Home› DigiTech Forum› GNX Forum Achive› GENERAL› General Discussion and Chatter

Fender Hot Rod Deville

partchpartch
in General Discussion and Chatter
I want some feedback on this amp. 60W 212 version. It's kind of a mixed bag as far as online reviews of this thing, so who knows what to believe there? I would like to play thru one with my Strat before I bought one! BUT local shop I doubt has one etc.. So anyhow just wondering what you all thought of this Amp?

I have been realy thinking of changing my live rig. I would keep the GNX4 at home & use for recording etc.. I would use the deville at Church more & likely miced up with a 57. I would realy try to use this amp alone as it is 2 channel with switch & see how I liked it? I don't need extremly heavy distotion more overdrive sounds & cleans. If I realy realy can't live without the effects chorus,delay etc.. I already plan on adding an RP500 in front of it in Pedalboard mode as to only use the effects the Stomp Boxes as needed or desired. I would still in that case still mic the Amp though rather than go direct as I'm not realy modeling nothing I would be just using the RP for the Stompboxs & would be more after the Fender Tube Tone 8) Anyhow all thoughts & comments welcome. Thanks fellows!
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • partchpartch
    I will add what brought this all on. About a month maybe 2 ago? I was trying to find some new patches. I thought since I'm playing a Strat & all now I should try some Fender Models from the good old MFX Supermodels disk 8) Anyhow I tried a few & ended up realy liking the Hot Rod Deville! Matter of fact i have not played any other patch since, just love the way that patch sounds! I normally try new patches all the time. Sure I go back to the old favorites time & again and even play the same patches several weeks in a row in a blue moon. BUT I can't seem to pull away from this patch! It realy seems to be my sound 8) Which get's to the whole point of this thread. If this truly is my sound with the new Strat & all. Should I just go after the real deal for live use? hence the questions bout the Fender Hot Rod Deville. Thanks again all!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • RawbRawb
    I can't really say partch. Never drove one! Almost picked up a cyber awhile back .... but never followed thru. If the patch has that big of a hold on ya, why not just stay with it. If it has what your ears like? Why spend the moolla?

    Like with so much other gear in this music biz... One mans trash is anothers treasure. I would travel if need be to test drive one and let your ears tell ya what they think.( take your ax widya ) jmdao..

    Though probably not a good indicator in these economic times. Might check out the T&T, local news paper e-bay etc .. if you don't see alot of them that might tell ya something ... just a thought.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • partchpartch
    Good points Rawb! Yeah I will stick with the patch. But how much better would the real thing be man. I would deffinetly strive to yes play My Strat thru one before I bought one! I still just wanted to get some feedback as to guys who may of played or been around one & hear what they thought of it. Thanks again Rawb!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jamminmjjamminmj
    My brother has one and loves it. But it's one of the first ones made. He bought it in 98 and there was a change in about 2001, 2002. The bottom end was'nt the same and they were abit bright around 2.5-3k. He chose it over a Revera and the only other amp he considered was a Fender custom shop but the difference for $2k. wasn't worth it. What he really likes about it is the fact that it retains all the nuances of his different guitars. They all sound like their individual self. It doe's everything he needs or wants be it Rock, Blues or Jazz, he can get it with the appropriate guitar and the tone controls. He judges all other amps by it.
    He recently just added a Lexicon G2 to interface with the efx loop and it
    works flawlessly. Awesome rig. So if your looking at a newer one it could be bitey with a strat, but then they could have changed again and who knows. You just have to try it before you buy it. They also like to be cranked up abit.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • GStricklerGStrickler
    <div style="displaynone">fiogf49gjkf0d</div>I didn't have the Deville, but I did try it at GC when I was looking a few years back. I liked it. I ended up going with a 40W Deluxe instead. I ended up replacing it because \"Hot\" is just what these amps are. I could not tame the volume level on the Deluxe at home. I put an attenuator on it to cool it down some, but it seemed to lose something in that process.

    I ended up replacing the Deluxe for a Mesa Boogie 5/50 which I find is much better than the 40W Deluxe (IMO). It is switchable between 5W and 50W, so works well at home and out in a larger room. It has 4 settings (2 on each channel) clean, crunch on C1 and blues, burn on C2. It's a great amp. The only problem is it's probably twice the dollars as the Deluxe. I play a strat and tele thru it and have even hooked up my acoustics to it and it sounds great. I have not tried it with the GNX4.

