Splawn

[some_dude]

A few questions...

How good is it at sounding like a Plexi?

Is the clean channel basically a Plexi without the extra gain of the OD channel?

How good is it at sounding like a JCM800?

If footswitch button one lets you switch between Clean and OD and button 2 lets you switch between OD1 (rhythm) and OD2 (lead), what's the lead boost do? Bypass the EQ (full mids)?

What's the general consensious on tone/quality?

What's the diff between the ProMod, QuickRod, and ProStock?

 

[lpmarshall]

Re: Splawn

A few questions...

How good is it at sounding like a Plexi?

I stick to 1st gear plexi almost exclusively. Does a damn good job.

Is the clean channel basically a Plexi without the extra gain of the OD channel?

From what I can tell, no. But I'm not sure about how the amp is wired up.

How good is it at sounding like a JCM800?

Gears 2 and 3 get you there, but it seems to be a little more compressed than a normal JCM800

If footswitch button one lets you switch between Clean and OD and button 2 lets you switch between OD1 (rhythm) and OD2 (lead), what's the lead boost do? Bypass the EQ (full mids)?

The lead boost activates OD2, and there is a seperate master volume for the lead boost

What's the general consensious on tone/quality?

I love mine, and wouldn't trade it for the world.

What's the diff between the ProMod, QuickRod, and ProStock?

The ProMod is a single channel I believe. Other than that, I'm not really familiar with anything other than the QR.

If you want some clips I can whip something together that compares the gears. If you have any songs that I can learn quickly I can do that too. I can't guarantee they will be super high quality or anything, I just fired up my Firewire interface for the first time today.

 

[JammerMatt]

Re: Splawn

What's the diff between the ProMod, QuickRod, and ProStock?

LP got most of 'em, I'll play some clean-up.

The Quickrod is the 100-watt, 2-channel, EL-34 based amp. Probably the most popular of the line - most "Marshally" I guess. 1/2 power switch to 50 watts.

The ProMod is the 120-watt, 2-channel KT-88 based amp. I haven't played one, but my understanding is that it is a tighter and more modern-sounding amp. Not nu-metal type modern, but just more modern. More bass, more thump due to the KT-88s. Half-power switch to 60 watts.

The Pro Stock is the 100-watt single-channel EL-34 based amp. Basically same animal as the Quickrod, but no dedicated clean channel. This leaves an additional button on the footswitch which is used to change between 1st and 2nd, or 2nd and 3rd gear.

The Competition is the 50-watt version of the Pro Stock. Same footswitch setup, a tad less expensive. 1/2 power to 25-watts.

The QR, PS and Comp have the option of KT-77 power tubes. My understanding is that they're somewhere between the EL-34 and KT-88, at least that's what Josh at Splawn told me. I don't know though. I'm EL-34.

The clean channel on the QR and PM are updated, and what I'm hearing is that it is much improved. I don't have the clean channel though, since clean is for girls.

The gears and OD's are very versatile, even to my noobie ears. I can definitely hear the difference between each and every one of them. I've gotten to where I can even hear someone's clip and usually guess which channel was used. There is THAT much difference between settings. That was very striking to me, being I'm basically a hack who had a couple G to rub together one day. My Comp wishes it went to a more skilled player, but I treat it nice and keep it in a dry place, so it's pretty nice to me.

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: Splawn

Neither the QR or PR sound much like a plexi at all in first gear. First gear to me is all about Fair Warning VH, which may well have been a plexi, but certainly isn't what I'd call a classic plexi tone. All the plexis I've heard have sounded much more like Paul Kossoff's tone with Free.

Can't give you much on the clean channel, as I didn't use it when I tried them.

Does it sound like an 800? -yes, it sounds like a very good one, with more gain on tap.

As for quality, the build appears excellent. I'd say it's the number one amp out there for 800 fanatics and thirty-something Halen-tone chasers.

By the way, Scott's building a plexi-like amp that will have a gain roof equivalent to first gear. Apparently it will take pedals well.