SlowGroove
New member
Re: HI END AMP TALK -- all experiences welcome!
What did you think of the dirty side of this wonderfull amp ?
James
What did you think of the dirty side of this wonderfull amp ?
James
HI END AMP TALK -- all experiences welcome!
- Thread starter TwilightOdyssey
- Start date
L
lookslikemeband
Guest
Re: HI END AMP TALK -- all experiences welcome!
Maybe a lot of the cats around here are more into high gain stuff?? I dunno...
I personally dig TopHats. Excellent amps.
I just sold my Emplexador. I still have my King Royale (original Script model).
AWESOME amps.
Maybe a lot of the cats around here are more into high gain stuff?? I dunno...
I personally dig TopHats. Excellent amps.
I just sold my Emplexador. I still have my King Royale (original Script model).
AWESOME amps.
Bludave
New member
Re: HI END AMP TALK -- all experiences welcome!
I own a Komet 60. For me it is hands down one of the most articulate amps I have ever played through, but by no means would I consider it a high gain amp. I currently have it loaded with a pair of Bugle boy 12ax7 pre's and a pair of KT 77's. I have a pair of Svetlana EL 34's that I am dying to put in it but I have not taken the time to do it.
The way the amp is designed is to use the guitars volume control to clean it up when you roll back the volume. I don't necessarily use it this way, but it does work beautifully. In the back of the head there is a switch for fast & gradual. I prefer leaving the amp in the gradual position. Here is what Komet told me when I contacted them about this switch........
The fast gradual is a simple split load / tap circuit located in the second preamp stage of the amplifier. The plate resistance is split between two resistors, an 82K and 22K . Splitting the plate load resistor affects the amplification factor of this pre amp tube stage. The switch tapping point ( gradual mode ) is between these two resistors. The interaction of this effect in the gradual mode, gives you the touch response.
This doesn't mean much too me. I no nothing about what makes an amp sound good, but I do know that this amp sounds better than most everything else I have played through.
The amp is by far the most articulate amp I have ever played through..... regardless of what guitar I plug into it & what pickups are in the guitar. 2 of my vintage equipped Strats (one with Texas Hots & one with Surfers) sing beautifully with this amp. I use a Hot rodded TS808 as an overdrive with this amp as well. Mainly to give me a volume boost & to boost the sustain, but rest assured this amp needs nothing in front of it to do what you need. I would not consider this a high gain amp. I am very much a Blues/Blues/rock type of player. The Komet sings in this environment. It is beautifully clean yet it can grind with the best amps I have ever heard. I particularly like the Hendrix type of cleans I can get with it. With a Les Paul or a 335 it is tone to die for. Rolling back the volume will give you great cleans, yet the tone is still thick and rich. Not like some amps that get thin when you roll back the volume. If you roll back the tone you can get some great thickness out of it. The amp always seems to be ready to give you more.
The drawback is it is very loud....... Very very loud for 60W. I have 2 4 12" cabs I rarely use both one is a Peavey that is loaded with Shefield 1290 speakers, which is Peaveys version of a 75W Celestion & the other is a Marshall loaded with greenbacks. The Greenbacks are the speaker to use with this amp. When I bought the head all I had was the Peavey, when I bought the Marshall it was like a whole new amp all over again. The Greenbacks tend to tame a lot of the volume more so then the hotter speakers do. They break up sooner and at lower volume settings. This is the amp that I will take with me to the grave! I have found my voice in this amp.
I only use a few effects with it. I have a Verbzilla, a DD3, a CE2 and my hot rodded TS808 that Xssive made for me. This amp is raw.... no effects loop, no reverb, just pure tone. I like the Verbzilla in it, but when I kick in the OD it increases the Verbzillas level some, but I king of like the effect for solos.
Now I also A/B this with a Bogner Shiva. As good as the Komet is sometimes I am trying to get a Fender type of clean tone & it is easier to do this in the Shiva. I do use the Drive ion the Shiva as well, but really I use the Shiva for Cleans & some crunch. The Komet when I need more of a Marshall clean and balls to the wall type of rocking tones. Great Amp!!
