software

what does everyone think of this amp?

how reliable is it if you take good care of it?

anyone have any big problems with it?

i'm wondering about the same thing; i'm considering whether i'm going for the Hot Rod or the new AC30cc. I'll bet everyone will say quot;Ac30!quot;, but i've heard the circuit is noisy, and that it's unreliable (can anyone confess this?). So my second choice is the Hot Rod. Is it a good amp?

Here's a cool link for any thing you want to know about the Hot Rods.
from : localhost/studentweb.eku.edu/justin_holton/
I haven't had my HRD long enuff to see any problems. Got it used. It's a 2001
model. The Clean's in these amps are to die for!! The web site provides info
on any buggie quarks they my have? And how to fix them.

I’ve owned 2 Deville 4x10, one Deluxe and I recently got a Deville 2x12 used....I’ve owned and still own boutique amps but I keep coming back to the Hot Rod series....You can do a search on the Gear page forum or Harmony central about the amp....Simply the clean sound on this amp is not just fair it is actually good...You are going to see people that own high end boutique amps that also have a hot rod...I don’t know why but the clean on this amp is good and I am sure it’ll rival high end amps for the clean sound.....I don’t think there is a reliability issue with this amp (that I am aware of), the OD channel is just bad so don’t think of it as a gain machine or getting good OD tones using that channel...The good thing about this amp is how well it takes pedals and the clean channel…..

Now there are builders that mod these amps and makes them tone machines:

Jim Price at omega amps has a custom mod for these amps. There are also some clips you can listen. I thought the clips were great and might consider sending him my Deville for the mod.

There is also Voodoo amps (Trace) they also have a custom mod for these amps that brings the OD to be articulate, and very Marshall like…..

These mods are pretty cheap, actually the cost of the mosds will be equivalent to what a good OD pedal will be….I think this mods improve the tone on these amps and gives you more versatility……

They are good amps and they go for cheap on ebay…I scored one off ebay though for less than what they usually go for in mint cond….check this forum on the ad section, also check the gear page and harmony’s central ad section……

The Hot Rod Deville is looking pretty good.

Ain't it better to start with a clean sounding amp and rely on pedals for overdrive anyway? OR Should you just plan on owning a Fender for clean and Marshall or Vox for Overdrive?

Or just get a HR Deville with one of the suggested mods?

I played a Hot Rod deluxe with my epi 335 - gorgeous cleans, but not brilliant OD. Maybe this would improve with a pedal, but if I had to choose between a fender and a marshall, I'd probably go Marshall - unless, of course, I KNEW that a fender a certain pedal would go well.


Originally Posted by JimbojsrI played a Hot Rod deluxe with my epi 335 - gorgeous cleans, but not brilliant OD. Maybe this would improve with a pedal, but if I had to choose between a fender and a marshall, I'd probably go Marshall - unless, of course, I KNEW that a fender a certain pedal would go well.Well that is the thing about the OD channel is muddy not much gain, no articulation. that is why I suggested having it mod...In my case I have a 68 plexi clone which gives me the OD tones that I want so I can use the Deville for cleans or use it with a distorion pedal....These amps loves pedals I used to have a Radial bone hor British and sounded great through the clean channel...that is one option..although for the price of a Hot British a mod will be better......

Hmmm... sounds interesting, but I know Jack about pedals, unfortunately...

I've got a HRDx. I've switched out the power tubes for JJ 6V6s and ECC83Ss for the preamps. It cleaned up the drive channel some. I can get it dialed in where the drive channel is useable in the sweet spots, but it's still muddy for the most part, I still prefer pedals. I think for what it is, a versitile, cheap tube amp it is great. As everyone says, it's got great cleans and takes pedals really well. It does rock, blues, country, etc... It's a great amp for the money. I've had mine about a year and a half and no problems, but that's not a very long test. Only time will tell.