    I do like Fender (great products). Back when I bought the Fender amp, I probably should have went with the Twin Reverb instead (great tone), but thought I wanted something a bit more \"hot\" which the Deluxe was (is) and I think the Deville is probably on a similar order. I think that's why they call it \"Hot Rod\".
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Mike BMike B
    Hey Partch, Our other guitarist with the church praise team had one of those a few years back, the Deville with 2-12's. They are nice amps, but as GStrickler points out they are loud. If you ever turn it up past 3 you will see what I mean about loud, but it is a clean loud, they will definitely \"cut through the mix\". I guess that's like Arizona in the summer it's hot but a dry hot. Have you ever considered a Twin Reverb? They cost more but a Strat sounds so nice through a Twin Reverb, especially an American Strat in position 2 or 4. Oh, I get excited just thinking about that combination. 8) Good luck!


    peace.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • partchpartch
    Hey thanks fellows! Yes I have heard that these our extremely LOUD! Yes My options are open to pick up realy any Fender Tube up to play live at Church with. My main deal is this seams to be the most affordable awsome one available. They only seem to go up from there! Heck i have Always had it for a 4*10 Bassman I've heard one before & had just such a big awsomw sound! BUT the Bassman reisue is over a grand when I'm already majorly pushin it with bout 700 bucks for the deville! Yeah I agree though about the Strat & Twin or realy any Fender Tube Amp. It has been just screaming for this way of playing with volume roll of & pick attack dynamics you get thru this type gear! I'll keep you all posted to how this all turns. Thanks for the inputs! Anymore welcome!


    All yeah i have heard of an eazy mod called yellow jackets that plug in the 6L6 Power tube sockets & in go EL84's Cut's the power aproximate in half & you get warmer more cranked sound! At more usable volume levels. You can also put a volume switch inbetween the effects loop. Crank the mains etc.. to get the sound saturation you want & run your actual stage volume level from the switch. So there are feasable solutions to taming down the Hot Rod or any loud tube amp & get that cranked sound at usable volumes 8) Thanks again fellows! :D
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • 0Dannyboy0Dannyboy
    :twisted: I have a fender deluxe 1x 12 40 watt...nice amp but loud and a one trick poney... but its a great trick.
    I just bought a Bogner Spider Valve 1x12. 40 watts and I installed a custom SVPRE in it. Thats a 12ax7 tube front end.
    It was a great Metal amp but only so-so with clean tones
    after i installed the SVPRE it has Amazing cleans and blues.
    and even though I dont use much distortion live its the best metal amp for my inner Van halen I have ever owned...I would recomend it more but honestly without the mod (wich is expensive and a pain to install) The cleans werent sparkley enough and i would have taken it back.

    I like my GNX stuff for home but I like to take an amp with me these days too.

    If you only need a couple of great tones can't go wrong with a nice Fender tube amp. Sparkleing cleans are what Fender does like no other I think. :wink:
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jamminmjjamminmj
    Here's a place to check out for tube and biasing info if you want something alittle different out of your tube amp.
    http://www.eurotubes.com/
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • BettyBooBettyBoo
    Hate to sound like a downer to you partch but I know 4 guys who have/had them (3 of them with the 212) and they've had non-stop trouble with them. As far as I know its usually the power sections failing in them. Two of these guys that I know real well couldn't get 3 nights out of them before something shyte itself in them. I saw a nice plume of smoke come out of one of them one night and it had only been going for three songs. :cry: They both got rid of them and bought Peavey Classics instead and have never had a problem since.

    Anyhow, thought I would tell you what I've seen of the Hot Rods before you lay down your cash. Sorry to be a buzz-killer man! :wink:
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • partchpartch
    \BettyBoo\ wrote:
    Hate to sound like a downer to you partch but I know 4 guys who have/had them (3 of them with the 212) and they've had non-stop trouble with them. As far as I know its usually the power sections failing in them. Two of these guys that I know real well couldn't get 3 nights out of them before something shyte itself in them. I saw a nice plume of smoke come out of one of them one night and it had only been going for three songs. :cry: They both got rid of them and bought Peavey Classics instead and have never had a problem since.

