NAD - It Might Get Loud
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Re: NAD - It Might Get Loud
holy poop! NICE!! 6 pre amp tubes! sweet! yeah, I love mark days playing and tone. when I first started watching his vids, I thought he was a strange bird cuz of the faces he makes and stuff, then I realized he was clowning around and didnt take himself too seriously..
congrats!!
holy poop! NICE!! 6 pre amp tubes! sweet! yeah, I love mark days playing and tone. when I first started watching his vids, I thought he was a strange bird cuz of the faces he makes and stuff, then I realized he was clowning around and didnt take himself too seriously..
congrats!!
Re: NAD - It Might Get Loud
He has a lot of fun, which is of course what you should do with an amp like this. He's a super nice and funny dude - I met him at NAMM this year.
He has a lot of fun, which is of course what you should do with an amp like this. He's a super nice and funny dude - I met him at NAMM this year.
Re: NAD - It Might Get Loud
Quick update - I hauled this thing into the studio with my full rig and gave it it's first go-around today.
Long story short I can tell it's in need of a little love - maybe some new tubes and a check-up at Suhr's place in Lake Elsinore but it's a hell of a riff machine.
The amp seemed to get a little hotter than I'm used to a tube amp getting - the front chassis was very warm to the touch, not scalding but I don't remember any of my other tube amps running that hot.
Tubes looked OK but they appear to be the factory originals from 2005. Putting a fresh set in there probably couldn't hurt.
The amp is surprisingly controllable for how loud it is. The effects loop return level knob does act as a master volume with the loop engaged.
The clean channel breaks up a bit fast with humbuckers and from what I hear the SH mod is supposed to do that. this amp LOVES single coils and really fattens out a brighter-sided guitar like mine. Sometimes I'd coil split the pickups and then leave the guitar like that because it just sounded that good.
My Fat Boost did not work as well with this amp as I'd expected... once I'd dialed in the clean channel I'd want to use my boost pedal for a little more bit and sparkle and the Fat Boost needed the treble backed way off and I had the change the drive and eq setting up quite a bit.
I'll try my OCD next time or in a pinch I'll just take the head to GC's loud room and demo pedals on the clean channel. My Super Chorus sounded AWESOME through it and the Ultimate Octave just killed. The delay pedal I may have to work with a bit. The DD20 is a decent pedal but the effects loop does expose some if it's shortcomings.
I did discover my wah pedal is on the fritz and getting worse - time for a new switch or pot after 10 years, maybe.
All in all a killer amp. I hope it works out in the long run.
Quick update - I hauled this thing into the studio with my full rig and gave it it's first go-around today.
Long story short I can tell it's in need of a little love - maybe some new tubes and a check-up at Suhr's place in Lake Elsinore but it's a hell of a riff machine.
The amp seemed to get a little hotter than I'm used to a tube amp getting - the front chassis was very warm to the touch, not scalding but I don't remember any of my other tube amps running that hot.
Tubes looked OK but they appear to be the factory originals from 2005. Putting a fresh set in there probably couldn't hurt.
The amp is surprisingly controllable for how loud it is. The effects loop return level knob does act as a master volume with the loop engaged.
The clean channel breaks up a bit fast with humbuckers and from what I hear the SH mod is supposed to do that. this amp LOVES single coils and really fattens out a brighter-sided guitar like mine. Sometimes I'd coil split the pickups and then leave the guitar like that because it just sounded that good.
My Fat Boost did not work as well with this amp as I'd expected... once I'd dialed in the clean channel I'd want to use my boost pedal for a little more bit and sparkle and the Fat Boost needed the treble backed way off and I had the change the drive and eq setting up quite a bit.
I'll try my OCD next time or in a pinch I'll just take the head to GC's loud room and demo pedals on the clean channel. My Super Chorus sounded AWESOME through it and the Ultimate Octave just killed. The delay pedal I may have to work with a bit. The DD20 is a decent pedal but the effects loop does expose some if it's shortcomings.
I did discover my wah pedal is on the fritz and getting worse - time for a new switch or pot after 10 years, maybe.
All in all a killer amp. I hope it works out in the long run.
Re: NAD - It Might Get Loud
Another update - at the beginning of the month I got this back from Suhr with a full retube and rebias and the amp overall sounds much better than it did. It became kind of apparent AFTER the tube change how much TLC the amp really needed.
