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More product information: The Fender Hot Rod Deluxe IV 1x12 40W. I used yo have a hot rod deluxe amp and kinda miss it. There is one for sale not too far from here at a decent price but it says 180 watts? Mine was a 40 watt amp, and I never knew they made a 180 watt. I thought it was a mistake but apparently they did make one. Anyway anyone have any. The table below shows the Fender serial numbers as they were used from 1950 to 1964. The serial numbers are basically chronological, but as already mentioned, due to Fender's numbering methods, there are a number of serial numbers and years that overlap. The only way to try to find the date is to remove the neck from the body.
| Hot Rod Deluxe | |
| Manufacturer | Fender Musical Instruments Corporation |
| Period | 1996–present |
| Electronics | |
| Power | 40 Watts |
| Technology |
|
| Features | |
| Dimensions | Combo: 18½' × 23½' × 10½' (47 × 59.7 × 26.7 cm) |
| Cabinet |
|
| Speakers |
|
| Channels | 'Clean', 'Drive', 'More Drive' |
| Other Features | Reverb, Effects Loop, Bright Switch, External Speaker Jack |
The Fender Hot Rod Deluxe is a guitar amplifier manufactured and sold by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. It was introduced in 1996 as part of the 'Hot Rod' line of guitar amplifiers and has been in continuous production since. The Hot Rod Deluxe is a modified version of the Fender Blues Deluxe from the earlier Blues line of amplifiers, and has a higher level of gain in its preamplification signal. This model, along with the Hot Rod Deville, were originally designated as F.A.T. ('Fender American Tube') amplifiers but this moniker was dropped in 2002 when production of this series of amps was moved from Corona, CA to Fender's Baja-Ensenada, Mexico manufacturing facility.
Specifications[edit]
The Hot Rod Deluxe is an all tube combo amp rated at 40 watts. It utilizes a single 12-inch Celestion A-Type Speaker. The Hot Rod Deluxe is a mono-channel amplifier featuring 3 switchable gain levels: 'Clean', 'Drive', and 'More Drive' selectable on either the control panel or footswitch (if plugged in). Other features include a Bass, Middle, and Treble EQ, Master Volume, Presence, Normal/Bright, and spring reverb (solid state for both the driver and the recovery circuits). Footswitch and External Speaker jacks are also built in.
Electronics and construction[edit]
As an all-tube (pre-amp and power sections) combo guitar amplifier, the Hot Rod Deluxe features a pair of 6L6GC beam tetrodes for the power section and two 12AX7 dual triodes for the preamp section. One additional 12AX7 tube is utilized for the phase inverter of the power section. However, the rectifier, reverb driver and recovery, and effects loop circuits are solid state. The power section uses a 'fixed bias' biasing scheme with an adjustable bias potentiometer installed from the factory. The factory bias is 60 mA total for both 6L6s.
The physical appearance of the Hot Rod series is based on the mid-to-late 1950s 'narrow panel' tweed amplifiers with accouterments such as a top mounted, chrome plated chassis and black 'chicken head' pointer knobs, but with textured black tolex found on Fender amps from the 1960s onward rather than the tweed covering.
Unlike 'vintage' Fender tube amplifiers, the Hot Rod Deluxe uses a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) construction rather than Eyelet Board construction. Internally, there are two sets of circuit boards. The main circuit board contains the majority of the electronic elements and provides the base onto which the potentiometers for the various controls, and the input and output jacks, are mounted. A secondary board provides the base onto which the tube sockets are mounted (although the pair of power tube sockets are mounted directly on the chassis with long leads connecting those to the secondary board).
Stock and other versions[edit]
At various times, Fender has released special versions or 'Limited Editions' of this amplifier. The stock version of the Hot Rod Deluxe features a 7-Ply 3/4' Birch/Maple Plywood cabinet upholstered in black tolex with silver 'sparkle' speaker grille cloth.
Fender has also updated the Hot Rod Deluxe periodically. From 1996–2010, the stock speaker is an Eminence Legend 1258 75 Watt (special design) speaker. In 2010 the updated version, (dubbed the Hot Rod Deluxe III) was equipped with a Celestion G12P-80 speaker. In 2018 it was updated again with a Celestion A-Type speaker, pine cabinet, smoother-sounding spring reverb and modified preamp circuitry.
