tjdjr1
Junior Member
Posts: 70 
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Post by tjdjr1 on Sept 21, 2017 20:18:05 GMT -5
The overall tone of this amp is awesome even with minimal experimenting time. I have read tons of posts about how loud these amps are and in comparison to my 1979 Marshall 2203 I am not experiencing this massive volume. Is the taper of the pots different ? I have the gain on the QR at 9 o'clock and the master at 1200 to get even with the Marshall gain at 6 and the volume at 9 o'clock. Also I find the solo boost useless with the volume at the 1200 position. The tubes are JJ EL34 II's and appear very new hardly any heat impression on the jj logos. I have the fx loop bypassed so the fx loop has no effect on the front side of the amp.. Any ideas or does the QR open up even more after the high noon volume ? thanks for any replies, Tom |
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Post by gtrjunior on Sept 22, 2017 6:59:28 GMT -5
At Noon my QR will level a house.
Turn the gain up to about 3:00 and see what happens.
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Post by gtrjunior on Sept 22, 2017 9:08:52 GMT -5
Also....clearly you didn't read the responses to your other thread....
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tjdjr1
Junior Member
Posts: 70
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Post by tjdjr1 on Sept 22, 2017 16:31:58 GMT -5
Also....clearly you didn't read the responses to your other thread.... I read AND understand the other post, if there is no volume left to boost, then no boost, I get it, thanks. I am still inquiring as to what areas to look at to determine why the volume seems less than what I expect that's all. Yes when I have the volume at 9 or 10 and solo boost up past that I do get an increase in volume. The tone of the amp is amazing, I just think it should be louder than what I am getting. I have the chassis out and they are well constructed. Also I asked in the this post if the volume tapers are different between the old marshall vs the Splawns. Some give it all now and nothing later. Thank for any suggestions, Tom. |
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Post by gtrjunior on Sept 22, 2017 17:44:24 GMT -5
So what happened when you increased the gain? I'm guessing you should see a volume increase as well.
Double check that the loop is in fact off.
Possibly crappy preamp tube?
When I have mine with the MV at 10-ish I need to keep the loop volume on at about half....and that's still damn loud.
Also...don't be afraid to turn the solo boost up higher....maybe even a 1/4 turn higher.
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tjdjr1
Junior Member
Posts: 70
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Post by tjdjr1 on Sept 22, 2017 20:19:47 GMT -5
The gain up to 3 did help the volume, but I think the Splawn has a longer taper than the Marshall with the volume where the Marshall has an all in soon approach the QR keeps increasing. I also believe the splawns compression may be part of the difference for me too my marshall is abrupt when a chord is nailed. I was also thinking a pre amp tube may be weak in the signal path currently it has a EH in V1 a JJecc83 in V2 and JJ 12ax7's in V 4 and 4. I didn't know JJ had an ecc83.. What do you think of the jjEl34 II's ? Do you have a preference in the pre amp tubes ? I ran the amp enough tonight to have some ear fatigue, I will hit it some more tomorrow. I also tried a clean boost in the fx loop holy cow it boosts ! thanks, Tom
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Post by gtrjunior on Sept 22, 2017 20:52:44 GMT -5
Depending on who you ask, people either like JJ's or they don't. I've used them in my Marshall (power tubes) and I thought they were fine. In the QR I actually like the tubes Scott is using in the power section. They are just Chinese EL34B's but they do a great job and the price is right. As far as preamp.... I have a large collection of both NOS and current tubes and I have tried them all! In the end iirc, I have a Shuguang 12ax7 in V1, V2+V3 have PM tubes. (High gain in V2). www.tubeboutique.com/And a Sovtek LPS in the PI. You probably know already, but I'm the Splawn V2 is the OD first gain stage and V1 is the clean channel. As far as the volume taper between the QR and the JCM 800, I honestly never directly compared them. My 800 is screaming loud with the volume on 4. I would try swapping in some known good preamp tubes, one at a time and see if maybe you have a weak one. Like I said, my QR will knock your socks off, it's so loud. |
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tjdjr1
Junior Member
Posts: 70
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Post by tjdjr1 on Sept 23, 2017 16:27:24 GMT -5
I was swapping tubes today and V2 the glass pulled right off the tube when I wiggled it ! Eureka ! Now the amp makes some sense to me. Very odd that the glass looked like a glass cutter ran all the way around the tube about an 1/8 inch above the pins. The top was not discolored, but it mad a huge difference when I replaced it...Amp volume now is more like it.. thanks, Tom
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Post by gtrjunior on Sept 23, 2017 18:59:58 GMT -5
Glad it was something simple!