I think Mark Knopfler recorderd Shang Ra La with a Komet. Give it a listen ans see for yourself. But if you have access to Ultrasound then you should really go in an Jam with one. Consider yourself fortunate that you can do that. Very few people have access to play through one. I also think the guitar player who plays with Chris Cornell is using 2 Komets... A Concorde and a 60.
I know you said you have no interest in one, but I have a good friend who owns a Mojave Scorpion (I think thats the model) I had loaned him my Komet before he decided to but the Mojave. He liked the feature that you can adjust the wattage on the Mojave so you can play at a more controlled volume level. His Mojave sounds pretty awesome too. I like the Komet better, but the Mojave is pretty sweet.
I own a Komet 60. For me it is hands down one of the most articulate amps I have ever played through, but by no means would I consider it a high gain amp. I currently have it loaded with a pair of Bugle boy 12ax7 pre's and a pair of KT 77's. I have a pair of Svetlana EL 34's that I am dying to put in it but I have not taken the time to do it.
The way the amp is designed is to use the guitars volume control to clean it up when you roll back the volume. I don't necessarily use it this way, but it does work beautifully. In the back of the head there is a switch for fast & gradual. I prefer leaving the amp in the gradual position. Here is what Komet told me when I contacted them about this switch........
The fast gradual is a simple split load / tap circuit located in the second preamp stage of the amplifier. The plate resistance is split between two resistors, an 82K and 22K . Splitting the plate load resistor affects the amplification factor of this pre amp tube stage. The switch tapping point ( gradual mode ) is between these two resistors. The interaction of this effect in the gradual mode, gives you the touch response.
This doesn't mean much too me. I no nothing about what makes an amp sound good, but I do know that this amp sounds better than most everything else I have played through.
The amp is by far the most articulate amp I have ever played through..... regardless of what guitar I plug into it & what pickups are in the guitar. 2 of my vintage equipped Strats (one with Texas Hots & one with Surfers) sing beautifully with this amp. I use a Hot rodded TS808 as an overdrive with this amp as well. Mainly to give me a volume boost & to boost the sustain, but rest assured this amp needs nothing in front of it to do what you need. I would not consider this a high gain amp. I am very much a Blues/Blues/rock type of player. The Komet sings in this environment. It is beautifully clean yet it can grind with the best amps I have ever heard. I particularly like the Hendrix type of cleans I can get with it. With a Les Paul or a 335 it is tone to die for. Rolling back the volume will give you great cleans, yet the tone is still thick and rich. Not like some amps that get thin when you roll back the volume. If you roll back the tone you can get some great thickness out of it. The amp always seems to be ready to give you more.
The drawback is it is very loud....... Very very loud for 60W. I have 2 4 12" cabs I rarely use both one is a Peavey that is loaded with Shefield 1290 speakers, which is Peaveys version of a 75W Celestion & the other is a Marshall loaded with greenbacks. The Greenbacks are the speaker to use with this amp. When I bought the head all I had was the Peavey, when I bought the Marshall it was like a whole new amp all over again. The Greenbacks tend to tame a lot of the volume more so then the hotter speakers do. They break up sooner and at lower volume settings. This is the amp that I will take with me to the grave! I have found my voice in this amp.
I only use a few effects with it. I have a Verbzilla, a DD3, a CE2 and my hot rodded TS808 that Xssive made for me. This amp is raw.... no effects loop, no reverb, just pure tone. I like the Verbzilla in it, but when I kick in the OD it increases the Verbzillas level some, but I king of like the effect for solos.
Now I also A/B this with a Bogner Shiva. As good as the Komet is sometimes I am trying to get a Fender type of clean tone & it is easier to do this in the Shiva. I do use the Drive ion the Shiva as well, but really I use the Shiva for Cleans & some crunch. The Komet when I need more of a Marshall clean and balls to the wall type of rocking tones. Great Amp!!
I think Mark Knopfler recorderd Shang Ra La with a Komet. Give it a listen ans see for yourself. But if you have access to Ultrasound then you should really go in an Jam with one. Consider yourself fortunate that you can do that. Very few people have access to play through one. I also think the guitar player who plays with Chris Cornell is using 2 Komets... A Concorde and a 60.
