NILPHSD!!!

[Red_Label]

Re: NILPHSD!!!

Quick rundown on my impressions of the Quickrod and Splawn 4X12. I dialed all the knobs to noon, and set the OD on 1st Gear before I even powered it on. I ended-up playing most of the night with those settings (except I used Gear 2 most of all). It's just got that classic Van Halen brown sound nailed. Plenty of sag, and yet seemed very tight and immediate in response. I can see where the "weird mids" thing comes from... as it does seem to have an open-wah vowel thing going-on in the mids. But I don't find it disagreeable and may experiment with a graphic or parametric EQ in the loop to see what that does. I'm currently running a Line 6 M9 in the loop and that's got some EQ options on there that I will experiment with (I just grabbed the pedal a few weeks ago and haven't learned fully how to tweak it yet).

Regarding the cab... I'm not generally disposed towards slant cabs. My current cabs are a pair of Line 6 V30-loaded straight 4X12s and I like the big, tight tone I get out of those. But this Splawn cab sounds GREAT and I intend to keep it. It's tight, thumpy, and big (enough) sounding. I think that the speakers in there are probably the Splawn Small Blocks. But will have to pop the back sometime to check.

To summarize... my impression so far of this Splawn rig can be boiled-down to the text that I sent my musician friends last night: "Best $800 rig... EVARRRRRRR!!!"

 

[BloodRose]

Re: NILPHSD!!!

Dude....... Congrats! X 2!!! You got an amazing deal on an amazing amp AND.. My quest would have been shut down as soon as I "called the wife for the credit card number", and "she wanted to ride along".. So cool spousal unit too!!

I paid about double for my qr (head and 4x12) and still feel I got a good deal.. You got a steal!! the guy I bought mine from recommended I use a mxr 10 bnd eq with it, which he also just happened to have one for sale....haha but it works great for a tiny bit of shaping. Ill bet the QR and a mesa would sound monsterous cuz of the mesa low end... Ive run mine with a JCM 800 half stack and even they the are tonally similar, it still sounded unreal! The house was shaking and my kids heard me several blocks away.. haha

 

[Red_Label]

Re: NILPHSD!!!

Dude....... Congrats! X 2!!! You got an amazing deal on an amazing amp AND.. My quest would have been shut down as soon as I "called the wife for the credit card number", and "she wanted to ride along".. So cool spousal unit too!!

I paid about double for my qr (head and 4x12) and still feel I got a good deal.. You got a steal!! the guy I bought mine from recommended I use a mxr 10 bnd eq with it, which he also just happened to have one for sale....haha but it works great for a tiny bit of shaping. Ill bet the QR and a mesa would sound monsterous cuz of the mesa low end... Ive run mine with a JCM 800 half stack and even they the are tonally similar, it still sounded unreal! The house was shaking and my kids heard me several blocks away.. haha

Thanks man! I ran my buddy's QR with my Chupacabra a few weeks ago and it sounded pretty awesome. So I've got some rearranging to do in the man cave this weekend and then I'll try that combo again. I'll have three half stacks (QR, Chup, and a JTM45), and my Fender Supersonic Twin (which I run Bogner Red and Blue pedals into and sounds just like my old XTC). So I want to rig it up at some point where I can run all four rigs at the same time just to feel the RUMBLE!!! :laugh:

 

[SlyFoxx]

Re: NILPHSD!!!

My favorite part of this thread was learning that there's a band called Pinky and the Floyd.

Nice score. It's how I felt after snagging my Bad Cat for about 450.

 

[Masta' C]

Re: NILPHSD!!!

That's a seriously amazing find. I'm super jealous, but glad it worked out so smoothly. Congrats!

 

[Red_Label]

Re: NILPHSD!!!

My favorite part of this thread was learning that there's a band called Pinky and the Floyd.

Nice score. It's how I felt after snagging my Bad Cat for about 450.

They are very cool. One of their backup singers (Jenni Fleming) is a world class jazz vocalist. Her ex-husband (Jake) plays sax and acoustic guitar in her trio and in Pinky. Some amazing talent there.

 

[Red_Label]

Re: NILPHSD!!!

That's a seriously amazing find. I'm super jealous, but glad it worked out so smoothly. Congrats!

Thanks! I'm so used to seeing other guys snag these deals that it still seems pretty unreal. I was definitely in the right place at the right time on this one!

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: NILPHSD!!!

you wouldn't happen to have a picture of your receipt would you. When i get steals I always post the receipt.in other words, pics or it didn't happen! Ha!

