Epiphone So-CAL amp

bloodswords

bloodswords

New member
i've recently gave this amp a try at my dealer's, it's gonna be one of my year-end acquisitions unless there are some strong opinions here that would make me abandon my intention...

anyone played/ own one? inputs appreciated... :)
 
Re: Epiphone So-CAL amp

EG01535.jpg


performance in brief:

Clean
*above average response, doesn't sound cheap/ second rated. if you've tried the Epiphone Valve Jr, it's of a similar tonal palette but less chimey.

Driven
*muddy default tone, won't please the bottom end, metal peddlars
*drive not too intense, blues-rock: no problem, metal: could have been better
*the real appeal here is when you plug in your fav drive pedal to supplement the inherent amp drive- it's one of the best. if pedals aren't your thing, look elsewhere

i already own Marshall's JVM head but that's strictly for a guitar-amp application. i'd wish to acquire the So-CAL for pedal utility- anyone has anything to say?
 
Re: Epiphone So-CAL amp

i've been wanting that amp since it came out (i'm a fan of epiphone's line of tube amps and its cheap!). Played through one at bailey bros. I really liked it. the clean isnt anything remarkable but its good, and the drive can go from sweet to aggressive--so you can cover blues rock to 70's metal easily. to get into other tones yeah a pedal or two is necessary. I'd definitely be using my Metal Muff to add some more aggressive options if i had a so-cal
 
Re: Epiphone So-CAL amp

i did watch the video before starting this thread- it's unfortunate that only a humbucking guitar is used, the So-CAL sounds sweet with single coils, especially P-90...

the drive only becomes aggressive at higher volume settings.
 
Re: Epiphone So-CAL amp

The amp sounds kind of fizzy in that video. I wonder what it would sound like with a tube/speaker upgrade?
 
Re: Epiphone So-CAL amp

Ive only played one thru the stock cab, but i thought the cleans were fantastic. I wasnt too impressed with the distortion though, it was basically bland and unresponsive, but that could also be the cab. I also wasnt impressed by the bass response on either channel.

I think there are better options in the $500 range, especially used. What type of music will you be playing thru this amp?
 
Re: Epiphone So-CAL amp

the cleans are indeed impressive.

drive-wise, it's nothing to be depended upon until you plug in a drive pedal & hear it sing (i plugged in an Ibanez TS7). the default drive has a grainy bottom end which threatens to mud out at higher volume settings.
 
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