

Details
Type Tube
Number of Channels Three
Power 40W
Speakers 1 x Celestion G12P-80
Effects No Effects
Reverb Yes
EQ Treble, Bass, Middle
Amp Modeling No Modeling
Number of Models 0
Number of Tubes 5
Preamp Tubes 3 x 12AX7
Power Tubes 2 x 6L6
Inputs 2 x Instrument
Outputs 1 x Speaker
Footswitch I/O Yes
Effects Loop Yes
Height 18.75"
Width 23.5"
Depth 10.5"
Weight 45 lbs.

SOUNDS

Now that they have a usable gain channel then this amp has much more flexibility that before. The old amps were just outright sloppy. The bad thing is that these amps are made in Mexico. So they are going to be cheaper made and will break down on you a lot quicker. I'm not sure if they fixed the jewel light from going out on this model. Everyone who owned this amp knows that the light always goes out on these things.

Anyway, use this amp with any nice guitar. I like this amp with a solid Gibson Les Paul. I used it with a Line 6 Dl4 and a Ibanez Ts9 and I had some great tones that cut through the band quite well.

OVERALL OPINION

If you are on the market for a good tube amp that has two moderate low gain but usable gain then this might be the amp for you. However I would never buy this amp since its made in Mexico. For the price of this amp I would buy a used Marshall JCM2000. At new these amps come in at around $700. You can even pick up a Peavey 5150 for the price of this thing.

All tube combo amp
Wholesale 40 Watts RMS
3 channels: Normal, Drive and More Drive (mini boost which thickens the sound)
Classic Fender Reverb

UTILIZATION

The use of volume is not easy to measure because the knob is not very progressive.
and we must move an inch to get a sound chamber volume
at concert volume.

Otherwise side equalization:
- It is common to two channels.
- I've seen better as equalizer but with this amp advantage is that with any EQ setting you always get a nice clean sound.
- Pity indeed that the overdrive channel does not have its own EQ
because this channel I would tend to add more contrast to acute or clean channel I prefer to leave the acute 12h.
Anyway I quibble, nothing dramatic life is full of compromises friends.
And as I said, this amp is the "plug and play" type "single effective"

Too bad no direct output "Line Out" to the sound.

SOUNDS

Sound Clean:
- It is "Oh my god!"
- It takes a real pleasure to play clean things with spring reverb.
- The crystal-rich harmonic subtle. Who really nice clean bass

Its Saturated:
- It is not honest either be as mythical as the clean suddenly not I put her best.
Can Tater blues, pop and hard rock.
The most vicious of you prefer to stick their distos and other pedals.

I play a Gibson Les Paul Trationnal 2010 Desert Burst.
And let me tell you that the combination is more successful.

OVERALL OPINION

How long have you use it?
- Found OCCAZ a month ago.

Have you tried many other models before buying it?
- Yes, because for a long time my leisure weekends
it was test gear in the music shop.

What is the particular feature you like best and least?
Pros: Its a really Excellent Clean, Fender is often chosen for it.
The -: - Volume really difficult to be determined.
- Disto perfectible but hey it's still not so bad.
Compensating with your prowess on the guitar you will manage to forget this detail.
Or call in reinforcements a pedal that goes.

How would you rate the quality / price?
Are better, gets worse so I would say it will if you find OCCAZ like me.

With experience, you do again this choice?

I'm rather infidel with the amps.
If I had more choices of where I live, I have obtained for other more flexible amps
Usage. But having returned to live in Tahiti bein not much choice next gear.

This amp is in my opinion very good but could be improved side flexibility.
But I am glad I made the acquaintance of this amp and I have LOTS of fun
to play with.

Lamps: 3 x 12AX7 and 2 x 6L6
Power: 40 Watt
A speaker 12 "Celestion G12P-80 8 Ohm 80 Watt
3 channels: Normal, Drive and More Drive thomann
Controls: Presence, Reverb, Master Volume, mid, bass, treble, channel selector saturated overdrive channel volume, brightness
Output for external speaker
Effects loop
Crank 2 channels and protective cover included
Dimensions: 47.6 x 59.70 x 26.7 cm
Weight: 20.41 Kg

UTILIZATION

I use it for every type of game, but is rather oriented blues / rock.
If you want to go out of his big fat heavy or hard rock, will have to add some effects pedals has, but the sound is stunning.
I love the Fender sound, is the depth, medium and treble are beautiful and it is really easy to settle for quelqun who used to play.

I do it again tomorrow if this choice he had to let go.

SOUNDS

The sounds are very crystalline, very dynamic with incredible depth.
Even with an electro acoustic sound is great!!

OVERALL OPINION

I love the clear sound of this amp through the body