Members johnrambo Posted September 12, 2007 Members Share Posted September 12, 2007 I'm kind of in the market for a new amp and this looks like the next logical stepup up from my blues junior. Most people either seem to hate this amp or absolutely love it so it's hard to get a good idea. I've played one before but not at loud volumes and it seemed alright to me. What do you think of them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members inkblot Posted September 12, 2007 Members Share Posted September 12, 2007 If you already have a Blues Jr its probably not a huge upgrade tonewise. I'd go for a Deluxe Reverb Reissue. I do like mine, but going from Blues Jr -> HRD is like upgrading pickups at best. Go for an amp thats really going to make a difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members letterswewrote Posted September 12, 2007 Members Share Posted September 12, 2007 the blues jr is a fantastic sounding amp, i think primarily because of it's simplicity. i play a HRD "white lightning"... i find it to be a really nice amp, not amazing, but very solid, reliable, and plenty loud. particularly nice, deep fender reverb. the only problem (if you want to call it that) is that (at least mine), is very bass heavy, making it slightly darker than some fenders. anyhow, i like it, though i'm not totally in love with it. good clean amp, i just hope you dont use amp distortion... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members johnrambo Posted September 12, 2007 Author Members Share Posted September 12, 2007 i've been on the fence between the DRRI and the HRDlx. The extra wattage, effects loop and master volume are the biggest things i like about the hot rod over the DRRI. I wouldn't need the DRRI's tremolo either and most describe them as very bright amps which I'm not to keen on. Also the hot rod is much easier for me to find used and is cheaper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members johnrambo Posted September 12, 2007 Author Members Share Posted September 12, 2007 the blues jr is a fantastic sounding amp, i think primarily because of it's simplicity. i play a HRD "white lightning"... i find it to be a really nice amp, not amazing, but very solid, reliable, and plenty loud. particularly nice, deep fender reverb. the only problem (if you want to call it that) is that (at least mine), is very bass heavy, making it slightly darker than some fenders. anyhow, i like it, though i'm not totally in love with it. good clean amp, i just hope you dont use amp distortion... i would probably never take it off the clean channel. pedals for boost and overdrive. the store near me has one of the special editions in texas red that has a vintage 30 in it but i can't see that being worth the extra $100. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators justcrash Posted September 12, 2007 Moderators Share Posted September 12, 2007 I had one and couldn't sell it quick enough. Too bassy and TOOOO LOOOUUUUDDD for club gigs. I ended up getting a SRRI and yanking out one of the tubes, though if I could, I would also have a deluxe and a blue junior. Short post summnation: Keep the Jr or get a deluxe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators justcrash Posted September 12, 2007 Moderators Share Posted September 12, 2007 i've been on the fence between the DRRI and the HRDlx. The extra wattage, effects loop and master volume are the biggest things i like about the hot rod over the DRRI. I wouldn't need the DRRI's tremolo either and most describe them as very bright amps which I'm not to keen on. Also the hot rod is much easier for me to find used and is cheaper.Why do you need the extra wattage? Are you in a country band? With Tube amps, less is more imho. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mookieunit Posted September 12, 2007 Members Share Posted September 12, 2007 I have a HRD. It's my main amp and it's very loud. When I play with my band the volume is set around 1 1/2 to 2 at the most. Nice clean tone and I also like the distortion but I prefer the heavier distortion settings to the lighter OD tones on this amp. The footswitch with it's Channel, Gain and More Gain functions are perfect if you switch between all of these often. I would replace the footswitch cable though with a better instrument cable for a more seamless transition between channels. Anyway, the reverb is also good but very strong even on low settings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members johnrambo Posted September 12, 2007 Author Members Share Posted September 12, 2007 Why do you need the extra wattage? Are you in a country band? With Tube amps, less is more imho. i'm afraid that the DRRI would break up at the volumes we're playing at and while it probably sounds really good at this level it doesn't seem ideal if i'm using a looper and a delay pedal. at least that's my thinking right now. i could be way off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members SpectralJulian Posted September 12, 2007 Members Share Posted September 12, 2007 IMO the hot rod series amps aren't real fender amps. Silverface amps are a step up from the deluxe series and most of them have master volume. I'd recommend most of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members johnrambo Posted September 12, 2007 Author Members Share Posted September 12, 2007 I have a HRD. It's my main amp and it's very loud. When I play with my band the volume is set around 1 1/2 to 2 at the most. Nice clean tone and I also like the distortion but I prefer the heavier distortion settings to the lighter OD tones on this amp. The footswitch with it's Channel, Gain and More Gain functions are perfect if you switch between all of these often. I would replace the footswitch cable though with a better instrument cable for a more seamless transition between channels. Anyway, the reverb is also good but very strong even on low settings. give this a read if you haven't already