PDC
Junior Member
Posts: 85
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Post by PDC on Jun 3, 2016 17:08:04 GMT -5
The 50 watt Fully Loaded QR arrived today. Purple Plexi style with gold piping and gold control panel. This is hands down the best sounding amp I have ever owned / ever played through. That's comparing to my tried and true Mark III, my 100 watt Drop B+ QR and my 100 watt Nitro. The mid scoop switch is da' BOMB! In 'std' mode, the amp has the same sort of 'urgency' that my 100 watt QR has. Not harsh or unpleasant, but VERY bright and percussive. I find myself rolling the treble and presence darn near 'off' without the mid cut engaged. (Just like my 100 watt QR). With the mid cut engaged, the amp 'softens' and 'darkens' noticably. I find myself running treble and presence past high noon with no harshness whatsoever. I could NEVER run that much presence or treble on the 100 watt or on the 50 without the mid switch. The 50 watt heads run in 'drop B+' all the time and you can really tell. SUPER 'sweet' without being 'mushy' like my ol' Mark III can be. Also, the half power switch on a 50 watt actually switches from Pentode to Triode - so you probably have about 30 watts in 1/2 power (triode) mode. Unbelievable. Talk about 'sag' and 'thump.' In triode mode, this amp can do everything that an Uberschall or a Dual Rec can do but with clarity and definition that those amps lack. The difference between 1st Gear OD-1 in full power mode without the mid cut and 3rd gear OD-2 in Triode with the mid cut engaged is unbelievable. This is the best sounding, most versatile amp I have ever owned.
P.S. For my ears, I prefer 'new' to 'old' on every setting. 'Old' has - for lack of a better term - sort of a 'boxy' midrange to it and 'New' is a tad 'smoother' - That being said, I like having the switch. I think doing one rhythm track with OD-1 in 'Old' mode and a second rhythm track with OD-2 in 'New' mode would really help separate the tracks and add definition. It's a great option to have for recording even if you alway choose 'new' for lead work.
Thank you Scott. I could not possibly be any happier with this amp or my entire Splawn collection. I am in heaven.
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Post by gtrjunior on Jun 3, 2016 18:33:09 GMT -5
Congratulations!!!
I completely agree with your assessment of the mid switch. It really makes a drastic change. I prefer the switch "on" myself. It just seems to put the tone in the right range I'm looking for. I prefer something of a darker tone anyway. Lately I've been keeping the "old" switch engaged as well. I like how it feels just a bit more aggressive.
Great idea for recording separate tracks with the switch in different positions too!!
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Post by Tempest on Jun 3, 2016 22:07:02 GMT -5
Man these new QR's are sounding better and better......everyone whose got one is giving them the full thumbs up.
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Post by gtrjunior on Jun 4, 2016 16:31:28 GMT -5
Man these new QR's are sounding better and better......everyone whose got one is giving them the full thumbs up. It took me a week or two to really dial in a tone that I liked when I first got my QR. I've always had Marshalls and even though the QR is Marshall-like it really has a voice all its own. But yeah, now that I've tweaked what I needed to tweak I love the amp... |
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Post by splawndude on Jun 6, 2016 10:18:49 GMT -5
Great review man.
So happy for you.
ENJOY!
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PDC
Junior Member
Posts: 85
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Post by PDC on Aug 22, 2016 17:53:37 GMT -5
Since receiving the Purple Monster, I have played extensively through a Bray 4550 and a Bogner Helios 50 and A/B'd each of them against my QR and my Nitro. Hands down, either Splawn ate them both and spit them out. Both the bray and the Helios have a noticable 'fizzy' or 'solid state-y' quality to the gain that my ears really don't like and is completely absent in both of my Splawn amps. Both the QR and the Nitro have this full, round quality to the gain with zero fizz and zero 'solid-state-stomp-box' sound that even pricey so-called 'boutique' amplifiers possess. Thank You Scott Splawn! I'm posting this for those of you who (like me) are still on your 'Tone Quest.' For me, the quest is now over. And I had to chase down some darn pricey amps to do side-by-side comparisons. Forget the hype. Keep your Splawn.
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Post by splawndude on Aug 23, 2016 11:45:02 GMT -5
You are making me extremely jealous pdc!
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PDC
Junior Member
Posts: 85
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Post by PDC on Aug 23, 2016 21:11:44 GMT -5
If you own a Splawn, then you don't need to be jealous! I had a BUNCH of old gear that I polished up and sold on eBay / Reverb. I used that money to fund the Bray and just could not establish a relationship with it. I sold the Bray and made a lateral move into a used Helios 50. for my ear, I much prefer the Helios to the Bray, but wouldn't take either of them (or both together for that matter) for either my QR or my Nitro. I may sell the Helios and look for a used Kemper? Or I may sell the Helios, stuff the proceeds in the bank and just rip through the Splawns!
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jyd
Junior Member
Posts: 59 
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Post by jyd on Mar 15, 2018 9:33:17 GMT -5
Resurrecting this thread. I have a 100w and love it, but have been thinking about downsizing to the 50w with all the bells and whistles like the loaded QR in this thread.
MY QUESTION: Can the 50watt get close to the thump, tightness, and girth of the 100 watt? I realize it will never be exactly like a 100w.
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Post by briman on Mar 15, 2018 10:12:31 GMT -5
Hey JYD, I answered in your other thread. Key is that you use your loop volume! And also put it in half power. You mentioned you have B+.....so that means your QR is fairly recent and should have a loop volume.
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Post by cvogue on Mar 15, 2018 12:37:36 GMT -5
Congrats! Yeah I like the looks I get due to my STreet Rod tone!
I'm going to practice with my old band tonight, (drummer is having a bash on Saturday and wants me to sit in on a few songs). See what they think of the Splawn... heh-heh!!!
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jyd
Junior Member
Posts: 59
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Post by jyd on Mar 15, 2018 16:03:42 GMT -5
Congrats! Yeah I like the looks I get due to my STreet Rod tone! I'm going to practice with my old band tonight, (drummer is having a bash on Saturday and wants me to sit in on a few songs). See what they think of the Splawn... heh-heh!!! So did you move from a 50w Quick Rod to a Street Rod? |
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Post by cvogue on Mar 16, 2018 11:28:44 GMT -5
Congrats! Yeah I like the looks I get due to my STreet Rod tone! I'm going to practice with my old band tonight, (drummer is having a bash on Saturday and wants me to sit in on a few songs). See what they think of the Splawn... heh-heh!!! So did you move from a 50w Quick Rod to a Street Rod? Nope, Quickrod is a lot more amp than I need... 40 watts of Splawn tube power is MORE than enough! Went from a Blackstar HT-40 to the Street Rod. |
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PDC
Junior Member
Posts: 85
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Post by PDC on May 14, 2018 17:43:47 GMT -5
Yes - 50 watt has all the tightness, thump, and girth of the 100 watt - just at slightly lower overall volume and db. But PLENTY enough for stage volume anywhere. I’ve played other 50 watt amps that sounded like glorified practice amps compared to their 100 watt versions, but not the Splawn. All the power and thump you’d ever need at real world volume levels.
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jyd
Junior Member
Posts: 59
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Post by jyd on Dec 2, 2019 16:53:34 GMT -5
Still loving the fully loaded 50w QR?
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