Fender Blues Deluxe, vs Hot Rod Deluxe.

SirJackdeFuzz II

SirJackdeFuzz II

Active member
I am looking for a Fender amp, do play some Dan Patlansky / Chris Buck / Philip Sayce style music.


Which Fender will do the job the easiest ?
A Hot Rod Deluxe 1X12 (40W), or the Blues Deluxe 1X12 (40W - tweed version).
Obviously, i will use the odd pedal as well.

Much appreciated.
 
they are both fine amps. i use a blues deluxe at rehearsals and own a hot rod deluxe. neither would be my first choice, that would be an old pro reverb, but i think both could work well. the hot rod is a touch cleaner, but some of that could be speaker related. both have a good sounding clean channel with full eq and nice reverb. the dirty channels arent my favorite, but they are more usable than some people give em credit for.
 
jeremy said:
they are both fine amps. i use a blues deluxe at rehearsals and own a hot rod deluxe. neither would be my first choice, that would be an old pro reverb, but i think both could work well. the hot rod is a touch cleaner, but some of that could be speaker related. both have a good sounding clean channel with full eq and nice reverb. the dirty channels arent my favorite, but they are more usable than some people give em credit for.
Click to expand...
- thank you ;)
 
jeremy said:
they are both fine amps. i use a blues deluxe at rehearsals and own a hot rod deluxe. neither would be my first choice, that would be an old pro reverb, but i think both could work well. the hot rod is a touch cleaner, but some of that could be speaker related. both have a good sounding clean channel with full eq and nice reverb. the dirty channels arent my favorite, but they are more usable than some people give em credit for.
Click to expand...
Are the a difference in the in the dirt channel of the Blues Deluxe, compared to the Hot Rod's lower gain channel ?
 
the voicing is different for sure. i feel like the blues has more low mids, but the hot rod has more bottom, high end is kinda similar. again, some of that could be speaker related
 
They are both great amps. The Blues Deluxe had an issue with some connections coming loose due to vibrations. I don't remember what the connections were or if Fender resolved those issues. The Hot Rod Deluxe did resolve the issues. I have a Hot Rod Deluxe v4 in tweed. It's my main amp. A few years ago, I bought a 68 RI Princeton Reverb. Got it home and found it didn't sound any better than my HRDv4. I took it back. I have tried a lot of good Fenders and always go back to my HRDv4.
 
From what I remember, there were quite a few circuit variations of both amps, so you sort of have to know which versions you are comparing.
 
Mincer said:
From what I remember, there were quite a few circuit variations of both amps, so you sort of have to know which versions you are comparing.
Click to expand...
. . . aaaah, thank, good to know.
I know there are various versions of the Hot Rod, but i assumed the Blues Deluxe never changed.
 
SirJackdeFuzz II said:
With that info, i think i might lean toward the Hot Rod then.
Maybe give it a Swamp Thang speaker.
Click to expand...
There are four versions of the HRD. I have the v4 and love it. Better speaker, pine cabinet, and drive circuit and reverb improvements. It's a great amp. There are videos comparing the differences all over the web.
 
there is the original blues deluxe and the ri version, but they are pretty similar as far as i can tell. my buddy has one of each, and they are very close. i have a hrd 3, my buddy has a 4, and another friend has the og model. they all sound very similar through the same speaker
 
My one freind has a Hotrod Deluxe I like it allot I helped him pick it out years ago.
My other freind just got a Tweed Blues Deluxe with a Celestion G12-65 Creamback. To me that amp sounded stiffer and kinda clunky.
But I have limited play time on the Blues
 
Weren't there also lots of variations of both amps with different cosmetics and different speakers?
 