The clean channel is vastly improved. It really does have that old Fender Blackface sound and feel now, so no complaints there. The fresh tubes cleaned up the sound and gave me a lot more clarity and headroom, but it will still break up a smidge if I push it hard.
I'm still getting used to the drive channel though. For that Soldano-done-better sound of modern lead playing it's awesome, but I'm not totally sold on it as a rhythm amp yet. I think i naturally tend to gravitate towards a more British voicing so that might be what I'm missing here. TONS of bottom end on this amp, between the whomp switch and the bass control it has more than you'd ever need which is good for filling the body out on a brighter sounding axe. The gain seems to have an interesting taper on it, it goes up a lot between 5-7. I have to be careful to dial in a sound that's not too harsh or strident. Between the controls for Presence, Brilliance, Treble, and a bright switch, that can get tricky.
So the only thing the jury's still out on is the drive channel itself, which is a major feature of this amp other than the SH clean channel.
Plus the thing weighs like 60 pounds, kind of heavy for a head and all the weight is in one side, which makes it a pain to carry.
A few more go-arounds before I totally settle on it oughta do it. If this winds up not being the thing, I'll see if I can do a straight trade on a good used Brown Eye from Friedman or just sell it and get a Tremoverb again or a modded JVM. I've become interested in Voodoo's amp mods lately.
Another update - at the beginning of the month I got this back from Suhr with a full retube and rebias and the amp overall sounds much better than it did. It became kind of apparent AFTER the tube change how much TLC the amp really needed.
The clean channel is vastly improved. It really does have that old Fender Blackface sound and feel now, so no complaints there. The fresh tubes cleaned up the sound and gave me a lot more clarity and headroom, but it will still break up a smidge if I push it hard.
I'm still getting used to the drive channel though. For that Soldano-done-better sound of modern lead playing it's awesome, but I'm not totally sold on it as a rhythm amp yet. I think i naturally tend to gravitate towards a more British voicing so that might be what I'm missing here. TONS of bottom end on this amp, between the whomp switch and the bass control it has more than you'd ever need which is good for filling the body out on a brighter sounding axe. The gain seems to have an interesting taper on it, it goes up a lot between 5-7. I have to be careful to dial in a sound that's not too harsh or strident. Between the controls for Presence, Brilliance, Treble, and a bright switch, that can get tricky.
So the only thing the jury's still out on is the drive channel itself, which is a major feature of this amp other than the SH clean channel.
Plus the thing weighs like 60 pounds, kind of heavy for a head and all the weight is in one side, which makes it a pain to carry.
A few more go-arounds before I totally settle on it oughta do it. If this winds up not being the thing, I'll see if I can do a straight trade on a good used Brown Eye from Friedman or just sell it and get a Tremoverb again or a modded JVM. I've become interested in Voodoo's amp mods lately.
everdrone
New member
Re: NAD - It Might Get Loud
bummer dude
all I care about is rythymn tones mainly, so that is def a dealbreaker
not crazy about 60 pound heads unless its that worthy of a sacrifice and I dont need that type of guitar firepower, I might consider a bass head that much tho
brown eye is pretty awesome, but you have owned some really awesome amps so I figure you would be spending hours playing it before pulling the trigger
maybe kemper might do the trick? I really want that modeling amp, and it would sound better in the live mix since you dont have to mic it and it direct out, and easier for recording; maybe follow ratherdashing and sosomething's lead
bummer dude
all I care about is rythymn tones mainly, so that is def a dealbreaker
not crazy about 60 pound heads unless its that worthy of a sacrifice and I dont need that type of guitar firepower, I might consider a bass head that much tho
brown eye is pretty awesome, but you have owned some really awesome amps so I figure you would be spending hours playing it before pulling the trigger
maybe kemper might do the trick? I really want that modeling amp, and it would sound better in the live mix since you dont have to mic it and it direct out, and easier for recording; maybe follow ratherdashing and sosomething's lead
Re: NAD - It Might Get Loud
That reminds, me, I need to get back to you about your speakers question!
I've got a 4x12 loaded with Eminence, 2x Governors and 2x Man-o-wars in an X pattern.
Suhr typically loads their cabs with Vintage 30s, and the Governor is Eminence's improved version of that. I have been thinking about switching to all Governors, though.
