Picked up an HRDx today....

[JumpMarine]

Sadly, I'm taking it back tomorrow as I reconfirmed that I'm a Marshall guy. I really wanted to try one out with my gear and found a good deal on a new special edition with a Vintage 30 loaded already. Man, I had heard they were loud, but holy crap I couldn't run it more than 3 without blowing me out of the room. Cleans were quite nice even without the speaker being broken in. Reverb was good, not great, but acceptable. Gain channel was utterly useless and more gain was worse yet. Neither my Barber LTD or OCD sounded good to me through it. I've spent the last 5 hours tinkering on settings to try to get it where I would consider keeping it, but I don't think that it's going to work out. Too bad, she's a looker: dark red with wheat grill cloth.

 

[jerryjg]

Re: Picked up an HRDx today....

dont you think you may miss those cleans? theres nothing like fender cleans. If it does go back, try and get a tweed reissue.

 

[JumpMarine]

Re: Picked up an HRDx today....

Yes, I will miss the cleans but I really like a tighter sounding amp that is more plug and play for gain or at least takes pedals well. My 18watter is great for both plug and play as well as takes pedals, but was needing more headroom for louder cleans. Going in I knew that I would need to use a pedal for gain, but didn't expect it to sound as bad as it did. Oh well, back to the drawing board.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: Picked up an HRDx today....

The gain channel has always been the problem with that amp. The only real solution is to mod the amp, but I would suggest starting with a used one.

 

[JumpMarine]

Re: Picked up an HRDx today....

I'll build another amp before I ever mod a production amp, especially a cheaper one.

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: Picked up an HRDx today....

If I could build my own amps there's no way I'd be buying a HRdx...

Just build yourself a nice 6l6 amp...

 

[Rainmaker]

Re: Picked up an HRDx today....

Ryan, chalk it up to good experience. Everytime you eliminate an amp that you don't like you're one step closer to the holy grail.

 

[JumpMarine]

Re: Picked up an HRDx today....

Ryan, chalk it up to good experience. Everytime you eliminate an amp that you don't like you're one step closer to the holy grail.

Too true! :lmao:At least I found that out quickly. It's a nice amp, but not what I'm looking for.

 

[Skarekrough]

Re: Picked up an HRDx today....

The HRDx does alot of things decently....but nothing really all that well.

Mainly I liked it as a PA for my pedals...the amp lacked any real "tone" to speak of that I felt was desirable. Whenever some of its own organic sound crept in I would find I'd like it less.

Best thing I did with that amp was trade it for a Blues Junior and $100.

 

[JumpMarine]

Re: Picked up an HRDx today....

Whenever some of its own organic sound crept in I would find I'd like it less.

That is exactly what I experienced, especially with the LTD and OCD which both let the amp's true voice come through without adding much of their own color.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Picked up an HRDx today....

Ryan, have you tried out that little Line 6 Spider Valve/Bogner 1-12 combo? That thing seems like the perfect 'house amp'.....not to mention loud enough to have fun with.
Once you dig all the great tones out and store them, you'll have 600 custom tuned amps!

Luckily, they're not too expensive.

 

[JumpMarine]

Re: Picked up an HRDx today....

Ryan, have you tried out that little Line 6 Spider Valve/Bogner 1-12 combo? That thing seems like the perfect 'house amp'.....not to mention loud enough to have fun with.
Once you dig all the great tones out and store them, you'll have 600 custom tuned amps!

Luckily, they're not too expensive.

There was one in today when I returned the HRDx, but I didn't have time to try it out. It's on my to do list as soon as I get back up to town. Meanwhile, I'll be playing my 18 watter at a gig this weekend....my first! Wish me luck because I'm nervous as all get out!