Hot Rod Deluxe iii extension cab as a platform cab?

[IMENATOR]

I was meant to buy a cab by a local guy but I just came to think about this cab may be an option and want your opinion. This one is not MDF (which I wanted to avoid) and is not that small as other ext cabs so maybe it will not sound boxy as some people claim about affordable 1x12 ext cabs, I understand it already has a Celestion 7080 which is already in some popular combos like the actual Fender HRD3, Marshall DSL40C and a BlackStar 40 watt combo I can't remember and a few modellers too so it may not be the best for one particular genre but seems to be able to handle different genres and versatility is what I am looking for. So what do you think of the following

- Is the speaker really the same Celestion 7080 as the other combos I mentioned?
- Do you think the back panel can be easily cut/modified to turn it into a convertible open back / closed back? It is closed back from factory.
- Do you think the stock speaker is versatile to some degree? I like all kinds of sounds from clean, mild overdrive, hard rock and metal.
- Can swapping speakers be tricky if keep it closed back? I was thinking of maybe at some point to put a tonkerline instead but as its the sensitivity is higher (7080 has 98. tokerlie 101), I have read some closed back designs are actually designed so having a louder speaker may not match the original design and the sound may degraded (or maybe not), if I switch it to open pack that may not be an issue but then that would also defeat the purpose of looking for a punchier sound with the closed back.
- Have any of you ever tryied this cab as a platform for your sound?

I am using an AMT SS-20 preamp (clean, crunch, lead), an ISP Stealth Power Amp, and my guitars are Fender Strat HSS with JB and SSL-1s, a Charvel SoCal with Distortion Set.


Thanks in advance

 

[IM4Tone]

Re: Hot Rod Deluxe iii extension cab as a platform cab?

Here are the specs, pics, etc. from Fender: http://www.fender.com/guitar-amplif...-deluxe-112-enclosure/2231010000.html#start=1
The speaker is actually a G12P80 rather than a Seventy80. One source I read claimed it is the same as a Seventy80, but that I don't know. Anyway, I think it sounds good as both an extension cab to my BDRI and a main cab to my 57 tweed deluxe head clone. Mine is the tweed tolex. However, I play clean, mild OD, and crunch...no metal.
If you look at the back view, you'll see the back comes off easily by removing the screws. Speaker swapping should be simple enough. Modification cosmetically, could be difficult if you're planning on cutting the back panel. I don't know how easily the tolex will pull away so as to be reusable, then re-glued???? For trial purposes, you could just remove the back in its entirety.
<===== that's mine in the avatar.

BTW, I've played a number of Seventy80 speakers as well and find them satisfactory for my use. The only Celestion I've played and absolutely hated is the Rocket 50.

 

[IMENATOR]

Re: Hot Rod Deluxe iii extension cab as a platform cab?

Here are the specs, pics, etc. from Fender: http://www.fender.com/guitar-amplif...-deluxe-112-enclosure/2231010000.html#start=1
The speaker is actually a G12P80 rather than a Seventy80. One source I read claimed it is the same as a Seventy80, but that I don't know. Anyway, I think it sounds good as both an extension cab to my BDRI and a main cab to my 57 tweed deluxe head clone. Mine is the tweed tolex. However, I play clean, mild OD, and crunch...no metal.
If you look at the back view, you'll see the back comes off easily by removing the screws. Speaker swapping should be simple enough. Modification cosmetically, could be difficult if you're planning on cutting the back panel. I don't know how easily the tolex will pull away so as to be reusable, then re-glued???? For trial purposes, you could just remove the back in its entirety.
<===== that's mine in the avatar.

BTW, I've played a number of Seventy80 speakers as well and find them satisfactory for my use. The only Celestion I've played and absolutely hated is the Rocket 50.

Thanks, at least it is good to know the stock speaker is good enough for the clean and OD (it should as it is the one included by Fender), I will seriously try it with distortion before making the speaker sawp. In the past I had sent e-mails to fender asking for info and I did get replies, sounds like a good question to get clarification about the stock speaker being or not the Celestion 7080.

I am thinking I may not cannibalize the back panel and maybe just having a new one made, that way I could resell the cab in factory conditions.

