callous_frigid_chill
New member
Geez...those look pretty sweet. i wonder if they will live up to all the hype or just fizzle out.
handwired marshall amps
- Thread starter callous_frigid_chill
- Start date
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Skarekrough
Guest
Re: handwired marshall amps
I've stopped myself from buying the combo a few times already...
I've stopped myself from buying the combo a few times already...
TwilightOdyssey
Darkness on the edge of Tone
Re: handwired marshall amps
It's cool, that's for sure, but not my cup of tea.
It's cool, that's for sure, but not my cup of tea.
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: handwired marshall amps
Handwired amps may not sound differant but they sure are a joy to work on compared to printed circuit board amps! And ALL guitar amps need to be worked on eventually. Lew
Handwired amps may not sound differant but they sure are a joy to work on compared to printed circuit board amps! And ALL guitar amps need to be worked on eventually. Lew
Quencho092
New member
Re: handwired marshall amps
good point lew, what we need now is someone to A/B a 1959 SLP original with the handwired reissue.
good point lew, what we need now is someone to A/B a 1959 SLP original with the handwired reissue.
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: handwired marshall amps
It's cool, but won't be cost effective for Marshall over the long haul.
After the people who are interested all buy one, the demand will shrink to nothing, they'll be discontinued, and the remainder will hit Ebay and eventually become a collectible. That's when I'll own one.......after the initial value goes way down.
P to P is fatter sounding and more harmonically complex, but the downside is less versatility, due to the fact that it's too costly and time consuming to build layers of handwired circuits to control all the bells and whistles.
I can usually tell if an amp is P to P or circuit board just by listening. The P to P will have a rounder, more natural, and harmonically rich tone, while the circuit board amp will sound a tad narrower and if you listen closely, you can hear a slight plasticky undertone........similar to comparing an all wood acoustic guitar to an Ovation. Hard to describe, but I can hear it. Some circuit board amps are designed so well, with the very best components like 74 Marshall Superleads, Bogners, THD's, and Buddas.
Those amps really blur the lines, and I can't always tell by listening. That's where tube technology is headed, and I love it.
It's cool, but won't be cost effective for Marshall over the long haul.
After the people who are interested all buy one, the demand will shrink to nothing, they'll be discontinued, and the remainder will hit Ebay and eventually become a collectible. That's when I'll own one.......after the initial value goes way down.
P to P is fatter sounding and more harmonically complex, but the downside is less versatility, due to the fact that it's too costly and time consuming to build layers of handwired circuits to control all the bells and whistles.
I can usually tell if an amp is P to P or circuit board just by listening. The P to P will have a rounder, more natural, and harmonically rich tone, while the circuit board amp will sound a tad narrower and if you listen closely, you can hear a slight plasticky undertone........similar to comparing an all wood acoustic guitar to an Ovation. Hard to describe, but I can hear it. Some circuit board amps are designed so well, with the very best components like 74 Marshall Superleads, Bogners, THD's, and Buddas.
Those amps really blur the lines, and I can't always tell by listening. That's where tube technology is headed, and I love it.
Hot _Grits
Buttery Toneologist
Re: handwired marshall amps
I tried the combo with a powerbrake briefly a few weeks ago. Sounded excellent. It had a very convincing older Marshall tone that was very balanced and articulate. I was very impressed. It also cleaned up really musically when you rolled the tone knob back, something that modern marshalls don't as well as their older counterparts.
The smaller handwired marshalls would be killer recording/small gig/miked offstage amps. The only thing to think about is the fact that there is a sizeable 18 watt handwired marshall clone community out there, which means building one would be an inexpensive and achievable way of getting the same setup for cheap.
I tried the combo with a powerbrake briefly a few weeks ago. Sounded excellent. It had a very convincing older Marshall tone that was very balanced and articulate. I was very impressed. It also cleaned up really musically when you rolled the tone knob back, something that modern marshalls don't as well as their older counterparts.
The smaller handwired marshalls would be killer recording/small gig/miked offstage amps. The only thing to think about is the fact that there is a sizeable 18 watt handwired marshall clone community out there, which means building one would be an inexpensive and achievable way of getting the same setup for cheap.
callous_frigid_chill
New member
Re: handwired marshall amps
wow...you must have a good ear
Gearjoneser said:
wow...you must have a good ear
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: handwired marshall amps
I'm an amp fanatic, even moreso than for guitars. Since I've been playing and also avidly buying and selling gear, primarily amps, I'm pretty dialed in when it comes to amp tones. I've had around 60 circuit board tube amps and about 15 point to point amps. In summary, I'd say that the design is more important than the constuction method, but P to P has the most natural and wide tone. I think nowadays, my favorite tube amps are the ones that reverse engineer the best of the P to P, then apply that to modern construction methods, which include better preamps and features.
I'm a big fan of modern tube amp designers like Reinhold Bogner, Andy Marshall (THD), Mike Soldano, Mark Sampson, Tony Bruno, and the makers of Budda, Tophat, Trainwreck, and Badcat.
Even though SS and modeling is popular, I think the best amps of all time will be the 90's boutiques that went out on a limb and took tube technology to it's limits.
callous_frigid_chill said:
I'm an amp fanatic, even moreso than for guitars. Since I've been playing and also avidly buying and selling gear, primarily amps, I'm pretty dialed in when it comes to amp tones. I've had around 60 circuit board tube amps and about 15 point to point amps. In summary, I'd say that the design is more important than the constuction method, but P to P has the most natural and wide tone. I think nowadays, my favorite tube amps are the ones that reverse engineer the best of the P to P, then apply that to modern construction methods, which include better preamps and features.