http://studentweb.eku.edu/justin_holton/tooloud.html#mastervolume Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators justcrash Posted September 12, 2007 Moderators Share Posted September 12, 2007 i'm afraid that the DRRI would break up at the volumes we're playing at and while it probably sounds really good at this level it doesn't seem ideal if i'm using a looper and a delay pedal. at least that's my thinking right now. i could be way off.Where are you guys playing, and couldn't you just mic your amp? I've been playing in clubs and bars for 19 years now and I have never seen a place where a DR would not have cut it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mookieunit Posted September 12, 2007 Members Share Posted September 12, 2007 give this a read if you haven't alreadyhttp://studentweb.eku.edu/justin_holton/tooloud.html#mastervolume Thanks for the link. I had read a few things on there before but I never read the part about the volume pots. Very tricky! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Dr.Picklebottom Posted September 12, 2007 Members Share Posted September 12, 2007 ive got one and i like it a lot. aside from the initial volume jump and the horrible sounding gain its great. its got an extra speaker out jack so you could push another cab and run it in addition to the combos own speaker.the clean tone is excellent and sounds great with pedals. :poke: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members johnrambo Posted September 12, 2007 Author Members Share Posted September 12, 2007 Where are you guys playing, and couldn't you just mic your amp? I've been playing in clubs and bars for 19 years now and I have never seen a place where a DR would not have cut it. maybe it would cut it. i don't know and that's why i'm asking? we aren't playing any gigs just screwing around having some fun. i'm not trying to diss the DRRI, it may be perfect for me. i just don't know yet. i've never had a chance to really turn one up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators justcrash Posted September 12, 2007 Moderators Share Posted September 12, 2007 maybe it would cut it. i don't know and that's why i'm asking? we aren't playing any gigs just screwing around having some fun. i'm not trying to diss the DRRI, it may be perfect for me. i just don't know yet. i've never had a chance to really turn one up.Try it, man. You may like it. Hell, I dunno. I would be worried about my hearing though, if I was you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members SpectralJulian Posted September 12, 2007 Members Share Posted September 12, 2007 ive got one and i like it a lot. aside from the initial volume jump and the horrible sounding gain its great. its got an extra speaker out jack so you could push another cab and run it in addition to the combos own speaker. the clean tone is excellent and sounds great with pedals. :poke: Yeah, that volume jump is annoying, especially for small gigs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members johnrambo Posted September 12, 2007 Author Members Share Posted September 12, 2007 Yeah, that volume jump is annoying, especially for small gigs. that link i posted above has a potential fix for that. it probably isn't a easy DIY thing though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Urinate Forever Posted September 12, 2007 Members Share Posted September 12, 2007 i dont like the drive on it much, and that's bascially the difference between it and the blues junior aside from wattage, right? and the presence control, and pre amp in and power amp out or whatever get a bassman 50. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Urinate Forever Posted September 12, 2007 Members Share Posted September 12, 2007 that link i posted above has a potential fix for that. it probably isn't a easy DIY thing though. i didnt click your link, but isn't it a thing with the knob? it's just that 90% of the volume is in the first 15 degrees of turning the knob or something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members johnrambo Posted September 12, 2007 Author Members Share Posted September 12, 2007 get a bassman 50.too big, no reverb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Urinate Forever Posted September 12, 2007 Members Share Posted September 12, 2007 too big, no reverb oh yeah. the no reverb is a bummer. i forgot about that.get a sunn. they make amps with a switch between 100 watts and 25. and it has the most amazing reverb and vibrato i've ever heard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Kubenzi Posted September 12, 2007 Members Share Posted September 12, 2007 is this gonna be a second amp? are you keeping the Bjr too? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members johnrambo Posted September 12, 2007 Author Members Share Posted September 12, 2007 is this gonna be a second amp? are you keeping the Bjr too? i would be replacing. although, it seems like without modifying the HRDlx it will not be able to get down low enough for bedroom volumes. i thought that with the master volume control i'd be able to use this at home but from what i'm reading it goes from nothing to loud almost immediately on the dial. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MegaTom Posted September 12, 2007 Members Share Posted September 12, 2007 The HRDx can be a great amp after some mods... namely changing the volume pot as mentioned earlier as well as the tone control mod from the same page. http://studentweb.eku.edu/justin_holton/jvmods.html#bass And I think that the Texas Red model would totally be worth the extra $100. Not only does that speaker sound much better than the stock one found in the Hot Rod, but you get that snazzy red tolex and white chicken heads too! Plus, you wouldn't really have to pay a whole $100 extra if you ask the sales guy to knock the price down some. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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