Thank you! I bought a used Hot Rod Deluxe a few weeks ago and I just ordered new tubes (it still has the 15 year old factory tubes). I was worried that it would be difficult to bias the new power tubes but it's apparently really easy thanks to your video.
Man it sounds so freaking amazing 😳😳😳👍extremely helpful vídeo thanks 👌but I need to ask 3 questions. 1. what pickups are you using there ? 2. What 3 TUBES model do you have in the PRE AMP section and and what model you have in the POWER section ? It’s because I can not acchieved this tone with my stractocastee standard even to 80 mili volts and no matter what combination of volume/overdrive I do, there must be another factor in your tone, amazing sound congrats 👏👏👏
@@ricardoa2894 thanks man. To answer your questions. 1. Pickups are Fender Pure Vintage ‘65s. 2&3. Absolutely not a clue. Stock valves as far as I know. Whatever they would be.
Hey thanks for the video. I've just installed a pair of Sovtek 6L6WXT+ tubes in my Hot Rod Deluxe from 2000. The bias doesn't go any lower than ~86mV on these. Does that indicate a problem with the tubes? Or something else? Thanks in advance!
70mv is optimal for these amps. the two white caps next to the bias trimpot are prone to burn pcb board as they are too close to it. keep a eye on it. that is why i say 70mv. 80 is pushing it.
I asked many professionals and all they say that more than 60 mV may overheat other components and reduce the life of the components, all they say do NOT… and even 80 mV you won’t find an acustic difference
Why wouldn't you explain the relationship from test point measurement voltage to output tube cathode current and what that should be relative to tube plate dissipation rating?
I tried it on mine and all the way up it was on 54 mV. It won’t go any higher. But at one point it shot up to 155mv very quickly so I turned off the app. It didn’t do that again. So I’m not sure what’s going on could it be that the tubes need to be replaced?
Not sure about that. As far as I understand biasing on a HRD is more about getting the right balance between clean headroom and where the amp starts to break up. Might be tho. Easy enough its worth doing to find out.
Could be. Can also retube it. I'd recommend Sovtek 6L6GXT+ tubes as they're the correct wattage output (30w, vs 25w on regular 6L6s) and are 'hotter'. Your preamp tubes could be a bit soft (12AX7s) You could bring to a tube guy and have him do the biasing if you're unfamiliar or unequipped. The various voltages up to 430 volts DC (and the 110v/240v AC mains voltage) will tear you up and give you a bad day if you're not trained in the "keep one hand in a pocket" mentality. Side note: the old tube tv's (both tube and 'modern') have heat sinks, etc. inside. Those are never grounded and a mis-placed finger would pump 300-900v AC (or 32,000 volts on the back of the TV tube) across you. Not a good day. ;) Not trying to scare, but make sure the dangers eluded to made known. The secret to high voltage is "keep one hand in your pocket". Not literally, but it means to only use one hand when probing with a multimeter, etc. Touching something with a voltage charge with "one hand in your pocket" will give you one hell of a jolt, but your hand will come off of the charged point. Resting your hand on the chassis and your other hand touches something in the same situation? Goodbye Charlie. Lights out, and save the family cremation costs.
Could be the speaker. According to what I've read the Eminence Swamp Thang (12" 8-ohm 150-watt) is a great replacement, not nearly as dark as the factory speaker.
@@DogsharkGPS I just got my hot rod deluxe and hopefully don’t have to adjust too much. Btw you could also switch out your preamp tube so you don’t need that volume fx loop circuit which would be a cleaner setup .
@@DavidsMusicChannel yeah. To be honest I moved the HRD on pretty quickly. Wasn’t getting the tones I wanted. Replaced with a Vox AC15 and very happy with that.
@@DavidsMusicChannel actually did do that yet. Only did this one coz I was messing with the bias. Probably should do tho. Got another MiJ Strat arriving this week so will probably do that too.
Honestly it sounds like there are external pedal FX involved in that overdrive, I can not get this tone not even with my Texas Special pickups or any of my strats, or maybe this is a HOT ROD version 3 or 4, I know the version 4 sounds better than the version 1
Awesome playing and great tone mate!
Cheers pal
Thank you! I bought a used Hot Rod Deluxe a few weeks ago and I just ordered new tubes (it still has the 15 year old factory tubes). I was worried that it would be difficult to bias the new power tubes but it's apparently really easy thanks to your video.
Great and Informative video mate! Nice Pickin As well
Man it sounds so freaking amazing 😳😳😳👍extremely helpful vídeo thanks 👌but I need to ask 3 questions.
1. what pickups are you using there ?
2. What 3 TUBES model do you have in the PRE AMP section and and what model you have in the POWER section ? It’s because I can not acchieved this tone with my stractocastee standard even to 80 mili volts and no matter what combination of volume/overdrive I do, there must be another factor in your tone, amazing sound congrats 👏👏👏
@@ricardoa2894 thanks man. To answer your questions. 1. Pickups are Fender Pure Vintage ‘65s. 2&3. Absolutely not a clue. Stock valves as far as I know. Whatever they would be.
