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Post by morecowbell on Dec 9, 2005 10:03:49 GMT -5
The amp definitely 'fills' in when the volume goes up...no matter what 'gear' you use. That's absolutley true, but what I like about the QR is while it "fills" with increased volume, it doesn't completely transform into something else completley like alot amps do, especially Marshalls. Even at wall shaking volume the QR very much sounds like the same amp as it did at a much quieter volume, just better because you can tell it's breathing. I know, weird analogy, but that's really how it feels to me, as you begin to raise the volume it clears it's throat and as you continue to raise the volume it really starts to breathe.
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Post by motrock on Dec 9, 2005 10:16:31 GMT -5
I had a Single Rec Solo head not too long ago, and I liked it ok. But I was constantly tweaking knobs on it, and after awhile I realized it was because what I was really doing was trying to get it to lean towards a Marshall sort of tone, and it just doesn't really go there. So I got a Splawn Marshall 1987x, which knocked me out, and so I figured why not go full bore and get a QR. I couldn't be happier. I still haven't had the time to sell the 1987x yet, but I probably will. I have a JCM800 2204 that I like quite a bit, but it depends alot more on front ends boosts and using a hotplate otherwise it's not very plug and play. I had a stock SLP plexi reissue and never did manage to get anything I wanted out of it. So I guess I'm mixed with Marshalls. To me, Splawns are Marshalls done right. Back to the 1st gear thing.........I'm going to try it in a gig setting tomorrow night I think. I'm a little concerned about it being a little bitey, but then again in 2nd gear our sound guy always needs to cut the low end a bit at the board so 1st gear could work great. It's difficult to know without actually being at a gig, too much changes between home and stage. I've fooled myself too many times, carefully dialing in my tone at home only to arrive at gig soundcheck and have to stand there scratching my head wondering what the heck happened to the tone I just had the day before. Sometimes it's so drastic was sure something blew up! Anyway, 1st gear and OD2 engaged, and I swear it sounded exactly like tone off Under Lock and Key, which I really dig. But that was at home, who knows how much of that translates to a stage situation. Man, if you got the Under Lock and Key tone going.... VERY COOL. Lightning Strikes Again is my fav off that album!
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Post by jimbax on Dec 9, 2005 10:27:02 GMT -5
you know, last night I was recording some solos so I had the QR in third gear OD1 gain dimed and volume at about 10 o'clock (pretty dang loud)....well, I kept 'chowdering' the solos so it took a coupla hours...I kept the QR running w/o stopping and after a few hours it really began to get this 'silky' feel to it...especially at the real high notes...I was MAJOR digin' it! SMOOTH....this thing likes to run hot...(just keep a set of output tubes around...).
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Post by jimbax on Dec 9, 2005 10:36:31 GMT -5
throoonggg....lol... yeah, it's transparent of muck ups, that's for sure =) I couldn't be happier though....it's a monster the QR 'tracks' when I pick fast keeps tight and yet it sustains and BLISTERS the tone ...my playing was getting lost with the Bad Cat/Matchless/Boogie amps and even the Guytron amp which smokes the Bogners (IMHO) looses 'focus' when you lay into it...the QR is a challenge to play but I love it..
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Post by jimbax on Dec 9, 2005 10:39:36 GMT -5
I had a Single Rec Solo head not too long ago, and I liked it ok. But I was constantly tweaking knobs on it, and after awhile I realized it was because what I was really doing was trying to get it to lean towards a Marshall sort of tone, and it just doesn't really go there. So I got a Splawn Marshall 1987x, which knocked me out, and so I figured why not go full bore and get a QR. I couldn't be happier. I still haven't had the time to sell the 1987x yet, but I probably will. I have a JCM800 2204 that I like quite a bit, but it depends alot more on front ends boosts and using a hotplate otherwise it's not very plug and play. I had a stock SLP plexi reissue and never did manage to get anything I wanted out of it. So I guess I'm mixed with Marshalls. To me, Splawns are Marshalls done right. Back to the 1st gear thing.........I'm going to try it in a gig setting tomorrow night I think. I'm a little concerned about it being a little bitey, but then again in 2nd gear our sound guy always needs to cut the low end a bit at the board so 1st gear could work great. It's difficult to know without actually being at a gig, too much changes between home and stage. I've fooled myself too many times, carefully dialing in my tone at home only to arrive at gig soundcheck and have to stand there scratching my head wondering what the heck happened to the tone I just had the day before. Sometimes it's so drastic was sure something blew up! Anyway, 1st gear and OD2 engaged, and I swear it sounded exactly like tone off Under Lock and Key, which I really dig. But that was at home, who knows how much of that translates to a stage situation. yea, every room is going to sound different...not the amps fault..you have to adjust (slightly hopefully) and when a room fills up with people it responds different too..