I will say, that for me, there was a learning curve with this amp that I never experienced with any other amp I've owned.
I've learned that this amp is pretty picky. It likes true bypass pedals and not so much buffered pedals. Of course some buffers are better than others.
When I first got mine, I plugged my pedalboard into it and dialed it in like I had my Marshall settings and I expected this glorious sound to come out of it....except it didn't. It took me a while to find the right speakers, pickups etc.
There was always this grainy harshness in the upper mids that I couldn't dial out, no matter what I tried. I just assumed it was the "Splawn sound" I had read about.
About 6 months ago I bought a Blackstar HT-Studio 20 when Sweetwater was blowing them out for $299. I was playing in a small band where the 20 watter was just right. So one night we had a gig and I brought the Blackstar. It sounded so amazing! I started to wonder why the QR didn't sound as good. So I did what I should have done from the start....I unplugged everything and plugged the guitar straight in. And there it was....the phenomenal tone I was expecting from the beginning. So I started plugging one pedal at a time to see what was causing that harshness...it didn't take long to discover it was my wah...I had the Dunlop 95Q, the switchless one. As soon as I plugged it in I heard what it was doing to my tone. So I ordered a true bypass one. The Original I think. It fixed the issue, but now I'm really careful about what I put in my signal chain.
The other piece of advise that really helped me was to dial the tone with your ears and not your eyes....
All too often we set the dials where we "think" they should be and not where they actually sound best.
I used to play in a band with a guy that always complained that he couldn't get more bass from his amp, yet he refused to turn it up past 6!!! He was setting the dial where his eyes told him it was supposed to be.
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tjdjr1
Junior Member
Posts: 70
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Post by tjdjr1 on Sept 23, 2017 20:07:30 GMT -5
I have 3 LP's and 2 of them have the 57 classic + in the bridge and my black 80 standard has a tonerider paf style, all are close, but my neck pups are pretty different. The 2016 Trad has the 57 classic, my routed 78 deluxe has Duncan jazz and the worst sounding neck pickup I have is a t-top with a cover on in the 80 standard. I am going to have to get a neck pup for the standard. I run a Nova System and the tonal characterisitcs on the chorus settings sound way different in the Splawn vs my old 2203. Going to have to make a bank of sounds for the new amp ! My old original 70's greenbacks sound amazing even at lower volumes..
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Post by gtrjunior on Sept 23, 2017 20:18:42 GMT -5
Love the Greenbacks....perfect for the QR.
my LP STD has a Dimarzio Super Distortion in the bridge and the PAF 36th Anny in the neck. Great combo. My other LP's have BKP Rebel Yell which are great pups but imo a bit too much treble response in this amp. Sound great with my 2204. And my LP Special has stock p90's. I love the neck p90 but eventually I'll swap a smoother bridge pup.
My Strat (HSS) has a set of Fokin Hot Breeze which absolutely kill. Amazing pickups.
I have a JB which is not currently installed in any of my guitars so I'm jot sure how that will work with the Splawn.
I'm in the process of rebuilding my board with a switching system, so I'm sure that will be a process with the programming!!! 2 of the pedals will be midi controlled and I've never done that before so it will be interesting I'm sure!
