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After playing it only a half-hour or so, I've got to say I'm impressed. I thought
I had it on the 22-watt setting, and was a little concerned about how loud it
would be, as I had the master around noon. But it was holding it's own with
the band pretty well. Then I looked and realized it was on the 7-watt setting!
Once I actually put it on 22 watts, it blossomed nicely. Plenty of power, albeit
it was in our tiny practice room. I haven't tried it on the 50-watt setting yet, but
I've got a gig coming up where I'll need it, so I'll be testing that out soon. Mine's
the head-only package, and I was using it into a 4X10" cab, and it moved plenty
of air on the 22-watt level. I think it's unlikely an amp based on 4 EL84s actually
reaches 50 watts, but whatever the number, it should be plenty loud enough unless
you've got Terry Bozio for a drummer...
Lots to like on this amp. Very quiet, even using tons of gain--which it has plenty of.
I see no need for boost pedals, esp. given the nice sound using the built-in boost.
But having said that, it takes a boost up front vey well, and seems to play well with
other pedals too. I ran my Swell G-Pro [granted not ultra-hi gain] into a cheap
DOD Flanger and Visual Sound Garage Series delay right into the input and it was
dead quiet. I haven't used the FX loop yet. My style is pretty much what you'd call
Classic Rock, and this amp seemed to be a perfect fit, but with all the gain and EQ
available, I think you could do sludgy down-tuned stuff with it without a pedal no worry...
The tone controls are very sensitive, and it gives you a huge range of sounds depending
on how you've got it set. Really nice presence control, that's kind of a master tone
control [duh!]. I haven't really tried out all the combinations, and not too sure how the
EQ switches work or what they do. I really like the built-in boost. So far I've just used
it sparingly to make the amp stand out slightly, and not as an actual solo boost for leads.
Which is just as well, as it's a global control, so once it's on, you get the same boost on
all 3 channels. As far as I know, most amps with a boost operate the same way...
I'll give it another shot this friday, and I'll get a better review posted after that...
tj
I had it on the 22-watt setting, and was a little concerned about how loud it
would be, as I had the master around noon. But it was holding it's own with
the band pretty well. Then I looked and realized it was on the 7-watt setting!
Once I actually put it on 22 watts, it blossomed nicely. Plenty of power, albeit
it was in our tiny practice room. I haven't tried it on the 50-watt setting yet, but
I've got a gig coming up where I'll need it, so I'll be testing that out soon. Mine's
the head-only package, and I was using it into a 4X10" cab, and it moved plenty
of air on the 22-watt level. I think it's unlikely an amp based on 4 EL84s actually
reaches 50 watts, but whatever the number, it should be plenty loud enough unless
you've got Terry Bozio for a drummer...
Lots to like on this amp. Very quiet, even using tons of gain--which it has plenty of.
I see no need for boost pedals, esp. given the nice sound using the built-in boost.
But having said that, it takes a boost up front vey well, and seems to play well with
other pedals too. I ran my Swell G-Pro [granted not ultra-hi gain] into a cheap
DOD Flanger and Visual Sound Garage Series delay right into the input and it was
dead quiet. I haven't used the FX loop yet. My style is pretty much what you'd call
Classic Rock, and this amp seemed to be a perfect fit, but with all the gain and EQ
available, I think you could do sludgy down-tuned stuff with it without a pedal no worry...
The tone controls are very sensitive, and it gives you a huge range of sounds depending
on how you've got it set. Really nice presence control, that's kind of a master tone
control [duh!]. I haven't really tried out all the combinations, and not too sure how the
EQ switches work or what they do. I really like the built-in boost. So far I've just used
it sparingly to make the amp stand out slightly, and not as an actual solo boost for leads.
Which is just as well, as it's a global control, so once it's on, you get the same boost on
all 3 channels. As far as I know, most amps with a boost operate the same way...
I'll give it another shot this friday, and I'll get a better review posted after that...
tj
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