That reminds, me, I need to get back to you about your speakers question!
I've got a 4x12 loaded with Eminence, 2x Governors and 2x Man-o-wars in an X pattern.
Suhr typically loads their cabs with Vintage 30s, and the Governor is Eminence's improved version of that. I have been thinking about switching to all Governors, though.
misterwhizzy
Well-known member
Gone_Shootin
New member
Re: NAD - It Might Get Loud
I have two 4x12s (an Avatar Vintage and a Marshall 1960A) with V30s and G12T75s in an X pattern and another (Splawn) with Governors and Man O Wars in an X pattern. There is a bit of difference in the brands. Basically, the Celestions have a more crisp top end, the mids sound a little different, along with a few minor differences in overall tone and feel. I've also noticed that amps and speakers interact quite a bit. My Triple Rec sounds best through my Splawn cab, but not as good through the other two. The JVM or Splawn sound great through either of the other two cabs, but not as good through the Splawn.
So I guess what I'm trying to say is, before you get rid of that amp, at least try it through some different cabs. You might only be a speaker swap away from what you're looking for.
I have two 4x12s (an Avatar Vintage and a Marshall 1960A) with V30s and G12T75s in an X pattern and another (Splawn) with Governors and Man O Wars in an X pattern. There is a bit of difference in the brands. Basically, the Celestions have a more crisp top end, the mids sound a little different, along with a few minor differences in overall tone and feel. I've also noticed that amps and speakers interact quite a bit. My Triple Rec sounds best through my Splawn cab, but not as good through the other two. The JVM or Splawn sound great through either of the other two cabs, but not as good through the Splawn.
So I guess what I'm trying to say is, before you get rid of that amp, at least try it through some different cabs. You might only be a speaker swap away from what you're looking for.
Last edited:
Empty Pockets
BadHairDayologist
Re: NAD - It Might Get Loud
B2D;3655725...The amp seemed to get a little hotter than I'm used to a tube amp getting - the front chassis was very warm to the touch said:
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: NAD - It Might Get Loud
From the way you describe the before and after, I'm guessing it was biased on the hot side before, and then they backed it down to 32mA for the new 5881's. If your clean channel cleaned up, that's probably what happened.
It's interesting that you've had some great amps like the 800, XTC, Tremoverb, and CAE.......by the way, I just noticed it's not called a Custom Audio Electronics, but a Custom Audio Amplifiers.
I never noticed that before. I'm wondering what eluded you with all of those, and what you'd ultimately be 100% satisfied with. I've tried some Friedman amps, and know I still like my XTC more. I like my Egnater Vengeance for some things, but couldn't live with it as a main amp.'
I think what it comes down to for me is Bogner Ecstasy 101B as a do it all amp, and therefore favorite amp. Then, I've got Marshalls, Egnater, Orange for gain tones, and Fender Pro Reverb, Matchless Chieftain, Gibson Goldtone, and modded Excelsior for every shade of clean. I don't really jones for amps much anymore, although a Friedman Cantrell, Bogner Helios, and handwired AC-30 are things I keep my eyes open for. It's a disease!
From the way you describe the before and after, I'm guessing it was biased on the hot side before, and then they backed it down to 32mA for the new 5881's. If your clean channel cleaned up, that's probably what happened.
It's interesting that you've had some great amps like the 800, XTC, Tremoverb, and CAE.......by the way, I just noticed it's not called a Custom Audio Electronics, but a Custom Audio Amplifiers.
I never noticed that before. I'm wondering what eluded you with all of those, and what you'd ultimately be 100% satisfied with. I've tried some Friedman amps, and know I still like my XTC more. I like my Egnater Vengeance for some things, but couldn't live with it as a main amp.'
I think what it comes down to for me is Bogner Ecstasy 101B as a do it all amp, and therefore favorite amp. Then, I've got Marshalls, Egnater, Orange for gain tones, and Fender Pro Reverb, Matchless Chieftain, Gibson Goldtone, and modded Excelsior for every shade of clean. I don't really jones for amps much anymore, although a Friedman Cantrell, Bogner Helios, and handwired AC-30 are things I keep my eyes open for. It's a disease!
