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kasperjensen « She's My Pride And Joy... »
Published on 03/15/11 at 09:21- 40W tube power
- 3 X 12AX, 2 X 6L6
- Solid state rectifier
- 1-12" special design Eminence® 8 ohm, 50W speaker
- Three selectable channels (Normal, Drive and More Drive)
- Independent gain and master controls in Drive channel
- Bright switch
- Effects loop
- Reverb
- External speaker jack
- 2-button 3-function footswitch for channel select, Drive select and "More Drive" select
- Chrome panel
- Vintage pointer knobs
- Internal Variable Bias Control
- 45lb
UTILIZATION
I think, nay... I believe we are all guilty of shopping for guitar equipment with our eyes, rather than our ears. And I am particularly bad when it comes to this.
Whatever manufacturer has placed most blue LED lights on their products, receives a framed letter with my credit card details for use at their discretion.
Having said that, something caught my eye with the Fender Hot Rod Deluxe. Having gone through numerous amounts of slightly embarrassing set-ups, I decided to try something more plain. And I am so glad I did.
I simply can not make this 40W combo sound bad (in terms of a template for me to noodle over... My playing is another issue).
Anything I plug in sounds lush...
SOUNDS
The HRD (or "Simpleton" as I like to call it) has quickly become MY amp.
I need to cover a variety of different styles from Beyonce and Lady Gaga to Blind Faith and Muddy Waters (and everything in between), and utilising a bunch of different amps and set-ups just isn't viable.
So instead, I have what I would describe as "The Working Musicians Rig" :
Fender HRD
Guitar (whichever suits the band the best)
Pedal board consisting of a TC Electronics Nova System, TC PolyTune, Cry Baby, Volume...
I am so happy!
Now with this I can get great tones for whatever the night may require, and I can get them fast.
The HRD really just lets you mould your sound into the amp, rather than forcing you in another direction.
The clean channel is to die for, and the overdrive channel is usable (although you will get much better results using pedals into the clean).
OVERALL OPINION
What I like most about it is the versatility the clean channel offers. I have plugged numerous amounts of pedals into the front end, and it has yet to respond badly to any of them.
I can go from an Eric Johnson style smooth lead, using i.e.:
Any glassy OD pedal
MXR Carbon Copy (plus some reverb from the amp)
to full on death using i.e.:
Blackstar Blackfire.
This is worth the price of admission alone (and lets be honest... It's a cheap amp).
The dirty channel is not overly impressive, but I have yet to meet someone who buys a Fender amp for it's distortion. Still... This could be improved.
I will hold my hand up now, and plead guilty to mistreating my HRD. Constantly being thrown in and out of trunks, clubs, home, rehearsal rooms, etc... It has worked up a few cosmetic "flaws", but has never once failed me (knock on wood).
I would definitely recommend this combo to anyone who needs something that delivers night after night, and lets YOU decide how YOU want to sound.
PS: You won't find a better clean channel out there.
- 3 X 12AX, 2 X 6L6
- Solid state rectifier
- 1-12" special design Eminence® 8 ohm, 50W speaker
- Three selectable channels (Normal, Drive and More Drive)
- Independent gain and master controls in Drive channel
- Bright switch
- Effects loop
- Reverb
- External speaker jack
- 2-button 3-function footswitch for channel select, Drive select and "More Drive" select
- Chrome panel
- Vintage pointer knobs
- Internal Variable Bias Control
- 45lb
UTILIZATION
I think, nay... I believe we are all guilty of shopping for guitar equipment with our eyes, rather than our ears. And I am particularly bad when it comes to this.
Whatever manufacturer has placed most blue LED lights on their products, receives a framed letter with my credit card details for use at their discretion.
Having said that, something caught my eye with the Fender Hot Rod Deluxe. Having gone through numerous amounts of slightly embarrassing set-ups, I decided to try something more plain. And I am so glad I did.
I simply can not make this 40W combo sound bad (in terms of a template for me to noodle over... My playing is another issue).
Anything I plug in sounds lush...
SOUNDS
The HRD (or "Simpleton" as I like to call it) has quickly become MY amp.
I need to cover a variety of different styles from Beyonce and Lady Gaga to Blind Faith and Muddy Waters (and everything in between), and utilising a bunch of different amps and set-ups just isn't viable.
So instead, I have what I would describe as "The Working Musicians Rig" :
Fender HRD
Guitar (whichever suits the band the best)
Pedal board consisting of a TC Electronics Nova System, TC PolyTune, Cry Baby, Volume...
I am so happy!
Now with this I can get great tones for whatever the night may require, and I can get them fast.
The HRD really just lets you mould your sound into the amp, rather than forcing you in another direction.
The clean channel is to die for, and the overdrive channel is usable (although you will get much better results using pedals into the clean).
OVERALL OPINION
What I like most about it is the versatility the clean channel offers. I have plugged numerous amounts of pedals into the front end, and it has yet to respond badly to any of them.
I can go from an Eric Johnson style smooth lead, using i.e.:
Any glassy OD pedal
MXR Carbon Copy (plus some reverb from the amp)
to full on death using i.e.:
Blackstar Blackfire.
This is worth the price of admission alone (and lets be honest... It's a cheap amp).
The dirty channel is not overly impressive, but I have yet to meet someone who buys a Fender amp for it's distortion. Still... This could be improved.
I will hold my hand up now, and plead guilty to mistreating my HRD. Constantly being thrown in and out of trunks, clubs, home, rehearsal rooms, etc... It has worked up a few cosmetic "flaws", but has never once failed me (knock on wood).
I would definitely recommend this combo to anyone who needs something that delivers night after night, and lets YOU decide how YOU want to sound.
PS: You won't find a better clean channel out there.