Tell me about your SPLAWN!

[TwilightOdyssey]

If you recall my thread about the Carvin Legacy, I asked for feedback about the Legacy. I was very impressed with what I heard, as well as what I saw on the Carvin DVD, so I called them. My experience with Carvin was nothing less than terrible. The salesman was rude as could be, and I will never buy a Carvin product for as long as I live.

So, now I would now like to know all about your Splawn amps! How does it sound? What options did you get on yours? Is it reliable? Have you used it on gigs/tour? How good is the clean channel? What is the tonal range of the amp?

Thank you!

[shred-dog]

Re: Tell me about your SPLAWN!

hey ben that sucks about carvin ! but SPLAWN is better any way . i spoke with scott last year about moding one of my marshall's he was nice and helpful and he is a huge lynch fan !!!!!!!!!! . i have my next amp purches down to a DAVE BRAY moded plexi reissue or a SPLAWN quick rod . later scott

[Justice4all]

Re: Tell me about your SPLAWN!

Hey TW, this is a bit off this post but i know you have a Knucklehead. You may already have tried this but i'll let you know as my tube change work bl**dy wonders for mine!

I changed my factory winged C output tubes for JJ 6L6GC's and put a JJ ECC803 longplate pre amp tube in the phase inverter slot......
Ive never been a fan of sovtek tubes and i can tell you this things a NEW amp!
More gain (usable) smoother 2nd channel and the boost channel is now killer. And more fuller clearer sound at lower volumes. Channel three is just mad now, i like it! The key tube was the ECC803, i will changes out the rest for 83's and put one more 803 in V2 and see if it gets any better!...

Just thought i'd buzz in with my 2cents.

harley.

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Tell me about your SPLAWN!

Thanx for the tip, Justice!

I think yours is a later model than mine, tho. My KH is only 2 channels, and is an EL34 model.

[TwofacePimp]

Re: Tell me about your SPLAWN!

I have a splawn 4x12 cab, with celestion g12t-75 and eminence vintage 30 copies (I think they're the governors) in an x-pattern. I love it! Hopefully a head is somewhere in my future, but I have other GAS to take care of first.

I did get to play one of Scott's modded JCM800's in a store here, and that head was great. No, amazing. It still had a marshall voicing, but was somehow better than any marshall I've played before. The sound was VERY clear, and the amp was very responsive (no hiding poor playing here, hehe). This was a single channel amp, so there was really only one sound to be had, but it was fantastic.

Twilight, if you're a marshall guy, I highly suggest that you find a splawn and give it a try. I also own a Rivera KH100 head, and I can honestly say that IMO the splawn is better for distortion sounds. Economics and the fact that I need to use pedals for distortion (a cranked half stack is too loud for most of my gigs) are the reasons that I don't own one yet.

[Brow]

Re: Tell me about your SPLAWN!

Ben, is the 'purpose' of this amp mainly to use in Europe or are you just looking for a reason to buy a new amp?

Craig

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Tell me about your SPLAWN!

Ben, is the 'purpose' of this amp mainly to use in Europe or are you just looking for a reason to buy a new amp?

Craig

LOL!

Both reasons ... I want a new amp and I need something that has a voltage switch on the back!

[JeffB]

Re: Tell me about your SPLAWN!

Yeah that sounded pretty snobby Joe

I don't quite see it the same?...I've put some hours in on Bogner Ecstasy Classic, and some other "booteeks" (fargen, badcat, VHT, Soldano, etc) and friggin incredible amps no doubt, but from what I can hear Splawn and Bray are certainly not "inferior" in any way to a Fargen/Bogner/Badcat/Soldano, etc.. tonewise...it's all what ya want...Bray's Marshall Reissue mods to me sound better than anything.It's THE Marshall tone I've always heard in my head. Splawn is the same for others, and I'd be just as happy with one of them too!

To me, the Bogner just gives you a bunch more tonal options...more channels, etc. For me, it's a waste...shipping off my 1987X to Scott or David would give me exactly what I want/need tone-wise. If I needed something super versatile with a bazillion sounds in it, yeah the Bogner is the way to go. But 3K for one maybe two sounds I need vs. a used 1987x/1959RI/800 with mod for $1500 that does the same thing? I know what I'll choose. I chose my Rivera based on that. 90% of the tone of the "boutiques" at half the price.

Sorry for getting off topic Ben, not trying to be argumentative.. I just wanted to say that I think the mods these guys do on Marshalls def have a place even if that's to occupy the niche of "boutique" tone, at a price point most can afford.

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Tell me about your SPLAWN!

Hmmm, no first-hand accounts with this amp?

[XSSIVE]

Re: Tell me about your SPLAWN!

we have 3 or 4 members here with them and i will own a quick rod in the future for sure! as for info, check this out, these guys can help better since they are all owners...

http://splawnfans.proboards38.com/

-Mike

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Tell me about your SPLAWN!

I deleted the post I made, while S-faced last night! LOL

Actually, I was considering amps like Splawns to be at the top of the ladder, alongside all the others. I was mostly suggesting that players with a few amps just sell them off, and condense the money into one 'super amp.'

At one point, I did that with about 6 amps. I just decided I wanted less super quality ones, rather than a bunch of average ones. It's nice when you have those to sell, since it makes the high price of a Splawn, Bogner, or Diezel seem a little more attainable.

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Tell me about your SPLAWN!

There gets to be a certain quality level where I think everything comes down to splitting hairs. Some will prefer some amps to others based on their own individual preferences and needs.

I loved my Fargen Epic 30 DC and I'll love it even more with the upgrade when I do get it repaired from Ben (it's been in the shop about a month - got to take UPS/Staples to court to fund it).

There are amps that will do higher gain much better than it and if you're a Fender guy, you may not even like it. I use it because I get Vox tones and classic Marshall at lower volumes and it shines in smaller club type settings (which is going to be my fan base... no big ampitheaters ). My tone is typically jangly clean rhythm tones, crunchy light to medium overdrives and smooth leads. Anything like the EVH "brown sound" won't work for my style (it has a bit of fizz to the top end that just doesn't meet the tone in my head).

Joe plays in a modern rock kind of band. He needs multiple overdrive channels that are loud, cut through a big band mix and are versatile to cover a lot of different sounds.

TO, with your band, you need a heavier type of sound and you play in large venues, so a loud amp with a lot of cut will suit you well. The Splawn should work wonders, IMHO it was designed for musicians like you. For more bedroom, small gig sized people like me, it would be simply too much amp (that's why I sold amps like the H&K Triamp in the past ).

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Tell me about your SPLAWN!

Thanx for the input, folks. I've pretty much decided to pull the trigger on this. Just gotta finalize a couple of things.

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Tell me about your SPLAWN!

TO: which Splawn are you getting?