I already have a thread about why does my POD sound great in headphones (but not with PC speakers), so I decided to head down to GC to find something small with good tone for the apartment.
I went to the Nashville GC, and they had a mint new DXMG in black "used" for $249.99. The fretboard looks like what Gibson should be using on Les Pauls. Frets brand new, polished nicely and no sharp fret ends.
Then I went into there quite room and found the amp of my dreams - a Silver Jubilee full stack - small size (2553 short head and matching 4x10 cabs). I can remember the first time playing one of these in 1987 in the GC in West Covina CA. It was just like going back in time - just love all over again. They wanted $2499 for the full stack.
Well, with this amp and the DXMG (even with the shitty EMG-HZs) I was ripping it up in the quite room. Tone of the gods. I played there for at least an hour. I was playing Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, NIB, War Pigs, the tone was awesome. My ears were bleeding.
Then I brought in a DSL50 (I have a DSL100 1/2 stack at home). Plugged into a 4x12 straight bottom. Not exactly the same, of course. It was hard to tell what the impact of 8 10" speakers against 4 12" speakers was, but the Silver had more bass, bottom. Kicking in the deep switch on the DSL helped.
The Silver had the classic Marshall tone. The DSL had a good tone too, but more modern sounding I'd say.
Then I grabbed some other axes to see how PAF pickups fared. The first LP was a 2007 chambered 60s neck with BB Pros. Just sounded muffled and farty compared to the DXMG.
Then I grabbed another LP - my guess a 1976 maple neck deluxe fitted with humbuckers. Better tone, but still the DXMG slayed both. I have a 2002 LP Std., and I'm happy I get the tone I get with it (lots of bark and bite).
I also played the Egnater Rebel 20 again (first time was on Saturday). I've got to say, this little amp puts out great tone. Can't really get a bad tone out of it.
So, to end the evening, I ask the guy how much for the stack and the DXMG. I think he said something like $2500 for both (basically, buy the stack and the DXMG gets thrown in for free).
I ask can I get the DXMG out the door for $250 (no case, but it does have the whammy bar). Remember, Nashville has sales tax of almost 10%. They come back with $262.19. I say done deal.
So what have I learned?
1) DXMG with EMG-HZs sounds pretty damn good. Jackson imports are done as nicely as my SL2H.
2) I still love Silver Jubilees. 4x10's rock.
3) The Egnater Rebel 20 puts out some good tone.
I went to the Nashville GC, and they had a mint new DXMG in black "used" for $249.99. The fretboard looks like what Gibson should be using on Les Pauls. Frets brand new, polished nicely and no sharp fret ends.
Then I went into there quite room and found the amp of my dreams - a Silver Jubilee full stack - small size (2553 short head and matching 4x10 cabs). I can remember the first time playing one of these in 1987 in the GC in West Covina CA. It was just like going back in time - just love all over again. They wanted $2499 for the full stack.
Well, with this amp and the DXMG (even with the shitty EMG-HZs) I was ripping it up in the quite room. Tone of the gods. I played there for at least an hour. I was playing Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, NIB, War Pigs, the tone was awesome. My ears were bleeding.
Then I brought in a DSL50 (I have a DSL100 1/2 stack at home). Plugged into a 4x12 straight bottom. Not exactly the same, of course. It was hard to tell what the impact of 8 10" speakers against 4 12" speakers was, but the Silver had more bass, bottom. Kicking in the deep switch on the DSL helped.
The Silver had the classic Marshall tone. The DSL had a good tone too, but more modern sounding I'd say.
Then I grabbed some other axes to see how PAF pickups fared. The first LP was a 2007 chambered 60s neck with BB Pros. Just sounded muffled and farty compared to the DXMG.
Then I grabbed another LP - my guess a 1976 maple neck deluxe fitted with humbuckers. Better tone, but still the DXMG slayed both. I have a 2002 LP Std., and I'm happy I get the tone I get with it (lots of bark and bite).
I also played the Egnater Rebel 20 again (first time was on Saturday). I've got to say, this little amp puts out great tone. Can't really get a bad tone out of it.
So, to end the evening, I ask the guy how much for the stack and the DXMG. I think he said something like $2500 for both (basically, buy the stack and the DXMG gets thrown in for free).
I ask can I get the DXMG out the door for $250 (no case, but it does have the whammy bar). Remember, Nashville has sales tax of almost 10%. They come back with $262.19. I say done deal.
So what have I learned?
1) DXMG with EMG-HZs sounds pretty damn good. Jackson imports are done as nicely as my SL2H.
2) I still love Silver Jubilees. 4x10's rock.
3) The Egnater Rebel 20 puts out some good tone.
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