 

[Red_Label]

Re: NILPHSD!!!

you wouldn't happen to have a picture of your receipt would you. When i get steals I always post the receipt.in other words, pics or it didn't happen! Ha!

My credit card receipt has got my name and address all over it. You'll have to take my word for it.

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: NILPHSD!!!

Huge 'Grats on that one!!!
:headbang:

 

[Red_Label]

Re: NILPHSD!!!

Huge 'Grats on that one!!!
:headbang:

Thanks! I put a couple more hours in on it last night and am still in-love with the amp. Played my Tom Anderson Drop Top Classic superstrat into it, and had a Line 6 M9 in the loop. And I felt like there was NO rock that I couldn't cover wonderfully with this rig. It just sounds so great and is so smooth. What an awesome deal. I still have to pinch myself...

 

[BloodRose]

Re: NILPHSD!!!

Speaking of good deals, there is ( or was) a 90s model usa washburn (Grover Jackson era)for sale at my local music store for about 4 bills that Id love to score.....

All this talk about your QR is making me miss mine really bad! Havent played it in months.

 

[Red_Label]

Re: NILPHSD!!!

Speaking of good deals, there is ( or was) a 90s model usa washburn (Grover Jackson era)for sale at my local music store for about 4 bills that Id love to score.....

All this talk about your QR is making me miss mine really bad! Havent played it in months.

Did you sell yours?

I'm beyond tired of all of the musical chairs that I've been playing these past few years. I've owned or played just around everything in boutique amps at this point (except an SLO) and I've learned that they're all great... just different. Considering how great of a deal I got the QR for, I can't imagine dumping it any time soon unless I come to hate it. I've certainly been guilty of the "familiarity breeds contempt" axiom... or at least it breeds boredom. But I'd like to stop a while and enjoy what I have in terms of amps and guitars (LPs and an Anderson strat). I'm beyond tired of not bonding with gear and really coming to cherish it. I totally admire guys who are playing the same beat-up, old guitar after many years who can afford newer/nicer. In fact, I picked-up a dinged-up black 2001 Gibson LP Studio last summer for $450 and it's got some serious mojo. It's not going anywhere. I call it "Big Black" (cause it's heavy). I call my 2001 LP Standard "Big Red" (cause it's heavy too). I guess that if I can't manage to keep stuff long enough to give it mojo... then I'll just buy stuff that already has it! :18:

 

[BloodRose]

Re: NILPHSD!!!

Did you sell yours?

I'm beyond tired of all of the musical chairs that I've been playing these past few years. I've owned or played just around everything in boutique amps at this point (except an SLO) and I've learned that they're all great... just different. Considering how great of a deal I got the QR for, I can't imagine dumping it any time soon unless I come to hate it. I've certainly been guilty of the "familiarity breeds contempt" axiom... or at least it breeds boredom. But I'd like to stop a while and enjoy what I have in terms of amps and guitars (LPs and an Anderson strat). I'm beyond tired of not bonding with gear and really coming to cherish it. I totally admire guys who are playing the same beat-up, old guitar after many years who can afford newer/nicer. In fact, I picked-up a dinged-up black 2001 Gibson LP Studio last summer for $450 and it's got some serious mojo. It's not going anywhere. I call it "Big Black" (cause it's heavy). I call my 2001 LP Standard "Big Red" (cause it's heavy too). I guess that if I can't manage to keep stuff long enough to give it mojo... then I'll just buy stuff that already has it! :18:

No, didnt sell mine. Much of my gear is in storage. We moved a few months ago about 2 and a half hours from where my storage facility is at, so the only amp I have with me is my PV classic 30. I dont get to play the big amps anymore.

I totally hear you. I really admire the guys who have an established rig and stick with it for years. Id love to be at that point. When I moved, I sold about half my guitar stash. I hated to part with many of them, but I had to face reality.. Im not much of a player and dont need that much gear, and when I play, I usually play the same few guitars. Part of the reason I had so many was trying to decide what really suited me. I have figured that out. I love my charvels and my LP Trad pro when I want those lp tones.. I still have extra guits that I really should move.. I just wish I could find the same contentment with an amp. Im sure I could be happy with the Splawn once I get my chops up. There are still a few Id love to try, but dont have the budget for gear experiments. Though Ive never played one, I think my dream amp would be a Friedman Brown Eye.. But the Splawn is a great amp. The problem is the player in my case.....

 

[Gone_Shootin]

Re: NILPHSD!!!

