Fender Hot Rod Deluxe

It's great! Three footswitchable channels (well, really two plus a boost, but who's counting) with the footswtich included, effective EQ section, reverb, FX loop. What more d'ya need? A tremelo, maybe.

Perfect for what I do. The clean channel is perfect, all that great Fender clean tone, for jazzy stuff with a Gibson hollow body. The drive channel goes from slightly overdriven, great for chords and blues, to crunchy, and kick in the More Drive for some great sustain for lead. I back off the gain with the bridge pu of my Strat and get a great blues tone with lots of body, just enough cut, and anyways the EQ is quite responsive. With the neck pu, crank the mids and gain, it rocks. I love it...gives me great sound no matter what I play.
The reverb is WAY too over the top...that's my only complaint. I never turn it past 3, but it sounds fine as long as you leave it low.

Haven't had it long, but it's solid

N/A

I love it and would recommend it to anyone in a heartbeat. It's just the perfect size, sound, and features for me. I only wish the neighbors would let me crank it more! I think it gives fantastic sound, real tube tone, classic Fender clean, and all for a very good price.

Price paid: $489 plus tax
Features: 9. I used to have a Mesa Boogie .22 Caliber without graphic equalizer: bought it for a nearly identical price in October 1992. In '92, I originally considered the then-available Fender Concert (now out of production). I always regretted my decision about getting the Boogie instead, since I learned that I really liked the "Fender Clean" sound, and this was not available on the Boogie, whose clean sound (although perfectly OK) always seemed bottom-heavy. Also, the interactivity of the clean and dirty channels on the Boogie was near-maddening: making the clean channel "full" (and not too squeaky-country clean) made the overdrive channel incredibly overdriven. I found it as musical as listening to a 707 at take-off. Dialling in a listenable, not- over-the-top overdrive channel required too low a preamp gain level for a full-sounding clean channel. So what about the Hot Rod Deluxe ? Superior on two accounts to the .22 Caliber: first, wonderful rich clean sound, and second, much less interactivity between the tone settings for the clean and the overdrive channel(s). As Fender's advertisements make clear, you get not one but two levels of overdrive with the Hot Rod Deluxe, and they are footswitch-selectable. See comments about the reverb below. And you get both a cover and a footswitch at no extra charge: the cover was extra with my Boogie.

Sound quality: 10. I like blues: someday I'd like someone to say I sounded like Barney Kessel imitating Jimi Hendrix's Red House on HENDRIX IN THE WEST, but nobody seems to be saying that about me yet. Really rich clean sounds: my comments above suggest the likelihood that I'm a "treble junkie", yet I like how full and rich the lows are on my Deluxe. I suspect what I'm hearing is the 6L6 family of power tubes, which are not as high-frequency-oriented as the EL84s on a Peavey Classic 30 (my other amp). I think the clean channel is slightly superior to my friend Mike's 60W Blues Deville (the older series with tan tweed covering), and his amp always had to get too loud before it sounded good. When you pick harder on a Tele on my Deluxe, it sounds richly twangy, and full of harmonics, not "doinky" and simple-sounding. It is true that the reverb seems to get too splattery too fast with this amp: reverb settings in excess of 3 seem antimusical. I wonder if the problem is as simple as the wrong taper on the reverb potentiometer. Other Harmony Central reviewers have also had critical comments about the Hot Rod Deluxe reverb. The overdrive channels sound fine to me: I find "Black Magic Woman" or "Oye Como Va" are in there even if the amp doesn't come from Petaluma. I play a rosewood and a maple-neck Strat, a Fender Tele Deluxe (with neck humbucker) and a home-made StewMac Tele with a Seymour Duncan Custom Custom in a rout between the standard-placed neck and bridge pickups. I guess I'm not a Les Paul dude: I find it entirely appropriate that a Harmony Central chiropractor recently recommended that we stay away from sitting down playing heavy LPs, and stand while playing lightweight Strats---and I'm (so far) the designated Harmony Central rheumatologist.

Reliability: 10. Bought this amp after trading in the .22 Caliber in April 1997 and have not had any regrets.

Customer Support: n/a: haven't had any problems or questions. The warranty is for five years, which is better than I think you have a right to expect.

Overall Review: 9. My friend Mike also has a Reissue Deluxe Reverb, whose tremolo feature is awesomely rich. ( The reverb is also cosmic). I do lament the absence of tremolo on the Hot Rod, but I had already bought a Peavey Valverb in 1993 to complement my Boogie, and I find I use its reverb alone (as well as its tremolo) to enhance the Hot Rod's spectrum of sounds. I also use a home-made extension speaker cabinet with a Celestion in it: it seems to add to the fullness of sound without much coloration. I'm sure that the addition of tube reverb and tube vibrato to the Hot Rod series of amps would add a minimum of $150 to their street prices: if you're not in need of these features, you can't go wrong with the Hot Rod Deluxe. You can now choose from more tremolo pedals (and also more types of more- expensive tube reverb/tremolo units) than in 1993, when I bought the Valverb, so you have the option of adding on the tremolo feature if you want.

