Re: JVM410HJS Joe Satriani Signature Head
Yeah, the Peavey JSX has a very effective adjustable noise reduction circuit built in.
Very cool. Thanks for that bit of info.
The amp market today is very competitive and companies that don't keep adding new products will stagnate, perhaps die. Small companies with a narrow clientele are probably at less risk than the big boys that can't afford to be left behind.
Blackstar's new amp reportedly will have effects and even a new twist: Modeled power tubes. Personally I think they would have done better modeling preamp tubes...and perhaps they are but I just missed it.
A Marshall head with noisegates. Who'da thunk it?
JCA is very close to releasing Retrotubes. Looking at the few photos of them that I've seen, it looks like they are clusters of encapsulated diodes, but I only gathered that from the pattern of light visible and have no idea what else might be in there. Will I EVER try them? That's uncertain. Supposedly they'll never go microphonic, never go bad...assuming they aren't abused in some way. But the key of course is how will they sound? The cost? Parts that last a lifetime will probably have a pricetag to go with it...much higher rather than comparable since there's won't be repeat business for microphonic or burned out tubes. They apparently will come in 3 flavors. I think it was clean, crunch and more crunch but I could be wrong. I've asked for a set to test drive...I'm a skeptic and also the first to admit that something is actually better when that's the case. I won't let sentiment get in my way. I don't think they are letting out to amateurs to test though...a shame since the pros by their nature are for sale. My opinion costs them only enough tubes to do the job.
At any rate, my point is that companies need to evolve or get left behind. JCA and Blackstar...as well as Marshall...have pretty much done what they can as far as tube technology goes. They've covered the various categories...pros, giggers and homies along a good variety of wattages and features in each category. Going digital lets them expand their product lines and keep the costs reasonable. I'd like to see the amp head makers, those heads with loops, put in two knobs and two small LED counters to allow pedal users adjust their send and return levels. Some people say that this loop or that loop doesn't work well with their pedals and that's likely because the S/R levels are either too high or too low. When I turned on the loop for my JCA22H, the amp howled in protest. I had my GT-10's S/R set up for my Blackstar HT-40. It took just a minute to adjust the levels so that it was actually better than the HT-40...probably because the JCA buffers it's loops with tubes. I think this would be an excellent addition to their line...plus an added reverb! Onwards and upwards...that's how companies continue to exist. -Rod-
