NEW Fender Hot Rod Deluxe -vs- THE Original US VERSION -- MkIV vs MkI
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 13 ก.ย. 2024
- I compare a new (2021) Fender Hot Rod Deluxe to the first version and first production year (1996). I'm using a 1975 Gibson Flying V and a 1973 Fender Stratocaster. The MkI has an Eminence Legend 50W 12" speaker and the MkIV has a Celestion A-type speaker. I'm using an AKG C414 BXLII and a Shure SM57 to mic the combos.
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This guy makes everything sound like a Marshall!
Wow, great comparison---I think the MkIV sounds WAY better and better clarity as well...better tone stack, better speaker for this amp!
Thanks Keith!
Hi Johan, big fans from Canada here! Appreciate your comments at the end giving your insights, I think I can speak for many followers on your channel who love to hear your expert opinion on these fantastic instruments!
Thanks, glad to hear that!
Hi Johan, I so very much appreciate you giving us this demonstration (with all of the variations involved). It is musicians/guitarist/people like you that present us with the most fair, unbiased comparison! Not the companies themselves who engineer, manufacture and distribute what they think will generate the most revenue for themselves. I am strongly in agreement with your comments at the end. We agree, the Strat through the new one sounded better in every way. The humbucker through the 1996 model sounded fatter, better. I can't thank you enough!!!
I gigged a 97 or 98 in the late 00s and early 2000s. Sold it, but found the same amp year in Minneapolis and had to scoop it. Love the sound of the I vs IV. And now it's vintage.
All I know is I owned the ‘96 and you make it sound so much better than I did. Both great amps at the end of your guitar.
Thanks Scott
I had a newer HR Deluxe and it was a great sounding amp. I think Fender has left out a step in the Hot Rod and Blues line though. The Blues Jr. is a good more affordable alternative to a Princeton Reverb as the Deluxe is to a Vibrolux or Pro Reverb but I would buy a 22 watt 6v6 Hot Rod in a minute as a Deluxe Reverb alternative.
The blues jr. is such a great amp. I know a singer/guitarist of a sould/blues band and he has been using a blues jr. almost exclusicely since the 90s. Works great for bar gigs and stuff like that
You can put 6V6 tubes in a hotrod deluxe. You have to set the bias of course and use a robust set of 6v6's, but I've run my HRD III like that plenty of times. It doesn't actually tame the volume of the amp much. It changes how quickly it gets into saturation on the clean channel of course but it's still good and loud. I'm currently running a set of NOS late '60's 6l6's, JJ preamp tubes with a 12AU7 in the second position to tame down the gain channel a bit, a matched 12ax7 in #3 phase inverter position and a Canabis Rex speaker. It's biased hot. It's a beast and an incredibly flexible amp when used with the right pedals or all on it's own with 3 very usable channels. I have a pair of Mullard 6V6's that I swap in once in a while for something different and it works just fine.
Try a Bugera V-22 for a 22 watt combo valve amp, but replace the EL84s and the 12AX7s...very respectable amp with better tubes...
@@backlineguyEl84s tend to break up easier, but they don't have the sweetness of 6v6's...bugeras are a good value though...I have compared my 5w bugera to several 6v6 powered 5 watters including my '74 champ, it's not bad but it's definitely like apples and oranges with regard to breakup and headroom
They kind of have one, the supersonic 22.
Only TH-cam video really showing these amps cranked properly. Thanks! The gain channels sound good here! But I am really surprised how much distortion is on tap with just the clean channel! This must have been really loud in that room.
I think a lot of difference can be attributed to the different speakers and how worn in the speakers are. The older one has the tapered top end and emphasized midrange that you'd expect from a thoroughly broken-in speaker. A bit of difference would be down to the tolerance of the pots, caps, and resistors, too, but the circuit is likely close to identical, with maybe a handful of different component values. I bet that both of them in stereo would sound fantastic!
However, the "Drive" channel has definitely been overworked. The MkIV is much more more present and defined.
Great comparison Johan. I preferred the MkIV, but the tone you got of that Flying V was fantastic on both!
