Rocktron Piranha opinions?

[Joe Stump]

Joe ..are you the real Joe Stump?!!

No, but I know him. Great guy, very cool but he goes overboard explaining his techniques

Him and Yngwie forever changed my guitar playing, especially Yngwie starting in 1985. Got to jam with him a few times when he was at House of Guitars in Irondequoit when I was a guitar teacher there back in the early 90s while I was going to RIT. Stayed in contact him but last time I saw him was before I moved to Connecticut. I was backstage when he played in Buffalo (the same night Jeff Soto left the band)

I was lucky to meet many of my influences I guess, met Vai in Rochester also when he played at the Eastman Theater


John Arch (Fates Warning) is a neighbor of mine here in Coventry, of all places, I met him at the Mansfield Flea Market and we have been friends since

There are others but those are my highpoints

[chrisolson]

I had a Piranha, and while it was a good preamp, I opted for a Kasha Rockmod & Soldano SP-77 over it. Knobs over menus for me any day. Another overlooked piece of Rocktron equipment - the Rocktron Replitone MP preamp - better to my ears than the Piranha, but good luck finding one. I also kept a Tech 21 PSA-1 over the Piranha - again, knobs over menus.

[rocksoldier]

I had a Piranha, and while it was a good preamp, I opted for a Kasha Rockmod & Soldano SP-77 over it. Knobs over menus for me any day. Another overlooked piece of Rocktron equipment - the Rocktron Replitone MP preamp - better to my ears than the Piranha, but good luck finding one. I also kept a Tech 21 PSA-1 over the Piranha - again, knobs over menus.

How would you describe the difference in tone between the SP77 and Piranha?

[Dogbone]

Wow... I haven't seen a Kasha Rockmod since back in the 80's... I always thought they had a great tone

[chrisolson]

How would you describe the difference in tone between the SP77 and Piranha?

SP-77 - not a heavy metal pre. Smooth distortion.

Piranha - complex tones, but a bit noisy, and more gain on tap.

For 80's stuff, the Soldano really delivered, but I sold it as I had a pair of Yamaha T-series amps that had a very similar tone structure.

[rocksoldier]

SP-77 - not a heavy metal pre. Smooth distortion.

Piranha - complex tones, but a bit noisy, and more gain on tap.

For 80's stuff, the Soldano really delivered, but I sold it as I had a pair of Yamaha T-series amps that had a very similar tone structure.

Thank you.

I might get it tomorrow if I'm lucky, so hopefully i will have the time to go to the reharsal room where my JCM 800 is and try it through the effects return (have not had the time to buy a power amp yet), and post my frst impressions.

[jgcable]

SP-77 - not a heavy metal pre. Smooth distortion.

Piranha - complex tones, but a bit noisy, and more gain on tap.

For 80's stuff, the Soldano really delivered, but I sold it as I had a pair of Yamaha T-series amps that had a very similar tone structure.

I agree with Chris.

I heard the Rocktron Chameleon is good

[AK47]

Whatever, Rocktron is for old people.

[rocksoldier]

I feel old, almost 22.

I really like the preamp so far, used it with my JCM 800 as power amp through the effects return, (Marshall 9005 power amp coming next week). I feel like I'm closer to the tone in my head than I have ever been before.

Gonna get myself a G-major to use with it as well as soon as I get my JCM sold.

[Robert Burns]

I had a Piranha, and while it was a good preamp, I opted for a Kasha Rockmod & Soldano SP-77 over it. Knobs over menus for me any day. Another overlooked piece of Rocktron equipment - the Rocktron Replitone MP preamp - better to my ears than the Piranha, but good luck finding one. I also kept a Tech 21 PSA-1 over the Piranha - again, knobs over menus.

I bow to the master! That Soldano is an expensive unit! Last one i
saw for sale was $3300.00! Nice rig!

[markD]

no, you saw an X88R sell for $3300, not an SP77. i had both at differnet times. the X88R is THE fucking preamp as far as i am concerned. the SP77 is an okay preamp, in comparison. the X88R has 3 channels with 3 rows of knobs. SP77, 2 channels with 2 rows of knobs.

[AK47]

I feel old, almost 22.

I really like the preamp so far, used it with my JCM 800 as power amp through the effects return, (Marshall 9005 power amp coming next week). I feel like I'm closer to the tone in my head than I have ever been before.

Gonna get myself a G-major to use with it as well as soon as I get my JCM sold.

I overheard that at the music store so I posted it here to see if it started a shitstorm.

I thought it was the funniest thing I heard in a music store in a long time.

[Bert]

I'm a longtime Piranha user. I have also owned a JMP-1, a Rocktron Prophesy, and have used plenty of others. The Piranha is nice. I don't agree with any of the criticism here.. the distortion is not farty, the unit is not noisy (and for noisy patches it has built in Hush which works great.) It is far superior to a Voodoo Valve. The Prophesy is basically a fancier version of the Voodoo Valve and to my ears the Piranha blows it away. The JMP-1 is a nice preamp too which I used for many years -- it is a different sound entirely so I won't say one is better than the other. It all depends on what you like.

Anyway, the clean tones from the Piranha are pretty weak. You can improve them somewhat by swapping out the 12ax7 for a 12at7 or similar, but that only gets you so far. The piranha is pretty good for scooped mid metal tones and high gain leads. I have been fighting it somewhat to get good crunchy rhythm sounds, and that's one place where the JMP-1 was definitely superior. But overall the piranha is a very good value.

[horns666]

hmmm... Well in all fairness I came to my conclusion of the Piranha upon a quick test Cleveland Metal and I did years ago. Basically, the time The Prophesy came out. I absolutely agree that it is a matter of taste and playing style. Cleveland Metal prefers the Voodoo Valve over the JMP-1 and I'm the opposite. I find that the VV is a tad heavier and darker than the JMP-1. But I'm partial to the JMP-1 for it's singing lead tones and lively mids and edge (like a Marshall) . It does a good classic Oliva/Van Halen impression. Which was the tone I was aiming for at that time and still enjoy.

But my taste have drastically changed since. Basically in the tone ballpark of Jeff/Nevermore, Arch Enemy these days..even tho VH will always be what I gravitate to. Weird, no matter how heavy my tone is these days ..it still conveys that kinda tone.

I judge amps by throwing my best VH "amp tweaking" riffs at it. I don't think that will ever change. It may be a heavier version, but when I do the "Ain't Talkin'..intro for example..it's gotta be there.

[hotrocks]

I have played professional for 28 years.My ROCKTRON PIRAHNA is THE single BEST piece of guitar gear I ever owned BAR NONE!!.It aint no more or less fizzier than any marshall or JMP-1 I owned.Carvin-Marshall-Laney-Soldano-Peavey-Kitty Hawk-EVH-ADA-etc..Their all great amps but no comparison to the Powerfull Dynamics that the PIRAHNA gives.Endless tone shaping!. If their other amps were better, KK and Glen would not have replaced them with the Pirahna! "TOP NOTCH HIGH QUALITY PREAMP"!