The Fender Hot Rod Deluxe is a 40-watt, 1x12" tube combo amp that has evolved through four main iterations since 1996, focusing on improved gain structure and reverb. Key versions include the original (Mark I), III, and IV, with numerous limited-edition finishes and a George Benson signature model, generally featuring 3-channel (Clean/Drive/More Drive) operation.
Main Generations
  • Hot Rod Deluxe (Original/1996): The initial US-made version, often referred to as the Mark I, featured Eminence speakers and established the 3-channel, 40-watt formula.
  • Hot Rod Deluxe III (2010s): Introduced in the 2010s, this version often featured Celestion speakers, a revised, more usable "More Drive" channel, and a more user-friendly control panel.
  • Hot Rod Deluxe IV (2018–Present): The current, widely used version. It boasts significant updates including modified preamp circuitry for smoother overdrive, a modified spring reverb for better definition, and a lightweight Celestion A-Type speaker.
Notable Special Editions and Variants
  • GB Hot Rod Deluxe (George Benson): A signature version (often gray in color) designed to be cleaner and more jazz-focused with a 100-watt Jensen C12K speaker and altered preamp tubes.
  • Limited Edition Finishes: Over the years, Fender released many, including Tweed (lacquered), Brownface, White Lightning, Red Nova, and polished maple cabinets.
  • HRDx 112 Enclosure: A matching 1x12" extension speaker cabinet designed to add extra punch and volume to the combo.
Key Differences Over Time
  • Circuitry: Later versions (III and IV) aim to tame the very sensitive volume pot of the original, providing a more gradual, usable sweep.
  • Speakers: The original and some earlier versions used Eminence, while newer versions (particularly the IV) shifted to Celestion.
  • Production: Early models were produced in the USA, while modern versions (III/IV) are generally made in Mexico/Asia.
The Fender Hot Rod DeVille Michael Landau (ML) 212 is a 60-watt, 2x12 all-tube combo designed as a versatile, high-headroom pedal platform. Based on the Hot Rod DeVille III, it features modified circuitry for two independent volumes, a switchable boost, and Celestion V-Type speakers for a warmer sou
 
SirJackdeFuzz II said:
I am looking for a Fender amp, do play some Dan Patlansky / Chris Buck / Philip Sayce style music.


Which Fender will do the job the easiest ?
A Hot Rod Deluxe 1X12 (40W), or the Blues Deluxe 1X12 (40W - tweed version).
Obviously, i will use the odd pedal as well.

Much appreciated.
Click to expand...
Never heard of him before. Love his playing, but I've never heard anyone with such a narrow vocal range. Gets very tiring listening to the same three notes.
 
Butch Snyder said:
The Fender Hot Rod Deluxe is a 40-watt, 1x12" tube combo amp that has evolved through four main iterations since 1996, focusing on improved gain structure and reverb. Key versions include the original (Mark I), III, and IV, with numerous limited-edition finishes and a George Benson signature model, generally featuring 3-channel (Clean/Drive/More Drive) operation.
Main Generations
  • Hot Rod Deluxe (Original/1996): The initial US-made version, often referred to as the Mark I, featured Eminence speakers and established the 3-channel, 40-watt formula.
  • Hot Rod Deluxe III (2010s): Introduced in the 2010s, this version often featured Celestion speakers, a revised, more usable "More Drive" channel, and a more user-friendly control panel.
  • Hot Rod Deluxe IV (2018–Present): The current, widely used version. It boasts significant updates including modified preamp circuitry for smoother overdrive, a modified spring reverb for better definition, and a lightweight Celestion A-Type speaker.
Notable Special Editions and Variants
  • GB Hot Rod Deluxe (George Benson): A signature version (often gray in color) designed to be cleaner and more jazz-focused with a 100-watt Jensen C12K speaker and altered preamp tubes.
  • Limited Edition Finishes: Over the years, Fender released many, including Tweed (lacquered), Brownface, White Lightning, Red Nova, and polished maple cabinets.
  • HRDx 112 Enclosure: A matching 1x12" extension speaker cabinet designed to add extra punch and volume to the combo.
Key Differences Over Time
  • Circuitry: Later versions (III and IV) aim to tame the very sensitive volume pot of the original, providing a more gradual, usable sweep.
  • Speakers: The original and some earlier versions used Eminence, while newer versions (particularly the IV) shifted to Celestion.
  • Production: Early models were produced in the USA, while modern versions (III/IV) are generally made in Mexico/Asia.
The Fender Hot Rod DeVille Michael Landau (ML) 212 is a 60-watt, 2x12 all-tube combo designed as a versatile, high-headroom pedal platform. Based on the Hot Rod DeVille III, it features modified circuitry for two independent volumes, a switchable boost, and Celestion V-Type speakers for a warmer sou
Click to expand...
Thank you very much.
Great info.
 
GuitarDoc said:
Never heard of him before. Love his playing, but I've never heard anyone with such a narrow vocal range. Gets very tiring listening to the same three notes.
Click to expand...
He is a very nice, friendly, and down to earth guy.
Saw him several times live, and he is always willing to chat with the crowd that stays behind, after a show.

 
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