Well, Thursday was anyway. My little back up amp arrived.
£189 new, absolute Bargain, if you are considering one, then I would recommend it. At first I wasn't too taken with it, I plugged my Ruokangas into it first and was only pleased with the lower gain amp models and JC Clean channel.
Then I plugged in my Wolfgang and a smile quickly spread across my mug. My Ruokangas has lower output pick ups and didn't quite cut it on some models, but the Wolfgang, having hotter pick ups sounds great through every single setting on this amp. I'm not a "Metal" guitar player, but the high gain sounds on this amp are really good.
That German demo I posted in the "Effects with Solid State Amps" thread is bang on what this amp sounds like, just at home in a room, no studio trickery, it sounds the same.
I remember someone posting a "Guess The Amp" thread a while back and nearly everyone(myself included) was guessing at Fender Tube Amps or Egnaters, the amp turned out to be a Peavey Bandit, which sounded very nice.
Now, because I am NOT an Amp expert, in a blind test done at a reasonable volume, I might struggle to guess what amp is being played when A/B'd between the real thing and the amp models on the cube, like I said, I don't have the experienced ear, but I do have a set of Lug 'Oles and this amp brought a smile to my face.
They do a very good job of sounding like what one might expect a Twin or Deluxe etc to sound like. It's never gonna be bang on, but it's a good effort.
I love the Tweed setting, I don't know what Amp Steve Jones used for recording "God Save The Queen" but I ripped straight into that tune when I heard that tone come from the amp.
I can imagine this amp to be ideal for doing Cover Band work or any small to medium gig.
Does it need micing up or lining out to a cab to cut through in a band??? I can't say, I don't have that experience with it. The bugger is loud, that I can say.
I am a fan of this amp even though I have my Bogner rig, which sounds gorgeous with both my guitars and I will always favour the Bogner, but for £189 for a quick set up, back up solution, you can't go wrong with it.
I bought the Boss FS-5U Footswitch(£20) with it and will probably get the FS-6 as well, I need to know what other footswitches I need to cover all switching purposes for a live situation. The FS-5U switches between clean and lead channels, but I also want something to switch on and off the FX without having to go to the amp and something for the switching the "Solo" function on and off.
So, nearer £229 for amp and 2 Footswitches, still a bargain.
EDIT: Re the Mod FX, very pleased with those as long as they are set to subtle levels, can be a bit overcooked, nice delay and reverb.
Just remember YMMV greatly depending what guitar you've got plugged into it. I went from thinking "It'll Do, I suppose" to "This is pretty fecking awesome".
Thanks for listening.
:-)
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Comments
Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder
My trading feedback - I'm a good egg
If you play a decent valve amp, for sure, you'll feel and hear the difference, but that doesn't mean these amps won't deliver.
Nice one and enjoy