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Post by shreder75 on Mar 25, 2008 9:39:50 GMT -5
pretty much =) I've had a few really good gigs..but over the last year of my band experience, it was primarily sh!t holes....which is one reason why I don't miss it
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Post by Silverwulf on Mar 25, 2008 10:07:15 GMT -5
Totally agree about soundguys and the PA. That was part of me saying why the solo boost knob doesn't mean much either. If you play in your bedroom or take it to the studio, you have no use for it at all. If you're playing larger venues, the soundman isn't going to react favorably to a volume spike in the middle of a song. You'll spend time setting up trying to dial in the "too quiet, too loud" nature of it, then the moment you step on it, he's gonna grab you fader and yank you down. Next thing you know, you're ridign low in the mix permanently because he doesn't want to deal with your volume jumping all over the place the whole show. So, no dice there. The only time it might actually be useful is if you were playing the crappy bar gigs we all do sometimes with the "Freebird" guys, and I dont' even see the point for those drunkards. I'd rather just step on an OD pedal for a little mid-bump and grit and have at it.
So, you could do away with my solo knob. In fact, you could replace my solo knob with a true Master Volume control, then replace the solo switch on the footswitch with a switch that turns my effects loop on and off...and I'd be a happy camper.
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Post by DonaldDemon on Mar 25, 2008 11:41:53 GMT -5
Totally agree about soundguys and the PA. That was part of me saying why the solo boost knob doesn't mean much either. If you play in your bedroom or take it to the studio, you have no use for it at all. If you're playing larger venues, the soundman isn't going to react favorably to a volume spike in the middle of a song. You'll spend time setting up trying to dial in the "too quiet, too loud" nature of it, then the moment you step on it, he's gonna grab you fader and yank you down. Next thing you know, you're ridign low in the mix permanently because he doesn't want to deal with your volume jumping all over the place the whole show. So, no dice there. The only time it might actually be useful is if you were playing the crappy bar gigs we all do sometimes with the "Freebird" guys, and I dont' even see the point for those drunkards. I'd rather just step on an OD pedal for a little mid-bump and grit and have at it. So, you could do away with my solo knob. In fact, you could replace my solo knob with a true Master Volume control, then replace the solo switch on the footswitch with a switch that turns my effects loop on and off...and I'd be a happy camper. That sounds good to me. I don't have much use for the solo knob either. The only time I have found it come in handy is to set it slightly higher than your master. That way if you don't get a good sound check and realize you can't hear yourself on the first few tunes you can just hit the solo and leave it on and adjust to the right level later. I have no use for an efx loop button either though because I leave the loop on all night and just turn my delays off one by one. I always run an analog and digital delay pedal together for different flavors. |
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Post by shreder75 on Mar 25, 2008 12:00:49 GMT -5
well this falls into the category of not being able to please everyone..
you have some people who don't use the solo boost function at all..some of which actually leave it on all the time cause they prefer the tone of it (BOZ does this regularly)....
then you have guys who have amps with no built in boost or lead or multi channel functionality that ask 'so, what do you guys use to boost the volume of your amp for leads?' 'well, I toss an EQ in the loop, dude..here's how ya do it..etc, etc'...
very rare were the times I played a show with a pro sound guy..VERY rare..we primarily ran our own sound...to be honest, in the size places my band would be working at, I PREFERED not to be miced up....when I stopped micing up my friends in the crowd would always tell me how much better they could hear me..cause I was using my cab as my monitor and my crowd sound if you will....and I used to solo boost all the time...
and for people with multiple OD channels w/ global volume and channel volume..what do they do? they turn up the global, then they adjust the different channel volumes generally..one to be louder than the other for leads...
in any event, I still don't see what this 'true master volume' knob is going to get anybody...in the end, you're going to try to rein in the volume and guess what? you're still not pushing air and your ears are still going to interpret a lower decibel sound as opposed toa high decibel one..in which louder sounds better...
SE explained this pretty well in his gear talk thread....the only way to get cranked power tube sound is to crank the power tubes....
this is a rock and a hard place type of thing...if there WERE no lead boost, people would be asking for one....since there is a lead boost, some people don't use them and see it as being a useless knob...
oh well..I'm just being argumentative =D but some of this comes from experience
ah well...I love my amp...I dig all the features...I'd like a loop that doesn't add the fizz at low volumes, but I toss my DD 20 in front and I adjust accordingly and I get delay I'm happy with....
if anything, I'd like to have channel switching on the head itself just in case my footpedal goes down..
