It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Subscribe to our Patreon, and get image uploads with no ads on the site!
Base theme by DesignModo & ported to Powered by Vanilla by Chris Ireland, modified by the "theFB" team.
Comments
Thanks - I think I ran out of it tonight....... I play a Fender blues deluxe
That said, if it's a blues deluxe (40w - one of the tweed covered fender amps right?) you must have been VERY loud!! A blues JUNIOR (15w) on the other had might struggle at some gigs.
Was the amp very loud, which would be well past 3 on the volume control on my Hotrod?
contactemea@fender.com
As Matt says the Blues and Hotrod Deluxes illustrate this very well - they are the same output power, but the Blues starts to distort earlier - in circuit terms its clean channel is actually more like a lower-gain version of the drive channel.
The clean channel on the Hotrod is designed differently and will go louder clean - I'm not 100% sure if it remains clean all the way to the point the power stage overdrives (you would need to check with a scope), but it's certainly much closer.
For real maximum clean headroom at around 40W you want something like a BF/SF Pro or Super Reverb - they don't overdrive before full power output at all, clean volume was the goal for amp designers then.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Interestingly it's less affected by the perceived volume difference between valve and solid-state amps too, in fact a powerful solid-state one will often do it slightly better.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Thanks guys - very helpful. It is a 40w Blues Deluxe (tweed covered one). The gig last night was louder than usual (Las minute change of PA). It was a struggle to keep it clean last night - I wasn't happy with my tone all through, especially my pedals.
What I usually do is have the amp up very high (8 maybe) and the volume down on the guitar - is that likely to be a factor?
The only way I can think of that might give you a bit more headroom is to put a clean boost in the FX loop and back the amp's volume off a bit.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Thank you. I don't mind that warm break up sound the amp gives me sometimes - but last night it seemed harsh. I am sure I could smell burning or that 'hot' smell coming from the amp. I've had a look this morning and all looks well.
I am becoming disillusioned with this, my first value amp, after initially falling in love with it.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Thank you ICM. I appreciate you sharing your knowledge.
That was with a full brass band and playing against a 1500w PA
Did you try the other input jack? Iirc one is for high output guitars I think.
You may need something else moving forward.
I am considering a change.... I have some money coming so a new guitar and amp is a distinct possibility....... something that sounds like this would be good -