Univalve owners? or those who know about them?

[CapoFirstFret]

Hey guys, I was looking at Univalves and through Avatar I can order a Univalve and a 4x10 cab for $1054 (that's including shipping!) and am seriously thinking about saving up the cash for one, but I need to know how well a Univalve can push a 4x10 cab...I would go with 2x10, but Avatar doesn't offer one and I can't get the Univalve deal ($650 for a brand new univalve, including shipping!) without ordering an Avatar cab and I don't like 12" speakers....(even though, yes, my rectoverb is a 1x12, I prefer 10")

Any experiences?

 

[FireBros.]

Re: Univalve owners? or those who know about them?

Univalve's have a cool sound, and you can do a lot of tone shapeing via tube swaps. They are voiced really bright, so most people try to compensate by have a darker, or more bass heavy speaker cab. The Univalve definitely doesn't work with every speaker. As far as tone goes they are almost on the oposite end of the spectrum from your recto. Uni's have a lot more upper midrange bite, less compression, and less bass than most Mesa amps. Another thing is they have very little clean head room, with most tube sets. I personally don't think most tens would be a good match for the univalve, because they are usually a lot brighter than twelves. However, I did get good tones from Uni through a Mesa "Black Shadow Vintage 10". That's the speaker they are mixing with alnicos in the new Lonestar Special 4x10.

Quality wise, they are at least as well built as Mesa or any other great amp you can think of.

For more info go to univalve.net , the second best guitar forum on the net.

 

[54stratlover]

Re: Univalve owners? or those who know about them?

Univalve's have a cool sound, and you can do a lot of tone shapeing via tube swaps. They are voiced really bright, so most people try to compensate by have a darker, or more bass heavy speaker cab. The Univalve definitely doesn't work with every speaker. As far as tone goes they are almost on the oposite end of the spectrum from your recto. Uni's have a lot more upper midrange bite, less compression, and less bass than most Mesa amps. Another thing is they have very little clean head room, with most tube sets. I personally don't think most tens would be a good match for the univalve, because they are usually a lot brighter than twelves. However, I did get good tones from Uni through a Mesa "Black Shadow Vintage 10". That's the speaker they are mixing with alnicos in the new Lonestar Special 4x10.

Quality wise, they are at least as well built as Mesa or any other great amp you can think of.

For more info go to univalve.net , the second best guitar forum on the net.

1+

I have one also, and agree with the tonal assesments above. I have pushed a 4x12 with it, and it worked fine. I don't like greenbacks with it. I do like v3o, and g12hs with the univalve, especially with certain 6550 tubes. to get a cleaner sound I use 12 at7s and 12 au7s in teh preamp section.

 

[CapoFirstFret]

Re: Univalve owners? or those who know about them?

thanks for the info guys, I'll definitely keep it in mind as I think about what I'm going to get...btw, Firebros...should you ever sell your blue angel 4x10, I want dibs I've been looking for one of those things for a while now

 

[PUCKBOY99]

Re: Univalve owners? or those who know about them?

+2 on the assessment of the Uni.....although I didn't find it OVERLY bright, but that might be me or more to my liking.

I ran mine w/a Marshall 1966A 2x12 cab....made open-back "panels" for it & had a V30/G12H30 combination; sounded great!!!

It was my first tube amp & taught me a lot, BUT....tube swapping will become your new/next addiction.

I wouldn't mind getting another one, just to play around with mixing up some tubes quickly....no need to rebias anything/takes all kinds of tubes, which is cool.

I didn't think the built in HotPlate worked worth a damn, but at 15watts there really isn't a huge need for it.

Personally, the Avatar deals are pretty good, but you might be able to find a used Uni with a tube stash cheaper.....



BTW....I have a Blue Angel 4x10 too that I might be selling :wink:

 

[CapoFirstFret]

Re: Univalve owners? or those who know about them?

woah...seriously? I'd have to sell my rectoverb first...but I really do want a blue angel 4x10...have wanted one for a while. PM me with info.....wouldn't wanna trade for a rectoverb would ya?