5 Great Fender Hot Rod Deluxe Tones!
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- Опубліковано 9 лют 2025
- #fender #fenderhotroddeluxe #tubeamp
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5 of my favorite tones to get with a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe III. All amp, no pedals, going into the low gain input with a Fender Stratocaster and Gibson SG. What are your favorite ways to dial in a Hot Rod Deluxe? Let us know in the comments!
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Disclaimer: I do basic audio editing on my videos to account for the microphones, preamp and room. This editing, mostly light EQ and compression, is intended to give you the most accurate representation of how the featured gear actually sounds. NO editing is done to misrepresent how the featured gear sounds in any way.
Now this was a nice demo. No talking, no nonsense and a nice positive showcase for an often unfairly maligned amp.
#4 Sultry Clean Blues. That’s the butter right there. Awesome!
“the butter” - I love it
This was an excellent demo, thank you! There is a lot of hate online for the drive channel but you showed it's actually very usable. But I think the most important thing is a player who can play to the strengths of the equipment he has - and this is exactly what you do.
If only newer Guitarists would realize their chase for better tone should see them focus on amplifier and speaker choices instead of pickups, pedals and even guitars.
Great demo squeezing out the best that Hot Rod Deluxe can offer.
I totally agree with that. When push comes to shove the amp has way more of a dramatic impact on your tone. Although luckily nowadays beginner level amps sound a lot better than they used to.
@@JackFossett I really appreciate you posting this. I just bought this amp and I need about 5-10 solid tones to cover what I do with the various bands I play with. This is a fantastic start.
@@JackFossett I just bought a 2002 cream Fender Deluxe with the tubes switched to Sovtek and Sveltana tubes and rebiased by a fellow who worked with Leo Fender when he built his first amps...fascinating guy. I love this amp. I learned a neat trick with the effects loop....it can be an attenuator of sorts by running a graphic eq in the loop and using the level control for keeping the volume down while the amp is cranked a bit. Also allows you to color the gain channel and get better tone out of it...put your money in a good Fender tube amp and you won't regret it....mine has already eliminated several pedals from my board that have become unnecessary (like my reverb and distortion pedal) I also run an old DOD 680 die cast 70s analog delay in the loop and it's so lush with the spring reverb that I'll never go back to my digital delay again.
The best tone I have ever gotten was from, drum roll...
Consistent Practice! The pros make bad equipment sound good.
@@phelps1485 I cannot disagree with you. Jack Pearson utilizes a $99 Squier to great affect. Practice, Practice, Practice.
In fact, I have been practicing guitar since I started taking guitar lessons back in 1974.
That is why I refer to myself as a "Practicing Guitarist"!
Thank You for showing the amplifier's EQ settings, very informative and much appreciated.
Jack, I appreciate the way you reply to so many comments. I find reading all the comments very interesting as well as informative.
Glad to hear it! I certainly try my best although I do miss more than I’d like to.
The first few moments of playing, clean tones, exactly the hrdx signature sound. Lovely. (And fantastic pedal platform thereafter)
Thanks for this video especially showing your amp settings. I have a HRD IV I bought about three years ago and haven't gotten the tone I wanted yet. I will try your settings next time I play the amp. I had an older HR Deville I gave my youngest son and I sure missed that amp. Thats why I bought the Deluxe. It was slightly lighter in weight. And I wanted that tone I got from the Deville. I have watched several YT videos on this amp and yours was by far the best and most informative. I am not a pedal guy except for a chorus pedal sometimes. I like to just use what I can get out of the amp. Thanks for the tip on using the low input plug. I have never tried it. The manual says its for guitars that have a pre amp built in to them.
Used one of these a while back. House amp already mic'd & soundchecked , as there were multiple bands on the bill, soundman insisted I plug in to it......best tone I ever heard , was reluctant to use my floor pedals. Fender has absolutely best built in reverb that breathes with your playing dynamics. Great demo & great playing, thanks.
Great demo! I just got a Hot Rod Deluxe, this is awesome! Thank you!