I just bought this amp a few days ago, and I'm totally blown away! It has 2 channels; Clean, and Drive. The drive channel has a 'more drive' option that increases certain frequencies to allow for sounds more fitted for cutting through a band mix for great sustain during solos and such. The effects-loop is great, as it does not inhibit the overall tonality of the amp. The amp uses 3 12AX7's and 2 6L6's (I believe), so there is more than enough power and tone-shaping to allow for a wide range of sounds. I use this amp in jamming situation s at the moment, and this amp rocks. I play with another guitarist (using a JCM 800 and a 4x12), a bassist (Ampeg head with an 8x10) a drummer and a full P.A., and this amp delivers! I have more than enough headroom with the clean at 4 and the drive and 2!

I play a generally wide range of sounds, but most within the rock genre, so I utilize many clean as well distorted tones, although I generally shy away from metal etc. So far, the amp has allowed for every sound I want. I play through a effects processor in the loop, and the classic tone is not hurt at all by the unit. I play through a Fender Strat, with a Seymor-Duncan 'screamin demon' humbucker, and a Fender neck-lace pickup, and I sound great!

I've had it for about a week and I'm totally pleased so far.

Never dealt with the company as of yet, I hear it sucks, but hey, if amps are so reliable, why wouldn't it. (the Maytag repair-man syndrome)

I would definantly by it again! No other amp has as much power, tonality price, weight etc.. for the money you pay. If your like me, a student who lives away from home with no car, and needs an amp with power, but has a budget, who needs a great amp, but doesn't have the space for a head and cabinet, or who can't carry around a heavy 2x12 etc. Or, if you're just looking for a great amp, check it out!

Great features, especially the 3 switchable channels. It would've really been nice if they had put a vibrato channel on it though. The footswitch and the cover are nice little bonus's too! But, this amp has plenty of power for what I need.

I play blues and this sounds O.K., but I've really never been able to crank it up because it gets to loud in my room. The drive channels are a little noisy and there is alot of hiss on those channels. You can get pretty good distortion out of it with high gain settings, but it seems to lack depth and warmth. Because of this I use an Ibanez TS-9 Reissue for a better sound. I'm currently using a Fender Lone Star Strat and a Gibson Les Paul Studio to play through. Overall, this amp has a really great sound.

I've only had this amp since December of '96 so I haven't had any problems with it so far and plan not to.

Haven't had to deal with them yet, and hope I never will.

I would probably buy it again, but I would also heavily consider a Fender Twin Reverb Reissue. I still wish it had a vibrato channel and also maybe another 12" speaker. But, this is probably the best amp for the money that I've seen. I would recommend this amp to anyone, (unless they have $900 to spare for a Twin Reverb.)

a nice touch. Could've used a trem, but for this price who could complain?

Just got back into playin' out again after a long (kid-induced) hiatus. We do the standard rock/r&b/roots/country stuff. The Deluxe is as versatile and loud as I could need. I would like to slap a 12" cab under it, just for grins.
OK, the reverb's not tube. And the amp's way too dependant on PC boards (from what I understand, damn near everything off the front is straight-soldered to one). But I am totally pleased with the sound, feel and smell (and cost, by the way) of this amp.
Let me add that an entry below (from Dave at cyber-something) complaining that the "drive/more drive" section is really bad caused me to pause before buying. I, too, have a strat with gold lace sensors (a Clapton strat w/active mid boost), so I checked the HR Deluxe thoroughly based on that post. I gotta tell you, Dave -- either you got a really bad one, or someone slapped a better set of guts in the one I picked.
Broad range of sounds, lots of guts (top or bottom, depending on them purty little chicken heads), plenty of headroom, and a real nice pallette of distortion tones to choose from - full bodied at that. The active mid boost in the strat and a TS-9 both drive the Deluxe well, too.
The reverb? I've heard/played/owned better (ergo the "9"). But not for a tad under 500 bucks and a 5-year warranty.

Rules of Road:
1) Play tubes? Take back-up. 2) 5-year warranty makes reliability less of an issue.

Fender? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
I will say that the dealer I use (Midwest Music, Cincinnati) is top-flight. Thanks, Rusty.

Money an issue? Best sound and features for the buck? I couldn't find anything better.

There's not much more I could ask for in an amp. Two inputs, two channels, bass/mid/treble EQ, presence control, reverb, Gain Master and clean channel volume. The amp also includes a metal two-button footswitch with LED's so you can easily tell and see what channel you are on. It has a single 12" speaker custom made for Fender by Eminence. The nominal wattage rating is 40 watts and is plenty looooud for clubs or jam sessions! The FX loop is the only poor thing - good to have one, but why must it be a serial one ? Put a bad effect-box in the serial loop and the sound gets worse - so take good ones (better nor digitals) or let it be.

