recommendation help: Super Comp or Competition?

[metalman22105]

Hey guys, I'm getting ready to order my first Splawn head, and since I haven't ever been able to play one in person, I'm trying to figure out which one would be best for me. My old amps were a mesa single recto (blech) and an old 1985 Marshall Lead-100 Mosfet (I'm actually sorry I sold it, for a SS head it was pretty cool!)

Anyway, I can't decide between a 50 watt Super Comp with the EL34B's, or a Competition with the same tubes (I'm an EL34 guy for sure). I guess what I'm wanting to know is, how close is the supercomp to a Nitro (I've heard a lot of guys complaining about way too much low-end, woofy, etc.) and what is the mode switch like on the Super Comp? Also, would it be more beneficial for me to get the Competition with the versatility of the 3 gear modes? (how different are the 3 different gears?)

Basically, I'm looking for a lot of tightness, which amp would be better? I'm the lead singer/only guitarist in a 3-piece Hard-Rock/post-hardcore band, so I want the guitar tone to sound huge, a lot of girth, with great bite, and really tight. Any recommendations/pros-cons for either head?
Thanks!

[Lewis]

That's a tough question because both are great amps. I have a Competition and a Nitro and I couldn't pick one over the other, it's a mood thing for me. The Nitro's bottom end thump crushes any other I've ever heard but the Competition's chewy mids and just keep coming back for more.
Sorry I'm not very helpful but you can't go wrong with either amp. I would be completely satisfied with my Competition if our other guitarist didn't use a Nitro which makes the my competition sound a little thin side by side but my mids do sound better.

[metalman22105]

Haha, well thanks for replying, it just makes me want both amps! How is the tightness/clarity of your competition? I don't play super low tunings, (just E standard, drop D and C# and C). our bass player has a pretty huge tone and place in our music (Ampeg SVT) Do you think the bottom end of the Supercomp/Nitro would interfere with that? Mayeb the Comp would be a better choice, everything I've heard was awesome, tight, bitey mids (which I love...)

[Lewis]

Apr 5, 2011 13:50:14 GMT -5 metalman22105 said:

Mayeb the Comp would be a better choice, everything I've heard was awesome, tight, bitey mids (which I love...)

There's your answer if you're after tight, bitey mids. If you can open it up to about 9:30 you'll have plenty of bottom end, that's when the comp really starts to bark.

[noah76]

Every time I play my Comp I have a big smile on my face. It can do metal plus more with out a boost.Ymmv.
splawnfans.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=pics&action=display&thread=6520

[redbone]

I have heard the Comp, QR, and Nitro.....that said I chose a Super Comp because I love the awesome bottom and the extra gain. Mine got delivered this Friday and is the amp of my dreams, I can roll the gain back to about one third and leave the mode switch off (boosts low mids and adds a bit more bottom), and get close to the QR tone. Mine is the 100 watt model with EL34Bs, never been a 34 fan til the b's came out, can't say enough good things about mine.

[noah76]

pics?

[redbone]

Here is my new one!

[rocknrolla]

You know, if you stop yelling profanity at the crowd they will stop throwing hand grenades at your cabinet.