Splawn Amps?

[PFDarkside]

Not that I need another amp, but I'm interested in Marshall style amps, it seems like Splawns are modeled after hot rodded Marshalls. I know there are at least a couple of Splawn guys here, what's the low down on them, and what's the difference between their different amps? How do they stack up against the venerable JCM800, Stiletto, and stuff like Bogners and Diezels?

 

[lpmarshall]

Re: Splawn Amps?

I have the QuickRod. It basically has 3 gears (voices):

1.) Plexi
2.) JCM 800
3.) Hot rodded JCM 800

I normally stick to the plexi. It has a footswitch with clean, OD2, and solo boost (seperate volume control on the amp).

I absolutely love mine. I run it through a Marshall 4x12 w/ Vintage 30's.

There is also the Competition, but I'm not as familiar with that amp. I also have a JCM800 2210, and this amp can get way more gain, and is a little more versatile. Cleans are ok, nothing to write home about, but certainly a lot better than my 2210. If you have any more specific questions I'll try to answer them.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Splawn Amps?

How many actual channels does it have, how many share EQs, (how many have independent EQs), and are all three modes assignable to all the channels? Or is it just a 'clean', and 'OD' which is one of the three modes and an 'OD2' which is the same mode as OD1 but with more gain? How exactly does the footwitch work in conjunction with the channels/modes?

If there was a 3 channel amp, one of each mode, each channel having an independent EQ that would be outstanding... I don't think it's that way though, is it.

 

[sosomething]

Re: Splawn Amps?

I have an older (single EQ, two input, mercury magnetics tranny) Pro Mod. I've been using it for about two years now and I STILL get goosebumps from cranking it. It's really got more of a hot-rodded Plexi voice rather than the more strident 800 voice, and is capable of a ridiculous amount of gain.

I prefer it to any of the current Marshalls or modded older ones for what it does. IMO it eats the Stiletto for breakfast and feeds the crumbs to the dog.

Mine doesn't have the different gears - I think it's equivalent to a newer one being on 2nd gear all the time. It's a 2 channel with an OD boost and a solo boost, and one EQ shared by both channels. The newer Splawns have a separate EQ for the clean channel, though.

I've tried almost everything under the sun and nothing has made me want to sell my Splawn. It's rock-solid - has never gone down over the two years I've gigged it heavily and I run the thing hard.

The Pro Mod uses KT88s to the Quick Rod's EL34s so it has a slightly more "modern" voice, meaning a deeper, tighter low-end.

The thing I love about Splawns is that they cut through a mix really, really well without EVER sounded shrill or buzzy. They're super-tight sounding amps as well, which can be a little unforgiving until you get used to them, but it's worth it.

 

[paulfrede]

Re: Splawn Amps?

Check out Voodoo Amps, they're all about the hotrodded Marshall vibe. www.voodooamps.com

 

[JammerMatt]

Re: Splawn Amps?

I have a Competition. The Competition is the 50 watt single channel little brother to the Quickrod. I can't blame anyone for being confused, the website is not all that clear in my opinion. Here goes:

The Quickrod and Pro Mod are both two channel amps. The Quickrod is EL34 based and the Pro Mod is KT88 based. There is a clean channel and a dirty channel. The dirty channel has 3 gears, each one with a different voice. Gear 1 is Hot Rod Plexi, Gear 2 is Hot Rod JCM800, Gear 3 is Super Hot Rod JCM800. In addition, OD1 and OD2 are available for each gear which gives you a sum total of 7 different voices including the clean channel. Think of OD1 as your rhythm channel and OD2 as your lead channel for each gear. Each gear is like an amp unto itself. They each sound different and are distinct. I go back and forth as to which I like the best - but I really like them all and they're all useful.

The Pro Stock is a single channel EL34 based 100 watt amp. No clean channel but same gears as those above.

The Competition is a single channel EL34 based 50 watt amp. Little brother to the Pro Stock. Same amp but 50 watts.

The gears don't really sound like a "stock" anything. They are hot-rodded, modded, or whatever, versions of those types of tones. My understanding is that Scott did not set out to recreate hot-rodded Marshalls, but instead set out to create what he though hot-rodded Marshalls SHOULD be.

Each model is 1/2 power switchable.

The last time I played a Marshall it was many many years ago, and when I played it I wondered why it didn't sound like any of the records. Simply put, those guys had theirs either modded or some other outboard piece of gear.

The Splawns do not need anything in front to get great overdriven tones. My TS9DX is gathering dust.

I am not a pro nor even a gigging musician, but play mine at home every day. I love it and can't imagine ever getting rid of it. It is very articulate, big ballsy when cranked, no fizz whatsoever... which I do kinda miss time to time since fizz hides your mistakes. The Splawn will hide nothing.

 

[MartinSixStringCustoms]

Re: Splawn Amps?

I have a Competition. The Competition is the 50 watt single channel little brother to the Quickrod. I can't blame anyone for being confused, the website is not all that clear in my opinion. Here goes:

The Quickrod and Pro Mod are both two channel amps. The Quickrod is EL34 based and the Pro Mod is KT88 based. There is a clean channel and a dirty channel. The dirty channel has 3 gears, each one with a different voice. Gear 1 is Hot Rod Plexi, Gear 2 is Hot Rod JCM800, Gear 3 is Super Hot Rod JCM800. In addition, OD1 and OD2 are available for each gear which gives you a sum total of 7 different voices including the clean channel. Think of OD1 as your rhythm channel and OD2 as your lead channel for each gear. Each gear is like an amp unto itself. They each sound different and are distinct. I go back and forth as to which I like the best - but I really like them all and they're all useful.