No, didnt sell mine. Much of my gear is in storage. We moved a few months ago about 2 and a half hours from where my storage facility is at, so the only amp I have with me is my PV classic 30. I dont get to play the big amps anymore.

I totally hear you. I really admire the guys who have an established rig and stick with it for years. Id love to be at that point. When I moved, I sold about half my guitar stash. I hated to part with many of them, but I had to face reality.. Im not much of a player and dont need that much gear, and when I play, I usually play the same few guitars. Part of the reason I had so many was trying to decide what really suited me. I have figured that out. I love my charvels and my LP Trad pro when I want those lp tones.. I still have extra guits that I really should move.. I just wish I could find the same contentment with an amp. Im sure I could be happy with the Splawn once I get my chops up. There are still a few Id love to try, but dont have the budget for gear experiments. Though Ive never played one, I think my dream amp would be a Friedman Brown Eye.. But the Splawn is a great amp. The problem is the player in my case.....

Sounds like you need one of the Splawn 22 watt amps.

 

[Red_Label]

Re: NILPHSD!!!

No, didnt sell mine. Much of my gear is in storage. We moved a few months ago about 2 and a half hours from where my storage facility is at, so the only amp I have with me is my PV classic 30. I dont get to play the big amps anymore.

I totally hear you. I really admire the guys who have an established rig and stick with it for years. Id love to be at that point. When I moved, I sold about half my guitar stash. I hated to part with many of them, but I had to face reality.. Im not much of a player and dont need that much gear, and when I play, I usually play the same few guitars. Part of the reason I had so many was trying to decide what really suited me. I have figured that out. I love my charvels and my LP Trad pro when I want those lp tones.. I still have extra guits that I really should move.. I just wish I could find the same contentment with an amp. Im sure I could be happy with the Splawn once I get my chops up. There are still a few Id love to try, but dont have the budget for gear experiments. Though Ive never played one, I think my dream amp would be a Friedman Brown Eye.. But the Splawn is a great amp. The problem is the player in my case.....

I had the latest model of Friedman BE100 in my man cave several weeks ago. I was a friend's, but I did the buy for him on The Gear Page. He just lurks everywhere (never joins), so I often buy/sell gear for him on the forums. Anyways... both he and I had been very curious about the BE for the past couple of years. In fact, we both went in together on a Pink Taco a couple of months ago (man, that sounds bad -- LOL!). I ended up selling my half of it to him because my Ceriatone Chupacabra had just arrived and I was digging it more than the Taco.

So for an afternoon, I had the BE and my Chup in the man cave, going back and forth between them. I ended-up liking the Chup as much as the BE, though I'd have to spend more time with it to be sure. My buddy (the lurker/BE owner) runs a local music store. I was in there on Saturday asking him how his honeymoon with the BE was going. He said that he could take it or leave it. He's had his Splawn QR (also a 2012 model like mine) for a couple of years and I'm getting the impression that he's still pretty sweet on it. He was going to dump it to pay for the Friedman, but I think that it's not going anywhere now. Whereas I'm feeling like I'm going to be dumping the Friedman half-stack for him on the forums soon.

In short... I've learned that once you get to boutique level of gear (or even good production gear)... it's not what's "better" or "best"... it's mostly just all different and what really speaks to you. So many of the guys on the gear forums just go around and around, endlessly looking for the gear that speaks to them and never finding something to keep forever. That's how I've been. And I'm beyond tired of it. Whatever I get, I'll just get bored with it down the road at some point... UNLESS I learn to weather the slumps where it doesn't inspire to get to the point where it does again. This QuickRod is an awesome amp and I'm just going to hang on to it and weather any boredom that may come. If I need to experiment, perhaps I'll sell the Chupacabra -- but I dunno, it's a pretty awesome amp too. Gives me those late-80s Jose modded tones like no other. And I've got a Fender Supersonic Twin for clean work (or awesome Bogner tones with my Bogner pedals running into it). So there's really nowhere else for me to go. I've owned or at least tried just about everything that I've wanted to. The only major boutique amp that I remain curious about is the SLO (have never played one). And the only amp right now that I'm thinking I'd buy back is an XTC... only this time I'd try a 20th Anniversary version instead of the Classic.

 

[GilmourD]

Re: NILPHSD!!!

In short... I've learned that once you get to boutique level of gear (or even good production gear)... it's not what's "better" or "best"... it's mostly just all different and what really speaks to you.

