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Post subject: Any opinions on the Fromel Electronics HRD amp mod?
Posted: Sat Jul 17, 2010 4:18 pm
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I came across this mod by Fromel for the Hot Rod Deluxe and it sounded interesting. Anyone have any opinions on this? Anyone ever heard a modded amp?

http://www.fromelelectronics.com/modifi ... Rod-Deluxe

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Posted: Sat Jul 17, 2010 5:30 pm
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My amp had a whole laundry list of reliability problems. Basically no amount of mods will fix them IMO ans if not done carefully can result in even more reliability issues. I fixed all my problems by selling my HRDlx. I play out of a friends modded HRDlx when I sit in on their gigs. He did tone stack mods, re-soldering, upgraded all kinds of components, and it really didn't make any more than a slight improvement, and didn't help his reliability issues and voided his warranty to boot.

These amps are what they are, you either get a good one and love it or live with it, or get a bad one like me and dump it. Personally, I wouldn't mod a fragile board like that. Play with the tone controls, check you bias, change tubes or a speaker, and if that won't do it for you, I'd sell it and move on. I did and I'm glad I did. :wink:

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Posted: Sat Jul 17, 2010 7:39 pm
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63supro wrote:
My amp had a whole laundry list of reliability problems. Basically no amount of mods will fix them IMO ans if not done carefully can result in even more reliability issues. I fixed all my problems by selling my HRDlx. I play out of a friends modded HRDlx when I sit in on their gigs. He did tone stack mods, re-soldering, upgraded all kinds of components, and it really didn't make any more than a slight improvement, and didn't help his reliability issues and voided his warranty to boot.

These amps are what they are, you either get a good one and love it or live with it, or get a bad one like me and dump it. Personally, I wouldn't mod a fragile board like that. Play with the tone controls, check you bias, change tubes or a speaker, and if that won't do it for you, I'd sell it and move on. I did and I'm glad I did. :wink:


My HRD doesn't have any problems thus far (luckily). I was just reading Fromel's list of mods and some made sense. For $79 it's a good as hell price. I just wish I could hear a before and after.

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Posted: Sat Jul 17, 2010 9:18 pm
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Yeah Pablo, this was the subject of discussion, not too long ago, on this forum. I'd try a search using Fromel mod as the key. Maybe one of those folks will chime in. Art

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Post subject: Hot Rod Mod
Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2010 12:58 am
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Hey sugapablo,

The Fromel mods for the Hot Rod Deluxe sound similar to the Billm mods for the Blues Junior. I did the "Twin Tone mod" to my Hot Rod Deluxe (a jumper for the mid pot) and was impressed with the better control of the tone. All of the mods that replace the crummy caps in your amp will be an improvement in tone definitely. For the money, it is the best thing that you can do for your amp. Go for it! :D

For Blues Junior mods:

http://billmaudio.com/wp/


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Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2010 5:45 am
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aclempoppi wrote:
Yeah Pablo, this was the subject of discussion, not too long ago, on this forum. I'd try a search using Fromel mod as the key. Maybe one of those folks will chime in. Art


I did a search for "fromel" and didn't find anything. :(

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Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2010 7:58 am
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Just remember, if it has a warranty when you mod it you won't. I'd keep the warranty. First if you sell the amp you'll get a little more for it if you transfer the warranty, second you will probably need it badly somewhere down the line. Only you will know if it's worth the risk. Changing to better tubes will improve the sound greatly and not void the warranty.

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Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2010 11:19 am
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63supro wrote:
Just remember, if it has a warranty when you mod it you won't. I'd keep the warranty. First if you sell the amp you'll get a little more for it if you transfer the warranty, second you will probably need it badly somewhere down the line. Only you will know if it's worth the risk. Changing to better tubes will improve the sound greatly and not void the warranty.


I bought my HRD used. I don't think the warranty gets transferred to me.

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  • Hot Rod Deluxe amp with Frommel mods


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Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2010 12:52 pm
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sugapablo wrote:
63supro wrote:
Just remember, if it has a warranty when you mod it you won't. I'd keep the warranty. First if you sell the amp you'll get a little more for it if you transfer the warranty, second you will probably need it badly somewhere down the line. Only you will know if it's worth the risk. Changing to better tubes will improve the sound greatly and not void the warranty.


I bought my HRD used. I don't think the warranty gets transferred to me.


If it's less than 5 years old, it should be transferred. Did you buy it from a private party or a store?

I would still change the tubes first before I modded anything, but then again I won't mod my amps. If I can't get what I want out of it, I won't throw more money at it. That's just me though. Mine didn't cut a mix well either. That was a major concern for me because I gig, record and jam a bit. The new owner likes it, but he uses it to practice with alone and as a backup for his DRRI. He doesn't really like it as a performing amp. Go figure...

The HRDlx does do really well with pedals.

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Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2010 12:59 pm
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63supro wrote:
If it's less than 5 years old, it should be transferred. Did you buy it from a private party or a store?

I would still change the tubes first before I modded anything, but then again I won't mod my amps. If I can't get what I want out of it, I won't throw more money at it. That's just me though. Mine didn't cut a mix well either. That was a major concern for me because I gig, record and jam a bit. The new owner likes it, but he uses it to practice with alone and as a backup for his DRRI. He doesn't really like it as a performing amp. Go figure...