Excellent demonstration and great tones.
Been trying to nail the classic clean all night. Thanks sounds perfect now.
Warning: These amps are crazy LOUD!
Too loud IMHO if you play gigs that are inside. I run a vintage ‘68 Pro Reverb and at 35 watts it is perfect for mid-large sized venues and still holds its own for outdoor festivals and such. This amp has some great tones in it, but you can’t get them at volumes that are usable for most gigs that regular players would be using it at. A 30 watt 2x12 would have been a much better idea for 95% of players out there. But no one asked me so 🤷🏼♂️😂
Use a volume pedal on the effects loop... Works great for bedroom playing
@@thefastestcat like an attenuator?
@@giemmi76 sure... I just like simple solutions and I had the volume laying around so... It worked for me
They perform well at low volumes, which some other Fender Tube amps dont. I love it!
just got the hot rod deluxe and it’s definitely been my favourite i’ve played just infront the marshall sv20 head and 1960a cab
Jack has the magic touch!!
Really useful, cheers Jack. I moved on my Deville last year and bought a Deluxe. Just easier to gig with and move about! I love the sound of that SG through it. Sounds as great as it looks.
Awesome! Yeah I had a DeVille too, I enjoy them but they're beasts. For live use I'm actually transitioning to digital. My gig worthy amps are all backbreakers and I like the tonal flexibility from stuff like Line 6.
@@JackFossett yes mate. I’ve been looking at 90’s Fender solid states. I have a deluxe 112 as a backup and the clean channel is as good as any valve amp I’ve played. Make me want to try another. I think if you’re playing a pub no one notices the difference . I dunno, probably wrong. I just like the idea of something light to carry around that sounds good.
thank you for this superb demo & for showing your EQ settings
Oh yea Jack you got it
wow that was some awesome tones without any pedals !
Fender Hot Rod Deluxe amp, what!
Cheers to those of you who can’t make this amp sound good - Causes them to come up cheap on the used market to those who can.
That red strat sounds beautiful in E flat! 👍I’m about to get the fender hotrod soon
Ya know I've found in general, Stratocasters love E flat. It just suits the tone very well.
I bought a used mk4 recently. It was making the occasional noise like it might need new preamp tubes, so I took the opportunity to put a 12AY7 in V1 and a 5751 in V3. Its hair trigger volume knob thing is now not as bad, and the drive/more drive channels sound nicer than before. I'm not sure yet, but my overdrive pedal might be redundant now
Excellent playing and grateful demo
Thanks man, honestly helped me get such an improved tone out my deluxe. Im using the first fender clean tone which has given me such a better peddle platform. And now not afraid to strip right back to the clean tone because I know its good. Honestly much appreciated 🙏
Great playing dude. I was torn between an ac15 & a hot rod deluxe ... opted for the Vox but hearing you drive that SG through it makes me want one for home practise🤘🏽
I don't know man, personally, my 40w Hot Rod Deluxe is WAY too loud for my 3 story house. I played with some friends last night and never turned the master past 1, and it was STILL blowing us pit of the room.
@@rickrudd you need a 'Lion Tamer' - problem solved!
@@steviesavage I'll check it out!
Clean tone is so pretty… your guitar play is so pretty!
Stratocaster blues ❤️
Can you post a link to the settings it's hard to pause it at the proper time! Love your vids!
Excellent! Hot Rod Deluxe is definitely going to be it for me next!
Right on!
Hi Jack.
I had two hrd in the past. Now for me...I don’t have any place to use a hrd. Way loud. I’ve down sized to a super champ xd with a tube and speaker change. (eminence 1058) I did pick up a x2 for my daughter. For the size my xd sounds like a mini hrd. Great tones bro. Blessings
Good to know that.. indeed HRD is too loud amp.. thanks 😊
Those XD and X2 amps are awesome. Seriously underrated. That’s awesome that you’re getting your daughter into playing - my two oldest have their first guitars but we haven’t delved in quite yet.
