Is this the typical Splawn sound?

[PowerTube]

Just before the halfway point he adds some delay and that does wonders.

So is this the typical sound of a Splawn? This is a Competition, which is the drive channel of a Quick Rod or Pro Mod, depending on the output tubes.

I love this sound, but I can also see the stiffness everyone talks about. I think the delay adds some "give" and a compressor would probably add more.

[87jackson]

I would kick that amp over if it was mine. What a crap tone

[PowerTube]

I would kick that amp over if it was mine. What a crap tone

I think the rhythm tone is nice, very organic and throaty. The single-line tones kind of suck. The guy playing it is sloppy, too.

But what I'm asking is, is this the Splawn stiffness everyone talks about?

[chrisolson]

The Comp is much less stiff than the QR. Still an "honest" amp though.

[ulijdavid]

I like the tone of that amp. I don't think it was recorded with the maximum amount of gain that the Splawn is capable of. But it sounded like it had a perfect 80's overdriven Marshall tone.

[roodyrocker]

Something about that recording isn't quite right, perhaps its me listening to it through my tiny built in lap top and iPhone speakers? . I've heard better Splawn Quick Rod clips on Youtube though. Have you tried searching there for others? There are a lot of them. Some earlier ones and some with the newer B+ option. Oh, and as Ulijdavid said, its capable of more gain than that too.

[PowerTube]

Something about that recording isn't quite right, perhaps its me listening to it through my tiny built in lap top and iPhone speakers? . I've heard better Splawn Quick Rod clips on Youtube though. Have you tried searching there for others? There are a lot of them. Some earlier ones and some with the newer B+ option. Oh, and as Ulijdavid said, its capable of more gain than that too.

Yeah, I've watched a metric shitload of Quick Rod videos lately. My favorite is this one:

The guy playing it isn't my favorite but the amp sounds incredible in places.

[ZL1hawk]

I like the tone of that amp. I don't think it was recorded with the maximum amount of gain that the Splawn is capable of. But it sounded like it had a perfect 80's overdriven Marshall tone.

Yup you're right! Here is a close up pic of a Competition so you can see the control layout...

[lefty]

I like the tone of that amp. I don't think it was recorded with the maximum amount of gain that the Splawn is capable of. But it sounded like it had a perfect 80's overdriven Marshall tone.

+1. Comp owner here, and a pre-B+ model. This clip doesn't reflect
how much gain the amp can develop. I'd like to know what settings they
were using. Def. not 3rd gear, OD 2 unless they had the gain way down.
And I'd expect the current models [B+] have much more gain than this clip...

[PowerTube]

So are you guys saying......

1. The Competition sounds looser/less stiff than the Quick Rod?

2. In the above video, the gain is only at about 11:00? If I have the knob layout right, that's what it seems to be in the video, about 11:00.

[chrisolson]

So are you guys saying......

1. The Competition sounds looser/less stiff than the Quick Rod?

2. In the above video, the gain is only at about 11:00? If I have the knob layout right, that's what it seems to be in the video, about 11:00.

1. Yes. The Comp is a bit more "spongey". Mine was an EL34 model. I generally ran it "half power", 2nd gear with boost on. Gain @ 2:00 maybe?
2. The video doesn't hit near the gain the Comp is capable of.
3. Sounds like you have GAS REALLY BAD!!

[chrisolson]

4. I'm happy with the Splawn models on the AxeFx - so much so that I profiled them on to my Kemper, and sold the Axe!

[PowerTube]

1. Yes. The Comp is a bit more "spongey". Mine was an EL34 model. I generally ran it "half power", 2nd gear with boost on. Gain @ 2:00 maybe?

Interesting. The ONLY thing that bugs me about the Competition is the lack of a clean channel. I don't play cleans that often, but I still want it to be there. I know about turning the guitar's knob down, etc.... but still.....

2. The video doesn't hit near the gain the Comp is capable of.

Thanks. That's good to know.

3. Sounds like you have GAS REALLY BAD!!

You, sir, are CORRECT!

[lefty]

[QUOTE=PowerTube;1606040]Interesting. The ONLY thing that bugs me about the Competition is the lack of a clean channel. I don't play cleans that often, but I still want it to be there. I know about turning the guitar's knob down, etc.... but still.....


Yah, the lack of a true clean channel is limiting. But you
can get quite a range using the Gears and OD1/OD2. If
you set the panel knob to 2nd Gear, you can switch between
1st and 2nd, and still be able to use OD1 and OD2. So, 4
different sounds are available, and 1st gear will clean up nicely
with the volume knob on the guitar. Or, just buy a QR and
have everything!

[PowerTube]

[QUOTE=lefty;1606045]

Interesting. The ONLY thing that bugs me about the Competition is the lack of a clean channel. I don't play cleans that often, but I still want it to be there. I know about turning the guitar's knob down, etc.... but still.....


Yah, the lack of a true clean channel is limiting. But you
can get quite a range using the Gears and OD1/OD2. If
you set the panel knob to 2nd Gear, you can switch between
1st and 2nd, and still be able to use OD1 and OD2. So, 4
different sounds are available, and 1st gear will clean up nicely
with the volume knob on the guitar. Or, just buy a QR and
have everything!

That sounds good.

So how can I add some sponginess to the Quick Rod? I'm looking at buying used and it probably won't have the new B+ option.