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Post subject: Re-Bias Hot Rod Deluxe III
Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2012 5:11 am
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Hi Guys!

I just bought a Hot Rod Deluxe III. 40 Watts, 1X12, tweed. Pretty amp.

Can it be re-biased by the end user (me!) if I want to try different power tubes? If so how is it done?

I have been using Egnaters for years which are really easy to re-bias. Haven't had a Fender in at least a decade.

Any do's/don'ts? Any suggestions for power tubes?

Thanks!

:?: :!: :mrgreen:


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Post subject: Re: Re-Bias Hot Rod Deluxe III
Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2012 9:15 am
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No problems, there are a lot of video for that:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sD_s5fCmalA

http://www.justinholton.com/hotrod/bias.html

http://www.musicradar.com/forum/showthr ... 041&page=1

etc ...

Just take care about "high DC voltage" that can be lethal for human.

8)

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Post subject: Re: Re-Bias Hot Rod Deluxe III
Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2012 10:12 am
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Of course if I am an alien I will be fine! :lol: :roll: :wink:

I did see some of this. I will check it out. Seems like it might not as easy as with the Egnaters.

Thanks!


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Post subject: Re: Re-Bias Hot Rod Deluxe III
Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2012 10:25 am
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Can it only take 6L6's or can you use otherthings in there?

:?:


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Post subject: Re: Re-Bias Hot Rod Deluxe III
Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2012 11:42 am
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There are some contemporary 5881's which may be used. As well, I think somebody offers some *extremely sturdy* 6V6GTA's which might work and yield a different tone.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Re-Bias Hot Rod Deluxe III
Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2012 1:43 pm
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I will probably just leave it as it is, but still it is good to know.

I did put a Tung-Sol 12AX7 in V2 to beef up the drive tone a bit, but I started to get a bad hum out of it. Any thoughts on that? The tube is only a few eeks old.

Thanks!


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Post subject: Re: Re-Bias Hot Rod Deluxe III
Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2012 1:47 pm
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I put no faith in any of the T-S re-issue bottles, pre-amp or power amp. Try an EHX or a TAD.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Re-Bias Hot Rod Deluxe III
Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2012 1:52 pm
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I don't have those but I have Sovtek, Ruby, and Penta Labs. Any thoughts on those?


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Post subject: Re: Re-Bias Hot Rod Deluxe III
Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2012 1:54 pm
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lenrabinowitz wrote:
I don't have those but I have Sovtek, Ruby, and Penta Labs. Any thoughts on those?


WTF?

"I did put a Tung-Sol 12AX7 in V2 to beef up the drive tone a bit, but I started to get a bad hum out of it. Any thoughts on that? The tube is only a few eeks old."

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Re-Bias Hot Rod Deluxe III
Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2012 3:41 pm
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Not sure what is confusing you? I don't have the tubes that you mention right now. I do have those other tubes as spares that I could put in, so I want to know what you think of using them in V2 to beef up the drive a bit. Does that clear it up?


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Post subject: Re: Re-Bias Hot Rod Deluxe III
Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2012 7:16 pm
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Not to butt in, but... think the point is the various makes/vintages 12AX7's need to be tried out to find the best that suits your amp and ears. Really, all tubes fall into this catagory. It's what makes tubes so great and vexing, at the same time. Analog technology.

You can swap input/gain stage/EFX tubes to your heart's desire. Be sure the pinouts are the same. And don't put a 12AX7 into a position where a 12AT7 or 12AU7 goes, as sometimes the circuits that use these tubes run at much higher idle bias currents than the 12AX7 is designed.

Maybe try a nice 5751 in that 12AX7 position. Just a thought.


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Post subject: Re: Re-Bias Hot Rod Deluxe III
Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2012 7:22 pm
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Hi lenrabinowitz,

Good to see you here, welcome aboard. I would bet that you'll have much less problem with the HRDlx than you've had with your.... "other" brand. :lol: No transformer issues here. :wink: I think that you'll find biasing a HRDlx is at least as easy if not easier than biasing most other amps, as you don't have to remove the chassis, only the back panel.

Here is one more video for biasing the HRDlx. Just read and then scroll down to "#1. Fender Hot Rod Deville / Deluxe Bias."

http://www.eurotubes.com/eurotubes-how-to-bias-video-probe-Pro-One.htm

Both JJ 6V6 and GT 6V6 S can be used in the HRDlx. Both of these 6V6 will not sound like a typical 6V6, but they can handle the higher voltages in the HRDlx.

I had a bad TS preamp in my Egnater (all three were TS), replaced first with a Ruby and didn't like it so I got another TS and so far so good. I agree with BMW2002Ti, a 5751 would be a great choice for V1, and I would try a 12AT7 in V3 (PI) also.

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Post subject: Re: Re-Bias Hot Rod Deluxe III
Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 4:43 am
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Thanks guys!

I am really pretty familiar with the whole tube thing. Since the other poster was critical of the Sovtek and recommended tubes I didn't have, I just wanted his input on the brands I did have.

I think for now I will just leave what is in there.

I actually really like Egnaters. I had a Tourmaster for years- Great amp, but a beast! I now have the Renegade head with the Tourmaster 2 X 12 cabinet. Great sounding, but again a beast. So I got the Fender as a grab and go, which it does admirably.

The Egnater that I had trouble with was the Rebel 30, which I initially bought as a grab and go. I went through 3 or 4 of them, and they all were noisy, farting tubes, blown fuses, etc... never had any of that trouble with my other Egnaters.

The Egnaters are easier to bias. Most of them have the test points and adjustment screw right on the back of the amp so you don't have to open anything up.

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Post subject: Re: Re-Bias Hot Rod Deluxe III
Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 6:43 am
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Measuring the Plate voltage can't be done from the outside on any Egnater either. Measuring the Plate voltage and the Cathode current is the only way to know your actual idle dissipation. You could pull an output tube partially out of the socket and measure there, but that isn't very safe. Just measuring the Cathode current at the test points on the back of some Egnater amps is only part of the equation, the actual Plate voltage measurement is necessary also. The HRDlx has several places to measure the Plate voltage safely with the back panel removed. Of course if you use probes that can measure the Plate volts with the amp assembled, all are equally easy. This is based on the fact that the factory suggestions are too cold for both amp brands.

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Post subject: Re: Re-Bias Hot Rod Deluxe III
Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 6:17 pm
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Hi Len, I've seen you on Rig Talk. The Rebel 30's seem to have their share of quirks in the tube department. My Rebel 20 has been seriously gigged for the past two years with zero problems so far. Great sounding amps. I like relatively simple amps. My HRDlx was a reliability nightmare. One problem after the other so I dumped it for the Rebel 20. The HRDlx has a bias test point inside the amp.

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