Any one added a tube rectifier to a HRDeluxe?

[Aric Bandy]

I know there is very mixed feelings on Dan Torres, but I saw something on
his site that got me thinking. I have a Hot Rod Deluxe, it's an ok amp. I
probably wouldn't buy it again though, but I can't afford to buy a Super
Reverb at the moment.

Anyway, Dan Torres has kits for adding a tube rect. to a Blues Deville.
Unless I mistaken the Blues and Hot Rod line are very similar in design and
the Deville and Deluxe are also very similar. I am sure that this would
greatly increase the tone of the amp. Has anyone tried this?

Thanks,
Aric

[j...@freedom.net]

A tube rectifier will not improve the tone of your amp. It will however
lower the voltage and cause more sag in the amp which will make it break up
more easily. A tube rectifier is different than solid state not better.
There are great amps that have solid state rectifiers but the Fender Blues
and Hot Rod amps are not in this class. You are not going to improve the
tone of a budget tube amp by changing to a tube rectifier. If you feel the
amp is lacking tone you are correct, my suggestion would be not to get any
deeper in than you already are. If the amp doesn't sound good to you sell
it and move on.

JM
Aric Bandy <ar...@innovamn.com> wrote in message
news:SJwu4.2228$%A3.5...@ptah.visi.com...

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[Never4ever]

I have a HRD and a 68 SR. I would say the rectifier would make the HRD sounds
closer to Blackface Fender. Their schematics look almost the same except the SS
parts/circuitry.

I experimented with my SR by replacing it with a SS rectifier and it sounds
like the HRD. So I would say if a HRD replaced its SS rectifier with tube it
will sound closer to SR.

[Johnny Z]

Dan T. is ok but it is a waste if money to change the amp. Sometimes I
think we get to anal about small tone changes. The acoustics of a room make
a big difference, and if you get 25 feet away from the amp it sounds
different, fill the room with people and it will change too, are you going
to have a different amp for each room you play in? JZ

Aric Bandy <ar...@innovamn.com> wrote in message
news:SJwu4.2228$%A3.5...@ptah.visi.com...

[Punkerdubh]

I don't think it'll make a big difference in tone. If you feel
that you really must have some sag, don't bother with a tube
rectifier (especially if it uses a bridge circuit). Just add a
resistor between the rectifier diodes and the first filter cap.
A big ass aluminum case resistor should do the trick (25
or 50 watt, depending on the current draw, 250 ohms or
so, season to taste). Wire it up on the bench and see how
it sounds before you go drilling the chassis.

I don't know what type speaker they use in the HRD, but
I've found that speakers have more effect on tone than any
circuit changes. Food for thought,

- Punkerdubh

[Tom]

Check with THD about their "Reactive Rectifier"....may do the trick for
you.