I'm absolutely satisfied with the sound ! Before I played the Hot Rod first, I could not believe that a Fender Amp also can make good distortion sounds, but the Hot Rod do so ! Id played a Mesa Boogie Caliber 50+ for years and also a Mesa - Subway Rocket - I've sold them now, cause I don't need them anymore ! The Hod Rod gives me the fantastic clean Fender sound (best I've ever heard) like the early Dire Straits-Sounds, and also Clapton's crunch and ultra crunch at it's best ! The overdrive is very nice, warm and easily controllable. You can get lots of different sounds out of this amp. The Reverb is very full and sounds fantastic, it really sits in the band mix really well. The 'More Drive'-Setting don't make the Fender to a Ulta-High-Gain Amp. You'll ever hear the character of the guitar 'behind' the amp - that's the sound I'd looking for ! O.K. - the distortion of the amp sounds best at higher volumes (unfortunately!), so don't play the amp only at home and say 'poor sound' ! If you are a Ultra-High-Gain Fan, buy a Soldano or Mesa. But I want to hear, what I'm playing - not only a screaming amp !

This amp hasn't given me any problems yet. It seems to be built very solid. I've found the amp to be very reliable so with 5 years warranty I'll rate this a 10.

Haven't had to deal with 'em yet, hope it still remains so.

I really love this amp and I'd buy it again. It is really powerful and can easily be used for a live gig as well as practice. Footswitch and cover were included and not optional. The amps I compared it to were all Mesa/ Boogies I'd played for years, but I'm sorry - he Fender won hands down. The search is over, I'd found my amp: the Hod Rod Deluxe! The clean sound is heaven (Fender at its best!), but also the crunch and ultra-crunch Sound is fantastic, much better than a Boogie or anything else in this price-range. Cause he sounds best at higher volumes try the THD-Yellow Jackets with two EL 84 instead of the 6L6! This gives you best sound at moderate volume! I think this is one of the best amps you can buy for your money. I would pay more for it.

This amp replaces a Blues Deluxe, and I'm not even looking back. Many improvements from my perspective. Three Channels: Clean, Drive, and More Drive. 40watts is plenty for small to medium clubs, and I mike it for outdoor and large rooms. Very versatile EQ that really changes the tone nicely.

For Blues and Classic Rock this amp is awesome. The Drive channel is much improved from the Blues Deluxe, and I don't need a TS9 anymore The clean channel is crisp and through a strat you have lots of tone options. I've been using the drive channel on 5 for starting off with a clean lead, and then kicking the Drive in on bends, and it just increases the Horsepower and sustain of your tone. Perfect for Clapton, SRV stuff. The more drive also sounds great, especially if not completely maxed out to 12. This amp has lots of tone options with EQ, and drive channels.

I hope it's dependable. I sure has problems with my Blues Deluxe. It cut out at gigs more than once. First it needed to get some field change from a Fender repair guy. Then the relays for channel switching died. I noted on the HR Deluxe schematics, that it is layed out differently, and hope that this beautiful sounding amp has been reengineered for improved MTBF.

I have dealt with Fender with the Blues Deluxe problems, and in obtaining Trem Stabilizer adjustment procedures. No problems with my dealer or Repair, I just hope I don't need them.

The amp sounds awesome. It's perfect for my band's music style. It is tons more versatile than the Blues Deluxe, and my r. guitar player says it sounds warmer. I think dollar for dollar this is the best amp for the price. Hope it's reliable nothing is worse than an amp dying on you in the middle of a solo. Would buy again. I even considered the Blues Deville this time, but the 4-10s sound a bit washed, and the damn thing is sooo heavy....I ain't 20 anymore

This is a 40 watt, 3 channel, 1x12" tube amp. Basically a more modern version of the Blues Deluxe. It's covered in black Tolex and silver grill cloth just like mid-60's Fenders. There are three 12ax7s and 2 6L6's. Controls for Volume ,Drive,Bass,Treble,Middle,Master,Presence,and Reverb as well as switches for Normal channel bright, channel select and more gain on the drive channel. I like this amp so much more than the Blues Deluxe I owned previously. It's as if Fender took everything I didn't like about that amp and fixed it. For one, the reverb doesn't hiss past halfway anymore. Also, the drive channel has some real drive and more drive, the master volume knob has a better taper making it easier to set the volume low, there's an extension speaker jack, and a bias adjustment pot. I wish it had a tube rectifier and tremolo. A little quirk I noticed about the channel switching, when you push the channel switch the is a small lag before the drive channel switched to the normal channel, this doesn't happen when the footswitch is used and is not really that annoying. Some nice included items such as a two button three function footswitch and a vinyl cover come with the amp, as well as a schematic. Oddly enough mine included a Marlboro light 100 cigarette at the bottom of the box, I don't think this is standard though. I figure either, someone tossed it in as a joke, they want me to think that the amp smokes (which it does, figurative speaking), or they're giving me a sign that the amp will eventually smoke literally. I hope the first is the case.