What a great video -- and helpful to me with my own HRD. Wonderful playing. And that SG is the most beautiful I've seen, and I include my own in that.
God I love a gloss fretboard.
Nice playing and great tones. I just ordered one yesterday I can't wait to get my hands on it !!
Great demo Sir! And you're a great guitar player!
Great video. Made me stop hating my HRD IV. Much better setting than anything recommended directly by Fender, at least that I could find,
Great video and great playing. I’ve been struggling to get good tones with this amp.
nice tones great playing
Great tones Jack. Very nice, and thanks for all your hard work, and very informative videos. Great playing by the way also!
Thank you kindly!
Very nicely done!! Great playing and tones!!
Those volume settings would blow up my house
sweet tones... great playin!
You made that amp sing and sparkle. Well done, always a pleasure to listen & learn.
The HRD Texas Red at my local pawn shop sold for $600AUD before I could even have a go! *sobs*
Eh, probably too big 'n loud for my needs.
2021 will be VOX year for me! After faffing about with many different amps for 13 years, I've come to realize that the AC15 I had back in '08 might have been the right amp for me all along...
AC15 Tone Tips? Any chance you can cobble something together by January? :D
JK, mate. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and your family, Jack.
Gah - sorry you missed it. So I haven’t played vox amps for a while now, I did do an AC10 review a few years ago that has some AC15 “crossover” if you will - one of the best amps I’ve ever owned was one of the Heritage Handwired TV AC15s from about 15 years ago.
@@JackFossett All good, my man. I did watch the AC10 one. Will have another look.
That old AC15 I had was so warm, almost had a "Marshall-by-way-of-VOX" tone. Greenback speaker. Should never have sold but spilt milk 'n all.
Have a great Xmas/NY break. I'm putting guitar away for a couple of weeks and chilling with friends and family :)
Clean blues on the sg sounded the best to me, nice demo
Run a volume pedal in tbe FX loop to get the loudness under control.
Thinking about buying the hot rod deluxe 4 any recommendations or tips with it?
Thank you! Can you please write what tubes do you have installed? Thanks!
Tell ‘em bout it, Jack!
3:47 how DARE you make me do stank face watching a UA-cam video hahaha
Try a 5751 instead of the AT7. I use mine with Captor X, this gives me the best of both worlds. I can use it silently with headphones and using the built in attenuator crank the HRD during the day. Having stereo XLR out to the desk is nice option too 🙂
whats speaker???? and pickups??? thanks! desde Argentina
For years, I heard people complain about these amps (even though they are a world wide best seller - go figure). But I recently was doing some digging around - there is a particular Mark Knofler performance, from Berlin in 2007, where I thought his Les Paul tone was absolutely unparalleled. Comparing a single song, Brothers in Arms, from that concert to other live performances of it, nothing else sounded as good. So I thought, which amp is he using? His Soldano? A Marshall? Tweed Bassman (which can be seen on stage behind him)? Nope. Turns out it was a Hot Rod Deluxe sitting back there beside the Bassman. I was a little bit speechless.
I know the concert you’re talking about - AVO sessions right? I thought he was using a DeVille but either way you’re right. Great performance of Postcards from Paraguay and Song for Sonny Liston as well.
How do you have the volume up like that without blowing out your ears? I have an older HRD in my house and I can't put the volume past 1.5 before it gets really loud.
Great amp., nice tones, congratulations!!!!!
What’s the advantages with having the amp mic’d liked that?
is this recommended for bedroom use? or is it too loud?
Now if only I could play like you/////I know I know, more practice. A LOT MORE PRACTICE! Great sounds and playing!
Thank you very much! Appreciate the kind words
Never- ever considered a fender amp until today... Thanks?
Great job
Love my HRD 4, its just too loud though. I play at 3.3 on volume and it still hits over 100 dB's.
You could do this with the Blues Deluxe Reissue to.
I’d love to, need to get my hands on one. I don’t have the one that I reviewed a few years ago, I traded it.