    Anyhow, thought I would tell you what I've seen of the Hot Rods before you lay down your cash. Sorry to be a buzz-killer man! :wink:

    Hey no prob BBoo. I realy leaning torwards a twin Reverb now anyhow. Regardless of which one I get. It will be a Fender Tube Amp. & I will have played my Strat thru it before I buy that Amp. I still may buy online etc.. BUT I will try the Amp out before I decide as this is a big decision for me! Thanks again everyone for chimming in on this! :D
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • pumarolopumarolo
    I actually have one Hot Rod DeVille 2X12 and I love it...I 've had it now for 13 years!!!! and had never a problem. I actually bought it in Switzerland and when I moved it here I had put a new transformer for 120V amperage.

    The best tones I ever got was using the JJ tubes from www.eurotubes.com
    Those are the nicest ones......he has several setups for this amp, I personally prefer the Higain ones....

    Anyway...I also play a Mesa Nomad 45 and the two together make my tone....I have the fender for some really nice thick warm clean tones....but even driven or boosted sounds pretty nice.

    Yes it is a loud amp.....I have the clean volume never over 2...and the same on the Master volume...

    I think the Fender has a nice low bottom that other amps don't give you.
    Anyway..if you buy one make sure it is an American made...they were all made before 96. After that they were all made in Mexico.....usually you can check the manufacturing date with the serial number......
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • partchpartch
    \pumarolo\ wrote:
    I actually have one Hot Rod DeVille 2X12 and I love it...I 've had it now for 13 years!!!! and had never a problem. I actually bought it in Switzerland and when I moved it here I had put a new transformer for 120V amperage.

    The best tones I ever got was using the JJ tubes from www.eurotubes.com
    Those are the nicest ones......he has several setups for this amp, I personally prefer the Higain ones....

    Anyway...I also play a Mesa Nomad 45 and the two together make my tone....I have the fender for some really nice thick warm clean tones....but even driven or boosted sounds pretty nice.

    Yes it is a loud amp.....I have the clean volume never over 2...and the same on the Master volume...

    I think the Fender has a nice low bottom that other amps don't give you.
    Anyway..if you buy one make sure it is an American made...they were all made before 96. After that they were all made in Mexico.....usually you can check the manufacturing date with the serial number......

    Hey thanks for the tips! & feedback there bro 8) I'm actually pretty say 99% sure I will be getting a Bogner Alchemist 112 combo instead of the Fender. That tube Distortion is so sweet & warm & the cleans are pretty darn close to Fenderish cleans Has 20 or 40 watt mode with the 20 really beeing totally different Tones almost like a different amp type thing 8) The flexability of this amp to cover so many different sounds from clean,Jazz,Blues, & yes even Metal in my opinion some say not BUT 80's metal no problem. Anyhow this Amp also seems to be alot more solid than the Fenders? i've heard & read so much negatives over the Fender Hot Rod's Anyhow I agree as well about the JJ Tubes! I have used them before as well & retubeing would deffinetly be done using there tubes! Thanks again for the feedback! :D
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • pumarolopumarolo
    \partch\ wrote:
    \pumarolo\ wrote:
    I actually have one Hot Rod DeVille 2X12 and I love it...I 've had it now for 13 years!!!! and had never a problem. I actually bought it in Switzerland and when I moved it here I had put a new transformer for 120V amperage.

    The best tones I ever got was using the JJ tubes from www.eurotubes.com
    Those are the nicest ones......he has several setups for this amp, I personally prefer the Higain ones....

    Anyway...I also play a Mesa Nomad 45 and the two together make my tone....I have the fender for some really nice thick warm clean tones....but even driven or boosted sounds pretty nice.

    Yes it is a loud amp.....I have the clean volume never over 2...and the same on the Master volume...

    I think the Fender has a nice low bottom that other amps don't give you.
    Anyway..if you buy one make sure it is an American made...they were all made before 96. After that they were all made in Mexico.....usually you can check the manufacturing date with the serial number......

    Hey thanks for the tips! & feedback there bro 8) I'm actually pretty say 99% sure I will be getting a Bogner Alchemist 112 combo instead of the Fender. That tube Distortion is so sweet & warm & the cleans are pretty darn close to Fenderish cleans Has 20 or 40 watt mode with the 20 really beeing totally different Tones almost like a different amp type thing 8) The flexability of this amp to cover so many different sounds from clean,Jazz,Blues, & yes even Metal in my opinion some say not BUT 80's metal no problem. Anyhow this Amp also seems to be alot more solid than the Fenders? i've heard & read so much negatives over the Fender Hot Rod's Anyhow I agree as well about the JJ Tubes! I have used them before as well & retubeing would deffinetly be done using there tubes! Thanks again for the feedback! :D

