I've liked it, then didn't...then loved it (and I'm stuck at that level for now).
The didn't like it part happened at lower volumes hence the following:
First and foremost: this thing needs to be loud to sound great. Some amps will still do the trick at lower volumes but this one is worse than both my Rocker 30 and Rectoverb at quieter volumes. You'll read tons of reviews of folks saying the attenuator makes it very good for home-playing. It depends on your definition of home-playing. If you need quiet volume not to disturb your wife/GF or sleeping baby in another room (I'm in a makeshift "soundproofed" [not professionnaly soundproofed, hence the quotes]): that won't work. At these low levels Channel B turns to mush and channel A sounds utterly boxy.
So, the general rule is: less attenuator (as little as possible) and a bit of volume. Doesn't need to be much volume but too much attenuation and too little on the volume knobs will make for bad tones.
Shape knob on channel B: quite different from the one on my former TH30, which was quite versatile at any gain levels. On the TV the less gain the better it performs but the more gain you dial the less it becomes useable and needs to be pretty much left at noon (it does sound GREAT there though). I'm a bit disappointed with this (since my previous experience with said shape knob was so positive but I'm relieve that I get the tones I need nonetheless...) but hey, it works for me anyways.
Cleans: great from both channels and even though you have to keep the gain below 9 o'clock to keep things clean, there's enough volume left on tap to be quite useable live. Channel A's cleans are nice and jangly, B's are deeper. Both very nice.
Dirty: nothing to say other than both channels deliver. Nice amount of gain for channel A. channel B has more of it and sounds quite more bassy, hence the mushiness at lower volumes. This thing can be crunchy on both channels but channel B is CRUSHING when pushed. Lovely.
The key for me to avoid the mushiness really was volume. Can't play it that often at those volumes but that's where it delivers and sounds amazing.
Still sounds good at a bit lower volumes through my 1x12 with the eminence Reignmaker in it if there's not too much attenuation at the speaker (let's say 50% or less) but still allowing me to put less attenuation from the amp.
How I turned it into even more of a firebreather:
- EH 6CA7s in the power amp.
- The original tubes were biased quite cool (about 55% plate dissipation) so I biased them around 65%.
- EH12ax7 in v1, Tung Sol 12ax7s in v2 and v3, Sovtek 12ax7lps in the PI.
There's a bit more sparkle in there now, gain sounds are crunchier and have more cut while retaining the low-mids.
I just love that amp now, can't stop playing it.
The didn't like it part happened at lower volumes hence the following:
First and foremost: this thing needs to be loud to sound great. Some amps will still do the trick at lower volumes but this one is worse than both my Rocker 30 and Rectoverb at quieter volumes. You'll read tons of reviews of folks saying the attenuator makes it very good for home-playing. It depends on your definition of home-playing. If you need quiet volume not to disturb your wife/GF or sleeping baby in another room (I'm in a makeshift "soundproofed" [not professionnaly soundproofed, hence the quotes]): that won't work. At these low levels Channel B turns to mush and channel A sounds utterly boxy.
So, the general rule is: less attenuator (as little as possible) and a bit of volume. Doesn't need to be much volume but too much attenuation and too little on the volume knobs will make for bad tones.
Shape knob on channel B: quite different from the one on my former TH30, which was quite versatile at any gain levels. On the TV the less gain the better it performs but the more gain you dial the less it becomes useable and needs to be pretty much left at noon (it does sound GREAT there though). I'm a bit disappointed with this (since my previous experience with said shape knob was so positive but I'm relieve that I get the tones I need nonetheless...) but hey, it works for me anyways.
Cleans: great from both channels and even though you have to keep the gain below 9 o'clock to keep things clean, there's enough volume left on tap to be quite useable live. Channel A's cleans are nice and jangly, B's are deeper. Both very nice.
Dirty: nothing to say other than both channels deliver. Nice amount of gain for channel A. channel B has more of it and sounds quite more bassy, hence the mushiness at lower volumes. This thing can be crunchy on both channels but channel B is CRUSHING when pushed. Lovely.
The key for me to avoid the mushiness really was volume. Can't play it that often at those volumes but that's where it delivers and sounds amazing.
Still sounds good at a bit lower volumes through my 1x12 with the eminence Reignmaker in it if there's not too much attenuation at the speaker (let's say 50% or less) but still allowing me to put less attenuation from the amp.
How I turned it into even more of a firebreather:
- EH 6CA7s in the power amp.
- The original tubes were biased quite cool (about 55% plate dissipation) so I biased them around 65%.
- EH12ax7 in v1, Tung Sol 12ax7s in v2 and v3, Sovtek 12ax7lps in the PI.
There's a bit more sparkle in there now, gain sounds are crunchier and have more cut while retaining the low-mids.
I just love that amp now, can't stop playing it.
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