Pro Reverb Vs. Hot Rod Deluxe

[stevieb]

So, looks like I can't unload either the 77 Silverface Pro Reverb OR the RI Hot Rod Deluxe this time 'round. (FWIW, I have them both because they were both good deals.) Really, though, they are looking more and more like the same amp. Here's why:

Pro was rebuilt thoroughly to, as best I can tell, make it a reliable gigging amp. HR-D is, presumably, well, a reliable amp by dint of it being newer. 'Course, anyone, correct me if I am way wrong on that last point (See, Outlaw? I know how to listen... )

Both make about the same power (HR-D: 40 watts; P-R 40 or 70 watts) from the same pair of 6L6 tubes. Well, not the EXACT same two tubes- I don't unplug and plug the same two tubes from one amp to the other! but you know what I mean! Yes, I know there are differences like rectifier, point-2-point vs. circuit board, etc.- but either of these amps will be a stage amp, never my go-to studio amp, so I am not concerned with that last little bit of tone from them.

So, the questions:

Will they likely have about the same reliability, as I am thinking?

If I had to turn one into cash now, I am thinking the Pro will do better there than the HR-D- right?

I wonder if amp values have not peaked, or at least leveled out? If I am right, turning one into cash ten years from now... hmmm... am I correct (with or without that assumption) that the Pro would be the better one to keep? I am thinking the Pro will hold it's value better, whereas the HR-D will slip in value over the next ten years? (Modern Fender tube amp values on prepal.com are a mixed bag, so no help there...)

One difference between the two- HR-D has "drive" and "more drive" (the more drive will probably be of little use to me) whereas the P-R has temolo. Of course, I can use a pedal to get either or both effects from each amp, but 1) I currently own a tube-screamer pedal and an OD pedal but am not completly happy with either, and 2) I have never spent much time with a tremolo pedal, so I may be somewhat disapointed with any of them, too.

[stevieb]

Bumpidy bump.

[stevieb]

Bumbidy, bump, bump. Look at Frosty go!

Somebody PLEASE tell me what you think! Did I piss off EVERYBODY in another thread??

[Light]

Personally, I'd rather have the Pro-Reverb, but I'd also modify it pretty significantly. It's relatively easy to modify most Silverface Fenders to Blackface specs, which makes them sound noticeably better, and while point to point is not inherently better than a circuit board (and certainly does not add to the tone), good point to point (like most old point to point Fenders) is a lot more reliable than crappy circuit boards (like most circuit board Fenders). If the PR has been recapped and the transformers are in good shape, it will almost certainly be a more reliable amp - AND it will be easier (i.e., cheaper) to fix when/if something blows up on you.

So, if it hasn't already been done, mod the Silverface to Blackface specs, get it recapped/checked out, and have yourself one hell of a great gigging amp.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

[stevieb]

Thanks, Light. Your advise makes a lot of sense. I think the Pro has not been "blackfaced," as the master vol. still works- that is usually (or is it always?) bypassed when a silverface amp is "blackfaces," right?

Biggest problem with the Pro is it is so darn heavy. This one is the 70-watt version (it was right there on the back, I need only have looked) and I understand that Fender squeezed more power out of amps from this era by putting bigger transformers in them (thus the Twin went from 100 to 125 watts, the Pro from 40 to 70)- that, plus the two 12's and bigger cab, and it's a heavy mo-fo! While blackfacing it, I suppose the transformers would be changed to the "smaller" ones, and I could replace the baffle board with a 0ne-12 setup, which would do alot to "Light"-en the load (sorry, could not help myself.) As this particular amp appears to have been pretty heavily modified, for reliability (I think ALL the transformers have been replaced, for instance,) so I don't think I can "hurt" it's value much more- maybe blackfacing it would make it more valuable.

Looks like the going price of a HR-D is about $350-400- I could be happy getting that much for this one- 'course, I'd probably spend most of that if I have a tech work on the Pro. Still, I wonder how reliable the HR-D would be if it were not modified and not abused- or modified with a top priority being reliability. There is a Hot Rod Deluxe website- this page is the only one addressing reliability: http://studentweb.eku.edu/justin_holton/tips.html
and frankly there is not much there. (Sigh.) I dunno- maybe I should just sell it before it gives me any trouble.

And thinking about it more, I am quite happy with the on-board tremolo- chances are I would have to go thru several tremolo pedals to find one I like, and would probably have to pay upwards of $100 for it- ouch!

So, I will probably keep the Pro, at least for a while, and sell the HR Deluxe. Thanks for helping me make the decision, Light.

[Light]

No need to change the transformers. That isn't what made the Silverface's suck. It has more to do with some of the things they did to make the amps easier to manufacture - some resistors that made them less finicky about the lead dress, and other things of that nature.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

[Supercreep]

Lose the Hot Rod.