It has a really different tone, much more harder to tame bottom end. I've had both and stuck with the HRDxe because it's more versatile to me. But I'm guessing you could tame the Blues Deluxe's low end with a good EQ.
Never found an amp for my sg I liked. Maybe this is the one.
Sooo i just bought one of these and id say the background noise is preeetty loud, is that normal with these or should i send it back? Pls help
Great!
Great video Jack. I wasn't sure about this amp, but it sounds pretty darn good. Might pull the trigger on one. A lot of these seem to come up for sale in my area. If you had to pick this or a Blues Jr, which would you choose?
Thanks! Definitely this one, 100% - the only two things I like better about the Blues Jr is the styling and the size. But this is a way more versatile and better sounding amp IMO
I just got mine, (mark 3), yesterday afternoon. Got a good deal off of ebay. Been looking at them for a long time. The clean tones are very nice. Ready to give it a good workout this weekend with both my Strat and Les Paul. I would say go ahead and pull the trigger! As Jack mentioned, it’s a very versatile amp.
@@opiec8871I picked up a really nice used one a couple months ago and I put a Celestion Alnico cream 90 speaker and a 5751 tube in the V1 slot and it sounds 🤌
What speaker does this amp come with
Do they all have a weird sound to the mids? Almost like the pickup is out of phase? I can't really explain it. There's some artifact affecting the tone of anything from the middle of the fretboard. It's on multiple guitars so it's not the guitar.
Are you able to get the full tube tones from this amp under or around 105db?
The thing that makes me nervous about this amp is how loud it supposedly is haha
Is it painfully loud or just too loud to play in an apartment?
Because I don't mind going up to 120-125 but I prefer it being around 100, and at most 105.
I appreciate it, Jack! 😁
We have them at our school and they work perfectly for both practice rooms and on the stage. Its loudness is very handy for when playing with drums, as they actually cut through very clear. I find when im just practicing alone i can turn it down a lot and still get great sound, but u gotta remember its gonna be 2 x 12" speakers, so its never going to be quiet. But i hate loud noises when it is not needed, and for practicing this is perfect.
Did you ever find a good answer? I’m in the same situation. I previously owned a Blues Junior IV, loved it but the bass was lacking (likely due to cabinet size) and half of everyone said the BJ didn’t get the true “Fender sound”. On the other hand the HRD has the ideal cab size for bass but so many people say it’s just too loud. Then Jack here is playing at home and it sounds great so what do they know? Ahh the quest for tone…
Edit: To the person above - The HRD is still a 1x12 speaker. The deville is a 2x12
The tone starts to sound really good at about 90 dB's and just gets better from there. FYI, I run mine at 3.3 volume and the sound peaks at 120 dB's never taken it past 6. I have a HRD 4 1by12 at 40 watt's
very nice
Nice tones. Very practical settings and useable sounds. 👍
When I have the same settings for #2, it does not sound as overdriven as the video. Can anyone help me out?
What guitar are you using? Also is it the same model of Hot Rod Deluxe?
@@JackFossett I’m using a fender Stratocaster, and I have the 3rd generation of the Fender Hot Rod. When I use your settings it’s is just loud I don’t really hear much distortion
@@esac382 a Stratocaster will distort less than an SG generally speaking although you should be getting some good drive still. And you’re on Channel 2 with More Drive engaged?
@@JackFossett yes
@@esac382 I wouldnt be able to troubleshoot much more than that from here. If its not distorting at all you may need to take it to a tech, otherwise I'd say just keep tweaking it until you get a sound you like
Hi Jack, how would you compare the sound of hot rod deluxe to deville?
Very very similar. DeVille obviously is more powerful and sounds a bit wider due to the speaker configuration. But they really do the same thing for the most part.
Tune amp should be ur first investment after having. A nice guitar upgrade amp before a bunch of pedals and diff pickups my hotrod makes any guitar scream especially a strat
It can sound really good without pedals as long as its not hard rock sounds. For blues you can get nice cleans and dirt sounds imo. I like my HRD3 ;) mostly using it with pedals though..
