Preamp/Effects Loop Question

[Ahpook]

I have a 2018 Splawn Quickrod that is a very well made amp. It has Classic Tone components, good PCB, rock solid, but I am just not digging anything but the clean channel. It has this cocked wah thing happening or perhaps some middy weirdness that is impossible to get rid of. Everything has a place in music, but since I can't dial that annoyance out I have been thinking about a preamp pedal in the loop. Specifically the Victory Sheriff V4!

I probably should just sell it and get the real deal Victory Sheriff amp head, but the Splawn is such a well made amp I'd hate to do that if I can change its demeanor

Has anyone had experience with the Sheriff preamp and is it close enough to the actual amp? Also, I assume any other pedals I normally run in the loop would simply daisy chain as normal after the Sheriff?

Thanks

 

[Securb]

I am not hands-on familiar with the Victory Sheriff V4, but I have found when putting a preamp in the loop, they sound sterile, like a lesser version of themselves. They lose a bit of their thump and grind, and for lack of a better description, the do not have the balls they have when put in front of the amp. If you are only using it for EQ shaping, you might get the desired result with the Victory Sheriff V4 in the loop, but it is an expensive solution. If mids are your only concern, I would play with an actual eq in the loop first.

 

[Ahpook]

I am not hands-on familiar with the Victory Sheriff V4, but I have found when putting a preamp in the loop, they sound sterile, like a lesser version of themselves. They lose a bit of their thump and grind, and for lack of a better description, the do not have the balls they have when put in front of the amp. If you are only using it for EQ shaping, you might get the desired result with the Victory Sheriff V4 in the loop, but it is an expensive solution. If mids are your only concern, I would play with an actual eq in the loop first.

I have an EQ in the loop as well.The EQ can't seem to rid the Splawn of its innate tone structure.

Thank you for the respone! I was afarid the preamp pedal would probably be sterile comparatively.

 

[misterwhizzy]

I didn’t think I’d ever be a gain-from-pedals guy, but I think that’s what’s happened to me. I’m using a Friedman Smallbox pedal into the front of the amp for old-school Marshall high gain tones, and I switch to a Revv G4 running into the effects return for more modern stuff because it sounds much better that way.

tl;dr I think it depends on the pedal, but there’s no shame in using an amp as a pedal platform.

 

[Metalman_666]

I always thought just from seeing guys here talk about their Splawn's that the reason to have one is the gain channel(s)

Surely if that isn't tickling your fancy, you could find a pedal platform that's better suited for your use case? The thought of having that power and not using it... Ayyyy

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[Ahpook]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceZ7IhO51oQ

That Youtube video is what turned me on to the Quickrod I can get close to that, but the amp needs a lot of help to do it. Looks like he is using quite a bit as well!?

As you mentioned, Metalman, It's kind of a drag to use it the way I am. Something more focused to my needs out of the box would be ideal. Dragging around all the cables, pedals , etc is a PITA. I'm obviously fighting myself over the amp

 

[PFDarkside]

What version is your Quickrod? Mine is from 2007 I think, the clean is definitely nothing to write home about. Kind of a bummer, but I think it was updated in a more recent version?

 

[Ahpook]

What version is your Quickrod? Mine is from 2007 I think, the clean is definitely nothing to write home about. Kind of a bummer, but I think it was updated in a more recent version?

It's a 2018 with no mods that Splawn offers. The clean sounds quite good with an EQ on the board.

 

[Ahpook]

I'm guessing they've changed the circuit quite a bit depending on what year?

 

[Top-L]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceZ7IhO51oQ

That Youtube video is what turned me on to the Quickrod I can get close to that, but the amp needs a lot of help to do it. Looks like he is using quite a bit as well!?

As you mentioned, Metalman, It's kind of a drag to use it the way I am. Something more focused to my needs out of the box would be ideal. Dragging around all the cables, pedals , etc is a PITA. I'm obviously fighting myself over the amp

I just checked the amp demo:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEN3qg0hL7w&ab_channel=ZENAmplification

Sounds amazing in the mix. To me it sounds like a great lead guitar amp, but for rhythm it ends up sounding tight/cocked.

 

[Demanic]

I am not hands-on familiar with the Victory Sheriff V4, but I have found when putting a preamp in the loop, they sound sterile, like a lesser version of themselves. They lose a bit of their thump and grind, and for lack of a better description, the do not have the balls they have when put in front of the amp. If you are only using it for EQ shaping, you might get the desired result with the Victory Sheriff V4 in the loop, but it is an expensive solution. If mids are your only concern, I would play with an actual eq in the loop first.

That's why you bypass the amp pre-amp and just use the loop to run straight into the power section .

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[Ahpook]

I just checked the amp demo:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEN3qg0hL7w&ab_channel=ZENAmplification

Sounds amazing in the mix. To me it sounds like a great lead guitar amp, but for rhythm it ends up sounding tight/cocked.

I haven't seen that video. Thanks! The Celestion Redback sounded really good didn't it? Hmm