Other boutique heads on the market???

[richedie]

Anyone compared their Splawn(s) to other high dollar Marshall style amps on the market?

I have been looking for a great Marshall style amp and was considering the PWE Event Horizon. Anyone heard of this amp or compared to a Splawn? I hear that amp plays amazingly well, almost plays itself and is really sweet and smooth but versatile.

Any thoughts?

I am actually leaning toward a Street Rod!

Rich

[rocknrolla]

For the money Splawn all the way. The only other hand made amp at this price point and quality that I can think of is Titan. Wizard, Cameron, etc are going to be twice as much.

[richedie]

I think I agree with you rocknrolla, do you think the tonal quality is on par with those you mention?'
One I would still like to try is the PWE Event Horizon.

[rocknrolla]

They're all going to have their own unique voice. Splawn is definitely in the high quality pro level category. Other things to research are customer service, re-sale value, forum support (biggie for me), and wait time. Some boutique amps have a 16-20 week lead time, no warranty, and are so unknown that you'd never be able to sell it if the need arose. After that it's just your preference on tone.

[richedie]

How do you guys feel about noise on the splawns?

My Bogner is very quiet. My new Dual Rec has more hiss.

What do you guys think about the Splawn in that respect?

[rocknrolla]

My Nitro has a little more idle noise than a Dual Recto. It's not unacceptable but pretty noisy.

[TJ]

My QR is dead quiet when idling. If your Splawn is noisy it might be what you're running in front of the amp causing the noise. If you plug your guitar straight in you shouldn't have any noise at all.

[rocknrolla]

I don't run anything but a guitar and cable. I've changed tubes and everything.

[speedemon]

I played a gang of amps before I bought a Splawn; 5150II, III, Deizel-Herbert-Einstein,-VH4, Diamond Spec Op, Orange Rockerverb, VHT Pitbull-Deliverance-Classic, H&K 3 channel, CAE OD100, Krank Rev1+, PV 6505, Marshall JVM, Randall RM100 with super gain modules.

I have the Randall, it's fun to tweak, and had the JVM before my Splawn. IMO Splawn kills them all, hands down. If I was a super shredder who could play guitar as easily as most people, might have a Pitbull. If I was a Dr./Lawyer/CEO instead of player would have the VH4 or Dave Friedman amp too.

A high gain amp is hissy unless it has a noise gate. Several expensive amps come with it built in. You could throw one in your Splawn loop. I don't mind amp hiss, it's the pedals...

Have fun!

[richedie]

Thanks guys! Not sure what to do! I currently have an EL34 20th Bogner Shiva as my main amp and am selling a 2011 Reborn Dual Rectifier because in the end I am 100% an EL34 Marshall flavored amp guy.

Right now I am on the fence between a Splawn Streetrod or PWE Event Horizon. I keep hearing the PWE Event Horizon is magic to play and almost plays itself, really smooth and sweet but wish I could play one next to a Splawn.

Anything I get has to be different enough form my Bogner but also able to handle classic rock to 80s hard rock to heavier stuff like Tool, Alice in Chains, STP, Metalicca, etc...since we do a lot of covers too.
My cabinets are a 112 with EVM12L, Bogner 212 with V30/CL80, THD 212 with THD Longhorn and Vintage and soon a Bogner 412 with Greenbacks.

[rocknrolla]

With all those cabs I would be looking at a Splawn head. Not that the StreetRod isn't rad but I find it easier to lug a head and small cab vs heavy combo.
Do you need a clean channel? You can get a OD channel only version of either the Quickrod or the Nitro for a little less scratch. I would be leaning towards a Quickrod or Promod with gears for max versatility.
I have a Nitro with EL34's and it's my favorite amp so far for the heavier stuff (Metallica, Alice in Chains, etc) and it will do the classic rock thing too but having 3 gears would make it a lot easier and a little more convincing.

[richedie]

Thanks! Yes, I need a good clean channel....I sometimes use super Fender clean and sometimes a more broken up Marshall type clean. I usually roll back the gain for that, but depending on the guitar and amp, that isn;t always the best approach. My Dual Rectifier is great that it has a pushed mode on the clean channel but I can't get a solo tone I like out of the DR.

I don't like combos so I would be getting a head. Thinking either a Streetrod or PWE Event Horizon.

I am confused on the SR specs?
Does this mean I could have channel 2 selected with it in Gear 3 mode and then switch between OD 1 and OD2? and then select the solo boost? What is OD 1 and 2?

Specs:
Channel 1 (clean) - independent EQ
Channel 2 (overdrive) - solo boost, OD1 (rhythm) /OD2 (lead) mode, 3 gear modes
Gears - 1st - Hot Rod Plexi, 2nd - Hot Rod 800, 3rd - Super Hot Rod 800
3 Button Footswitch - #1 Clean/Overdrive - #2 OD1/OD2 - #3 Solo Boost

[rocknrolla]

On the Streetrod you have 2 fotswitchable channels. Clean and overdrive. On the overdrive channel you have footswitchable modes. OD1 and OD2. Switching to OD2 adds a little gain and "thickens" up the tone (great for single note lead stuff on the bridge pickup). You can select either OD position in any gear. The gears are now footswitchable with the 4 button footswitch. The solo boost will boost the volume anytime you are in channel2.

[richedie]

Thanks rocknrolla,

IF I get a used Streetrod, can I get the new 4 button footswitch? I can;t afford a new Streetrod.

I still need to decide which is more versatile, the Event Horizon or Streetrod. One thing I really like about the Event Horizon is you have a Hyperion control on the clean channel so you can have either a super clean Fender tone or wind up the gain for a crunchy AC/DC tone!

[richedie]

I am thinking the Streetrod might be the best compliment to my Shiva.