 

[IM4Tone]

Re: Hot Rod Deluxe iii extension cab as a platform cab?

......I am thinking I may not cannibalize the back panel and maybe just having a new one made, that way I could resell the cab in factory conditions.

Probably a wise decision.

 

[IMENATOR]

Re: Hot Rod Deluxe iii extension cab as a platform cab?

well, the price of the custom guy increased since last year and buying this cab is more affordable, and I can simply switch the back panel for open back if needed. It will be then just a matter of time to upgrade the speaker but for now. If anyone knows how tricky it can be to do speaker upgrade to a louder speaker in closed back cab please let me know.

 

[dystrust]

Re: Hot Rod Deluxe iii extension cab as a platform cab?

well, the price of the custom guy increased since last year and buying this cab is more affordable, and I can simply switch the back panel for open back if needed. It will be then just a matter of time to upgrade the speaker but for now. If anyone knows how tricky it can be to do speaker upgrade to a louder speaker in closed back cab please let me know.

Swapping speakers in a cabinet is pretty easy most of the time. Generally all you need is a screwdriver, soldering iron (maybe), and about 15 minutes. Some cabs (like my Egnater 1x12) use plugs for the speaker, so it's just a screw driver and 5 or so minutes to open the cab, unplug the speaker, unscrew it from the baffle, and reverse those steps with the new speaker.

 

[IMENATOR]

Re: Hot Rod Deluxe iii extension cab as a platform cab?

Swapping speakers in a cabinet is pretty easy most of the time. Generally all you need is a screwdriver, soldering iron (maybe), and about 15 minutes. Some cabs (like my Egnater 1x12) use plugs for the speaker, so it's just a screw driver and 5 or so minutes to open the cab, unplug the speaker, unscrew it from the baffle, and reverse those steps with the new speaker.

Actually I was thinking about it tonewise. It is my understanding some closed back cabs size and dimensions are desiged based on some speaker parameters for optimal bass response so if you change the speaker the parameters may not match the cab design and the overall behavior of the cab could change, maybe not. In an open back there is no aire "compression" as speaker is free to vibrate but in a closed back there is some kind of air compression that when fined tuned helps to reinforce the low frequencies and then you have a punchy cab, I just wonder if this understanding is correct and how much it can be affected by using for example a more efficient speaker.

In the best scenario I wonder if a louder speaker (pushes air harder) can perform good or bad in this cab with closed back or maybe there is no real reason to worry about. In the end I can always remove the back panel and put a semi-open or open back but I really wanted to hear experiences on that. Maybe using a speaker with same sensitivity is the best approach but that would restrict my options, like celestions are usually around 98dbs while Eminience are usually around 100 or even 101.

 

[IMENATOR]

Re: Hot Rod Deluxe iii extension cab as a platform cab?

ok, no turning back now, I have order it and should be arriving around Christmas

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Hot Rod Deluxe iii extension cab as a platform cab?

Did you ever get this cabinet?

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Hot Rod Deluxe iii extension cab as a platform cab?

I'm half-seriously considering this thing. Has anyone had an opportunity to compare this cabinet first-hand with what you get from a dedicated cabinet company (like Avatar) in a loaded 1x12 for $300?

http://shop.fender.com/en-US/guitar-amplifiers/vintage-pro-tube/hot-rod-deluxe-112-enclosure/2231010000.html

 

[IMENATOR]

Re: Hot Rod Deluxe iii extension cab as a platform cab?

Did you ever get this cabinet?

Sorry I did not see your question before. yes I did get it and overall it is an ok cab, I mean I really like it for cleans and overdrive but for the high gain stuff I am not 100% happy, not sure if it is my lead channel or is it the speaker that need more upper mids but I am currently using a Boss GE-7 to try to compensate a bit. I guess it is the eternal compromise: Fendery clean don't make room for great high gain and vice versa.

Edit: That is why a speaker upgrade was considered in the first place, but I have not done that so far as I have seen myself doing a lot of clean and bluesy and classic rock music lately. If I feel the urge for a better metal live sound I may get the speaker upgrade.