Phantasmagoria
watch where you point that sabre
Yep...oodles of gain :bigthumb:
Blind Buy....
- Thread starter Phantasmagoria
- Start date
Ascension
New member
All 5 of my amps will qualify as real tube amps. Both PRS amps run 6 12AX7's and are not PC board amps. The Boogie Subway also is all tube, as is my Jet City JCA 22 H. The little Zinky Velvet has minimal controls as in master volume reverb and only a volume single tone and mid-boost switch, the gain side only adds a master volume for that channel. The Zinky may have the most gain of any of my amps. I rarely use a boost on my amps for the lead channel but do use a transparent OD on the cleans at times for a light breakup. Every amp I own today has at least 4 12AX7's in the pre amp and an all tube power section.
I agree with you on a good sounding amp is a good sounding amp. Forget the labels, good tone is good tone. Most of my amps are not very mainstream, but all have a place in my rotation because of how they perform for particular situations. They are tools for a job, nothing more, nothing less.
Phantasmagoria
watch where you point that sabre
My Archon has 6 preamp tubes as well...but does'nt get any gainier than the Laboga (In fact the Laboga may even have an edge gain-wise). Of course both amps have way more gain than I'll ever use but One of the selling points about the Laboga on their website (ie something they pretty much boast about) is that it is "All tube" and it it gets all that insane distortion from just two 12AX7's (no clipping diodes).
Apparently all kinds of wonderful things are possible if you know what you're doing as a builder
Personaly I am not particularly caught up on stufff being all tube ..or even 1/2 or 1/4 tube (or not tube at all). I just like amps that sound good to me..no matter the type
Actually it gives me a thrill when high gain SS, or Hybrid amps sound & feel & play just like tube amp's...and yep contrary to popular opinion there are are quite a few like that out there that I've come across..
Apparently all kinds of wonderful things are possible if you know what you're doing as a builder
Personaly I am not particularly caught up on stufff being all tube ..or even 1/2 or 1/4 tube (or not tube at all). I just like amps that sound good to me..no matter the type
Actually it gives me a thrill when high gain SS, or Hybrid amps sound & feel & play just like tube amp's...and yep contrary to popular opinion there are are quite a few like that out there that I've come across..
donaldr
New member
Phantasmagoria I'm not arguing. Who cares the topology as long as you get the sounds you like. The Bogner power section is no slushy.
For years I used my Eleven Rack modeler in front of my rack tube power amp with a 4x12" cab. My friend, a Mesa fanboy, always said the tones I was getting were sick!
For years I used my Eleven Rack modeler in front of my rack tube power amp with a 4x12" cab. My friend, a Mesa fanboy, always said the tones I was getting were sick!
Phantasmagoria
watch where you point that sabre
Nothing to argue about ..if it's good it's good
The proof, as they say... is in the pudding :bigthumb:
Came in yesterday...absolutely mint.
Plugged it into my Laney 2x12 w/ V30's ...Turned it on (it worked!) Switched straight to the Shred channel, opened up Reaper & pressed "record" :bigthumb:
No Changes to the amp's EQ for both takes. Everything between 12:00 -1:00 o'clock ....gain 3/4 of the way up. (Had more gain than I thought it would, does'nt need to be dimed for fluid solo's w/o a boost) No pedals or FX. A touch of onboard reverb from the amp.
The tones speak for themselves.... special mention to the way ballsy squealies just fly off this thing! It's a squealie machine!)
Lead Channel Class AB Pentode
& then flipped the switches for....
Lead Channel Class A / Triode
It's sturdy & well built (pretty damn heavy!). Actually looks great..really classy. Sounds like a great tube amp..feels like a great (bunch of) tube amp (s). Cost $240... What's not to like
The proof, as they say... is in the pudding :bigthumb:
Came in yesterday...absolutely mint.
Plugged it into my Laney 2x12 w/ V30's ...Turned it on (it worked!) Switched straight to the Shred channel, opened up Reaper & pressed "record" :bigthumb:
No Changes to the amp's EQ for both takes. Everything between 12:00 -1:00 o'clock ....gain 3/4 of the way up. (Had more gain than I thought it would, does'nt need to be dimed for fluid solo's w/o a boost) No pedals or FX. A touch of onboard reverb from the amp.
The tones speak for themselves.... special mention to the way ballsy squealies just fly off this thing! It's a squealie machine!)
Lead Channel Class AB Pentode
& then flipped the switches for....
Lead Channel Class A / Triode
It's sturdy & well built (pretty damn heavy!). Actually looks great..really classy. Sounds like a great tube amp..feels like a great (bunch of) tube amp (s). Cost $240... What's not to like
Phantasmagoria
watch where you point that sabre
Something w/ the crunch channel. Had the mids up @ about 2:00 o'clock, trble @ noon, Presence @ just over noon, Bass at about 1:00 o'clock & the gain pretty much dimed..
Class A/ Triode ..again w/ my Charvel/Custom 5
It's a fun amp I can even see myself messing around w/ the crunch & cleans from time to time...there's so much sweet TONE in there :bigthumb:
Class A/ Triode ..again w/ my Charvel/Custom 5
It's a fun amp I can even see myself messing around w/ the crunch & cleans from time to time...there's so much sweet TONE in there :bigthumb:
Last edited:
Phantasmagoria
watch where you point that sabre
And here it is on the chime setting. Not really a chime kind of guy...but I gave it a go anyway :bigthumb:
Pretty much the same EQ/Settings w/ a bit of fine tuning..
Pretty much the same EQ/Settings w/ a bit of fine tuning..
