Need suggestions for Hot Rod DLX 212 improvements

[ibleedburgundy]

He is most likely setting the controls wrong. He shouldn't run the drive any higher than about 7 or it will turn muddy. Have him turn the drive down and run a tubescreamer in front of the amp.

I agree with this. The Fender Hot Rod Deluxe is a good amp although I prefer the 410 to the 212 because it is brighter. Maybe the guitar or the amp is a lemon, I dunno. Sometimes an amp and a guitar just don't agree with one another.

Tubescreamer adds a lot of tone if used properly although like any other piece of equipment, it can be a disaster in the wrong hands. You can try not letting the guy put his guitar on 10 but if he's the kind of person who doesn't listen for tone and only hears volume, he's probably going to put the guitar on 10 no matter what you say. But agree with what other people are saying - I get my best guitar tones on my strat around 7 and on my Rickenbacker around 6.

[thebigcheese]

I mean, it is the player, absolutely. The problem is he writes all the songs, more or less, and the band would pretty much just dissolve without him in it. So I'm trying to work with him as much as possible here.

I've never been a big fan of rolling off the volume knob, probably because I get kinda OCD and don't like that it can't click into a specific spot where it can always stay. Drives me nuts. I like to just play quieter, since, on my guitars, I like the tone with the knob at 10. But he only has one level of dynamics, which is loud.

[ocnor]

He rides the neck pickup for the most part.

Well that explains the muddy tone. Just rewire his guitar so that the bridge pickup is always selected no matter which position the switch is set to.

[thebigcheese]

Well that explains the muddy tone. Just rewire his guitar so that the bridge pickup is always selected no matter which position the switch is set to.

What do you have against neck pickups? It's the best for clean and bluesy drive.

[Greg_L]

Lol. I hate neck pickups.

[Lt. Bob]

Its not the amp, it's not the tubes, its not the guitar or the pickups. Its the player. That's my guess anyway.

^^^^ this ^^^^ a crappy player can get a crap tone outta anything and I've seen quite a few good players that get crappy tone.

It's not the amp ..... a Hot Rod deluxe is a pretty good amp. Very different than a Blues Junior BTW .... both of which I've gigged with.

Using the neck p'up all the time is probably part of it although I have a preference for the neck too .......... but I know how to set my am,p for that.

Look ...... if this guy thought a Frontman was a great amp (shudder) then he's a beginner and doesn't have a clue about amps or how to set them. Sounds like you're basically trying to get a beginner to play way better than he's gonna be capable of.
I understand your motivations and good for you for helping your friend ... but I think you're gonna have to apply a certain amount of "that's just how he is" here.

[Lt. Bob]

I agree with this. The Fender Hot Rod Deluxe is a good amp although I prefer the 410 to the 212 because it is brighter. .

Hot Rod deluxe doesn't come in a 4x10 or 2x12 ..... that would be the Hot Rod deVille which I also have.

[Lt. Bob]

What kind of pickups does the Les Paul have? I'm still thinking a slight roll-off on the volume knob will help.

not if he doesn't have the amp set up right for that. Rolling off the volume cuts the highs which equals more mud.

[Lt. Bob]

What do you have against neck pickups? It's the best for clean and bluesy drive.

no ...... no it's not.
It's a great p'up for some things but it really depends on the guitar. Some gits the neck p'up is just too dark and mushy.

[Thurgood]

Have you investigated a change of pot value? (not the weed kind). I do not know what is standard in the gtr he has but a change there may be helpful. 250k vs 500K.