I know you said you have no interest in one, but I have a good friend who owns a Mojave Scorpion (I think thats the model) I had loaned him my Komet before he decided to but the Mojave. He liked the feature that you can adjust the wattage on the Mojave so you can play at a more controlled volume level. His Mojave sounds pretty awesome too. I like the Komet better, but the Mojave is pretty sweet.
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TwilightOdyssey
Darkness on the edge of Tone
Re: HI END AMP TALK -- all experiences welcome!
Thanks for the info on the Komet!
btw, Bludave, Cornell's guitarist was using Divided By 13 amps when I saw him a couple of weeks ago ...
Thanks for the info on the Komet!
btw, Bludave, Cornell's guitarist was using Divided By 13 amps when I saw him a couple of weeks ago ...
PVFan
Fudgeitallologist
Re: HI END AMP TALK -- all experiences welcome!
nah it's not that, this is largely a blues-rock population of dinosaurs on this forum that will talk about vintage Fenders and Marshalls and Voxes all day long. And even this thread is about stuff like Komets and Brunos and /13s and 65 Ampses. So it's not an amount of gain/distortion issue.
They are awesome amps. There are Top Hats that outdo Voxes at their thing and Plexis at their thing. So I don't know why they never--and I mean never--get talked about on this forum. Although I've brought them up several times....The OP should include them on the list to check out.
nah it's not that, this is largely a blues-rock population of dinosaurs on this forum that will talk about vintage Fenders and Marshalls and Voxes all day long. And even this thread is about stuff like Komets and Brunos and /13s and 65 Ampses. So it's not an amount of gain/distortion issue.
They are awesome amps. There are Top Hats that outdo Voxes at their thing and Plexis at their thing. So I don't know why they never--and I mean never--get talked about on this forum. Although I've brought them up several times....The OP should include them on the list to check out.
TwilightOdyssey
Darkness on the edge of Tone
J Moose
New member
Re: HI END AMP TALK -- all experiences welcome!
Darker & thicker with ample headroom...
I'd have an old Orange OD120 near the top of the list... LOUD amps, but really cool. The newer Orange stuff like the Rockerverb aren't the same as the old ones...
Hiwatt?
I know you said no Matchless but the Independence sounds killer... 3 channel beast of a head. Dan Spitz (Anthrax) is using one, turned me onto it.
An old friend several years back got a Top Hat Emplexador with KT66's... that was a killer amp in the Plexi-JTM vein. They have little resale value though... and not a lot of dealers. Probably a good reason they aren't more widespread.
I'm just having a hard time wrapping my head around a Sommatone Outlaw & the Komet 19 on the same list since they're totally different rides. In my book the Outlaw is a 'modern' Recto/5150 chomper. It'll go there & stomp those others into the ground... at least, the one I played was like that. It was also a prototype... so...
Darker & thicker with ample headroom...
I'd have an old Orange OD120 near the top of the list... LOUD amps, but really cool. The newer Orange stuff like the Rockerverb aren't the same as the old ones...
Hiwatt?
I know you said no Matchless but the Independence sounds killer... 3 channel beast of a head. Dan Spitz (Anthrax) is using one, turned me onto it.
An old friend several years back got a Top Hat Emplexador with KT66's... that was a killer amp in the Plexi-JTM vein. They have little resale value though... and not a lot of dealers. Probably a good reason they aren't more widespread.
I'm just having a hard time wrapping my head around a Sommatone Outlaw & the Komet 19 on the same list since they're totally different rides. In my book the Outlaw is a 'modern' Recto/5150 chomper. It'll go there & stomp those others into the ground... at least, the one I played was like that. It was also a prototype... so...
Dr.Mavashi
neonderthalotonalogist
Re: HI END AMP TALK -- all experiences welcome!
How about V-Rock? from Vodoo Mods/amps. From what I gather it aint another plexi clone/remake but a hot rod brit amp with its roots in a plexi, I guess ....
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L
lookslikemeband
Guest
Re: HI END AMP TALK -- all experiences welcome!
Also be sure you check out Budda.
I have a Twinmaster and a Stringmaster.
Great cleans and good grit to them.
Also be sure you check out Budda.
I have a Twinmaster and a Stringmaster.
Great cleans and good grit to them.
TwilightOdyssey
Darkness on the edge of Tone
Re: HI END AMP TALK -- all experiences welcome!
