School me on SPLAWNS

[mwalluk]

What can you tell me about them? Which ones are best suited for an alt rock/pop rock style with capabilities of switching over to a modern rock sound?

What are they comparable to? for instance

quick rod - is a hot rodded plexi and 800.

What about Nitro, Prostock, Competition, etc?

 

[Aceman]

Re: School me on SPLAWNS

Splawn = awesome.

Splawnage + You vs any other classic old school Marshall style = Ownage

 

[papersoul]

Re: School me on SPLAWNS

Splawn Quickrod or Streetrod is like the ultimate modded Marshall to me. Can do any style.

 

[John E Rokker]

Re: School me on SPLAWNS

I'd love the have the little Splawn Street Rod!

 

[UberMetalDood]

Re: School me on SPLAWNS

I'm going to shift this a little because I don't really classify Splawn in the Marshall category as much as most people. Splawn amps obviously have deep Marshall roots, but in my experience, they have a significantly different sound and feel. Splawns are tighter, dryer, bassier, and more articulate than Marshalls. I have developed the opinion that several amp makers like Splawn and Blackstar do the Marshall thing better than Marshall does these days.

My favorite Splawn is the Competition and 2nd favorite is the Nitro (EL34 or KT88). I had a Quickrod and love them, but the Competition just has a certain mojo. The Nitro is great because it has a nicer clean channel and little better, smoother overdrive than the Quickrod. It always seemed to me that the Nitro gets kind of lumped in with the Bogner Uberschall type thing or categorized more like a metal amp, but to me the Quickrod sounds a bit more aggressive.

I have tried the Nitro with EL34's and KT88's and both are really great. I'd love to have a Splawn right now, but am having a hard time deciding whether I'd want one more than my Bogner Shiva. The Shiva definitely beats any Splawn in the clean/cleanish tones, but Splawns have ridiculously good sounding gain tones.

The only problem with Splawns is that they take forever to build and deliver one. People are often willing to pay premium prices, new or used, just to get one that is readily available. Even then, you can't always get them with your exact cosmetic preferences.

The ONLY thing I can say about the Quickrod that isn't particularly great is that I have used it in a mix compared directly to a Marshall JVM, JCM800, Bogner Shiva, Fender Super-Sonic 100, and Elmwood Modena 60, and couldn't get it sit in the mix as well. That being said, it could be because of my personal sound preferences or because of the fact that I have little or no experience mixing/mastering or as a sound technician. I just think the Nitro sits better in any given mix.

 

[sosomething]

Re: School me on SPLAWNS

I know a thing or two about Splawns.

What specifically do you want to know about them?

edit: k, sorry - I was on a tablet and didn't realize you did ask specific questions.

All Splawn designs are inspired, or "informed" by traditional Marshall circuits, primarily the Plexi and JCM 800. By way of comparison, UMD is right - they're tighter, have more low end, and are generally capable of more saturation.

They also benefit from a lot of clarity, not a ton of compression, and they sound really good on record. They're easy to dial in because they basically do the "Splawn" sound, and that sound is badass. It's evident in all the clips you hear around so that's not hard to identify.

Cons would be that they're really only appropriate for live use and they don't tend to like pedals as much as many other amps.

For Alt Rock, I'd say the Supersport, Quick Rod, or Street Rod / Pro Stock variants are going to be your best bet. The Nitro is probably too metal for what you want and the combo is a combo... so there you go.

 

[Red_Label]

Re: School me on SPLAWNS

Played my buddy's Quickrod and ProMod. Great amps! Very modded-Marshally to me. But tighter and more compressed to my ears. Love 'em! Great amps. Would definitely be interested in one if I was in the market for such a beast right now.

However... I'm starting to feel a little GAS for a Friedman BE at the present.

 

[xxxplorer]

Re: School me on SPLAWNS

The name Splawn is just cool... There was one that popped up locally and it was a beast. Some people are put off that they don't like OD pedals as much... But they don't really need them at all. I do believe Killswitch Engage used them for a bit though with a Maxon 808 out front with good results, the live show I saw they sounded very very good that night and so clear yet heavy... Insane.

They're one of those amps that do what they do without shame and they don't try to do anything else half a$$ed. Really are like a Hot Rod and built for a purpose and proud of it.

Those, Friedman amps, and a good Marshall 800 are the amps I play and instantly feel at home. The 800 lacks some of the 'hot roddedness' and refinements, but still does something that gets overlooked sometimes... All great powerfull machines.

 

[Brow]

Re: School me on SPLAWNS

Splawn amps obviously have deep Marshall roots, but in my experience, they have a significantly different sound and feel. Splawns are tighter, dryer, bassier, and more articulate than Marshalls.

I agree with this statement 100%. I can only speak for my own Quick Rod though; I've never tried any of the other models.

To my ears they don't seem to have the saturation levels of Blackstars or MESAs, but I would still clasify them as a 'Vintage High Gain' voiced amp.