I feel that's true regardless of the price. If something's good something's good. I got a Jet City PicoValve for $99 brand new a couple years ago, dropped a JJ 6CA7 and a couple different 12AX7s in it and the thing is SLAMMIN'. Sure, the boutique stuff does tend to be more consistently awesome (although I still don't get the Dumble appeal), but there are certainly some well-designed and well built pieces at all price points.

 

[Red_Label]

Re: NILPHSD!!!

I feel that's true regardless of the price. If something's good something's good. I got a Jet City PicoValve for $99 brand new a couple years ago, dropped a JJ 6CA7 and a couple different 12AX7s in it and the thing is SLAMMIN'. Sure, the boutique stuff does tend to be more consistently awesome (although I still don't get the Dumble appeal), but there are certainly some well-designed and well built pieces at all price points.

My PicoValve experience was less than positive. But that's not really the amp's fault. I didn't get it that cheap, but I was so looking forward to it's arrival. And when I opened the box, it was obvious that the amp had been dropped (more like THROWN!!!). Both of the trannies were bent the same direction in their brackets, and the power tube was broken with glass floating around in the chassis. I put my own power tube in there and did play it some, but it just wasn't right. I called MF to return it, hoping they'd send a new one in direct exchange... but the agent that that all they could do was a full return and I could just buy a new one. I didn't wanna bother after the experience and never get get another.

Anyways... I'm sure it's a great amp and I still think about picking one up now and then. I just haven't had real positive experiences with 5-watt lunch boxes, so that's what keeps me from trying another. (I've also had two Marshall Class 5s and some others that I didn't care for.)

 

[BloodRose]

Re: NILPHSD!!!

You get Jose tones with the Chupacabra?? Really? Never really heard much about those amps, but I LOVE that tone!! yeah, I know you are right. Im not hell bent on getting anything else right now, just the BE demos all sound like it would be on point. I KNOW that my issue is my playing. I have great amps. The QR is stellar, JCM800 was always a dream amp of mine, and a PV Ultra Plus is pretty cool sounding too. So, it isnt the amps.. I used to dream, drool and slather over the SLO, but I luckily figured out that it wouldnt be right for me before I invested in one. I hear you have to crank em to really get full satisfaction for one. I know most tube amps are that way, but.. So, Yeah, Ive got a penny jar set aside and maybe once its been filled (about 200 times) Ill get a BE (or Chup now that you have my curiosity up. haha) But in the mean time, Im working on my playing so I can really enjoy what Ive got now.. One last thing, I also always dreamed of a Bogner xtc too. But Ive decided Im gonna get one of those red pedals one day, so I can dabble with the tone without full commitment.
Hope you keep loving your QR! they really are killer amps! And, I can get a pretty good tone from mine at lower volumes too, with the setting on the back..

 

[Gone_Shootin]

Re: NILPHSD!!!

In short... I've learned that once you get to boutique level of gear (or even good production gear)... it's not what's "better" or "best"... it's mostly just all different and what really speaks to you. So many of the guys on the gear forums just go around and around, endlessly looking for the gear that speaks to them and never finding something to keep forever. That's how I've been. And I'm beyond tired of it. Whatever I get, I'll just get bored with it down the road at some point... UNLESS I learn to weather the slumps where it doesn't inspire to get to the point where it does again. This QuickRod is an awesome amp and I'm just going to hang on to it and weather any boredom that may come. If I need to experiment, perhaps I'll sell the Chupacabra -- but I dunno, it's a pretty awesome amp too. Gives me those late-80s Jose modded tones like no other. And I've got a Fender Supersonic Twin for clean work (or awesome Bogner tones with my Bogner pedals running into it). So there's really nowhere else for me to go. I've owned or at least tried just about everything that I've wanted to. The only major boutique amp that I remain curious about is the SLO (have never played one). And the only amp right now that I'm thinking I'd buy back is an XTC... only this time I'd try a 20th Anniversary version instead of the Classic.

I kinda did that for awhile. Traded off one amo for another and whatnot. But what broke that cycle was when I bought my JVM and a few months later found JVMforum.com. I started to get curious about mods, and since that place is a goldmine for JVM mods, I found them when Googling.

So now, if I get bored with an amp I mod it or try different speakers, both if which are much cheaper ways of mixing things up. And because of that, I actually play the JVM more than my Splawn or Recto. My next step is to get some Celestion G12K-100s. The caamp tried my Super Sonic through at the music store had them in it and I got the most beautiful, rich, sparkly, and full tones out of it. But when I got the SS home I was disappointed because my speakers didn't sound nearly as good.