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I need a fair bit of gain occasionally but that's not the core of what I do, so pedals are fine for me.
Much as I like to be contrary and plough my own furrow, some things are popular for good reason. It's a great tool.
Little bit cheaper too.
https://soundcertified.com/speaker-ohms-calculator/
I’d still look for a secondhand Mesa Express or similar if you had up to a grand to spend though.
I use the HRD IV with a Blues Cube Artist live, not for the volume but to give more spread. That's a good amp too. But I prefer the cleans on the HRD IV, so I'd choose an HRD IV if I had to choose between them. Having said that, if I wanted to get some break up sound from the amp (instead of pedals), I prefer the Blues Cube for that.
I'd always take a Fender Deluxe Reverb over the HR.
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
Me: https://www.jamesrichmond.com
The HRD is almost ubiquitous make louder box from pub gigs to big stages so I guess Fender got something right.
My VIII volume works fine. Haven’t tried a IV.
My only reservation about recommending them is that in my view, they are "gigging amps" and are too loud for home use for most people. I use a Roland Blues Cube at home, much better usable tone (clean and dirty) at typical home user volumes. Live, there is no contest, HRD all the way. I have the George Benson model.
Just before christmas, I played a gig with both amps - partly so that the bass player could hear me (large stage) and partly because I could.....used a stereo delay patch to feed both amps. Trying to get a balance between both amps was interesting. I had the HRD on "3" (Clean Channel) but had to have the Blues Cube running in 85 watt mode with the Master 3/4 open in order to get anywhere close.
Rift Amplification
Brackley, Northamptonshire
www.riftamps.co.uk
The HRD is a good amp, but for £1000 I'd spread the net a bit wider.
They do benefit from a speaker change though (subjectively) and you can factor that in.
https://reverb.com/item/9884039-fender-hot-rod-volume-module
The HRD is now my main giiging amp across 4 bands. It cost less than £400 2nd hand, sounds great, is plenty loud enough and a doddle to repair due to the vast knowledge contributed by people like ICBM and others across the web. The design does have some weak points but all in all it's a solid, reliable and well spec'ed 1 x 12"combo that gets the job done.
I tried a few dirt pedals but settled on a Soul Food for my basic tone. the EHX Soulfood is a pretty organic overdrive into an HRD and preferable to the amps own dirt IMO BUT you can get some cool tines out the drive channel, just stay away from the more drive button