Re: NAD - It Might Get Loud
I haven't played a Kemper yet, but I'm definitely considering one of those or an Axe FX for the next time I'm in the studio. I've heard some really incredible results with those, and the fact is that micing up an amp and getting a good high-gain sound on tape isn't as easy as most people think.
The BE is awesome... it's every amazing Marshall you've ever heard on one package. Dave Friedman hasn't made an amp I don't like. I'd love to own a Naked, a BE100, and a Dirty Shirley, and then buy a few amazing boutique amps based on Fenders and Voxes and call it a day.
I haven't played a Kemper yet, but I'm definitely considering one of those or an Axe FX for the next time I'm in the studio. I've heard some really incredible results with those, and the fact is that micing up an amp and getting a good high-gain sound on tape isn't as easy as most people think.
The BE is awesome... it's every amazing Marshall you've ever heard on one package. Dave Friedman hasn't made an amp I don't like. I'd love to own a Naked, a BE100, and a Dirty Shirley, and then buy a few amazing boutique amps based on Fenders and Voxes and call it a day.
Re: NAD - It Might Get Loud
Yeah I figured even if it didn't work out in the long run, I got it for a good enough deal that I'd at least break even on reselling it.
Yeah I figured even if it didn't work out in the long run, I got it for a good enough deal that I'd at least break even on reselling it.
Re: NAD - It Might Get Loud
Well I've got a 4x12 so that helps with the bass response. The Man-o-wars have good bottom but they can also be a bit toppy at times too. I've been thinking maybe Wizards, Swamp Thangs, or G12H30s might be a good replacement. I like the bass response, I just want to smooth the highs a bit. I do love the mid response of the Governors, though.
Well I've got a 4x12 so that helps with the bass response. The Man-o-wars have good bottom but they can also be a bit toppy at times too. I've been thinking maybe Wizards, Swamp Thangs, or G12H30s might be a good replacement. I like the bass response, I just want to smooth the highs a bit. I do love the mid response of the Governors, though.
Re: NAD - It Might Get Loud
The Governor/Manowar combo tends to work for almost anything, I've found. I like the voicings that they tend to lend to an amp. I have heard, however, that the OD100 in general has hit/miss results with V30 and speakers that sound like it.
The Governor/Manowar combo tends to work for almost anything, I've found. I like the voicings that they tend to lend to an amp. I have heard, however, that the OD100 in general has hit/miss results with V30 and speakers that sound like it.
Re: NAD - It Might Get Loud
Nice.
I will say the chassis doesn't get nearly as hot now that the amp has been serviced.
Nice.I will say the chassis doesn't get nearly as hot now that the amp has been serviced.
Re: NAD - It Might Get Loud
I dunno if it was so much things that were eluding me as much as I was just trying things out, learning how to work with different amps, and looking for different sounds for different purposes.
My Bogner, for example was an amazing rock amp but I was looking for something with a different voicing overall. I never could get the mids on the red channel to sit where I wanted them. The Blue channel was amazing.... If I could get an amp that was the Ecstasy without the red channel and 50w, I'd buy one in an instant. I wonder if Reinhold would make one?
I've had more Mesas and Marshalls than anything else, now that I think about it.
Yeah it is!! I tried this amp by Divided By 13 the other day that really only had two or three sounds in it, but they were pretty incredible sounds in their own right, and it had gorgeous reverb. It'd be cool to add to the collection but ultimately I can't afford to have a bunch of high dollar amps at this point in my life, so the ones I do have have to fit a wide range of applications.
I dunno if it was so much things that were eluding me as much as I was just trying things out, learning how to work with different amps, and looking for different sounds for different purposes.
My Bogner, for example was an amazing rock amp but I was looking for something with a different voicing overall. I never could get the mids on the red channel to sit where I wanted them. The Blue channel was amazing.... If I could get an amp that was the Ecstasy without the red channel and 50w, I'd buy one in an instant. I wonder if Reinhold would make one?
I've had more Mesas and Marshalls than anything else, now that I think about it.
Yeah it is!! I tried this amp by Divided By 13 the other day that really only had two or three sounds in it, but they were pretty incredible sounds in their own right, and it had gorgeous reverb. It'd be cool to add to the collection but ultimately I can't afford to have a bunch of high dollar amps at this point in my life, so the ones I do have have to fit a wide range of applications.
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