I heard the Voodoo amps @ the NY Amp Show. Not impressed.
I heard the Voodoo amps @ the NY Amp Show. Not impressed.
some_dude
Raging BB Gunologist
Re: HI END AMP TALK -- all experiences welcome!
Assuming you're looking for something moderate to high gain that doesn't sound modern.... check out an Orange Rockerverb... either the 50 or 100. Modern Oranges are almost more Marshall sounding than Orange sounding, but they have a rolled off top end and more lower midrange focus... yet still have a bit of a vintage feel (particularily the RV50). When I owned an RV50 it always reminded me of NWOBHM, which may be up your alley.
The amp takes treble boosters well. The clean channel is non-master volume, but for some reason I never tried a fuzz into it.
Marshall 1959 Super Lead
Orange OR120 or OD120
Hiwatt (pick one)
Thanks for the replies! I've given some thought to the cries of 'more info!' I thought I was being clear!
The Splawn covers hot-rodded plexi to modded JCM800 territory. I guess what I'm looking for is something that is a bit darker, thicker sounding, but not sounding modern or 'recto'. NO DUMBLE CLONES!!!
Assuming you're looking for something moderate to high gain that doesn't sound modern.... check out an Orange Rockerverb... either the 50 or 100. Modern Oranges are almost more Marshall sounding than Orange sounding, but they have a rolled off top end and more lower midrange focus... yet still have a bit of a vintage feel (particularily the RV50). When I owned an RV50 it always reminded me of NWOBHM, which may be up your alley.
The amp takes treble boosters well. The clean channel is non-master volume, but for some reason I never tried a fuzz into it.
Marshall 1959 Super Lead
Orange OR120 or OD120
Hiwatt (pick one)
Bludave
New member
Re: HI END AMP TALK -- all experiences welcome!
You know that's funny. The guy I bought my komet from was selling it to buy a Divided by 13!!!!! He was on the West Coast as well. Hmmmmmmm!
You know that's funny. The guy I bought my komet from was selling it to buy a Divided by 13!!!!! He was on the West Coast as well. Hmmmmmmm!
Dr.Mavashi
neonderthalotonalogist
Re: HI END AMP TALK -- all experiences welcome!
Did you listen to V-rock or V-plex? What about them left you feeling meh ... ?
ksmith63
New member
Re: HI END AMP TALK -- all experiences welcome!
YES! I have a Superdrive 80 and every other amp I have played leaves me wanting something more. I would suggest looking into the Superdrive 45 if you want more gain. Coheed and Cambria used one on most of their last cd so that should give you a good idea of how these sound. Also the clean channel is so spectacular that you don't need reverb.
YES! I have a Superdrive 80 and every other amp I have played leaves me wanting something more. I would suggest looking into the Superdrive 45 if you want more gain. Coheed and Cambria used one on most of their last cd so that should give you a good idea of how these sound. Also the clean channel is so spectacular that you don't need reverb.
TwilightOdyssey
Darkness on the edge of Tone
Re: HI END AMP TALK -- all experiences welcome!
Thanks for the replies!
Okay, so my 'must audition' list includes:
65 Amps
Divided By 13
Blankenship
Orange (vintage?)
Hiwatt (vintage?)
Budda
Top Hat (if I can find one)
Thanks for the replies!
Okay, so my 'must audition' list includes:
65 Amps
Divided By 13
Blankenship
Orange (vintage?)
Hiwatt (vintage?)
Budda
Top Hat (if I can find one)
ksmith63
New member
Re: HI END AMP TALK -- all experiences welcome!
Hiwatt now has a 'high gain' model. I was always interested in trying one but couldn't find any (It received great magazine reviews). If you run across one let us know how it sounds!
Hiwatt now has a 'high gain' model. I was always interested in trying one but couldn't find any (It received great magazine reviews). If you run across one let us know how it sounds!
XSSIVE
OCDologist
Re: HI END AMP TALK -- all experiences welcome!
