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iamqman « A lot better now »
Published on 04/20/11 at 15:51There 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.
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.