NAD - Fender Hot Rod Deluxe

treyhaislip

Well-known member
Just got this in trade-MIA Fender Hot Rod Deluxe tube amp. The cons, torn Tolex and lots of wear, input jacks needs some work and one of the channels doesn't work. Pros, awesome tone! I have a Metal Muff w/Top Boost pedal that makes this combo absolutely the tone I was going after!

I know next to nothing about electronics/amp wirings/troubleshooting...any ideas on the gain channel not working? It's not a biggie at all because the clean channel with my Metal Muff is awesome and I can switch between clean, drive, and decide w/top boost so I am not impeded by the bad channel...just would be nice to have it fixed. Looks like from my research online that the jacks usually go bad in time...so those will probably just need to be replaced.

Despite the issues I am thrilled with the amp--just what I was looking for tone wise.

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Re: NAD - Fender Hot Rod Deluxe

I had a HRD with a Metal Muff for years. It was a really nice setup, congrats. Is it the drive or more drive channel that doesn't work? Does it make any noise at all or dead quiet?
 
Re: NAD - Fender Hot Rod Deluxe

I had a HRD with a Metal Muff for years. It was a really nice setup, congrats. Is it the drive or more drive channel that doesn't work? Does it make any noise at all or dead quiet?

Thanks! A friend of mine first showed me the Metal Muff with an old Fender Blackface and I loved it--have actually loved it with every amp I've tried it with.

Well on both inputs it's the "more drive" that doesn't work--makes a loud low hum/drone like sound. On input 1 the drive channel works but that jack is for the most part shot. On input two only the clean works. Oh and the Master Volume doesn't work...methinks the amp has been modded (replaced tubes, caps, and speaker.)

those are cool! Congrats!

Thanks!
 
Re: NAD - Fender Hot Rod Deluxe

Bump for advice on these issues:

Any ideas on the gain channel not working? It's not a biggie at all because the clean channel with my Metal Muff is awesome and I can switch between clean, drive, and decide w/top boost so I am not impeded by the bad channel...just would be nice to have it fixed. Looks like from my research online that the jacks usually go bad in time...so those will probably just need to be replaced.

Both inputs it's the "more drive" that doesn't work--makes a loud low hum/drone like sound. On input 1 the drive channel works but that jack is for the most part shot. On input two only the clean works. Oh and the Master Volume doesn't work...methinks the amp has been modded (replaced tubes, caps, and speaker.)
 
Re: NAD - Fender Hot Rod Deluxe

I would start by throwing a fresh tube or one that you know is good in V2. V2 comes into play when using Drive and More Drive.

If that didn't help, I would pull the chassis and look for loose, cold, or otherwise buggered up solder joints. And I would also go ahead and replace all the jacks.
 
Re: NAD - Fender Hot Rod Deluxe

Congrats on the new amp!

While you're having it fixed, have the tech replace the volume pots with good audio taper units. That'll solve the biggest complaint those amps get, where it goes from too quiet to WAY too loud with a tiny turn of the volume.
 
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Re: NAD - Fender Hot Rod Deluxe

I would start by throwing a fresh tube or one that you know is good in V2. V2 comes into play when using Drive and More Drive.

If that didn't help, I would pull the chassis and look for loose, cold, or otherwise buggered up solder joints. And I would also go ahead and replace all the jacks.

Congrats on the new amp!

While you're having it fixed, have the tech replace the volume pots with good audio taper units. That'll solve the biggest complaint those amps get, where it goes from too quiet to WAY too loud with a tiny turn of the volume.

You guys are awesome–thanks!
 
Re: NAD - Fender Hot Rod Deluxe

Nice score Trey. And sorry, I don't have much experience with tube amps.
 
Re: NAD - Fender Hot Rod Deluxe

+1 for renewing the 12AX7 or 7025 in position V2.

If you wish, make a visual inspection through the rear panel cutout, to the right of the amp. V1 glowing inside and getting hot whilst V2 does not glow and remains cold would be a tell-tell indication of a dead pre-amp valve.

Change valves with the amplifier switched off.

IMO, the audio taper pot suggestion is a good one. The official Fender part number is 0080527000.
 
Re: NAD - Fender Hot Rod Deluxe

+1 for renewing the 12AX7 or 7025 in position V2.

If you wish, make a visual inspection through the rear panel cutout, to the right of the amp. V1 glowing inside and getting hot whilst V2 does not glow and remains cold would be a tell-tell indication of a dead pre-amp valve.

Change valves with the amplifier switched off.

IMO, the audio taper pot suggestion is a good one. The official Fender part number is 0080527000.

Both tubes are glowing...the gain channel makes a similar noise to when someone plugs in their guitar after an amp is turned on...loud drone like sound.

It does need both input jacks replaced. I've found several kits online that mod the amp that also includes new jacks so I thought about going down that road.
 
Re: NAD - Fender Hot Rod Deluxe

When my V4 tube in my JVM crapped out the amp was as dead as a doornail. The tube lit up like the others and looked normal, but is was shot. The only way I figured out the problem was by trying a known good tube until I got to that position.

So I still recommend trying a good tube in V2, or if you want, try it in each preamp position. Tubes can do odd things.
 
Re: NAD - Fender Hot Rod Deluxe

When my V4 tube in my JVM crapped out the amp was as dead as a doornail. The tube lit up like the others and looked normal, but is was shot. The only way I figured out the problem was by trying a known good tube until I got to that position.

So I still recommend trying a good tube in V2, or if you want, try it in each preamp position. Tubes can do odd things.

Thanks for the advice--I'll give that a shot :)
 
Re: NAD - Fender Hot Rod Deluxe

Well, the Amp started doing several crazy stuff so I decided to take it to an amp shop. Turns out the jacks needed to be replaced, pre amp tube was shot, and the solder joints had seen better days. Had all of those issues fixed and got a couple of upgrades while the amp was apart. The tone stack upgrade really beefed up the distortion channel.

The guys at Acorn Amps in Decatur, GA were awesome! They were much cheaper than the other shops and were much friendlier too! (grammatically correct?) So, if you are in the Atlanta area and need amp work done I would seriously suggest you give Acorn Amps your consideration. (They don't charge a bench fee so you aren't out $60+ right off the bat)
 
Re: NAD - Fender Hot Rod Deluxe

That is such a sweet amp. I would suggest getting a vinyl repair kit at your local Autozone or Pepboys and that amp will look awesome. Just glue down the torn pieces and fill in the cracks with the vinyl repair. My Marshall combo look ten times worse and looked brand new when I got done.
 
Re: NAD - Fender Hot Rod Deluxe

That is such a sweet amp. I would suggest getting a vinyl repair kit at your local Autozone or Pepboys and that amp will look awesome. Just glue down the torn pieces and fill in the cracks with the vinyl repair. My Marshall combo look ten times worse and looked brand new when I got done.

I have got to agree on these Hot Rod Deluxes being sweet–and with the upgraded/modded drive this thing is super awesome! And, I just got a ProCo Rat2...and its like a match made in heaven 'er someplace warmer ;)

Thanks for the advice! I will give that a try! Acorn Amps suggested chrome corners on it since one corner is pretty chewed up in the event I ever took care of the cosmetics.
 
Re: NAD - Fender Hot Rod Deluxe

Dude, that is so awesome... I have always wanted one of those. ROCK ON!

Thanks! I would highly recommend this amp! It needed work BUT it was the first year they made these and is MIA. I traded a MIM Strat for it, so I didn't have that much into it. The cleans are brilliant and takes pedals very well!
 
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