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Post by Hacksaw on Dec 9, 2005 14:19:25 GMT -5
you know, last night I was recording some solos so I had the QR in third gear OD1 gain dimed and volume at about 10 o'clock (pretty dang loud)....well, I kept 'chowdering' the solos so it took a coupla hours...I kept the QR running w/o stopping and after a few hours it really began to get this 'silky' feel to it...especially at the real high notes...I was MAJOR digin' it! SMOOTH....this thing likes to run hot...(just keep a set of output tubes around...). Ya jim!! thats where I am at!! I bounce between OD1 and OD2 there too.. after 15 minuts of jammin it really warms up and gets fluid sweet. I dont quite run that high of volume but closer to 9:00 on volume. 9:15 or around there on solo.. thats where I created that test clip. :-) glad you found the sound too!! I was thinking am I the only one diming it on 3rd gear?!! I started blaming weak pickups etc! also,, when i get home I kick on the amp.. kinda like preheat in the oven LOL, it stays running until I crash out.. I do jam a lot during that time. and its nice and toastie when I jam out. ( spare svetlanas ready to go)
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Post by jimbax on Dec 9, 2005 15:28:14 GMT -5
you know, last night I was recording some solos so I had the QR in third gear OD1 gain dimed and volume at about 10 o'clock (pretty dang loud)....well, I kept 'chowdering' the solos so it took a coupla hours...I kept the QR running w/o stopping and after a few hours it really began to get this 'silky' feel to it...especially at the real high notes...I was MAJOR digin' it! SMOOTH....this thing likes to run hot...(just keep a set of output tubes around...). Ya jim!! thats where I am at!! I bounce between OD1 and OD2 there too.. after 15 minuts of jammin it really warms up and gets fluid sweet. I dont quite run that high of volume but closer to 9:00 on volume. 9:15 or around there on solo.. thats where I created that test clip. :-) glad you found the sound too!! I was thinking am I the only one diming it on 3rd gear?!! I started blaming weak pickups etc! also,, when i get home I kick on the amp.. kinda like preheat in the oven LOL, it stays running until I crash out.. I do jam a lot during that time. and its nice and toastie when I jam out. ( spare svetlanas ready to go) Yo, hack, where can I get a quad of spares (Mullards) or SED Svetlanas??? and, do I have to rebias the amp? can I get plug and play for guys like me that don't like to put their hands into high voltage situations???
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Post by jimbax on Dec 9, 2005 17:19:44 GMT -5
you know, last night I was recording some solos so I had the QR in third gear OD1 gain dimed and volume at about 10 o'clock (pretty dang loud)....well, I kept 'chowdering' the solos so it took a coupla hours...I kept the QR running w/o stopping and after a few hours it really began to get this 'silky' feel to it...especially at the real high notes...I was MAJOR digin' it! SMOOTH....this thing likes to run hot...(just keep a set of output tubes around...). Ya jim!! thats where I am at!! I bounce between OD1 and OD2 there too.. after 15 minuts of jammin it really warms up and gets fluid sweet. I dont quite run that high of volume but closer to 9:00 on volume. 9:15 or around there on solo.. thats where I created that test clip. :-) glad you found the sound too!! I was thinking am I the only one diming it on 3rd gear?!! I started blaming weak pickups etc! also,, when i get home I kick on the amp.. kinda like preheat in the oven LOL, it stays running until I crash out.. I do jam a lot during that time. and its nice and toastie when I jam out. ( spare svetlanas ready to go) yea, I found that I need to record at louder volumes to get the amp to really breathe....my wife LOVES the idea!
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Post by Hacksaw on Dec 9, 2005 18:02:34 GMT -5
Yo, hack, where can I get a quad of spares (Mullards) or SED Svetlanas??? and, do I have to rebias the amp? can I get plug and play for guys like me that don't like to put their hands into high voltage situations??? I too get the amp breathing for recording.. I like getting the speaker breakup sound. Smart man!! Here is the long winded answer.. there are options, get bias checked once and buy a match set from bob @eurotubes. then you should keep the tones and etc you are hearing now. that will allow you to order tubes with a matching ma draw (like craggin did) Craggin, what ma draw tubes did you get in the matched set? Replacements with out checking the bias? I would call scott at splawn, and get a matched set of mullards from his stock. that should be good, and the easiest. I am sure he has match sets that are to his specs in stock.. Svetlanas will require a little more ma bias to the tube to get them warm sounding, so unless ya want to bias stay will the mullards. ( craggin proved this in another post. thanks again craggin!!) General info, I called scott since I have a few questions concerning this. what does he do for biasing? all ear !! he's done so many! once again the ear is winning the bias adjustment procedure! does he have controlled voltages to bias with? no but he always knows the "house" voltage when he is performing biasing, again by ear to his spec. but end up between 28 and 34 usually depending on what the amp likes and with a margin for voltage changes. ( each amp is different cause no two electrical components are exactly alike.) hence by ear setting. Scott bias's amps a little lower due to the fact when voltage changes, bias changes. this way if you go out unto the world and plug in at a show and its running 125-127+ volts your tubes wont get hurt and be over biased. Lower bias also will be a little more consistent sounding as well with different voltages. so he gives bias room for voltage changes. ever notice different venues sometimes the amp just sounds a tad different.. aside from the environment? voltage may be why. for perfection and consistent perfectionist sound, a voltage regulator could be used on the ac line to keep it at 120v, (keeps spikes etc out as well, a good thing).
