Improve Your Fender Hot Rod Deluxe For $10 

Without guys like you, the world would suck.

So I ended up doing this Phillip. I replaced all the 12ax7's with new 12at7's. As you suggested in this video, you only needed to replace the one, but I did just one, noticed the huge difference you show here and then added the other two and noticed the overall tone rounded out a bit more. Not a huge difference but I read in some forums about guys who replaced all three and suggested exactly the same results I got with my Blues Deville 410. It's SOOO much more manageable now. Holy cow. Totally different amp. Just way more control over it all the way around!! Thanks for this video:-)

Several things - Like a number of the larger Fender amps, the Hot Rod Deluxe has two input jacks. Using input 2 on its own will cut the input signal by half. Although it also only offers an input impedance of 136K, compared to the 1 Megohm of input 1.

Just plug a volume pedal into the preamp in and out , then you can crank the valves to a nice tone, then back off your volume pedal to the required vol. Works as a master and no loss of gain or tone.

Cool video, thanks for the info!You can also do the following to turn a fender style amp lower, even if it is around 50 Watts of power:1. Turn ALL of the EQ knobs down to 0 (bass, mids, highs, presence if your amp has one).2. Set the volume levels to how you would normally use them in a club, so you can turn them up pretty loud. 3. Slowly start turning up the EQ knobs, best to start with the mids, then add a bit of bass and highs if needed. Notice that the EQ knobs are like individual "volume" knobs for each of the frequencies and that you only need to dial in just a bit of each frequency and the amp will sound quite a lot like it usually does on high volume, but on a softer level. It will obviously lack a bit of the speaker breakup, but you can also use this method to "tame" beastly amps that use a Fender style EQ section. Hope this also helps someone out there.

I just did the 12AT7 mod on my HRD3 this morning. It is SO nice having the increased level of control. The less harsh overdrive is also nice! Thanks for posting this....

Thanks for posting this video! I really like how this mod warmed up the clean tone and smoothed out the distortion. Plus the volume is actually manageable now. Thank You!!

This mod completely changed my amp's sound for the better. I can actually get loud clean tones through this amp now. What a world of difference. Great video... thanks

Phillip McKnight, Thank you! This little mod has made my HRD usable in so many more ways than before. And the warmer tone is great, imho. Very helpful video!!!

You could also make your own Master volume box, which is just a audio taper volume pot, an input and an output, and three wires. Simple to make and you just run it through your effects loop. Tames the volume instantly. But doesn't change the tonal characteristics.

Dude just found this vidéo!! And i just got a Hot Rod Deluxe III yesterday! It's gonna sound amazing tomorrow!! Thank you so much Phil!! Rock on!

Yep, changed the original with a Philips AU valve and yes, it's playable also at home now.

Probably already known by many, but using a volume pedal in the effects loops acts as a master volume. You can keep the same tubes and turn the channel volume up as much as u want to get them cooking and control the actual volume with the pedal.

I recently picked up a Hot Rod Deluxe III and luckily saw this video and immediately made this mod. Works like a champ (well...not a Fender Champ, lol)!

Just completed this mod and I am so stoked about the results! It does reduce some of the ultimate headroom of the amp but I think it actually increases the clean headroom, which is a plus for someone like me that is primarily country player.

Thank you so much! This new 12AT7 tube made a big difference on my volume knob. Proud Fender Hot Rod Deluxe 3 owner.

Plugging into input2 makes a big difference in terms of the jump as well...think it's a -6Db drop. Will definitely do the 12AT7 swop. Thanks Phillip!

What your doing is cutting the first and most important gain stage down by 40 - 50 percent or so. A 12AT7 is about 50-60 percent of a 12AX7 Gain wise. You can also go half way back up to 70 percent of a 12AX7 by using a 12AY7 that is about 70 percent of a 12AX7 Gain wise. Excellent way to lower the noise level and make a high Gain amp more of a pedal friendly platform. Or take a 5150 or 6505 and make it more Marshall like Gain structure wise. I have lowered the Gain structure of my 6505 Copy my Bugera 6234 is now running new Low Gain 12AX7's in V3-V4 and V5. Made a decent amp great!! Good demo! Thanks

had my hot rod dlx on consignment at the music store I work at, saw this video, tried the mod, and now I'm taking it back home with me, thanks Phillip!

Thanks so much for this vid...after 3 years with my DeVille...just a different beast with the v1 switched. I actually went with a 12AY7 as I wanted a tweedier edge to it. This 60w beast that gets played at 4 at home is now at 7 and sounds rounder. And...lM NOW USING THE 2nd DRIVE CHANNEL!!! Thanks again, this isn’t the first time your wisdom has helped me out big time!