    You're welcome!
    But before you go ahead withthe alchemist........you know it's made in China and it's not a \"real\" Bogner right? For that Money you might find a Boogie combo such as the Lone Star....or even the Nomad....at least you know what you get....
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • partchpartch
    I've played the Alchemist. It is deffinetly Bogner made in China or not? All that did for them was bring the price down for the average player. Most Bogners are 2K & up :shock: Anyhow this is Bogner Amp not Line 6. it is meeting Bogners quality & it was all his design not line 6. They added some parrellel effects that yeas are line 6 BUT other than that made in China or not this Amp is as much Bogner as a Shiva, or Duenda whatever He said so Himself :wink: I'm glad for the sake of affordability for the non proffesional musician that it is made in China & still has Bogners stamp of approval on that i get His noted quality at an affordable price 8) I have seen no issues with this amps quality in any reviews etc.. i can not say that of the Hot Rod Amps. & have I said the Tube distortion is just 8) :D Thanks for the advice BUT I'm pretty sure this amp is going to cover all my bases in the most affordable price & reliability not worrying about my investment like the comparble Fenders?
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • 0Dannyboy0Dannyboy
    \partch\ wrote:
    Anyhow this is Bogner Amp not Line 6. it is meeting Bogners quality & it was all his design not line 6. They added some parrellel effects that yeas are line 6 BUT other than that

    You say LINE 6 like its a bad thing... :roll: look at a ton of pro riggs you'll find a tone of L6 gear in them. Bogner thought they were pretty cool too or he wouldnt have his name on it ... Not a fanboy of theres but I have owned quite a bit of there gear over the years...within its price point It preformes as well as any stuff out there.
    Bogner sold out to mass production or got a great deal so we get to benifit from some of his designs, thats awsome for people who just want a great sounding amp.
    It $uck$ for tube snobs who want to feel special :lol:
    Rawkon Partch!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • pumarolopumarolo
    \partch\ wrote:
    I've played the Alchemist. It is deffinetly Bogner made in China or not? All that did for them was bring the price down for the average player. Most Bogners are 2K & up :shock: Anyhow this is Bogner Amp not Line 6. it is meeting Bogners quality & it was all his design not line 6. They added some parrellel effects that yeas are line 6 BUT other than that made in China or not this Amp is as much Bogner as a Shiva, or Duenda whatever He said so Himself :wink: I'm glad for the sake of affordability for the non proffesional musician that it is made in China & still has Bogners stamp of approval on that i get His noted quality at an affordable price 8) I have seen no issues with this amps quality in any reviews etc.. i can not say that of the Hot Rod Amps. & have I said the Tube distortion is just 8) :D Thanks for the advice BUT I'm pretty sure this amp is going to cover all my bases in the most affordable price & reliability not worrying about my investment like the comparble Fenders?

    Hey Partch
    First off.....I don't want to argue..because you should buy what feels right for you. But regarding the Alchemist......the design is definetly Bogner....but the fact is that is made by Line 6 in China.....so you can't compare the quality of a Bogner made in California where everything is hand made, thus the 2-3.5k$ prices....the Alchemist is cheap because it's made in China in a Factory...that's the fact.

    But how can you compare the Hot Rod with an Alchemist? They are in a different price range from each other and not comparable...from the tones.......the Fender you can purchase for around 500 bucks while you still have to bleed 1,1k$ for an Alchemist....and that;s why I suggested....if you want to go more boutique and spent some more money....try a Mesa......LoneStar or the Express.....or even a Nomad if you can find! I bought my Nomad for 750 bucks and rocks the shit out of it....you can play anything any style onthe Nomad.......it has 3 channels and each channel comes with a subchannel that forms another tone setting......it's just fantastic.....
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • pumarolopumarolo
    \0Dannyboy\ wrote:
    \partch\ wrote:
    Anyhow this is Bogner Amp not Line 6. it is meeting Bogners quality & it was all his design not line 6. They added some parrellel effects that yeas are line 6 BUT other than that

    You say LINE 6 like its a bad thing... :roll: look at a ton of pro riggs you'll find a tone of L6 gear in them. Bogner thought they were pretty cool too or he wouldnt have his name on it ... Not a fanboy of theres but I have owned quite a bit of there gear over the years...within its price point It preformes as well as any stuff out there.
    Bogner sold out to mass production or got a great deal so we get to benifit from some of his designs, thats awsome for people who just want a great sounding amp.
    It $uck$ for tube snobs who want to feel special :lol:
    Rawkon Partch!