Cheers mate, your 'fun video' taught me all I needed to know. Just hope I don't blow myself up when I go for it! ;)
Nice playing btw!
Cheers mate. Stay safe when you’re doing yours.
@@DogsharkGPS To even be safer get one of those plastic screw drivers to adjust the pot..
My 67 ain't near that nice lookin' anymore. Sweet machine, never let it go. Thanks.
Swap yer?
@@DogsharkGPS Mate says No New Lovers!
Hey thanks for the video. I've just installed a pair of Sovtek 6L6WXT+ tubes in my Hot Rod Deluxe from 2000. The bias doesn't go any lower than ~86mV on these. Does that indicate a problem with the tubes? Or something else? Thanks in advance!
To be honest I’m not sure. That’s within general tolerance but on the hot side. Might just be hot tubes.
70mv is optimal for these amps. the two white caps next to the bias trimpot are prone to burn pcb board as they are too close to it. keep a eye on it. that is why i say 70mv. 80 is pushing it.
Already moved it on. Wasn't doing it for me.
Fender recommends about 60mV but i don't know if this parameter works well w/ any tube brand...what do u think ?
Fender recommends about 60mV but i don't know if this parameter works well w/ any tube brand...what do u think ?
I asked many professionals and all they say that more than 60 mV may overheat other components and reduce the life of the components, all they say do NOT… and even 80 mV you won’t find an acustic difference
Why wouldn't you explain the relationship from test point measurement voltage to output tube cathode current and what that should be relative to tube plate dissipation rating?
@@pdx_angler9760 coz I’m not a clever c*nt
I tried it on mine and all the way up it was on 54 mV. It won’t go any higher. But at one point it shot up to 155mv very quickly so I turned off the app. It didn’t do that again. So I’m not sure what’s going on could it be that the tubes need to be replaced?
Take it to an experienced tech
When my Hot Rod Feluxe IV arrived a couple of months ago, the sound was far darker and bassier than expected. Could this be a biasing issue?
Not sure about that. As far as I understand biasing on a HRD is more about getting the right balance between clean headroom and where the amp starts to break up. Might be tho. Easy enough its worth doing to find out.
Could be. Can also retube it. I'd recommend Sovtek 6L6GXT+ tubes as they're the correct wattage output (30w, vs 25w on regular 6L6s) and are 'hotter'. Your preamp tubes could be a bit soft (12AX7s) You could bring to a tube guy and have him do the biasing if you're unfamiliar or unequipped. The various voltages up to 430 volts DC (and the 110v/240v AC mains voltage) will tear you up and give you a bad day if you're not trained in the "keep one hand in a pocket" mentality.
Side note: the old tube tv's (both tube and 'modern') have heat sinks, etc. inside. Those are never grounded and a mis-placed finger would pump 300-900v AC (or 32,000 volts on the back of the TV tube) across you. Not a good day. ;)
Not trying to scare, but make sure the dangers eluded to made known. The secret to high voltage is "keep one hand in your pocket". Not literally, but it means to only use one hand when probing with a multimeter, etc. Touching something with a voltage charge with "one hand in your pocket" will give you one hell of a jolt, but your hand will come off of the charged point. Resting your hand on the chassis and your other hand touches something in the same situation? Goodbye Charlie. Lights out, and save the family cremation costs.
Could be the speaker. According to what I've read the Eminence Swamp Thang (12" 8-ohm 150-watt) is a great replacement, not nearly as dark as the factory speaker.
The volume fx loop mod I’m guessing shouldn’t affect the biassing which was on the power tube section. Sounds great though, nice playing! 👍
Honestly no idea. Probably does in some way. But not enough to warrant adjusting the bias again.
@@DogsharkGPS I just got my hot rod deluxe and hopefully don’t have to adjust too much. Btw you could also switch out your preamp tube so you don’t need that volume fx loop circuit which would be a cleaner setup .
@@DavidsMusicChannel yeah. To be honest I moved the HRD on pretty quickly. Wasn’t getting the tones I wanted. Replaced with a Vox AC15 and very happy with that.
@@DogsharkGPS oh cool. Did you make a review on that too? Will subscribe..
@@DavidsMusicChannel actually did do that yet. Only did this one coz I was messing with the bias. Probably should do tho. Got another MiJ Strat arriving this week so will probably do that too.
Honestly it sounds like there are external pedal FX involved in that overdrive, I can not get this tone not even with my Texas Special pickups or any of my strats, or maybe this is a HOT ROD version 3 or 4, I know the version 4 sounds better than the version 1
@@ricardoa2894 no pedals involved. Tone is in the fingers.
Where did u adjust it?
He speaks toooooo much ....
Thanks for watching