It definitely works best as a pedal platform, totally agree - but there are some cool tones you can coax out of it on its own. I can appreciate the mentality of just wanting to keep a rig simple.
I have same HRD3, but i use an Mxr Eq to lower more the bass and cut some high frequencies.
Hi jack blues junior iv or hot rod deluxe? Used ones both available to me but the hot rod is cheaper. I like clean and no pedals and junior has that but wondering if better to have the bigger amp even just for home/studio. And I also play mostly bluesy jazz but still wondering. Probably both great but do you have a recommendation?
I’d personally go with the Deluxe. I think it’s a more versatile and all around better amp.
@@JackFossett thanks. I think so too, but now I just thought about my back :)
@@abrahamlife it’s actually not that bad in my experience, unless you’re constantly moving it around. If you’re always on the go the Blues may make more sense, but for once in a while it’s very doable. Of course this is coming from someone who uses a Twin Reverb.
@@JackFossett thanks for the he encouragement
I have an older HRDeville 4x10 and there is no master volume. I ordered one to put into the effects loop to cut down the output volume. Hopefully that takes it to the point where I can play with the eq and find some good tones without my ears bleeding. I don’t think the drive channels on my version sounded that good. Did they change that circuit in the newer models?
I've never seen a HRDv with no Master Volume. I bought mine new in 1998 and still use it all the time. I played for many years with a volume pot in the loop, generally then setting the Clean Volume at around 4-8 with pedals in front, or the Master Volume (which by the way only works on the drive channels, which is why I was a bit confused by your comment) a little lower to even out the two channels volumes. The HRDv has so much headroom, that the power tubes barely come into play until you almost dime the volumes, so the drive that you get with this amp is pretty much all pre-amp. So that volume pot essentially allows you to drive the pre-amp to your heart's content at far lower, even bedroom levels. It sounds superb. I recently built an excellent attenuator but honestly the tone with just the volume pot is just as good (unless you really want that timed power amp drive).
The drive channels on the newest version are definitely better than on the older amps, but honestly, even on mine, it's very acceptable given that I can really push the pre-amp. Put a mild OD in front, like a Sweat Cream (Mad Professor clone), or even a TS, and it really comes alive.
Hope you enjoy your amp's new capabilities!
@@anthroknight it has a knob labeled master as you know but really it’s a volume control for the drive channel. Mine is a HRDv III version and I don’t like the drive sounds. What I have been doing is running it on clean at 2 and run a fulltone fulldrive 2 mosfet in front and control volume with that in a band setting but still too loud for the house. I’ve just received my lion tamer and have noticed that it seems to affect the reverb as well. Have you noticed that?
A volume knob, nothing else, in the effects loop let’s you push the amp and play with that tone at a much, much sound level in the room. That is, you can keep the sound rich but not so darned loud in a smaller space. For example it’s no problem to put volume and master at 9 and then use the volume knob in the effects loop to lower the sound level in the room to what those levels would be if set at 1-2. But it still sounds pushed and the drive stuff works better.
input 2?
That sounds great!
how about one amazing hot rod deluxe tone with 2 cheap easy moves?
1.swap the first preamp tube to a ge (for cleans with p90's /humbuckers) or a vintage mullard (for strats and rock) they are sold used under 100$ on ebay .
2.swap that crappy speaker to a celestion creamback (used on reverb/ebay under 100$)
3.200$+ shipping and taxes and that's it! youre good to go for the studio or gigs.
enjoy!
Spectacular demonstration! Great tones on a variety of equipment. I really appreciate the work you put into this one, Jack. 👍🏻
It's definitely a popular amp that does everything ok but nothing great. There are better options at the price but they dont have Fender written on then. I always preferred the clean to a DR and believe that was the 6l6 tubes. The two I owned sounded small and put that down to a poor non resonating cab ie MDF. Maybe the latest plywood or pine cabinet helps. I'm a firm believer they do.