Thanks Eddie!
Well done Brother! Great Tones and playing! Thanks for including the Strat! Be Well All!
Thanks brother!
Great video! Your playing inspires me, you seem to have so much fun. I just bought a Hot Rod Deluxe Mk 1, and I love it. This video is very helpful for me, to hear what the fuss is about the Mark IV being superior. I actually think both amps sound great, and one is not better than the other, just different.
It played on a background. And both on my phone and on my studio monitors I always switched to the video to find out that I very much prefer mkI for its... I don't know... Vibe? MkIV is fine, but...
Thank you, Johan! Quality content as always!
Thanks Peter, glad to hear it!
Cool idea for a vid. You sounded great. What is cool is you always dial in such a good "Johan" tone! Definitely one of the best things I always take away watching you, is besides the awesome grooves and "tone is in the fingers", your experience and ear for tone really help you always get a great useable tone out of any of these amps. Love it.
I prefer the '96. I'm probably biased, because it sounds the most familiar to me. I have one myself and love it. 😊
I thought the new one sounded better in most clips. It would be interesting to hear each amp through the other's speaker.
You can really hear the character of the A-type: it's one of my favourites for pairing with a fairly midrange scooped classic fender sounding amp. It's got a lot of low mids and quite a squashy bass which can really sing with the right amp (or be too dark and heavy with the wrong amp).
Hello Johan, the mkiv version of the Fender Hot Rod Deluxe is made in Mexico to be exact, and to my ears sounds even a little more focused and" centered" than the First version, which can sound a little fuzzy on certain settings, i definitely prefer the mk IV!Cheers!
Hi Vincenzo, thanks for letting me know. Cheers
I didn't see this prem until too late!
I thought Mk1 sounded better, more throaty for od tones, and the Mk4 sounded better on cleans! Different speakers too.
Maybe do a follow up with a common speaker, so the only variable IS the circuit!
You made it, (like everything else you play!) sound good! \m/
Thanks man! Cheers!
@@JohanSegeborn YW!
My thoughts exactly!
@@copytekk Great!
Very different indeed. And all pickups give it an unique character.
I have Deville 4x10 and the old HRD on max volume on the clean channel sound the same to me. What if you swapped the speakers with one and another 🤔
Hey Johan, great video on these amps. I think the driven tone of the HRD when turned up is one of its hidden superpowers. Just recently got myself a JCM 900 cab with the T75's from 2001 and I love it with my Mesa Mark IV. Also am getting a JCM 800 cab with the old school 75's, so I'm excited to see how they compare. Cheers!!
Thanks, glad you like it, Cheers!
I just want to say that I appreciate you and your reviews, so much!!
I hade a fender reissue tweed blues deluxe that I used to play hundreds of gigs with. That amp sounded so amazing with a les paul for clean tones but oils never get a good crunch out of it. It always sounded like a buzzing sound if that makes sense. That’s when I started using my jam 900 dual reverb. Man that thing was the real deal if you wanted to punch a hole in the wall. I miss that thing.
For my style I do not like the HRD 3 distortion channel, but I love the cleans she makes. I have version 3, cheers Johan!
Cheers Cullen!
Right from start I thought the MK1 sounnded superior and would probably cut through a mix
Great video johan
👍👍👍
I enjoy your videos and have for years!! I love Fender sounds and I own a 1999 HRD since new. What could have been a great amp design, is filled with cheap parts including caps, diodes, jacks and speakers. Amp repair techs love these amps because they ALL fail. Mine failed several times during gigs. Fortunately , I also have a 74 Fender Princetone Reverb as a back up. When it is serviced (once every 15+ years) it will last another 15+ years. Fender values Profit first and players last in my opinion.
I agree with Johan, but wonder how much of the tone difference is due to the different speaker. I have one of the last USA built Hot Rod Deluxe amps that I bought new in early 2002 and it's been a great amp and has out lasted my 2000 Marshall DSL 401 amp which quit a couple of years ago.
I own a MkIV that I enjoy with my ES-335 ‘59 reissue. In this demo the IV sounds “ more” to my ears.