I've also not found a single OD or boost pedal that I like with my QR but I also agree with xxxplorers statement that they simply don't need them. Most people use boosts to tighten up the amps low end (I admit this is a sweeping generalisation and isn't correct for everyone), and Splawns just don't need anymore tightness.

By using either MIDI switching or my custom 4 button footswitch I can switch between low gear/high gear (1 + 2 or 2 + 3) aswell as OD1/OD2 so imo atleast there's also no need to use a boost for more gain either.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: School me on SPLAWNS

the posts in here really cover it WELL! If I was doing mainly metal, Id go with the nitro. It has more low end than the QR. But otherwise,the QR covers it all. And thankfully there is now a dial on the back that can act as a master so you can get all the tone without breaking eardrums.

I love my QR and would love to have one of the new streetrods. There is a couple of fantastic demos on youtube of the Streetrod. One of my favs is done by a dude named Hayden.. (cant think of who he is with) Ill see if I can get more info.

Yeah, they are alil particular with distortion pedals, but I find the best way to boost mine is with an MXR 10 band eq. Just set it to shape the tone for alil more cut and I can step right out front.....

 

[Brow]

Re: School me on SPLAWNS

Yeah, they are alil particular with distortion pedals, but I find the best way to boost mine is with an MXR 10 band eq. Just set it to shape the tone for alil more cut and I can step right out front.....

I finally bought 1 of those too mate

Do you use yours outfront as a boost or in the loop as a tone shaper?

 

[misterwhizzy]

Re: School me on SPLAWNS

To my ears they don't seem to have the saturation levels of Blackstars or MESAs, but I would still clasify them as a 'Vintage High Gain' voiced amp.

This would actually help sell me on them. When you get that much compression, it just doesn't feel right to me. I want the thickness of the single notes to be really dependent on my picking.

 

[Brow]

Re: School me on SPLAWNS

This would actually help sell me on them. When you get that much compression, it just doesn't feel right to me. I want the thickness of the single notes to be really dependent on my picking.

They are relatively compressed, and are also quite dry and very tight sounding. Alot of people don't like them because of this. Works ok for me

 

[Soulcrusher_X]

Re: School me on SPLAWNS

This would actually help sell me on them. When you get that much compression, it just doesn't feel right to me. I want the thickness of the single notes to be really dependent on my picking.

I know you and I are tube junkies, but the Splawns really respond to what tubes are in them. Depending on what tubes are in the amp, Splawns really can clean up with subtle picking changes. It's also one of those "feels" to an amp that can make you sound really good, or make it sound like you need to practice. They can sometimes be unforgiving, hence the dryness (to OP--though I have heard that VHTs, like your Deliverance are even more unforgiving). But when they are dialed in right, nothing does Marshally goodness like a Splawn. I had a QR/PM and a 50 watt Competition. The 4 preamp tube version of the QR/PM actually has a nice clean. The previous versions, both with seperate and shared EQ had good cleans, but not great. Careful choice of preamp tubes helps. Tung Sol preamps really help the cleans on the Splawns "chime". The Nitro came with the 4 preamp tubes right from the get go.

As for Splawns being "influenced" by Marshalls, the circuits are kind of a hybrid of British influence, by both Marshall and Orange. Regardless, I don't care how you slice it, Splawn has a great amp.

As for UMD and getting lost in a mix, with my QR/PM, I noticed when on the 3rd gear settings, my tones didn't cut through as much. It seemed like it scooped out too many mids. 2nd gear/OD2 was my favorite. Saturation without being a ball of mush, great upper mid cut, tons of punch while still having good pick dynamics. For being a middy amp, though, it still sounded better with the mids cranked up. Not sure what gear you were using UMD, but I can see what you mean if you were having trouble with 3rd gear.

Oh, and for some Splawn pr0n:

50w Competition on left, on a modified 5150 cab, V30/H30 X.
100w Quickrod/Promod (originally a QR, but put KT88s in it) on right with a modified Peavey XXX cabinet quad of '76 Blackbacks

Just the Quickrod:

 

[rammer69]

Re: School me on SPLAWNS

there is a KEMPER PROFILE on the kemper forum of the NITRO by fast red ponycar that sounds really great,, also on youtube, i'll find it tommorow ..

 

[misterwhizzy]

Re: School me on SPLAWNS

I know you and I are tube junkies, but the Splawns really respond to what tubes are in them. Depending on what tubes are in the amp, Splawns really can clean up with subtle picking changes. It's also one of those "feels" to an amp that can make you sound really good, or make it sound like you need to practice. They can sometimes be unforgiving, hence the dryness (to OP--though I have heard that VHTs, like your Deliverance are even more unforgiving). But when they are dialed in right, nothing does Marshally goodness like a Splawn.

Please stop. I don't have the money or the audience to afford what you're making me want.

 

[Brow]

Re: School me on SPLAWNS

Great post there Soulcrusher