Limited editions[edit]
From 2003 to 2004 Fender released two limited edition models in polished maple hardwood (no tolex covering). One of these had a classic three-color sunburst finish; the other was a stained natural finish (both with Jensen speakers).
From late 2006 to March 2007, Fender offered the Hot Rod Deluxe 'White Lightning' Limited Edition. Notable features include white tolex with white control knobs, dark black/silver grille cloth, white pilot light (instead of the stock red), and a 12' Celestion G12 Century Vintage 8-ohm, 60-watt Speaker.
Starting in early 2008, Fender offered the Hot Rod Deluxe in 'Texas Red' Limited Edition, main differences being a 12' Celestion G12 Century Vintage 8-ohm, 60-watt speaker much like the 'White Lightning' version. It also includes ivory chicken knobs.
Other limited editions have included:
- Emerald Green (V30, ivory knob, British emerald, grey grill)
- Orange Racing Stripe
- Wine Red
- Surf Green
- Red Nova
- Western tooled tolex
- Chocolate Brown
- Bluesman blue tolex
- Western Noir
- Python Snakeskin
Fender has also released Hot Rod Deluxes adorned in blonde tolex or tweed cloth (both with ox-blood grill). Alternate installed speakers have also included the Celestion A-Type, Jensen P12N alnico or Jensen C12N ceramic speaker reissues.
Hot Rod Deluxe III[edit]
In 2010, Fender released an update to the Hot Rod Deluxe with the following changes:
- Cosmetic upgrades
- Easier-reading black control panel
- New badge
- Electronic upgrades
- Graduated volume and treble pot tapers
- 'Tighter' overdrive
- Other upgrades
- Celestion G12P-80 speaker
- New low-profile 'pedalboard friendly' footswitch
See also[edit]
References[edit]
The Hot Rod Deluxe is the best selling tube amp of all time, it sounds good and is pretty reliable, other than a couple common problems. After these mods your amp will sound fantastic and be more reliable. The classic Fender tone is released through these changes. The flabby bottom darkness is gone, what you get is full warm classic tone with nice top end sparkle.
Additionally, the recap kit upgrades every tone-critical electrolytic cap in the circuit with high quality F&T and Nichicon electrolytic caps. All the capacitors in this kit were specially chosen for great tone, reliability, and accurate fit in your Hot Rod Deluxe.
Included in these kits are all the components necessary to to get your amp in top shape and the detailed instructions to make the changes easy. If you have a basic understanding of electronics and soldering skills you can do these mods in a couple of hours. The kits available are the Complete, Recap, and Supreme kits. The Supreme Kit includes both the Complete kit and the Recap kit.
'Have us Install' price includes parts and labor. We will bill you return shipping upon installation completion and which will be comparable to the cost of shipping it in. You can view USPS Parcel Select shipping rates HERE . Since we're located in the Pacific Northwest you can calculate shipping cost by how many zones it crosses to reach us from where you ship it from.
These Mod kits work on all Hot Rod Deluxe, Hot Rod Deluxe III & Hot Rod Deluxe George Benson Models
We also offer Mercury Magnetics transformers to unlock even more of the potential tone of these amps. Click here to see transformer options.
The Complete Kit includes:
Tone Stack - Get rid of that farty bottom, honky mids, and lack of clarity. High Quality WIMA Box Caps with corrected values for the Bass and Mid Cap and corrected value for the slope resistor. What about the Treble cap? replace the cheap ceramic cap with a high quality Silver Mica cap. The result is an amp that sounds huge and warm with nice top end sparkle, not dark and buried in the mix.
Twin Mod - Fix the mids on the amp and get rid of that flabby bottom. This mod enables you to take all the mids out of the tone allowing more flexibility and versatility. This is accomplished with just a short jumper wire but the result is far better control of your tone.
Brightness - Like to play at low volumes but find the amp too dark? The brightness mod adds sparkle to your tone at low volumes. As you turn your amp up the brightness mod loses its effect so the amp never sounds brittle at high volumes.