Kudos on the demo.
I bought my Hot Rod with a creamback speaker, it was a nice touch to the amp. Imho
Hi Johan, thanks a lot for the demo ! I hope you are doing well (you looks a bit tired on the video, but maybe it's just my impression). For me the MKI (or II, they are the same) have this "hotrod" blast on the tube, the sag that really make this amp desirable/uniq for me, hence his name. What's better on the new : Reverb (modified, more like a DLR65), cab (less bassy), volume tap (more linear), weight also i think. I don't really like the saturation of the new one, less mojo, less hot rod, less vibe. OK, it's more clean, would cut off better to the mix. But i would goes for another head for this type of sound. On the things we need to consider between the too : Cab are not hte same (Pine vs Baltic Birtch), Speaker (not the same size of magnet). Also the A of Celestion means american, they are a kind of reproduction of the Eminence speaker (so i laught when i see people talking about A Type British sound...). Overdrive channel is not the same. Last, the tube are also not the same. I definitively regret my Hot Rod Green Emerald... Cheers and take care of you ! :)
Bought this amp when it first came out back in '96. Would like to think I have one of the earliest production models. Anyone have serial # history for these? Proud to say, its still going strong. And not to mention, its my main gigging amp. And still on the original tubes.
The newer model sounds light years better. Original sounds ok. It’s very trebly. Great demo and comparison.
Johann, i have an original 96. Agree with your comments at the various settings. The clean channel is where it’s sweet spot is…like an original Bassman. I like the original crunch channel, stand alone “. The higher gain chain tends to be flubby. All in all when I bought it it was an amazing amp, pedals made it better. I still have it!
I think I prefer the Mk1 overall!!! Nice video!!!
Im not sure why but Im liking the 21 with humbuckers and the 96 with single coils.
I liked the V with the Mk 1 and the Strart with the Mk 4. Hmmm... I wrote that while listening. I liked your description why.
Thanks!
Fender actually makes their amps in Mexico now. Great sounding amps, just eq'd differently and the original just has an older sound (not sure how exactly to describe it).
Hi johan. Kind reminder to hopefully test out the Koch Amps The Greg ;-)
Thanks for this comparison, Johan. I recently acquired an older US HRD and wondered how it stacked up.
Damn I was expecting a difference of course but not that much of a difference. The Strat clean tones the MKI sounded good but the MKIV had that midrange that just sung and jumped out of the amp. Insane how good the amp is for the price.
I agree the Strat through the 2021!
The Crunch on the older sounded like Hair Band Metal.
Overall, I liked the thicker sound of the 2021 & would go with that if I had to buy one or the other. Thanks
I used to own a 1975 Gibson Flying V exactly like yours. I sold it in 1980, in mint condition, will always regret that. No clue what happened to it afterwards, maybe it's the one you have there, who knows... that would be awesome.
Hi Johan, I have the limited edition modern version IV with the creamback speaker and two tone covering (black tolex with tweed ends) and I love mine! Just a great all around grab and go amp that does it all for me, I’m very happy!
The differences between are so slight. If you have an older one, I think k an EQ pedal will get you where you need to be honest. I had a few of the originals back in the day. 4x10 and the 1x12. Both had awesome clean sounds. I used pedals for overdrive and distortion and that was just fine.
I have a HRD 3 and 4, both with same speaker and they sound very different. The 3 is much brighter and higher output. But I prefer the warmer 4 for cleans
I like the angry and raw mark I for garage, post punk, alt rock. Mark IV is more appropiate for classic rock and hard rock
At first I thought the IV sounded better but the more the vid went on the more I liked I 👍
Ok 1) 4s are made in Mexico! 2) limited versions have various eminence speakers 3) pretty good overall review.
Sounds like the power tubes are tired in the Mk1, they have a real sag breakup.
