RE: [Harp-L] What is better for Harmonica: FENDER HOT ROD DELUXE ORFENDER BLUES DELUXE REISSUE?

["John Balding" <John.Balding@xxxxxxxxx>]

For harmonica - the Blues Deluxe. The Hot Rod series has an additional
overdrive which is totally unnecessary for harp. The Hot Rod models were
designed to appeal to the Hard Rock or Heavy Metal crowd. 
However, if you can find a Hot Rod at a VERY good price, it can make a
great harp amp. Just don't use the 3rd overdrive setting. Change out the
preamp tubes for some 12AY7 or 12AU7 tubes and get with it.
I owned a Hot Rod Deluxe for a while. I traded it back in for the 4X10
Blues DeVille. The Blues DeVille is a monster amp and I love it. BUT the
Hot Rod Deluxe is a very nice amp as well.

Personally, I would go with the Blues Deluxe for its sweet tone and
classic appearance. But if you can find a HRD for a great price, buy it.
You won't regret it.

By the way, both the Hot Rod Deluxe and the Blues Deluxe are L-O-U-D
amps! They go from quiet-as-a-mouse to window-breaking loud with a 2mm
turn of the volume knob. This usually occurs between settings 1 and 2 on
the volume control. The circuits for the Blues and Hot Rod amps are
nearly identical, so this volume issue pertains to both amp lines. So,
don't expect to use a Hot Rod or a Blues Deluxe for a coffee house gig,
unless it is a pretty rowdy coffee house! :o)

John Balding
Tallahassee, Florida, USA

-----Original Message-----
From: harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Gianfrancesco Leone
Sent: Monday, January 21, 2008 8:01 PM
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [Harp-L] What is better for Harmonica: FENDER HOT ROD DELUXE
ORFENDER BLUES DELUXE REISSUE?

Dear Friends,
I am an italian harmonica player, aged 46.
I'm from Rome and last july 2007 I played at "Pistoia Blues Festival" in
Tuscany. 
I write you because all of you are very kind and - mostly - full of
experience and very available to give a lot of usefull advices and
suggestions.
I have just sold my little Fender Blues Junior for 400,00 euros. I am
now going to buy a new one, but I can't pay more than 750,00 euros.
I like Fender tube amps, so I am indecided between The Hot Rod Deluxe or
The Blues Deluxe Reissue.
As you know, they are almost the same. I don't mind at all of the "more
drive" (that is on the hot rod deluxe) and I like much more the look
(tweed covered) of the Blues Deluxe Reissue.
But the guitarist of my band told me that the "drive" of the Bules
Deluxe is not very strong, he says that it is rather a sort of a
"boost", instead of a real good drive. That's maybe true for the
guitar...but I don't know about harmonica.
I do not know...the best thing should be try both of them.
But what do you think of this question?
Please, send me some good suggestions!

Thank you very much indeed in advance.

Gianfrancesco (The LionHarp)
Rome
Italy

ps: and...forgive me for my english.

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