Tubes for my Fender HRD

VinceM25 · Post by **VinceM25** » Tuesday Jul 22, 2008

I think I'm gonna get some new tubes for my Fender Hot Rod Deluxe. It sounds great clean and when playing lead with it overdriven, but when I play chords with it overdriven it sounds kinda farty. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on what tubes will get rid of the fartyness. It has 3 12AX7's and 2 6L6GC's in it now. I heard getting 12AT7's might help... Anyone know?

lonewolf · Post by **lonewolf** » Tuesday Jul 22, 2008

Replace all the preamp coupling capacitors with Orange Drops. Use the next available lower value of capacitance. Tighten it right up.

I almost bought one of these last spring and discovered some mods. Here's another that might do the trick:

http://studentweb.eku.edu/justin_holton ... ypass.html

Bloodsong · Post by **Bloodsong** » Tuesday Jul 22, 2008

i've read that a 12at7 has like 70 percent of gain a 12ax7 has. you might miss that when you're playing leads. you could try Tungsols in the pre and power; they're really tight and lush sounding and not "fizzy" at all. ElectroHarmonix are nicely compressed but always sound flat to my ears. JJs are cool, but are not super tight. they have a little "nasty" in them.

VENTGtr · Post by **VENTGtr** » Wednesday Jul 23, 2008

Bloodsong wrote: you could try Tungsols in the pre

YES!

dnsrks1 · Post by **dnsrks1** » Sunday Aug 17, 2008

Hell yeh, I'll say Tun-Sols too!! I bought one of those new Bugera amps and the stock preamp tubes sounded crappy. The Tung-Sols picked it right up. As soon as more funds become available it'll be the same move for the outputs!!

metalchurch · Post by **metalchurch** » Tuesday Aug 19, 2008

dnsrks1 wrote:Hell yeh, I'll say Tun-Sols too!! I bought one of those new Bugera amps and the stock preamp tubes sounded crappy. The Tung-Sols picked it right up. As soon as more funds become available it'll be the same move for the outputs!!

+1
I agree with these guys, I recently had my Marshall in the shop @ Terry's Guitars n Stuff.
My Marshall had the stock Russian Sovtek tubes from 1994!! ouch!
I had no idea how old they were, and after being tested they were running a little over 50% power in the Power side. And what's even more messed up is the fact that after swapping preamps around,etc.., I thought I was finally getting a good sound! LOL

Anyway, had it maintenanced, biased and retubed w/ 4 5881 TungSol's, and Electro Harmonix preamp tubes 1) 12AX7 & 1) 12AT7.

Let me tell you that I have never heard a Marshall with a tight low end like this. I was so stoked, and I couldn't believe that it was my Poweramp!
This thing is so amazing, and so much more refined and crisp than I ever could imagined. The sustain and clarity is amazing. Needless to say i spent the better part of 4 hours adjusting my EQ to accomodate my new sound. I was so relieved to have my baby fixed

It is now 14 years old, so I'm gonna have to maintence it more frequently and take extra care of it.
Now I can't say for sure if you will experience the same results, because I had other problems as well, but I can assure you that you will notice a difference.

If you want to look into it, get ahold of Terry, and he will have Mike, his tech hook you up. Mike really knows his shit, and you will not get your amp back until he is 100% positive happy.

He had mine for 2 weeks testing it and swapping things around. He even hot and cold tested it. Putting it in the fridge and taking it out while cold, and vice versa. Pretty much the endurance test from hell.
Hope you get something you're happy with.

Terry's Guitars N Stuff
(814)322-3015