Blackheart Little Giant Demo II

[ImmortalSix]

Blackheart Little Giant BH5H with a PRS with P90s and a 335 with Burstbucker Pros


OK, so I really hated the first demo I did --- it sounded thin and weak.

I have deleted that video.

The first part of the video is a 2005 PRS SE Soapbar (P90s)
Second part of the video is a 2008 Epiphone Dot Studio with Gibson Burstbucker Pro pickups

I tried to play mostly the same stuff on both guitars, so you could hear the amp with P90s and then with PAFs.

Boost / drive is a BOSS DS-1 with Monte Allums Rectifier Mod
Cabinet is one speaker of a 2001 Fender Ultimate Chorus combo amp (2x12, open back)
Microphone is an EV N/D267, 45 degrees off axis, about 80% of the way to the edge of the cone at a distance of 0" to the grille.

Recorded clean with a touch of compression at the mic preamp.

This amp doesn't really sound very good with an open back cabinet. I have been basically "hugely disappointed" with the sound, if I had to describe how I feel about it.

Amp is on the 3 watt setting with the volume at about 30%. I wanted to turn it up to hopefully get some saturation from the amp, but I just couldn't push it any further in my apartment, so it's completely clean, with any and all drive coming from a pedal. It is plain and simple "loud as ****."

-Hunter

 

[karpathion]

Re: Blackheart Little Giant Demo II

oh man you got to crank that thing. i love the tone by the way. i play a handsome devil myself. but where are you getting that reverb-delay from. i hear it, but mine has no verb to it. i thought of getting a reverb unit but i cant find one i like. and if that is 3 watts, i want to hear 5. my hd is 2 different beast from 15 watts to 7. dont get dissapointed. bang for the buck you cant beat em'.

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: Blackheart Little Giant Demo II

oh man you got to crank that thing. i love the tone by the way. i play a handsome devil myself. but where are you getting that reverb-delay from. i hear it, but mine has no verb to it. i thought of getting a reverb unit but i cant find one i like. and if that is 3 watts, i want to hear 5. my hd is 2 different beast from 15 watts to 7. dont get dissapointed. bang for the buck you cant beat em'.

The reverb/ slapback is most likely environmental early reflections that are hitting the microphone as a result of the open back cabinet --- they're bouncing off the back wall and hitting the mic with a lower amplitude and a slight delay, would be my guess.

Thanks for the tone compliment ---- I really don't like the tone so far, but I need to crank it before I fully judge. It gets better bass response on 5 watts, but I can barely turn it on on the 5 watt setting in my apartment.

 

[karpathion]

Re: Blackheart Little Giant Demo II

9 oclock in the morning is the best time to crank it up. every one is at work. we just moved from an apartment to a house we bought. i didnt get any complaints. but i did have a friend about 3 houses down say it sounded good.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Blackheart Little Giant Demo II

I really dig the tone you get from that thing. Very nice!

 

[karpathion]

Re: Blackheart Little Giant Demo II

The reverb/ slapback is most likely environmental early reflections that are hitting the microphone as a result of the open back cabinet --- they're bouncing off the back wall and hitting the mic with a lower amplitude and a slight delay, would be my guess.

Thanks for the tone compliment ---- I really don't like the tone so far, but I need to crank it before I fully judge. It gets better bass response on 5 watts, but I can barely turn it on on the 5 watt setting in my apartment.

sounded good to me.

 

[super rad stuff]

Re: Blackheart Little Giant Demo II

man you must have some extreme standards that you set for this amp or something, because from what i'm hearing on the demo it's actually very nice sounding, it's very even and full-well filled out sounding if you will

 

[FuseG4]

Re: Blackheart Little Giant Demo II

I too have wondered how high your standards are... but either way the 5W setting is really better. Do you use it mainly on 3W or just for the demo?

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: Blackheart Little Giant Demo II

Both --- I have been using it on 3W for playing as well as for this demo.

I think a lot of my problem is the open back cab, and, of course, the inability to crank it.

I am just not hearing the sound that I heard in so many video and audio demos that drew me to the amp in the first place.

Thanks to all for the tone compliments! If it can't work for me, maybe it works for you!

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: Blackheart Little Giant Demo II

I too have wondered how high your standards are... but either way the 5W setting is really better. Do you use it mainly on 3W or just for the demo?

Hey man, I played it a little bit last night on the 5W setting, and I guess it sounds a little better, but at my volumes I can't really claim a huge difference.

I also stripped it down to its chassis and replaced the 12AX7 (which was a JJ, oddly --- is that factory or did the previous owner replace it?) with a Mesa SPAX7 (a marketing gimmick mostly, but supposedly the best of the best 12AX7's get picked out of testing and labeled as SPAX7's and wrapped with a little rubber thing to help with something-or-another :laughing: --- it's all they had at my store when I bought a backup for my AD15VT)

No distinct sound change really, but I think I like it better with this pre tube.

The chassis definitely well made and feels very durable. The headshell is nice too.

 

[FuseG4]

Re: Blackheart Little Giant Demo II

i had great results with changing the power tube to a JJ. Lower lows and higher highs. Slightly I'll admit but enough to notice.

I really like the 5 watt setting. It has a lot more 'presence' or sparklyness and clearer more plucky attack.

IMO the triode function is a gimmick. I really think the 5W setting is the only way to really play the amp.

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: Blackheart Little Giant Demo II

i had great results with changing the power tube to a JJ. Lower lows and higher highs. Slightly I'll admit but enough to notice.

I really like the 5 watt setting. It has a lot more 'presence' or sparklyness and clearer more plucky attack.

IMO the triode function is a gimmick. I really think the 5W setting is the only way to really play the amp.

I have tried playing more on the 5W setting --- incredible fullness out of my 335. Thanks for the tip, I am in much better shape now. I'd rather have the volume turned up less and operate in Pentode mode than have it up almost halfway and be in Triode mode.

Thanks, bro!

-Hunter

 

[karpathion]

Re: Blackheart Little Giant Demo II

I have tried playing more on the 5W setting --- incredible fullness out of my 335. Thanks for the tip, I am in much better shape now. I'd rather have the volume turned up less and operate in Pentode mode than have it up almost halfway and be in Triode mode.

Thanks, bro!

-Hunter

try an attenuater. thats the next thing on my list. i have a 12 day old baby so i'm forced to turn it down a little. so maybe the attenuater will help.

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: Blackheart Little Giant Demo II

try an attenuater. thats the next thing on my list. i have a 12 day old baby so i'm forced to turn it down a little. so maybe the attenuater will help.

I am probably going to pick up a Weber Micro MASS. They are only $70 and apparently the best.

 

[karpathion]

Re: Blackheart Little Giant Demo II

I am probably going to pick up a Weber Micro MASS. They are only $70 and apparently the best.

if you get your first tell how you like it.