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Post by splawndude on Sept 25, 2017 14:43:33 GMT -5
I don't have anything to add to this thread at this time LOL as it looks like everything has been sorted. I was going to echo what gtrjunior was saying. That it should be much louder than you described in the OP to turn your Gain up. My amp sounds pretty lifeless with the Gain on 9am. So, today I played around with the volume and gain after reading this thread and regardless of what gear, OD, gain setting, OD pedal, etc, combination the volume kept going up after 12 o'clock. Yes, I put in earplugs for this test  12 on my amp is deafening. So my Gain is usually at 1 or 2 pm and my volume is usually at 10am. Treble = 0 Gear 2 / OD2 / clean boost from MXR Zakk Wylde OD. |
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tjdjr1
Junior Member
Posts: 70
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Post by tjdjr1 on Sept 27, 2017 7:06:04 GMT -5
First band rehearsal last night and the Splawn did very well, at the same volume I roughly ran the 2203 I ran the Splawn and I did hear my self better. I still have to work with the gain structure, but The mates liked what they heard as well as I did. Now it has to prove itself gig worthy with reliability...
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Post by cvogue on Oct 13, 2017 16:25:03 GMT -5
Glad it was something simple! I will say, that for me, there was a learning curve with this amp that I never experienced with any other amp I've owned. I've learned that this amp is pretty picky. It likes true bypass pedals and not so much buffered pedals. Of course some buffers are better than others. When I first got mine, I plugged my pedalboard into it and dialed it in like I had my Marshall settings and I expected this glorious sound to come out of it....except it didn't. It took me a while to find the right speakers, pickups etc. There was always this grainy harshness in the upper mids that I couldn't dial out, no matter what I tried. I just assumed it was the "Splawn sound" I had read about. About 6 months ago I bought a Blackstar HT-Studio 20 when Sweetwater was blowing them out for $299. I was playing in a small band where the 20 watter was just right. So one night we had a gig and I brought the Blackstar. It sounded so amazing! I started to wonder why the QR didn't sound as good. So I did what I should have done from the start....I unplugged everything and plugged the guitar straight in. And there it was....the phenomenal tone I was expecting from the beginning. So I started plugging one pedal at a time to see what was causing that harshness...it didn't take long to discover it was my wah...I had the Dunlop 95Q, the switchless one. As soon as I plugged it in I heard what it was doing to my tone. So I ordered a true bypass one. The Original I think. It fixed the issue, but now I'm really careful about what I put in my signal chain. The other piece of advise that really helped me was to dial the tone with your ears and not your eyes.... All too often we set the dials where we "think" they should be and not where they actually sound best. I used to play in a band with a guy that always complained that he couldn't get more bass from his amp, yet he refused to turn it up past 6!!! He was setting the dial where his eyes told him it was supposed to be. Both gtrjunior and I have been burned by the 95Q (thanks to him for pointing that out to me!) I got rid of it, got a crybaby classic that is true bypass and the tone I heard when I test drove it (Street Rod in my case) was there, and better... (I have an MXR 10 band EQ in the loop to craft the tone a bit). I also have a Zoom G3 in the loop for delay/chorus/flanging/reverb which doesn't seem to hurt the tone at all. The Splawns are indeed picky about what you put in the signal chain. For the record I have the 65 watt Creamback in mine, I really like it, might try a 75 watt if I can find one, they seem to have a little more high end (Street Rods can be bassy). I also use a Blackstar extension cab with a greenback with my SR. Sounds great! Main guitar is a PRS CE24 with Dragon 2's in it, sounds really good. I also have a Blackstar HT club 40 which is a good amp, clean is a bit better than the Splawn but the dirty channels aren't even close! I'm used to my Splawn now and I went back to the Blackstar just for fun and I thought, "Man that sounds terrible!" Your ears get used to great tone and you become spoiled. Not that the Blackstar is bad but the Splawn is just so much better, and 2.5 times the price but it's probably the last amp I'll buy.... but I'm old! |
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Post by gtrjunior on Oct 13, 2017 16:37:08 GMT -5
I’ve been meaning to ask you about your settings with the mxr. I have the same eq and had been using it. I took it out because I was like omg what I heard but lately I’ve been contemplating trying not again. I’m just trying to tame a little high end.
I’m not entirely sure but it may actually be the guitar. I’ve got a LP that I recently took out the PCB board out of. I had a local shop do it.
It’s now got 500K audio taper volume pots. I’m thinking want to change to 300k linear pots. That should darken it up a touch and hopefully change the taper too. The audio taper pots are smooth but they just aren’t tapering the way id like them to.
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