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Post subject: Fender HotRod Deluxe II or Fender Blues Jr III?
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2017 7:47 am
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Hey, guys! First time poster here. Hoping you could help me out with my dilemma:

I have an opportunity to purchase either a brand new Fender Blues Jr. III or a second-hand Fender HotRod Deluxe II. Both will end up costing me around the same price. I need your help in figuring out which one I should buy. I know the HotRod Deluxe is a bigger amp and will be really useful for gigging, however, I'm mostly a bedroom guitarist. Maybe I'll end up gigging in the future, I don't know. But again, it's the older model HotRod. I'm wondering if that has any substantial difference in tone compared to buying a brand new model of the Blues Jr? Is the brand new Blues Jr. worth buying over the old HotRod Deluxe despite it being a smaller amp?

Looking forward to hear your thoughts guys!

Guitars: 2014 Fender MIM Strat (upgraded to Fat 50s) and 2016 Squier Vintage Modified 70s Strat


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Post subject: Re: Fender HotRod Deluxe II or Fender Blues Jr III?
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2017 8:46 am
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Can you test carefully the Hot Rod Deluxe II before you' ll buy ?
If not. I will not buy it unless you know a qualified tech. It may need some work.

If you want a clean sound this amp may do the job better than the BJ

If you need a Fender warranty, buy the BJ. Test drive the one you bought is a must before you live the store.


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Post subject: Re: Fender HotRod Deluxe II or Fender Blues Jr III?
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2017 9:05 am
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If you're interested in traditional Fender tone, the HRD II will deliver -- at least when using the clean channel. The reason is its output stage, powered by 6L6GC tubes which were a staple of most Fender amps designed by Leo. As well, the larger cabinet sounds less boxy and less tinny than the BJ III. Both of these amps have maintenance/serviceability issues but the BJ III's EL84 power tubes run extremely hot and have a significantly shorter service life than those of the HRD (any version).

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Fender HotRod Deluxe II or Fender Blues Jr III?
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2017 9:17 am
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Retroverbial,
... but the BJ III's EL84 power tubes run extremely hot ..."

Can you explain why ?

Is the bias is set too hot by Fender ?


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Post subject: Re: Fender HotRod Deluxe II or Fender Blues Jr III?
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2017 12:08 pm
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Go read a book.

I recommend the RCA Receiving Tube Manual.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Fender HotRod Deluxe II or Fender Blues Jr III?
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2017 12:57 pm
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When I had a 2000 Blues Junior I noticed it was a hot amp.
I mean hot to the touch.
I now have an '86 Boogie .50 Calibre which runs (4) EL84s and it too is a hot amp.
Thus far, the amp has been reliable even though I choke it from cooling air with that box I made for it.
On the plus side, it's also a hot sounding amp.
:mrgreen:

I love that box, by the way.
It makes my amp sound much bigger than it really is .... cabinet wise.

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Post subject: Re: Fender HotRod Deluxe II or Fender Blues Jr III?
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2017 1:53 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
Go read a book.

I recommend the RCA Receiving Tube Manual.

Arjay


Anybody can answer that. :lol:

Jetluga, don't worry about Blues Junior's tubes.


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Post subject: Re: Fender HotRod Deluxe II or Fender Blues Jr III?
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2017 2:51 pm
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The Blues jr has a thin bass response. Its voiced more like a Marshall than a Fender.
The HRDX has a much warmer bottom for bedroom play.

The EL84 tubes are run intentionally hot biased to give an agressive tone. Manufacturers routinely exceed tube manual specs to get them to sound great. They usually get microphonic before they fail.

The Deluxe is a much more versatile amp. Plug your effects pod into the PWR IN jack.


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Post subject: Re: Fender HotRod Deluxe II or Fender Blues Jr III?
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2017 2:55 pm
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stratele52 wrote:
Jetluga, don't worry about Blues Junior's tubes.


Mais ouí......you certainly aren't.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Fender HotRod Deluxe II or Fender Blues Jr III?
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2017 3:19 pm
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TimsAudio wrote:
The EL84 tubes are run intentionally hot biased to give an agressive tone. Manufacturers routinely exceed tube manual specs to get them to sound great. They usually get microphonic before they fail.


Prolly best to run Sovtek EL84M (Reflector 6P14P-EV) in these amps. I know this tube is about the only one that lasts in Peavey Classic 30 amps. Which are notoriously hard on tubes.


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Post subject: Re: Fender HotRod Deluxe II or Fender Blues Jr III?
Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2017 5:04 pm
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BMW2002Ti wrote:
TimsAudio wrote:
The EL84 tubes are run intentionally hot biased to give an agressive tone. Manufacturers routinely exceed tube manual specs to get them to sound great. They usually get microphonic before they fail.


Prolly best to run Sovtek EL84M (Reflector 6P14P-EV) in these amps. I know this tube is about the only one that lasts in Peavey Classic 30 amps. Which are notoriously hard on tubes.


+1

While a B+ of 329 VDC isn't particularly brutal, the Blues Junior is pushing the bottles harder than the EL84's normal design characteristics.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Fender HotRod Deluxe II or Fender Blues Jr III?
Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2017 12:56 am
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Thanks for the replies, guys! It looks like a lot of you are saying the HRD will fare better in the long-run. This has been very informative. With regards to tonal differences from the HRD II and the newer line of tube amps, will there be any substantial change?


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Post subject: Re: Fender HotRod Deluxe II or Fender Blues Jr III?
Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2017 2:21 am
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Absent a hand-rolled tube array of premium glass or a speaker change, one HRD sounds pretty much like another to me. I found little use for the "fizz" and "more fizz" modes but in the clean configuration they sound pretty close to a conventional blackface or silverface Fender.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Fender HotRod Deluxe II or Fender Blues Jr III?
Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2017 4:11 pm
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I have a Hot Rod Deluxe 2, and I have to say the clean channel is an outstanding pedal platform. With my stomps it is my all time very favorite amp for clean tones, and with my Nady TD-1 tube overdrive stomp it is the smoothest sounding early Santana like overdrive. I have owned all the classic Fenders, Music man, Peavey, and 4 Mesa Boogie amps up to the Mark IV and the Quad Preamp with Strategy 400 stereo power amp. Of all of those, my cheapo HRD gets me the tone I like best. Of course tone is subjective to ones taste but the HRD suits mine just fine.

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