Pete Thorn is Chris Cornell's guitarist now and a great player and a very grounded cool guy. he posts on loads of forums like the gear page, huge racks and rig talk. Dave is right, he was using a komet for quite a while with Chris (i had sent Dave links to live vids of him using it on tour with Chris mentioned how great it sounded right after Dave got his) but switched his rig many times since then and i think is using Suhr Custom Audio amps now. anyway, he posts as sinasl1 on all the boards, i'm sure he'd be willing to give you the 411 on the komets and i'd certainly take his advice since from everything i've heard from his playing always sounds killer.
-Mike
Pete Thorn is Chris Cornell's guitarist now and a great player and a very grounded cool guy. he posts on loads of forums like the gear page, huge racks and rig talk. Dave is right, he was using a komet for quite a while with Chris (i had sent Dave links to live vids of him using it on tour with Chris mentioned how great it sounded right after Dave got his) but switched his rig many times since then and i think is using Suhr Custom Audio amps now. anyway, he posts as sinasl1 on all the boards, i'm sure he'd be willing to give you the 411 on the komets and i'd certainly take his advice since from everything i've heard from his playing always sounds killer.
-Mike
Luke Duke
PRSlustologist
Re: HI END AMP TALK -- all experiences welcome!
Pete Thorn right? You'll find him over on TGP actually. He's got a couple of threads that show the backline etc.
The /13 amps are fantastic, but I wouldn't buy one new. On TGP you can pick them up used all the time and keep from taking that massive hit.
I REALLY liked the RSA23. It's everything that put Marshall on the map that you can't get from them these days....but coming out of the speakers at a blistering 23 watts.
Franks Zimes the guitarist for Don Henley uses a JRT 9/15 and runs it with an attenutator. The JRT is a killer amp that has an EL84 and 6V6 "side". Probably the most practical and versatile amp. It can even get in the RSA gain range.
The thing about Fred's amp is that there's everything you need....and nothing you don't. If you want to switch channels you need to get a Switchazel or A/B box of some type.
One other brand I'm going to throw out is Dr. Z. Not as expensive as the other stuff you mentioned but DANG fine amps. Killer construction, excellent tone. It says a lot to me that Ken Fischer worked with Mike Zaite on some designs. The Rt. 66 on a Z-best cab is the be all end all of thick pre-plexi Marshall tone (IMO). The Galaxie is very cool, but my problem was the lack of tone controls for the second channel because it was voiced so differently. The Maz series is like the "tastes like chicken" selection. I like chicken, you like chicken, we ALL like chicken!!! I've heard LOTS of different Mazes sound radically different.
Luke
Pete Thorn right? You'll find him over on TGP actually. He's got a couple of threads that show the backline etc.
The /13 amps are fantastic, but I wouldn't buy one new. On TGP you can pick them up used all the time and keep from taking that massive hit.
I REALLY liked the RSA23. It's everything that put Marshall on the map that you can't get from them these days....but coming out of the speakers at a blistering 23 watts.
Franks Zimes the guitarist for Don Henley uses a JRT 9/15 and runs it with an attenutator. The JRT is a killer amp that has an EL84 and 6V6 "side". Probably the most practical and versatile amp. It can even get in the RSA gain range.
The thing about Fred's amp is that there's everything you need....and nothing you don't. If you want to switch channels you need to get a Switchazel or A/B box of some type.
One other brand I'm going to throw out is Dr. Z. Not as expensive as the other stuff you mentioned but DANG fine amps. Killer construction, excellent tone. It says a lot to me that Ken Fischer worked with Mike Zaite on some designs. The Rt. 66 on a Z-best cab is the be all end all of thick pre-plexi Marshall tone (IMO). The Galaxie is very cool, but my problem was the lack of tone controls for the second channel because it was voiced so differently. The Maz series is like the "tastes like chicken" selection. I like chicken, you like chicken, we ALL like chicken!!! I've heard LOTS of different Mazes sound radically different.
Luke
J Moose
New member
Re: HI END AMP TALK -- all experiences welcome!
If you can find a 65 Amps dealer in metro NY let me know... nearest one I can see is black creek all the way up in New Paltz. That's still two hours away... By comparison vintage Orange & Hiwatts are much easier to find.
If you can find a 65 Amps dealer in metro NY let me know... nearest one I can see is black creek all the way up in New Paltz. That's still two hours away... By comparison vintage Orange & Hiwatts are much easier to find.
