Amp Porn - Marshall Fender Soldano, etc.

Re: Amp Porn - Marshall Fender Soldano, etc.

There are some great quotes on that site, too! Here's my favorite:

这个牌子我相信，知道的人不多。但也是好西！

You betcha!
 
Re: Amp Porn - Marshall Fender Soldano, etc.

Thanks!

Anybody want to buy a Mesa now? I sure don't want to try servicing one!

Chip
 
Re: Amp Porn - Marshall Fender Soldano, etc.

Fresh_Start said:
Thanks!

Anybody want to buy a Mesa now? I sure don't want to try servicing one!

Chip
Click to expand...

That's scary. :scared:

Some of the most expensive amps have the most PCB boards in them. This isn't a comment on the sound or quality (directly) but more about economics. It should be a lot cheaper to build amps with PCB's. Now, some will say, "you still have to make the connections", but you can mass produce with PCB's, having a person or machine make the same "few" connections over and over, driving down the price of construction. It doesn't require a human sitting there building the whole amp. There is no reason for a massed produced amp to be one of the most expensive.

What did surprise me in the pictures was that Peavey was middle of the road when it came to simplicity. Peavey should be proud that they can do what they do for the price they do.

The problem with the multi-pcb amps is you need to get the PCB out of the way to get to hardware underneath or on the underside of the PCB. If they are going to use computer parts, lets take more lessons from computer companies and compartmentalize the whole process making them easier to work on. Most aren't that hard to work on, but there needs to be more quick-connections and such.

The prices just don't make sense coming from the computer world. :smack:
 
Re: Amp Porn - Marshall Fender Soldano, etc.

Fresh_Start said:
Thanks!

Anybody want to buy a Mesa now? I sure don't want to try servicing one!

Chip
Click to expand...

Yeah, or that Marshall 6100 or the TSL.

OTOH, look at the Roccaforte 18W and HiWatt DR504-- that is some beautiful wiring.
 
Re: Amp Porn - Marshall Fender Soldano, etc.

Fresh_Start said:
Thanks!

Anybody want to buy a Mesa now? I sure don't want to try servicing one!

Chip
Click to expand...

Well, considering that my Mesa amp, after five years of service-free gigging, recently fell four feet onto a wooden floor, and is still in full working order, I'd say yes.

Techs hate them, though. Mesa really know how to pack a chassis.

Cool to see a shot of my Victoria:

23.jpg


-and so many mid-price amps with board mounted pots. Try dropping any of those...
 
Re: Amp Porn - Marshall Fender Soldano, etc.

It's almost hard to believe that a small room of workers does all this intricate work on Matchless Amps. The amount of hand labor is why Matchless amps are so expensive.....and also why they idle silently. I think they only make around 60 amps per month.

Notice that every bit of exposed wire has tubing over it. That's an entire process by itself!

08.jpg
 
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Re: Amp Porn - Marshall Fender Soldano, etc.

wixedmords said:
The prices just don't make sense coming from the computer world. :smack:
Click to expand...

Hadn't thought of that aspect! Given that you can buy a fully loaded PC, including software, for less than $1,000, why should a head with no ROM, no RAM, no software, no disc drives of any kind, just a bunch of caps, resistors, pots and tube sockets cost more than twice that? Even if you assume a 50% retail markup, it still doesn't compute!

BTW Hot_Grits, I didn't mean to disrespect Mesa owners or durability. Just commenting on serviceability.

Chip
 
Re: Amp Porn - Marshall Fender Soldano, etc.

Fresh_Start said:
Hadn't thought of that aspect! Given that you can buy a fully loaded PC, including software, for less than $1,000, why should a head with no ROM, no RAM, no software, no disc drives of any kind, just a bunch of caps, resistors, pots and tube sockets cost more than twice that? Even if you assume a 50% retail markup, it still doesn't compute!

BTW Hot_Grits, I didn't mean to disrespect Mesa owners or durability. Just commenting on serviceability.

Chip
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Maybe it has something to do with the tubes and wood casing.

iDunno
 
Re: Amp Porn - Marshall Fender Soldano, etc.

Young Angus said:
I thought Soldanos were point to point...yikes
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Always been circuit board. But Mike Soldano is one guy I'd trust to lay out a circuit board and make it properly. It's totally possible to make a no-compromise, boutique amp with pcb: Soldano, Bogner, THD and Splawn all do. in fact, when you're building a high gain amp, there's something to be said about the consistency of high end PCB work: I've tried several Splawns, and all of them were near identical in sound.

Of course, there are a lot of skinny, badly traced, poorly wired pcbs out there in mid priced (and some high priced: ENGL) amps. And the cost cutting trend of putting pots on pc boards in the manner of Peavey, Marshall and Fender is just asking for trouble.
 
Re: Amp Porn - Marshall Fender Soldano, etc.

Hot _Grits said:
Of course, there are a lot of skinny, badly traced, poorly wired pcbs out there in mid priced (and some high priced: ENGL) amps.
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Yah, my GAS for an ENGL Screamer 50 stopped upon seeing the insides of one a couple of years ago. The build quality was very disappointing. BTW, I think in their homeland they are considered a mainstream brand, not high-end, as is the perception in the US.
 
Re: Amp Porn - Marshall Fender Soldano, etc.

A couple of mine past and present.

cornford4.jpg


cornford5.jpg


gibbos.jpg


Thanks to Gearjoneser for the heads up on how to attach pics!!! All the best!!
 
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Re: Amp Porn - Marshall Fender Soldano, etc.

A couple more... Still got the Cornfords... all the Marshall stuff now gone!

1131392img.jpg


1131373img_2.jpg
 
Re: Amp Porn - Marshall Fender Soldano, etc.

Hi '54, yeah it's cool. It's Mongotone cab (An American guy living in Scotland!! Lol) and it's solid Ribbon figured Mahogany, loaded with 4 x 10 Vintage 10 (obviously ha ha) Celestions. Fantastic build quality, the sound is big and open... and WARM! Just like woods resonate in guitars, so this cab is AWESOME.. I sold my Boogie Trad 4 x 12 once I got this, no comparison and easier to handle. One problem though, when we gig, my so called bandmates bring Vases and ornaments to put on top coz they called it the "Sideboard"! Check out www.mongotone.co.uk, Marc is cool and will build you any cab you want. Thanks for the coments and all the best.
 
Re: Amp Porn - Marshall Fender Soldano, etc.

3th3r said:
Yah, my GAS for an ENGL Screamer 50 stopped upon seeing the insides of one a couple of years ago. The build quality was very disappointing. BTW, I think in their homeland they are considered a mainstream brand, not high-end, as is the perception in the US.
Click to expand...

Yeah, 'the Peavey of Germany' was how it was put to me by a gearhead friend who has toured over there extensively.
 
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