Fender definitely listened to player feedback with the newer models and fixed some common problems, but I agree - these are mostly workhorse gigging amps.
I had one of the early ones a few years back. Poor eq etc,and lousy gain chanel. I presume yours is the latest model and sounds great. I now use a Boss Katana which is ok but no match for a good Fender amp. I will try another after hearing your demo which is great. Tony (uk)
These amps I think can really sound good if you dial them in right - otherwise they can sound really bad. Depends a lot on the guitar pairing too.
@@HeartShapedBox93 worse is somewhat subjective - I think the old ones definitely had more quirks
3:47 great bubbles in fire)
Hey Jack. I have the original 95. HRD. What are your amp settings usually?
I would run it on second input, bass at 4, treble at 7 and mids at 9 with a reverb pedal generally
@@JackFossett Volume? Presence? Run it on normal or bright mode??
@@JackFossett With any guitar? How about with a strat and les paul??
How does that amp not blow your eardrums out on those settings!? Mine feels like 90% of the volume is between 0-1 on the knob, and anything past 2 shakes the room.
What model do you have? On later models they smoothed out the volume taper as far as I know. I do remember on earlier models the volume knob was like a shower dial that goes from luke warm to 80,000 degrees in a 1/16 of an inch.
Either adjust guitar volume down, or as I did with my version one HRD in my pedalboard I have an eq in the effects loop. Fixes the volume adjustment issue with the earlier version.
I have the new tweed deluxe and it does the same thing. My neighbors call me when I turn up to 3 on the dial.
i added a marshal 1936 cab to my hot rod... its very good... so 80s like....who needs a pedal for this??? you dont know how to use it??
Posess a 98 model. Hrd+ strat, nothing better!😅
Great sounds....but you should have pulled that Tele off the wall and used it too.
Que timbre maravihoso
Hot rod deluxe or vox ac15?
Hot Rod, 100%
Your demo is better than Fender's. Which is ironic since they could use CBS production.
I’m honestly not crazy about how Fender likes to dial in their own amps, or even their micing/audio production techniques. I don’t think they represent very well what the amps actually sound like. Guitar Center is the same way. But everyone’s preferences are different.
@Jack Fossett True, its like "the photo doesnt do it justice", except in this case, "The Fender company doesnt do Fender justice" lol.
Not a really good overdrive tone for a strat, too scratchy, too muddy. But I found out, if you use the overdrive channel with low gain in combination with a good pedal, you get a warmer tone than if you take the clean channel for this.
Oh yeah!! You know what?? You’re quite good!! But I’m not buying yet ANOTHER amp!! Does life coach come with lessons?
Aww come on - buy another amp - we all need more amps 😃
My wife got me a Fender American Professional ll Deluxe Telecaster for Christmas! I may have to get the Hot Rod Deluxe (or at least that’ll be my excuse) I guess I need a Deluxe amp for a Deluxe guitar......right???
@@SammyFender of course you do. But make sure to write it out “De Luxe” so that it sounds more sophisticated. Like Beck on Truth.
Man, you were this close to ruling the world with that SG! Les Paul would've gotten you there! (According to Joe.....). Lol!
AH THE ONE AND ONLY E.C EDDIE COCHRAN
The od really is pretty rough
Great playing and tones Jack. Here's a link to a video of Robben Ford laying down solos for his new album ua-cam.com/video/zaBZUkAvIrI/v-deo.html Hope you enjoy.
Thanks! Appreciate the link - do you follow him on Instagram? He posts some cool stuff there too.
@@JackFossett Glad you enjoyed it. Never done any social media stuff, I see it eat away at peoples lives, just glued to their phone. Then there is the censorship and bias which seems to be rearing it's ugly head even on here. On a lighter note, Merry Christmas to you and yours.
HOT ROD III…. You HAVE to write in the Title Hot Rod Deluxe III…..
nice demo
Jack, about to pick up one of these used
the only helpful video ❤️🫶🏼🫶🏼