Phantasmagoria
watch where you point that sabre
Back to hi-gain soloing..
Stuck a Boss SD-1 in front, also a bunch of other drives and boosts ....and what do you know???? Took all those pedals like a champ!
No surprise really. This amp is a tone generator. If it's a modeler, well then it's not that great of a modeler :laugh2: cuz it does it's own thing & has it's own sound. It's not trying to be a Marshall or Boogie or Vox the way modelers are ..though it's got elements of all those amps to it's sound.
It just sounds great doing it's thing & is endless fun cuz of the differences in the sound (& feel) & the overall quality of the tones that come out of it. Flicking a switch is like pugging into a different amp each time :bigthumb:
W/ The Eminence Manowar in my Laney 2x12 mic'd up. Boss SD-1 in front. Mids pulled back a bit (about 11 o'clock),Treble @ 11 o'clock, Bass @ noon, Presence & Gain both @ about 11 o'clock too..
Stuck a Boss SD-1 in front, also a bunch of other drives and boosts ....and what do you know???? Took all those pedals like a champ!
No surprise really. This amp is a tone generator. If it's a modeler, well then it's not that great of a modeler :laugh2: cuz it does it's own thing & has it's own sound. It's not trying to be a Marshall or Boogie or Vox the way modelers are ..though it's got elements of all those amps to it's sound.
It just sounds great doing it's thing & is endless fun cuz of the differences in the sound (& feel) & the overall quality of the tones that come out of it. Flicking a switch is like pugging into a different amp each time :bigthumb:
W/ The Eminence Manowar in my Laney 2x12 mic'd up. Boss SD-1 in front. Mids pulled back a bit (about 11 o'clock),Treble @ 11 o'clock, Bass @ noon, Presence & Gain both @ about 11 o'clock too..
Last edited:
Phantasmagoria
watch where you point that sabre
It's easy to get carried away w/ the squealies :lmao:
But yeh, overall it's touch sensitive/responsive as fuck....especially in Class A ..it's just OTT.
But yeh, overall it's touch sensitive/responsive as fuck....especially in Class A ..it's just OTT.
Phantasmagoria
watch where you point that sabre
Just the amp again...no boost ..same thing w/ the gain turned up to 6 1/2..mids pushed up a bit to about noon..
I will say that it sounds & feels/responds tubey as **** :bigthumb:
I will say that it sounds & feels/responds tubey as **** :bigthumb:
Phantasmagoria
watch where you point that sabre
Class A Pentode on the Lead channel cuz I had'nt tried it before..
Class A is generally rawer & edgier w/ a more "in your face" kinda sound and a quicker.more immediate feel under the fingers..ie what you would expect from a Class A amp (which is what it is when switched to Class A) cuz it's physically been re-configured to operate that way
The Pentode/Triode thing.....I'm guessing there's a hair less gain or more clarity operating in Triode & obviously a volume drop..also Triode's a bit grainier as far as the texture of the gain goes..
Class A is generally rawer & edgier w/ a more "in your face" kinda sound and a quicker.more immediate feel under the fingers..ie what you would expect from a Class A amp (which is what it is when switched to Class A) cuz it's physically been re-configured to operate that way
The Pentode/Triode thing.....I'm guessing there's a hair less gain or more clarity operating in Triode & obviously a volume drop..also Triode's a bit grainier as far as the texture of the gain goes..
Phantasmagoria
watch where you point that sabre
After messing around w/ it for a couple days.....it's great sounding amp. And by that I mean pretty fucking fantastic really. Hard to get a bad tone out of this thing.
.I guess I'm lucky I did'nt look into it when it was full price/price dropped to $600...or I'd have jumped on it then and missed the opportunity to get it for the price I got it for :lmao:
.I guess I'm lucky I did'nt look into it when it was full price/price dropped to $600...or I'd have jumped on it then and missed the opportunity to get it for the price I got it for :lmao:
Phantasmagoria
watch where you point that sabre
Moving on to a neoclassical triple lead (kinda like a twin lead but w/ 3 'intertwining' leads instead of 2...cuz more is more 
).
Panned L 25% - Lead #1 ( Class AB Pentode) Panned R 25% - Lead #2 (Class A Triode) Panned Center - Clean channel solo
I have pretty basic mixing skills so that all I did to it ..pan stuff a bit :laugh2:
).Panned L 25% - Lead #1 ( Class AB Pentode) Panned R 25% - Lead #2 (Class A Triode) Panned Center - Clean channel solo
I have pretty basic mixing skills so that all I did to it ..pan stuff a bit :laugh2:
NotDemanic
Active member
I want.
Phantasmagoria
watch where you point that sabre
Don't you already have a Spider valve?
I like those too :bigthumb:
I like those too :bigthumb:
Phantasmagoria
watch where you point that sabre
Thought I 'd try some Single coils..
My Ibanez SA with it's stock ceramic neck pup ..
My Ibanez SA with it's stock ceramic neck pup ..
Phantasmagoria
watch where you point that sabre
Neck single coil in Class A/Pentode..
Phantasmagoria
watch where you point that sabre
Amazing amp for sure. If I'd known it was this good I'd have bought it months ago. I saw it so often but I barely took any notice of it until I noticed the price had dropped way down to $240. Definitely a hidden gem!
Mine looks completely new though it didn't ship in it's original box. (It was still wrapped up and taped in it's original plastic covering with the accessories/manual all wrapped and taped too.) Maybe the outer box just fell apart from it being as old an amp as it is and probably lying around in storage for ages..