I'm a big fan of modern tube amp designers like Reinhold Bogner, Andy Marshall (THD), Mike Soldano, Mark Sampson, Tony Bruno, and the makers of Budda, Tophat, Trainwreck, and Badcat.
Even though SS and modeling is popular, I think the best amps of all time will be the 90's boutiques that went out on a limb and took tube technology to it's limits.
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kevlar3000
Bullet Proof Toneologist
Re: handwired marshall amps
I got 5 ptp and 3 CB right now and really the only difference comes down to what type of components put the amp together. My Plexi Ri ( set to vintage specs) and my 72 Cbro (CB) have nothing that separates themselves tonally in terms of openeness from all the other PTP heads I have. I would say transformers, chokes and type of caps and resistors, tubes, bias and speakers play a much more critical role in where the tone opens up and becomes more 3D. PTP is easier to work on but there are few if any tonal trade offs. I have too many examples of each sitting downstairs to think otherwise. Ohh I almost forget, non master vs master volume amps. That makes a gigantic difference. Most MV (if any??) amps do not open up and breath like NMV amps, there is a sparkle on the top end that I typically don't hear from MV amps which tend to be more compressed tonally.
I got 5 ptp and 3 CB right now and really the only difference comes down to what type of components put the amp together. My Plexi Ri ( set to vintage specs) and my 72 Cbro (CB) have nothing that separates themselves tonally in terms of openeness from all the other PTP heads I have. I would say transformers, chokes and type of caps and resistors, tubes, bias and speakers play a much more critical role in where the tone opens up and becomes more 3D. PTP is easier to work on but there are few if any tonal trade offs. I have too many examples of each sitting downstairs to think otherwise. Ohh I almost forget, non master vs master volume amps. That makes a gigantic difference. Most MV (if any??) amps do not open up and breath like NMV amps, there is a sparkle on the top end that I typically don't hear from MV amps which tend to be more compressed tonally.
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Skarekrough
Guest
Re: handwired marshall amps
If the BluesBreaker combo is what you'd use for a small gig then remind me never show up to your gigs without earplugs.
The 18 watt community also isn't a cheap option. At best you're looking at $1200 for one that someone butchered together with "parts" that were laying around.
Hot _Grits said:
If the BluesBreaker combo is what you'd use for a small gig then remind me never show up to your gigs without earplugs.
The 18 watt community also isn't a cheap option. At best you're looking at $1200 for one that someone butchered together with "parts" that were laying around.
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: handwired marshall amps
We guitarists are so spoiled. We want the best...but we also want the cheapest!
If we played viloin we'd be looking at $10,000 and up for a good violin...$50,000 and up for a really good one!
Saxophones cost a fortune for a really good one too. Pianos? Same deal.
A handwired Trainwreck, Dumble, 18 watt Marshall, '59 Fender tweed Super or Deluxe etc. are ALL UNDERPRICED for what you get...not overpriced.
Lew
We guitarists are so spoiled. We want the best...but we also want the cheapest!
If we played viloin we'd be looking at $10,000 and up for a good violin...$50,000 and up for a really good one!
Saxophones cost a fortune for a really good one too. Pianos? Same deal.
A handwired Trainwreck, Dumble, 18 watt Marshall, '59 Fender tweed Super or Deluxe etc. are ALL UNDERPRICED for what you get...not overpriced.
Lew
Imp
New member
Re: handwired marshall amps
www.18watt.com
www.ax84.com
even better, try building one for yourself, see how much you save :laugh2:
www.18watt.com
www.ax84.com
even better, try building one for yourself, see how much you save :laugh2:
Hot _Grits
Buttery Toneologist
Re: handwired marshall amps
You'll need earplugs, but it'll be because of the horn section!
By combo, I was referring to the new 18 watt handwired one, not the bluesbreaker ri. I'm very interested in gettng a bluesbreaker ri, though. Cool amps.
Skarekrough said:
You'll need earplugs, but it'll be because of the horn section!
By combo, I was referring to the new 18 watt handwired one, not the bluesbreaker ri. I'm very interested in gettng a bluesbreaker ri, though. Cool amps.
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: handwired marshall amps
Kevlar's assessment is pretty much the truth. Most of the differences you hear are in the component quality. Since circuit board amps were made solely for the purpose of easily mass producing amps, THOSE amps are the ones where the corners are often cut. PC boards require smaller components and often cheaper pots which are board mounted. To cut cost, they also throw in a cheaper transformer.
That's why the best modern amps are very basic printed circuit boards, which allow larger/higher wattage components to be used. Those are the amps with the best overall tone and useable features. Master volumes have become necessary to most gigging players, but the truth is....they act like a blanket over the tone.
Ahh, us 'hairsplitters' It all really means nothing.....go play yer guitar! LOL
Kevlar's assessment is pretty much the truth. Most of the differences you hear are in the component quality. Since circuit board amps were made solely for the purpose of easily mass producing amps, THOSE amps are the ones where the corners are often cut. PC boards require smaller components and often cheaper pots which are board mounted. To cut cost, they also throw in a cheaper transformer.
That's why the best modern amps are very basic printed circuit boards, which allow larger/higher wattage components to be used. Those are the amps with the best overall tone and useable features. Master volumes have become necessary to most gigging players, but the truth is....they act like a blanket over the tone.
Ahh, us 'hairsplitters' It all really means nothing.....go play yer guitar! LOL
