Fender Hot Rod Deluxe . . . is there an advantage to have a newer model ?

[SirJackdeFuzz II]

Hi there good people & Fender amp experts.

Simple question : is there an advantage over the 1st gen Hot Rod (1997'ish model) if you have a newer Hot Rod, like the MK3 or MK4 ?
Or . . . is the 1st gen Hot Rods adequate, compared to the newer versions of this amp ?

What is your thoughts on the 1st gen ?
Would anyone know what the tonal diffs / up grades are between the various models ?
Info on the various 'Hot Rod comparisons' are hard to find.

Thanks to all.

[Mincer]

Re: Fender Hot Rod Deluxe . . . is there an advantage to have a newer model ?

I was looking up this info earlier in the week. So I am interested in this info, too. I think there are 4 versions of it now, and other than people stating what they have, I have no idea if they improved the design over time or if "II is the best one". So I will watch this thread, too.

[shupe13]

Re: Fender Hot Rod Deluxe . . . is there an advantage to have a newer model ?

In my humble opinion, the newest version has the most useable reverb.

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[Liko]

Re: Fender Hot Rod Deluxe . . . is there an advantage to have a newer model ?

No personal experience, but I heard that the HRD IV fixes the longstanding issue with the clean volume, where most of the useful volume range is crammed into two degrees of movement on the dial somewhere between zero and one. The IV's knob sweep is more intuitive and easier to dial in something between nothing and ear-splitting for practice or small spaces. It is still a 40-watter, so by halfway up the dial anyone else in the room is plugging their ears, but you can find "comfortably rockin'" much easier on the latest HRDs.

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[FuseG4]

Re: Fender Hot Rod Deluxe . . . is there an advantage to have a newer model ?

IMO yes I like the IV best out of the hot rods I've played, they slightly cleaned up and tightened up the drive channel which you may not even be interested in but it does not sound as woolly, thick, and compressed as before. Not a huge difference but enough that I would take the latest version if it were my money.

[GuitarStv]

Re: Fender Hot Rod Deluxe . . . is there an advantage to have a newer model ?

I thought the drive channel sounded a bit nicer on the new ones.

[jeremy]

Re: Fender Hot Rod Deluxe . . . is there an advantage to have a newer model ?

there is a page somewhere out there that has a ton of great info on the versions of the hot rod deluxe, i thought i had it book marked but cant find it

[Mincer]

Re: Fender Hot Rod Deluxe . . . is there an advantage to have a newer model ?

there is a page somewhere out there that has a ton of great info on the versions of the hot rod deluxe, i thought i had it book marked but cant find it

Yeah, I was looking for that but hadn't come across it. You tend to see HRD II and III used a lot, and for cheaper prices than the reissue Deluxe Reverbs.

[SirJackdeFuzz II]

Re: Fender Hot Rod Deluxe . . . is there an advantage to have a newer model ?

No personal experience, but I heard that the HRD IV fixes the longstanding issue with the clean volume, where most of the useful volume range is crammed into two degrees of movement on the dial somewhere between zero and one. The IV's knob sweep is more intuitive and easier to dial in something between nothing and ear-splitting for practice or small spaces. It is still a 40-watter, so by halfway up the dial anyone else in the room is plugging their ears, but you can find "comfortably rockin'" much easier on the latest HRDs.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

IMO yes I like the IV best out of the hot rods I've played, they slightly cleaned up and tightened up the drive channel which you may not even be interested in but it does not sound as woolly, thick, and compressed as before. Not a huge difference but enough that I would take the latest version if it were my money.

I thought the drive channel sounded a bit nicer on the new ones.

there is a page somewhere out there that has a ton of great info on the versions of the hot rod deluxe, i thought i had it book marked but cant find it

Great info . . . thank you very much guys.
I will be looking for more info on the 1st gen vs other models.

I did come a cross a master volume 'devise' ($25.00) that you can use on the 1st gen to make the volume issue a bit more bearable.

[jeremy]

Re: Fender Hot Rod Deluxe . . . is there an advantage to have a newer model ?

i think its just the taper of the pot. people like to complain about them, i used to be one of em, but ive used almost all the versions (dont think ive had a iv yet) as back line amp and if you use your ears, you can get a fine tone out of any of em

[SirJackdeFuzz II]

Re: Fender Hot Rod Deluxe . . . is there an advantage to have a newer model ?

i think its just the taper of the pot. people like to complain about them, i used to be one of em, but ive used almost all the versions (dont think ive had a iv yet) as back line amp and if you use your ears, you can get a fine tone out of any of em

Good to know . . . thanks Jeremy