Fender Deville for steel?

Chris Sims · Post by **Chris Sims** » 31 May 2010 4:42 pm

Has anybody played steel thru a Fender Hotrod Deville, or Blues deville.
I am wondering if it would be a good choice.
Trying to decide also whether to go 4x10's or 2x12's.
I am thinking the Blues deville might have the warmer better tone according to what I read.

Larry Bressington · Post by **Larry Bressington** » 31 May 2010 4:46 pm

I have tried most of those style fender amps, which i did not like myself personally, not enough oomph from the low end, however i did play through a 'Super reverb 4x10' at a wedding not long ago and it was Amazing. Make sure you got enough pedal left for live work, i'm sure your miking? I have heard the 'Fender steel king' is good, i'll bet heavy too!

I would try one before spending the money.

Jonathan Cullifer · Post by **Jonathan Cullifer** » 31 May 2010 4:56 pm

I have played through both. They don't have a huge bottom end, but I think they sound good. I own a Hot Rod Deluxe and the only thing that kept me from getting a Deville was the weight...I already have enough big heavy amps for gigs.

Brett Lanier · Post by **Brett Lanier** » 1 Jun 2010 8:48 am

How about this vibrosonic?
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=185090

I bet it has a much better sound than the Devilles, and more clean headroom too.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 1 Jun 2010 10:14 am

I use a 60 watt 2x12 HR Deville for Steel regularly when playing double duty, Steel /Telecaster. The 2x12 Deville can handle quite a bit , it has much more headroom than the 40 watt HR Deluxe ( also used one for a time) . The HR Deville will fit any moderate gig with ease and be prepared for a bright old "Fendery" tone...

I believe it's the next best thing to a Twin Reverb for double duty, yes short on overall power but enough to cut an average gig.

t

James Collett · Post by **James Collett** » 1 Jun 2010 12:37 pm

I use a HR Deville (2*12) up at my church and I find at moderate playing levels it sounds great. YMMV of course

Dave Simonis · Post by **Dave Simonis** » 1 Jun 2010 6:18 pm

Chris, if you watch the Marty Stuart Show you'll hear Gary Carter playing thru one! I think they sound pretty classic.

I know a few guys who swear by the Blues Jr too...it just depends on the sound you are looking for!

Adam Fischer · Post by **Adam Fischer** » 24 Jun 2010 7:46 am

I have used a 4x10 Blues Deville for Pedal Steel, and own a 4x10 HR Deville. In my experience the Blues Deville was noticeably warmer, but I don't have any real complaints about the HR. I play mostly small to medium-sized clubs in a moderately loud band and this is more than enough amp, I rarely have to put the volume up past 4 or 5. It starts to grind a bit at 7, but I kinda like that sound for what I do. In general, I think it does a fine job, but I (only very slightly) regret not getting a Blues Deville instead of the HR, and only because it could be just a bit warmer.

I definitely favor the 4x10 over the 2x12, but you know how it goes. . . that's just my opinion.

Chris LeDrew · Post by **Chris LeDrew** » 24 Jun 2010 2:41 pm

If you don't mind a bit of break-up and a lot of high end in your tone, the Hot Rod amps will get you by. I run into them on backline quite a bit and they like to dirt up the tone of a pedal steel, especially on a big stage. I can imagine they're just right for lap, though.

seldomfed · Post by **seldomfed** » 29 Jun 2010 12:22 pm

I had a 4x10 HR Deville - nice amp. I got it as an in-store-trade after my NV1000 crapped out for the 3rd time in a row. (when they first came out).

It's loud! I rarely could turn it up past about 3. It just wasn't a good amp for steel for me. Didn't like the tone personally, and it was too big and heavy. I sold it to a young guitarist who loves it!, and I got a NV 112.

Drew Howard · Post by **Drew Howard** » 30 Jun 2010 8:17 am

I've had great success with a Blues Jr. sans drummer.
Deville, interestingly, not so much not enough headroom.

Jesse Adams · Post by **Jesse Adams** » 1 Jul 2010 6:59 pm

The Devile is clean. if that's what you're going for you'll like it! but it has too much power to really get any tube warmth at reasonable volumes. and you don't really have the responsiveness to you playing dynamics that make tube amps so great. I would look for a much lower wattage if I were you. I traded mine in for a 9 watt gibson br9. that's the best amp I've ever played.

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 5 Jul 2010 8:12 pm

I wasn't gonna answer but for two things.

The Hot Rod Deluxe I had wasn't loud enough unless I ran it at 6, and after having it gone through about three times, all I was told was that that much volume rattles the mica off the plates, or somesuch, and the tubes crap. It went out on me three times. I dumped it.

I know Tony Prior uses a HRDVl 212, and likes it. I tried one once, and it was hard to get loud enough to have it sound good and then it seemed too loud..

Gotta agree with Drew, .......

My best luck has been with a Blues JR MIKED, and out of a Pod or my Zoom. I don't know how that much sound comes out of 15 watts. I usually use a Fender Frontman 65r for the low end. D10. No probs on the C6 even, (miked).

Both have Webers in them. Silver bell in the Frtm65r. Not that the stocker is that bad..

The Blues Jr has a Weber Blue Dog, and ALL new NOS tube sockets. and 63 vintage AxC Preamp tubes. That's it. It's only about 4 years old, but it's really surprising. I do have to mike it though in a bigger club.

The HR Dvl 212 is probably more of the ticket for you. The HRDlxs I've never heard anything good about. The one I had, I traded for a Marshall HAlf Stack 100MGHDFX and a Peavey Predator guitar.

The guy I played with this weekend has a Super Twin. I think it weighs 85 lbs and he said it had over 200 watts. I remember somebody posted the nomenclature on one a while back. THAT's a Steel Amp...

EJL

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 6 Jul 2010 1:22 am

Eric West wrote:
I know Tony Prior uses a HRDVl 212, and likes it.

The HR Dvl 212 is probably more of the ticket for you.

EJL

I used the HR Deville only when on double duty, a Steel only night brought out the Nville 400 . The HR Deville was a result of playing double duty , or trying to, with a HR Deluxe which could not handle the Steel. So, the HR Deville was the next option for me and I agree that it's good for moderate volume ( pretty loud ) but after that can it get gritty and very bright if you attempt to really push it. Overall though for my gigs it works just fine. It has enough clean headroom, way more than the HR Deluxe for a moderate setting. It's been a great amp, no issues, ZERO downtime over the past 6 or 7 years and the same tubes ! I bought it used from the original owner in 03 or 04 I think. Now for the Telecaster, if this amp had built in Fender Tremelo it would be the cat's meow !

Ok, so... my new double duty amp is a '71 Twin Reverb... The HR Deville is parked . I've gone back in time. I played thru a Twin for 20 years, bought one new in 70, sold it like a D.A. around 90 or so.

This past week or so I have sitting practicing guitar/steel using the Twin, using the 2nd input ( 10db pad ) and volume at around 2 or maybe 3. I have come to realize that this may very well be the best electric guitar amp ever made and it is no coincidence that players are still chasing these amps today . Sonic quality and clarity is unmatched. Ohh..it's gets pretty loud to !

Heavy ? yes, just like a Nville 400, Nville 1000, HR Deville...all about the same..

t

Roger Williamson · Post by **Roger Williamson** » 13 Jul 2010 7:28 pm

I have deville and a NV 400...I regularly take them both to gigs and use the NV for steel and deville for tele...either one will work for either..but my ears prefer it this way...yes they're both heavy...I use a cart...and lift carefully to preserve my back.