Both sound great Johan, cheers
Thanks! I’m glad you like it. Cheers!
so ive had mine new since 96 been a total workhorse not sure how many gigs BUT ive also increased the bias to around 76 and i use a 410 Marshall cab with it TONs more headroom and low-end ,, BUT if i really want THE TONE my ABY pedal is my best friend and my Marshall 1986 JCM 800 2204 ,, its a rock history proven amp combo ,, you got the gear blow your own mind
There is (of course) a lot of great music created using Fender amps. However, I'm sticking my neck out and claim that played on its own the Fender sound is not my favourite. There I prefer Marshall, Vox, and similar. In a mix it can be different, though.
Anyhow, I really appreciate also these demos because I think I learn more and more also on Fender amps and their sound. Some taste is acquired, so I might learn to like this over time.
Thanks again Johan for you good demos!
Thanks Bengt! Yeah amps are indeed a question of context. Cheers
For cleans, the old version sounds cool in a slightly broken/fuzzy way, but the new version has more of the 'glass bottle' resonance and seems to sing more, so I'd pick the new version for cleans.
With drive though, the situation is the reverse - the old version rocks in a nastily satisfying way, while the new one a bit too thin with somewhat unpleasant highs.
...all in my personal blygsamma opinionsundersökning.
I wonder how much the difference in tone is due to the speaker. I would imagine they sound more similar through a 4x12.
great video, Johan, both amps sound great but they are different. I especially like the clean channel of the Mk IV, these amps are extremely popular here in the States, almost every band I go to see in a club has one, with the Blues Junior right behind that. I never owned one but certainely appreciate them, I've been using the '68 Custom Deluxe Reverb, love to see if you can get one of those and put it through the paces. Great work always, keep safe and keep on rockin'
Thanks Mark, glad you like it! I compare the 68 to the 65RI and 57 RI in this video th-cam.com/video/TxG_7gFd9V8/w-d-xo.html
We should revisit the deluxes in another video. Cheers
@@JohanSegeborn great thanks!
@@JohanSegeborn great thanks! can't believed I missed it!
Both amps good . Guy says " speakers not same " , Its the whole point of this comparison , of how the amp has evolved by the changes Fender did . Would serve NO purpose to have same speakers in both amps thereby defying the comparison . J's Video is well done as usual , and makes perfect sense as it is .
Thanks man, well put! :-)
Cool comparison but someone has already tinkered with the MKIV here, low voltage supply resistors are raised like they should be (so they cannot burn the mainboard),
but unfortunately Fender does not do this from the factory. Im not saying this would affect the sound but there may be other modifications here, lowered bias etc. that could affect it.
This guy deserves more subs
Awesomeness, an intelligent video that's makes me think and experiment and maybe find sounds that have eluded me. So, I will start with my Les Paul with P90's thru the "new" Deluxe Tweed and compare to my Les Paul with humbuckers through the original Fender Deluxe I out of Cupertino, CA. which has been mothballed in my studio for years,. And........what you have are sonically unique experiences. Thank you Johan, that I am still a student. The one area that would clarify, however, is that I plug my guitars into amplifiers. I don't own any peddles. I'm still trying to figure out the whole reverb thing. Ha. Peace. DWD
I have a 96 HRD that I bought new back then. It still sounds good, is very well made, and I'll never sell it. But the new version sounds a little brighter, it makes sense that they've improved some of the sonic components. Good review.
improved? fender never improved anything their best models are the first of everything then they ruin it to save some money and earn more. they had 70 years to improve the strat look where they are... the mark 4 is way too bright because of that new shitty speaker. yours is much better. if you want a better tone swap the speaker to any celestion made in engalnd(creamback h 75 if you like the brightness). swapping those crappy russian tubes to vintage will help as well.
Yeah my opinion is the same.The new one for the Strat is much more ballanced.But after all both amops sounded good.Cheers from Transylvania ;)
They may sound nice but man if I had a nickel for every "deluxe" I have had come through for repair. Disposable amps. Hopefully the new ones are better inside.
If you’re s repairman, you see a lot of amps for repair. Cool story
Silas, Good Point.
Sadly they just don't make them like they used to (considering price-point).
I'm still using my 1976 Twin Reverb I purchased brand new. All of my amplifiers are older PTP or Turret board. You really can get your money's worth if you purchase quality.