The Pro Stock is a single channel EL34 based 100 watt amp. No clean channel but same gears as those above.

The Competition is a single channel EL34 based 50 watt amp. Little brother to the Pro Stock. Same amp but 50 watts.

The gears don't really sound like a "stock" anything. They are hot-rodded, modded, or whatever, versions of those types of tones. My understanding is that Scott did not set out to recreate hot-rodded Marshalls, but instead set out to create what he though hot-rodded Marshalls SHOULD be.

Each model is 1/2 power switchable.

The last time I played a Marshall it was many many years ago, and when I played it I wondered why it didn't sound like any of the records. Simply put, those guys had theirs either modded or some other outboard piece of gear.

The Splawns do not need anything in front to get great overdriven tones. My TS9DX is gathering dust.

I am not a pro nor even a gigging musician, but play mine at home every day. I love it and can't imagine ever getting rid of it. It is very articulate, big ballsy when cranked, no fizz whatsoever... which I do kinda miss time to time since fizz hides your mistakes. The Splawn will hide nothing.

Well said. I have the Quick Rod and its hands down the best amp I've ever owned or played through.

 

[JammerMatt]

Re: Splawn Amps?

No shared EQ as far as I know.

 

[JammerMatt]

Re: Splawn Amps?

Martin - love the avatar. That place hasn't been the same without The Rock.

Would you agree the website descriptions of the features could use some fine-tuning?

 

[MartinSixStringCustoms]

Re: Splawn Amps?

Would you agree the website descriptions of the features could use some fine-tuning?

Absolutely. I must have read Scott's page 10 times over and still walked away somewhat confused. But...He does build one heck of an amp

 

[Stratovarious]

Re: Splawn Amps?

hm
I dont have one
I REALLY wish I did though
the splawns look and sound GREAT

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Splawn Amps?

I guess the only question left to ask is, does he keep any in stock or are they all made to order?

 

[metlking]

Re: Splawn Amps?

I guess the only question left to ask is, does he keep any in stock or are they all made to order?

Plan on a four month wait these days....so I've heard!

But.....it's well worth it, I love mine!

I bought one used on Ebay, saved the wait and a few bucks but missed out on the lifetime warranty offered only to the original buyer. The most updated Quickrod version has an extra preamp tube for the clean channel, separate tone on the clean channel, and as I understand it the gears are midi-switchable.....mine doesn't have the midi option.

Did I mention I love mine? :banana:

Contact Josh at www.rebelamps.com he may be able to help you get one!

Cool site:Splawn Fans Forum

 

[JammerMatt]

Re: Splawn Amps?

Josh at Rebel Amps is a good resource. Here are some others:

http://www.splawnguitars.com/amps_dealers.htm

Dealers can get an amp in your hands faster than by going direct through Splawn. They sometimes carry amps in stock. You can get a custom headbox through a dealer with a shorter wait time than direct (I think) as they have some sort of arrangement through Splawn.

The Competition model can only be had direct through Scott. Mine was 12 weeks on the money. Wait times might be increasing since they received a good review in Guitar Player.

Going used wouldn't be a bad way. You don't get the warranty, but Scott would still answer any question you needed.

 

[Virtual Kevorkian]

Re: Splawn Amps?

I used to dog Splawns as being overrated and 'just Marshall clones," but I'm actually really wanting to try one now, and can't wait to see what the Nitro turns out like.

 

[JammerMatt]

Re: Splawn Amps?

VK, you probably don't pass this far north during your yearly pilgrimmage to central Oregon, but if you ever find yourself in the PDX area feel free to look me up, you can check it out yourself. For your style of play it might not be the ticket since I know you're into more modern tones. But the new product looks interesting indeed.

 

[Rocker35]

Re: Splawn Amps?

Just pulled the plug on a used Competition on Ebay here in the UK which is a rarity. I've been contemplating getting a simpler EL34 head to complement my Engl for some time and the Splawn just happend to come up (I was gonna order one when my divorce was finalised, but have saved myself the 16 week wait and import duty!!).

It's a full plexi style headbox in white with gold piping. It'll be ideal for the project I'm about to start where, funnily enough, the other guitarist has a Quickrod!!!! Splawn's are very rare here in the UK and our band will have two!!!!!

 

[Senor Skanky]

Re: Splawn Amps?

The Competition is a single channel EL34 based 50 watt amp. Little brother to the Pro Stock. Same amp but 50 watts.

Each model is 1/2 power switchable.

So if you can get the Competition down to 25 Watts, does that mean it sounds decent at lower levels?

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Splawn Amps?

Well said. I have the Quick Rod and its hands down the best amp I've ever owned or played through.

Really? Im really struggling with amp choices since I cant play many. I want something to replace my PV ultra plus . Ive always love the JCM 800 but wished it had a Master Volume. .
I like that Mesas Dirt and like the PV JSX and 6505 distortion..

 

[JammerMatt]

Re: Splawn Amps?

So if you can get the Competition down to 25 Watts, does that mean it sounds decent at lower levels?

Yes. The Master volume is touchy below 9:00, meaning that there's a fine line betweeen quiet and loud. There are tricks I use to get great low volume sound.

BTW, not a huge volume diff between 25 and 50 watts IMO, but enough to make a difference.