Power Stiffening - Doubles the capacitance in the first filter stage, this reduces hum and increases reserve power for solid bass and better transience for incisive picking, This mod gives the amp the extra torque it needs to push through strong when you are playing hard. This also takes some stress off the output transformer increasing its life span.
Lead Master Volume - Ever wonder why this amp gets extremely loud after you turn it up past 2. Fender uses a linear taper pot for the Master Volume when it should be an audio taper. This mod gives you usable control of the drive channel so you can get good tone without playing at stadium volume.
Power Resistors- Many problems with the Hot Rod Deluxe, especially the older ones are from the power resistors that control switching. Two new power resistors installed properly will avoid many problems down the road.
Plate Load Resistors - Replace all the plate load resistors with 1% 1/2 Metal Film resistors. This amp can develop a loud crackle/static that is caused by the plate load resistors. This mod fixes or prevents this problem and also upgrades the resistors for reliability and reduced hiss.
Reverb Mod - Why does the reverb in this amp become a complete wash after turning it up past 3 especially at low volumes? This mod makes the reverb more controllable, fuller, and more natural. This is an easy mod that is nothing more than clipping one wire but the result is amazing.
Global Master Volume Mod - Now included in both the Complete and Supreme mod kits is our Global Master Volume Mod. This mod allows the master volume to work on both the clean channel and the drive channel. You can now dial in your tone on the clean channel and dial down the master volume for more versatility at home, in the studio or on stage.
Switchcraft Input Jack - Your input jacks are soldered directly to the circuit board, apply some tension when the amp is plugged in and you could cause major damage to the circuit board in the amp. This mod gets rid of the wimpy plastic input jacks and replaces them with high quality metal switchcraft jacks that are panel mounted and NOT directly soldered to the circuit board. Included is a shoulder washer and isolation washer so the input jacks do not ground directly to the chassis and prevents ground loops. The jacks come with high quality, Teflon Coated, Silver Plated Solid Copper Core wire. The solder I use is Silver bearing. This is the same quality you will find in high end boutique amplifiers costing thousands of dollars. Newer Hot Rod Deluxe amps have a better quality Neutrik input jack which are better than the older amps but they are still attached directly to the PCB.
Proper Lead Dress - Take a look inside a boutique tube amp and you will see all the wires carefully twisted and placed for greatest reduction in oscillation and noise. The Hot Rod Deluxe has all the internal wires zip tied together. I give clear instructions on dressing the leads inside the amp for optimal performance, this results in lower noise and less chance for oscillation.
The Recap Kit includes
Replacements for all of the power filter and cathode bypass caps with high quality F&T and Nichicon caps.Older Hot Rods that are made in the USA are all getting due to have their filter caps replaced and many of the current Hot Rods made in Mexico are known to have leaky filter caps. The recap kit rectifies these issues.
The Supreme Kit includes both the 'Recap Kit' & 'Complete Kit'
Reviews:
Fender Serial Number Decoder
*Just wanted to let you know that today I installed the Hot Rod Dlx 'ultimate mod' kit I purchased from you on 19th Feb in my Hot Rod Dlx. The result has been, in a word, SENSATIONAL. The difference is like night and day. Installing these mods has taken a pretty decent mid price combo and raised it to the level of boutique quality tone.
*Your instructions were clear and concise, and the results spectacular. Bravo on a wonderful product'
The Global Master Volume Kit includes
Fender Hot Rod Deluxe Serial Number
Full color instructions and components to change the 'Drive' channel to a clean channel with a selectable boost and allow the master volume to work on both clean and drive channels. The included 100k audio pot will allow for better control over the master volume knob that will now work on both channels. With this mod you can now dial in your tone on the clean channel and dial down the master volume for more versatility at home, in the studio or on stage.
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The Global Master Volume mod kit can be purchased alone or is also now included in both our Complete and Supreme mod kits
Fender Hot Rod Deluxe Serial Number Lookup
Reviews:
'Hey guys, After having a chance to play around with the post mod amp, all I can say is awesome! A good amp is now a great amp and a lot more useable. Best thirty
bucks I ever spent!' - Tom