Heck, I'e even a 1947 MEC that is still running strong.
Your "Disposable Amps" comment is spot-on.
PCB on the Mexican models is wayyyy better than the original USA models. But other than that it's the same 'ol.
@@MuscleDad420 I’ve had more MIM Deluxes through my hands than MIA. Both are equally unreliable lol. I’ve yet to have a IV through the shop but from the gut shots Johan posted, but it would appear the weak spots haven’t been changed at all… Slightly worrisome
@@Starch1b2c3d4a yeah really, fenders most popular amp and he sees them the most , makes sense
Wow, that sounds amazing. I've always heard about these, but never bothered. I'll definitely have to give the '21 a spin sometime.
Thanks!
All the 1s I ever heard sounded like arse!
I think ONLY Johan can make them sound good at all!
Clean Channel sounds different between the 2. The Gain channel is the Same. You make the amplifiers sound better than they really are ;-)
Tja! Har du koll på Hot Rod Deluxe 60th Anniversary? De som är gjorda i Mexico. Vet du vilken modell det är?
My vote goes to the IV. Not the best in all the categories, but more balanced overall. I'm wondering if all the difference is in the speaker or if there is something different in the circuit. I changed the speaker from the original to a Creamback on a 1st series a while ago, and I remember it was like night and day.
I bet a lot of it is the speaker, but not all
Mine hotrod deluxe 4 with a 1929 Marshall cab sounds awesome. I use it w no pedals... none needed
Mark Knopfler used two Hot Rod Deluxe at his Tour 2007...might be a nice Amp 😂 now he uses Kemper for the big shows😀
Cool, I didn’t know that
hey Johan, dovrai usare il traduttore, io nel guardare il video ho avuto la tua identica sensazione.
il modello 2021 sembrava migliore nella prima parte del video ma quando hai iniziato a fare dei riff rock o dei power cord il vecchio fender mi è sembrato più a punto, meglio tarato come timbro
non potrebbero incidere anche la valvole più vecchie nella versione 1996?
grazie per i video che fai, mariano dall'italia
These amplifiers sound amazing with JJs in the pre and a Jensen P12Q.
wait till you try nos tubes...jj's are modern junk from slovakia they do tame the brightness because they have no highs but also no clarity and no air. vintage tubes like rca ge or mullard sound way better.
Hi, thank you for your video. I have a Mk IV and really love this amp. I think it‘s a great Fender, even he is so young…. 👍😉👍
2:41 that perspective looks hilarious like the amp is as big as him lol
That Strat sounds great through both amps
Wow---the 2021 Mark iV is by far better. I'm surprised. Great video as always!
Thanks Jamie!
The only Fender amp I have never been tempted to buy for the next to nothing they always seem to be advertised for locally.
I have a 1999. I never use the dirty channel but the clean channel with a Tele is nothing but twang. I just have a bit of trouble carrying it.
Johan, is this strictly the clean channel cranked? Or did you use the drive channels? Thank you sir!
great comparison. I think these amps lack some headroom . But I am a pedal guy that needs a clean amp on band volumes. But they sound good on volume 3/4 to my ears (clean) . That's for me band volume. But with a 335 it isn't clean anymore ...So, the george benson model is maby the one for me. I love your viseo's Johan! Keep on going
Wow. Mark 1 for me. Very smooth and creamy tone.
The one takes gain way better, sounds absolutely amazing. Might snag a nineties mk1 sometime soon.
Damn I'm glad I have a IV! Sounded way better. The A Type has a darker more midrangey voicing that's more flattering to drive pedals. They know that's what people are using with these amps.
totally wrong. the a type is one of the brightest harsh sounding speakers ever made by celestion and almost any speaker you'll put instead will be less bright. "they" know nothing and don't care even if they knew. i work on live gigs with these amps and the 4 is almost unusable(treble on 3 presence on 0) while the previous versions were usable. drive pedals is exactly where the speaker sounds harsh. an american voicing means v shaped lots of lows lots of highs. a british voicing like proper celestions has more midrange.