I think it's 2002 IIRC, so...

It's not just about the sound. Two of the mods had to do with control over the amp (volume knob and reverb knob). Some had to do with longevity. Etc. I love the HRD, but if I can tweak it and get it even better for so little, it sounds like a no brainer. I'm just curious to hear of anyone who's actually tried it to see what they thought of the mod.

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Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2010 1:13 pm
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If it's not under warranty, I'd change the linear taper pot and mod the reverb. The reverb on mine was horrible above 2 and I don't have to tell you about the master volume problem. It goes from zero to almost full output by the time you hit 4. It's just a marketing gimmick to make people think the amp is much louder than it really is. Tone is really subjective. If you gig with it, I seriously recommend some sort of backup, even a pod. Mine was a 2005 and was the most unreliable amp I ever owned. I had to stop gigging with it.

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Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2010 1:19 pm
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63supro wrote:
If it's not under warranty, I'd change the linear taper pot and mod the reverb. The reverb on mine was horrible above 2 and I don't have to tell you about the master volume problem. It goes from zero to almost full output by the time you hit 4. It's just a marketing gimmick to make people think the amp is much louder than it really is. Tone is really subjective. If you gig with it, I seriously recommend some sort of backup, even a pod. Mine was a 2005 and was the most unreliable amp I ever owned. I had to stop gigging with it.


The mods you mentioned are part of his kit. So far mine has been quite reliable. I have heard some bad stories though.

As for a backup. You should ALWAYS have one. Any tube amp can blow a tube at any time.

Funny note: My spell checker doesn't recognize "reverb". :)

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  • Hot Rod Deluxe amp with Frommel mods


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Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 5:50 am
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sugapablo wrote:
63supro wrote:
If it's not under warranty, I'd change the linear taper pot and mod the reverb. The reverb on mine was horrible above 2 and I don't have to tell you about the master volume problem. It goes from zero to almost full output by the time you hit 4. It's just a marketing gimmick to make people think the amp is much louder than it really is. Tone is really subjective. If you gig with it, I seriously recommend some sort of backup, even a pod. Mine was a 2005 and was the most unreliable amp I ever owned. I had to stop gigging with it.


The mods you mentioned are part of his kit. So far mine has been quite reliable. I have heard some bad stories though.

As for a backup. You should ALWAYS have one. Any tube amp can blow a tube at any time.

Funny note: My spell checker doesn't recognize "reverb". :)


I wish mine only blew a tube. Mine blew various components and had cold solder joints fail on stage not once but three separate occasions. The first time I thought it was a tube but was failed solder joints on the tube sockets. The other times were blown power supply caps, 5 watt power resistors, a bad bias trim pot. The list goes on and on. I finally shoved it in a closet and went back to using my 76 Twin. That never let me down even once in over 30 years. I had the original tubes for over 20 years and only changed them as a precautionary measure. I had it recapped at 30 years. Man, they don't build them like they used to. My tube amps are usually trouble free. The HRDlx was the first amp that ever gave me problems.

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Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 6:03 am
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63supro wrote:
I wish mine only blew a tube. Mine blew various components and had cold solder joints fail on stage not once but three separate occasions. The first time I thought it was a tube but was failed solder joints on the tube sockets. The other times were blown power supply caps, 5 watt power resistors, a bad bias trim pot. The list goes on and on. I finally shoved it in a closet and went back to using my 76 Twin. That never let me down even once in over 30 years. I had the original tubes for over 20 years and only changed them as a precautionary measure. I had it recapped at 30 years. Man, they don't build them like they used to. My tube amps are usually trouble free. The HRDlx was the first amp that ever gave me problems.


That's some messed up stuff. I haven't had any problems with mine luckily. But based on what you're describing, it looks like I really should consider the Fromel mod as it claims to help with some reliability issues.

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  • CD60CE Electric/Acoustic
  • Hot Rod Deluxe amp with Frommel mods


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Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 6:16 am
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sugapablo wrote:
63supro wrote:
I wish mine only blew a tube. Mine blew various components and had cold solder joints fail on stage not once but three separate occasions. The first time I thought it was a tube but was failed solder joints on the tube sockets. The other times were blown power supply caps, 5 watt power resistors, a bad bias trim pot. The list goes on and on. I finally shoved it in a closet and went back to using my 76 Twin. That never let me down even once in over 30 years. I had the original tubes for over 20 years and only changed them as a precautionary measure. I had it recapped at 30 years. Man, they don't build them like they used to. My tube amps are usually trouble free. The HRDlx was the first amp that ever gave me problems.


That's some messed up stuff. I haven't had any problems with mine luckily. But based on what you're describing, it looks like I really should consider the Fromel mod as it claims to help with some reliability issues.


I'd be real careful soldering. The traces lift off the boards on the HRDlx very easily. You can repair it with jumpers if it happens. It's just a pain in the neck. When you get a good one, it's usually good. I don't know too many people that have had them more than 10 years or so. They usually dump them after the warranty's up. They are good sounding amps on the clean channel. A tube change really helps the drive channel if the stock GT's are still in there. I went with JJ's when I had mine. It really improved the tone IMO.

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