The clean channel is bright and very clean, the drive channel has way more gain than the Blues Deluxe, enough for fairly heavy rhythm playing, amost Marrshall-like, and with more gain switched, there's enough for lead playing, even with a Jazzmaster. I don't even need an overdrive pedal anymore. The drive seetings are quite noisy with a Jazzmaster, but that's the guitar's fault. With humbuckers, it's fairly quiet. The reverb sounds pretty good and there's loads of it, plus as I mentioned before, it doesn't hiss like on the Blues Deluxe. One thing I don't like is how the sound starts too get hard when it's loud, I plan on playing around with new tubes and the bias setting to try to soften it up some, hopefully it will help. I also use a Telecaster which sounds excellent and a 12 string Strat copy that sounds very good and jangly through the clean channel. I play classic pop type music like the Beatles, Jellyfish and Teenage Fanclub and it does well for this style.

I would depend on it for the most part, I've heard some bad stuff about Fender's quality control, but I owned the Blues Deluxe for about a year with no problems at all. I would always have spare tubes and fuses just in case.

I don't Fender likes customer support much, I wanted to email them and their address was nowhere to be found on their web site. Maybe if you call or write you'll get better service. I've never really needed to contact them for any problems though.

With my current income, I would buy it again. If I could afford better I'd buy better. It's a very nice amp for the price but it's by no means a desert island amp. It sounds pretty good with all of my guitars and even my beloved WurliTzer electric piano.

10. I really like this amp. Blues, rock and country all all handled well. I play at home and the sound is good on all three channels. The numerous guitars I put through this amp all sound great, no matter what the settings are. I use my Korg ax30g through the effects loop, but the amp is so nice that I have gotten away from using any effects other than those on the amp itself. The foot switch is easy to use beacause it has led's on it that let you know if your clean or in overdrive or in more drive. I use all of it's features.

10. I think it's a great blues amp. As above, the styles I play all sound good. I used to have a Peavey stereo chorus 212...no comparison. The amp is quieter than many solid state amps. The amp is a tone monster. It's neat to be able to roll off the controls and adjust the sound with this amp. Move a tone knob, say from 3 to 6, and the sound changes gradually, not "notchy" like some amps. Clean channel breaks up and starts to sing at about 6 (halfway) max on all is 12. Gibson 335 Firebrand, 50's Tele, Carvin tl60, Godin acousticaster, Squire Fat Tele all sound like themselves. Probably no the best amp for metal or shred. Clean channell would be wonderful for jazz.

10 I have no problems with it at all. The construction of this amp is beautiful...I expect it to last long enough to pass down to my so.

6. 5 years. Fender customer support is a joke. Good dealers in Tucson that will back the product.

10. Yes. There is nothing about the amp that I do not like. I played a bunch of them and chose this one. I also run an extension speaker (Peavey Classic 1-12e).

Buying this amp, I was looking for something tube, fairly light, and with enough power for the clubs that I play in. I had played through a regular tweed Deluxe but wanted a bit more overdrive, and this amp has it in spades, however it is not as "tweakable" as I would like. More on that later.

The clean sound is pure Fender, with plenty of headroom for the clean country twangin' that I do. The dirty channel is good for a bluesy sound, not much else. MORE drive is hot, as hot as my Boogie DC-5. HOWEVER, what I don't like about this channel, is that it is so UNBALANCED to the other sound. In other words, you turn it up to 1/2 to 1 and it is screamin' loud. I like to get up to at least 3-4 to leave some room to back off the guitar volume and still have some tone left. I wish that Fender would have adjusted this channel accordingly. Also, Dick Dale must have designed the reverb on this amp, as anything past 3 is reverb city. The overall volume of the amp is more than enough for the situations that I play in. I use a B-bender Tele, and a '57 reissue Strat with this amp.

Fairly new amp, N.A. at this point. The amp is built well though, should last a long time. The cover which is included well help in that regard.

I have dealt with Fender in the past with a guitar problem, and they basically passed the buck to the dealer, who passed the buck back to Fender. Fender DOES NOT want to deal with us consumers at all from my experience. I was very unhappy with the treatment I received from them, and solved the problem myself. I think that Leo Fender would do things a little differently if he was still around.

Despite Fender's poor service, I will ALWAYS LOVE Fender equipment. Overall this is a very good amp, and a great value. I traded a Peavey Classic 50 in for this amp, the Fender is a better amp for my needs