fender ultimate chorus amp and a Hot Rod Deville

[CoolCat]

anyone have a comparison to a 2x12 HotRod Deville and a Fender Ultimate Chorus 2x12?

maybe an odd question,,,mainly wondering if the volume is equal between the two. its for a bar gig amp, not tone and recording quality...

but can this 65watt solid state do a live gig...equal to the 60watt HRD?
thanks

 

[stevieb]

I don't know why, but tube amps almost always produce higher sound pressure levels (SPL's, or what we perceive as volume) than equal-wattage tube amps. The 5-watt difference is pretty much negligible, just too little diff. to matter. The HRD will very likely sound much louder.

But to answer your question more directly- the answer is yes. And no.

YES- you can probably gig with a 65-watt SS amp.

NO- the SS amp will not be as loud as the tube amp, so it won't gig "equal" to the tube amp.

But if I were gigging and had those tube amps to use, I'd go with the SS amp, because 1) it will very likely be loud enough, 2) you will be far less pissed if it gets boosted, and 3) drunk frat boys (who stay drunk frat boys their entire lives) don't know shit from shinola- all those assholes want to see is "Fender" on the grill cloth, and they don't know good tone from a poke in the ear with a ice pick.

 

[CoolCat]

thanks.

i didn't have the opportunity to have a session with it, a cl deal...maybe. So I know a recent Randall SS sounded great and recorded ok, but when it was drums and bass live, it really fell apart.

the HRD just seems so frkn loud like you said , the SPL's or something?
Sounds really good too....but the wattage aren't listed as any moe powerfl.

 

[Lt. Bob]

I have a Hot Rod deVille (4x10's) and it's pretty damned loud.

Tubed amps tend to have more robust power supplies which are capable of putting out more juice for very short duration transiets which leads to a louder 'percieved' volume in a tube amp.

I'd simply HAVE to thing the deVille would sound better than the SS Fender but I haven't played on that particular SS Fender. The smaller ones I have played on didn't impress me much.

 

[CoolCat]

its not either or, yes the deville sounds great....but its been a loaner for past few years and the chance it might go away soon.. this chance has brought up a replacement issue alarm,

the ss was cheap, being CL, it turned out to be mint condition at $200.

but my concern was it won't be loud enough for a live drummer and pa.

imo, a lot of ss can sound ok at low volume, but the higher volume they seem to poop-out,,and just get a really flabby fart sound. someone said they need that for the sales floor, most try an amp out pretty low volume in the store.

unfortunetly this CL deal I can't take it home and bring it back. So its a one shot deal. and i can't risk losing this money on an amp that can't play loud enough.

the pa can't handle anything either, so no go there...but thats a build up option too I guess....go small amp and bigger PA with a 57 on the amp?

 

[Lt. Bob]

its not either or, yes the deville sounds great....but its been a loaner for past few years and the chance it might go away soon.. this chance has brought up a replacement issue alarm,

the ss was cheap, being CL, it turned out to be mint condition at $200.

but my concern was it won't be loud enough for a live drummer and pa.

imo, a lot of ss can sound ok at low volume, but the higher volume they seem to poop-out,,and just get a really flabby fart sound. someone said they need that for the sales floor, most try an amp out pretty low volume in the store.

unfortunetly this CL deal I can't take it home and bring it back. So its a one shot deal. and i can't risk losing this money on an amp that can't play loud enough.

the pa can't handle anything either, so no go there...but thats a build up option too I guess....go small amp and bigger PA with a 57 on the amp?

ah, I see ...... so as long as the deVille hangs around you'll use it but have to be prepared for it going away. Well that sucks .
I just skimmed thru some reviews on the Ultimate Chorus and it sounds like it should be loud enough. No one really complained about loudness being an issue except one guy who opined that it wasn't as loud as his Twin (duh!) .... and they were all fairly complimentary on the tone so for $200 that's probably a good deal.

 

[stevieb]

If you can push your budget to about $300, get a Peavey Classic 30, and remove the "Peavey" badge on the front. I am NOT ragging on Peavey- I love about 95% of their stuff- but the badge is rather cheesy looking. That amp will be as loud as the SS Fender amp, and will give you great tone.

If you need onboard tremolo (which I am fruit for,) spend $100 more and get a Delta Blues 210 or 115. If you need 50 watts of tube power, go with a Classic 50- that'll cost you about $100-150 more than the Classic 30. There are a few 212 C50's out there, most are 410's.

And if you can find one, and don't mind the very dated cab styling, and only have $200, you occasionally see old Peavey VTX series amps on CL- these have a SS pre-amp and a tube power amp, and usually push around 100 watts. Remove the 2" aluminum strips on either side of the grill cloth (they come off easily,) and enjoy all the volume you are ever likely to need.

 

[CoolCat]

thanks for the inputs...

yes, the $100 more syndrome! lol

I can't help but see HRDevilles for $400 on CL...even one at $375 this weekend...

and then there's no concern about tone or volume.

 

[Lt. Bob]

thanks for the inputs...

yes, the $100 more syndrome! lol

I can't help but see HRDevilles for $400 on CL...even one at $375 this weekend...

and then there's no concern about tone or volume.

yeah, mine's for sale ........... $400 so that's probably about right.

 

[CoolCat]

well soon it got more complicated, and the issue of guitar pedals was introduced into the equation. Live metal foot pedals were another $200 or more....

this lead to the used section of modelling amps with effects....!!!

GC...grabbed a mint condition Johnson JM120 for $179 including a JM8 footpedal. dual 12's, little tube preamp, these were $1400 in their day with the J8 controller. Digitech family 24bit effects and sturdy metal foot pedal. Made in th US...seems to have a superb build quality.

this one not used much is obvious, mint shape,
no issues, now over 20hrs of amp time.

nice cabinet constrution with baltic wood front and a massive effects at 24bit included with the programmable J8 pedal, interesting unit.

the son is so used to the programming he had all the pedals and setups programmed without the manual. (new generation of pc kids?) about every effect one can find for guitars came with this piece.

Apparently Johnson Amplification bit the dust and went ou of business selling amps, not many willing to pay $1000 to $1400 for the package, in 2000... probably not much for resale worth... but for a cheap loud amp with effects and metal pedal....

for $179....amazing deal. sweeeet

now to get back on task...and beef up that beginner pa...

 

[stevieb]

Just in- I now own an Ultimate Chorus, and have had several Fender tube amps, including a 112 Hot Rod. Did not have those two amps at the same time, so I can not compare them back-to-back, but I can say the UC should be PLENTY loud enough for your uses. The dual effects loops (one stereo, one mono) should give you lots of flexibility as to pedals, too. Of course, you got the Johnson for less, which is a sweet deal. I'd grab one at that price, too.