👍thanks johan ! Sounds great
I might get a older tweed
The drive channel on the 4 is definitely legit now WOW
My mk1 has sadly been dead due to a burned out resistor for many years but I remember it being the best amp I ever heard. Loud and with alot of gain if you wanted it. Lush reverb. Loved it with my 93 American strat plus.
Why don't you fix it?
@@Phoenix_cataclysm_in_2040 I've bee procrastinating in blue of buying other amps but good point. Maybe it's about time.
@@kix5284
It's a test whether you actually need it. You obviously can live without it. 🤔
@@Phoenix_cataclysm_in_2040no I think your wrong. I knew I would sill always have it.
2021 for the win !
Most of the difference in tone comes from how radically different the eminence speakers are from the Celestions. I personally can't stand eminence and thought my amp sounded bad until I swapped speakers.
I've always had a sweet spot for electrovoice, they seem the most balanced yet articulate of the major brands
I'll keep my Mark1, I've made mods. I have the matching extension cabinet with a Celestion V30. Original speaker in the combo. Great sound. Stack them up, that way I can reach the knobs, too.
Terrific demo as usual, Johan.👍
Thanks man!
The first thing I did to my old Deluxe after getting it was replacing the Eminence speaker with a Celestion V30. Did fine for many years - but bottom line, it’s just too powerful! Was using it with a THD Hot Plate, ended up frying the Hot Plate.
Wonderful comparisons... I have the iv version and love it...
Hei ! Veldig bra Johan , takkar. I prefer the mark IV ,the old model sounded dirtier .
Thank you for another amazing video! Well done, and nice tones! I have a 2006 - it's been a very versatile, well-rounded amp. I've used an Ironman 2 with mine and gotten some amazing overdrive tones out of it. As you said, the low end can definitely get a bit loose, as can the overall balance. Considering using an extension cab with mine to see if that improves the balance. Hej så länge!
Personally I found the mark1 sounded more vintage rock, the mark iv sounded a nudge more modern high gain.
I prefered the older, but that might be a testament to the music I like.
At first I thought the IV sounded better but the more the video went on the more I liked mark I
I actually think both amps sound great, and one is not better than the other, just different.
I recently bought a non-working DeVille IV to repair and resell and ended up keeping it I liked it so much. A couple major complaints in the earlier HR series was the volume jump when barely turning up the knob and the drive channel. Fender changed the volume knob to audio taper and modified/improved the preamp circuit (as well as the speaker change).
There are also a lot of complaints that the HR series is not reliable. I can't specifically comment on that vs other amps, but it is the best selling amp series globally so you're going to see more of these needing service. Having said that, changing out the IC caps and raising the diodes and 5W resistors in the power supply off the board helps to avoid problems down the road. Also, checking the solders joints and ribbon cables when you change the tubes and bias are good proactive steps to ensure a smooth running amp.
Really enjoyed the video, Johan! In fact, I pretty much like them all :)
I have a hot Rod I..I bought it in 2000 and actually Still have the receipt…. I always thought mine sounded good, but I thought that might be because the speaker is so broken in
Hi. Great video. Can we get a clean jazz sound with this amp? Thx
now i want one
More proof that speakers can change everything about your tone more than any preamp stack ever could.
The speakers are central indeed
For most of the tones, I preferred the new Amp, as they sounded higher fidelity, cleaner, and more lively. The old Amp often sounded tired and worn out, through every once in a while, I preferred its tone. I didn't notice a pattern.
Do you own an Amp Museum? I'm curious how you have access to so many cool old Amps, speakers, etc. It's really useful to get a chance to hear so many iconic Amps. Thanks
Thanks! I borrowed this one from Simons store Musikbörsen actually. The stuff on the channel belongs to Swedish vendors, collectors, studios and friends.
Still got my MK1
Nice work Johan!
👍🇦🇺
(Edit at end of video) Yeah! New one is better 😔hmmmm.... Time to get a Carr Super 🐝 😎
How did you get them to sound this good. I had one for a few years and sold it. Drive channel was horrible and mine had a Celestine 30 GB in it