    Line 6 is not a bad thing at all....hence they are the pioneers of amp modeling...
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • partchpartch
    \pumarolo\ wrote:
    \0Dannyboy\ wrote:
    \partch\ wrote:
    Anyhow this is Bogner Amp not Line 6. it is meeting Bogners quality & it was all his design not line 6. They added some parrellel effects that yeas are line 6 BUT other than that

    You say LINE 6 like its a bad thing... :roll: look at a ton of pro riggs you'll find a tone of L6 gear in them. Bogner thought they were pretty cool too or he wouldnt have his name on it ... Not a fanboy of theres but I have owned quite a bit of there gear over the years...within its price point It preformes as well as any stuff out there.
    Bogner sold out to mass production or got a great deal so we get to benifit from some of his designs, thats awsome for people who just want a great sounding amp.
    It $uck$ for tube snobs who want to feel special :lol:
    Rawkon Partch!

    Line 6 is not a bad thing at all....hence they are the pioneers of amp modeling...

    Hey thanks again for chimming in there bro! I appreciate it 8) Anyhow you got me thinking. I have been looking at the Mesa 5:50 looks pretty darn cool! Deffinetly seems like it would cover my bases as well. I'll keep you all posted.

    Hey about that Nomad is that not made anymore? Is it now the RectoVerb? Anyhow thanks again! Take care man :D
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • pumarolopumarolo
    \partch\ wrote:
    \pumarolo\ wrote:
    \0Dannyboy\ wrote:
    \partch\ wrote:
    Anyhow this is Bogner Amp not Line 6. it is meeting Bogners quality & it was all his design not line 6. They added some parrellel effects that yeas are line 6 BUT other than that

    You say LINE 6 like its a bad thing... :roll: look at a ton of pro riggs you'll find a tone of L6 gear in them. Bogner thought they were pretty cool too or he wouldnt have his name on it ... Not a fanboy of theres but I have owned quite a bit of there gear over the years...within its price point It preformes as well as any stuff out there.
    Bogner sold out to mass production or got a great deal so we get to benifit from some of his designs, thats awsome for people who just want a great sounding amp.
    It $uck$ for tube snobs who want to feel special :lol:
    Rawkon Partch!

    Line 6 is not a bad thing at all....hence they are the pioneers of amp modeling...

    Hey thanks again for chimming in there bro! I appreciate it 8) Anyhow you got me thinking. I have been looking at the Mesa 5:50 looks pretty darn cool! Deffinetly seems like it would cover my bases as well. I'll keep you all posted.

    Hey about that Nomad is that not made anymore? Is it now the RectoVerb? Anyhow thanks again! Take care man :D

    Partch

    The nomad is out of production but I am sure you can find it on ebay...I do have the 45 Watt version...then there is a 55W and a 100W version
    Go under the Mesa web site and under manuals (Discontinued products) you can read all about.

    BTW

    A friend of mine....who has a SHIVA and now I don't remeber the other Bogner amp he has...but he was about to buy the Alchemist and when he tried it out he felt the difference......instead he let himself built a custom Amp made here in Minnesota (Butler) that thing kicks ass!!! The cost for this cutom made amp was less then the alchemist!

    I am very happy with both amps The Hot Rod and the Nomad...they both give me the desired tone I want........and now I just purchased the RP 1000 with the amp loop and man......I am soooooo happy! ( I used the GNX4 til yesterday)

    Good Luck Partch...let me know.....


    I am not sure and I was surprised last night when I was talking to my friend that the Mesa Express is also not made in the US, but I am not sure about that.......

    Research and try things out......!!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • 0Dannyboy0Dannyboy
    I have a hotrod deluxe in my homes studio and a Bogner Spider Valve.
    Not an Alchemist.
    I had a late night Jam session on friday with 2 former guitarist I used to play with back in the day...these guys are awsome players.
    I had the hotrod right next to the Spider Valve all night we switched between the Fender with a Bad monkey (overdrive) and the L6 spider valve with all it built in stuff. I thought the Fender HR deluxes clean sparkel with the OD pedal couldnt be beat ...that is untill the nex morning I realised my Spider valves purpose was to emulate other amps...
    I quickly A/b ed the 2 and now my spider valve sounds exactly like my Hotrod deluxe...plus about 25 other amps ....gotta love this modeling meets tubes thing.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Sign In or Register to comment.