Quote from: Enzo on October 26, 2015, 02:01:37 AM
Well, the amp for YOU (whoever you might be) is the one that sounds good to YOUR ears.  Nothing else really matters.

Agreed.

IMO... Tone is subjective. 

What constitutes "Great Tone" by the masses often revolves around a band's vibe, specific song, musician's technique or their unique use of the equipment involved in the process.

Example: A Great tone that comes from technique.. at my age (I'm 49)  I don't really get excited about a new major label artist. Yes, I listen to new artist (Love Rival Sons!.. not really new are they though... )  What guys like me tend to really dig is other musicians working hard. I admire this guy (about 10 yrs older... plays a lot of classic rock and 60's Motown... plays though a Peavy Classic 30 combo. He delivers a great performance every night... plays with taste & never over plays etc... Sounds incredible, Uses a Strat... Great tone! Peavy Classic 30 combo isn't what many would call a premium amp... But...through his hands one would never know it!  So... SS, Tube etc etc....  it's what sounds good to you.. and how you're inspired to use it...

It's all good in the end.   

 Phill I think your opinion is subjective... 

I have the ML HRD with a vk 212 cab and I think it sounds great. (and I'm a working musician of 25 yrs)

Reverb sounds pretty modern to me.. i.e. 2015. I like that... The reverb is tighter.. Not inferior...just different. More modern sounding...probably attributed to the SS i.e. tl072's  However the ML HRD is still all tube... and with 6L6 seems it's close to a Baseman IC. (as are all HRD) IMO.. So the reverb isn't as lush as a $2500 Vibro King... surf music not all that much in demand now.

I factor in too....
When one employs a pedal rig w/ Delay, Chorus & Gain etc... as most working musicians do..  'all tube" reverb kinda get's lost in the mix.

Honestly,  I don't recall my Uncle's 1972 Fender Twin sounding any better quality wise...  or my 1984 JCM800 Marshall 100watt ...i.e in reference to reverb wise either... (certainly doesn't clean wise also.... !!!!!)

Guys like Michal Landau, Wayne Kratz or  Dave Keuning (just too name a few) have been using HRD's for years... Its a solid respectable journeyman's amp... if its good enough for them its certainly good enough for me...

Great post/reply Enzo!    thanks    Clears up a lot.

QuoteWell, I don't think Fender could design a good sounding overdrive channel if their lives depended on it, but...

Isn't that the truth... lol.   Totally agree with you on the HRD. Great Clean! Great for pedals.... But Gain Meh??

Hot rod  deviles are Fender's highest selling amps because the amp sounds pretty damn good. Can't argue with its popularity. On the subject of reverb ... Once u drop a chorus , delay and some gain pedal (and God knows what else) True pristine tube reverb is kinda moot isn't it? Since most working musicians have to play several genres of music (surf music not being one of them ) ultra pristine tribe tube reverb isn't in high demand.  Does a point to point  Vibro king sound better than a HRD .. Yes ... But by how much? And would it with a modern pedal rig?  Debatable ... Last ... You going to haul a $2500 amp in and out sweaty bars???

Thought I would go to the source on this one.  No amp guru here...

Big heated discussion.  Specifics: Fender Hot Rod Deville. Was told (with serious snobbery lol)  its a solid state reverb because of the two tl072 op amps surrounding the reverb pan. Took a look at the schematic.. I liked it to more of a hybrid. from what I;m looking at.  Circuit (standard Fender stuff) simplified version ... it i.e. the signal looks to come from comes from a preamp ( a 12ax7 vac tube) into the tl072 then into the reverb pan, out again into the tl072..then if im looking at it correctly.... into another 12xa7 then moves to a 6LS (in Series?? ) hits the transformer then on to the speakers.

I don"t classify a ss as something that has vac tube in the IC (it also looks to me the the Tl072's are acting like values and nothing more)  again more of a hybrid. 

Honestly. I like what I see.  IMO.... The IC looks to prevent that nasty violent reverb slap back that one gets if playing the amp when/if it get's jolted (Which in my opinion can't be good for the amp overall)  And the Reverb quality is great and modern to the ear.   I'm wondering if Fender chose this method to prevent breakdowns. 

any comments? opinions?