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Post by jimbax on Dec 9, 2005 18:46:40 GMT -5
Thanx, I have the boxes that the Mullards came in with the number: 39 written on all 4 of the boxes....maybe he (Scott) can match the tubes this way...thanx!
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Post by Hacksaw on Dec 9, 2005 19:09:52 GMT -5
Thats cool!! any one else see a number on their mullard box? 39 also ?
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Post by craggin on Dec 9, 2005 20:07:15 GMT -5
Hacksaw nailed it....different venues will produce different voltages...one good reason to get a voltage regulator. The matched quad of SED (Svetlana to the European Splawn brethren) drew 495 at the plate...I ended up biasing them pretty warm...right around 35mA and all 4 were exact. My band had to cancel a few gigs, so we won't be playing out until New Year's Eve...I'll probably lower the bias a tad for the reasons Hacksaw mentioned. I started biasing amps myself because my tech used to use a scope (best method) and would always bias my tubes right at that point where the crossover distortion disappeared. The upside is that under perfect conditions, the amp sounds killer...the downside is that you can potentially be biased dangerously close to max dissipation levels. I smoked a tube or two during shows so I figured it was time to be safer with my bias. A good tube vendor will set you straight with tightly matched sets. A few I've used and would recommend in a heart beat are in no particular order: www.Dougstubes.comwww.nebsnow.com/LordValvewww.eurotubes.comwww.srs-webstore.com/The last link is where I buy my SED's...I've purchased 6L6's for my Road King an EL34's for my Quick Rod...both were matched VERY tight. They also stock Mullards...if you can't find them anywhere else. (Prices aren't bad, either.) For good, reliable NOS tubes...if you want to go that route...check out: www.kcanostubes.com Mike is super helpful, a monster player, and very knowledgeable/reliable to boot. I noticed that experimenting with different tubes in my QR didn't change the voicing of the amp, just the feel. I always looked at it as if I was putting my own finger print on the amp...not as if I needed to change the voicing. I thought the Mullards were really voiced well in the amp, but stumbled upon a potential problem with a broken "tube socket thingy" LOL!!! I used that as an excuse to try something different and since I've had great luck with SED's in my other amps (JCM800 and a Voodoo Modded Road King), I'd give 'em a try here. One other tube I'd like to try someday is the Ruby EL34BSTR's. I had a set in my JCM800 that were really cool...one of the biggest low ends of any EL34 I've ever played. I guess the point of my long winded post is to say that I don't find anything wrong with the stock tubes in the Quick Rod at all, and I love the sound of them...but I had a bunch of various preamp tubes laying around that I've gathered over the years and figured I'd experiment a little. When the tube socket key (tube thingy) was broken in one of my power tubes, I figured that would be a good impetus for me to try something a little different. Our ears are all different and as such, different tonal characteristics appeal to us...some dig raspy highs which could be highlighted by tube brand "x"...others love deep lows, which are more present in tube "y". I'd venture a guess that the stock tubes were chosen by Scott because they had the most neutral balance of all the above. We can just change them out to season to taste. Does any of that make sense or am I rambling???
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Post by Hacksaw on Dec 9, 2005 23:41:14 GMT -5
Man you bring good info! yea that perfect crossover going away when voltage changes. so that makes you wonder, setting stuff with a scope will only be 100% acurate at the shop at that voltage. off to a gig and it moved! I use a good power conditioner, not just a regular power strip. it monitors the volts and " cleans " the AC wave. I know amps run on those loose power outlets at the venues for years. I just too picky sometimes with my favorite amps in the weirdest area's! LOL!!
I cant wait to try the Svetlana's just to hear them. I have used those in almost every amp I owned, for years! had great reliability since they handle some the highest of volts on the market. :-)
Ramble on brutha!~ it makes perfect sence.
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Post by shreder75 on Dec 10, 2005 13:01:18 GMT -5
I had my master at about 2:00 at practice at one point....LOL....it was the most pissed off sounding tone I've ever heard =D sounded like someone kicked a grizzly bear in the sac....hheheh..me likey
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Post by jimbax on Dec 10, 2005 20:46:00 GMT -5
I had my master at about 2:00 at practice at one point....LOL....it was the most pissed off sounding tone I've ever heard =D sounded like someone kicked a grizzly bear in the sac....hheheh..me likey Shreder goes old school....film at 11...
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