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Post by Silverwulf on Mar 25, 2008 23:19:29 GMT -5
Oh, you'll never please everyone, that's for sure. It would be foolish to try. Just saying what my own personal preference would be.
I think that if the volume pot scaled better so you had a more usable sweep on it, most people probably wouldn't care as much for a volume box or MV.
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Post by SonicExplorer on Mar 26, 2008 2:10:38 GMT -5
The solution is simple, just drink 30 gallons of beer each night like Craig does - you won't even worry about any of that stuff. ;D
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Post by shreder75 on Mar 26, 2008 7:04:39 GMT -5
The solution is simple, just drink 30 gallons of beer each night like Craig does - you won't even worry about any of that stuff. ;D heheh..you tryin' to say craig's got a permanent case of beer ears? =D |
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Post by shreder75 on Mar 26, 2008 7:05:36 GMT -5
as far as this whole master volume thing goes..I'm pretty sure in the truest definition, a 'master volume' controls the output of the power section..which is pretty sure how the splawns work...
I think there's alotta misunderstanding about what a master volume is or does...
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Post by shinysurface on Mar 27, 2008 7:28:58 GMT -5
I think there are a few reasons why Splawn users are looking for an alternative volume pot solution: - To deal with the solid state loop. The volume has be turned up to smooth it out, and a second volume source is needed to bring it back down to a lower level. - The actual volume taper is touchy and can spike with just a nudge of the control. More and more higher end amps have volume controls with smoother, more gradual tapers giving more control over the exact volume level you want at home or bedroom. Again, an alternative second volume control gives you the smoother taper. - If the loop was tube buffered and more transparent at lower volume levels, and the actual volume taper was smoother and didn't spike so quick you wouldn't see any of these threads I predict  For me personally, my Splawn is in the basement and I've found a position on the volume knob that works for me at lower levels. I don't use the loop when I record it, I add effects post recording through software plugins. I did pull the trigger on a little Alesis effects unit that I'm going to try in the loop just to see if it gives greater control over the volume taper, and to give some ambience effects just for screwing around when I feel like it |
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Post by shinysurface on Mar 27, 2008 7:35:55 GMT -5
if anything, I'd like to have channel switching on the head itself just in case my footpedal goes down.. I totally agree, there should a small push button or something to change the channels on the amp in case there's a footswitch malfunction (or if you forgot it!)  I wouldn't think that would be an expensive feature to add actually...... |
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Post by shreder75 on Mar 27, 2008 7:38:59 GMT -5
I think there are a few reasons why Splawn users are looking for an alternative volume pot solution: - To deal with the solid state loop. The volume has be turned up to smooth it out, and a second volume source is needed to bring it back down to a lower level. - The actual volume taper is touchy and can spike with just a nudge of the control. More and more higher end amps have volume controls with smoother, more gradual tapers giving more control over the exact volume level you want at home or bedroom. Again, an alternative second volume control gives you the smoother taper. - If the loop was tube buffered and more transparent at lower volume levels, and the actual volume taper was smoother and didn't spike so quick you wouldn't see any of these threads I predict For me personally, my Splawn is in the basement and I've found a position on the volume knob that works for me at lower levels. I don't use the loop when I record it, I add effects post recording through software plugins. I did pull the trigger on a little Alesis effects unit that I'm going to try in the loop just to see if it gives greater control over the volume taper, and to give some ambience effects just for screwing around when I feel like it all your points are valid and well received! =D bear in mind though, it was designed around being used on stage..it's pretty well documented what the amp's about... 'I live in an apartment..would a marshall plexi be a good amp?' LOL.... once you realize how sensitive the volume knob is to small adjustments you get used to it..small moves... the only thing I'd change, as you said, would be the low volume issues wiht the effects loop..but I can tweak my delay to sound good in front of the amp so I'm ok with that.... in other words, it's definetly more low volume friendly than any of the marshall counterparts it can be compared to..there's no doubt about that.. |
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Post by shreder75 on Mar 27, 2008 7:39:53 GMT -5
if anything, I'd like to have channel switching on the head itself just in case my footpedal goes down.. I totally agree, there should a small push button or something to change the channels on the amp in case there's a footswitch malfunction (or if you forgot it!) I wouldn't think that would be an expensive feature to add actually...... my buddy forgot the power cord to his amp once! he used one from a computer they had in the back office of the place we played...LOL |
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Post by TJ on Mar 27, 2008 7:56:16 GMT -5
That's what cracks me up about a lot of negative reviews on Splawns. Usually their from peeps who played the amp in their bedroom and want that ultra high sustain/distortion at low volumes where they don't tick off their neighbors be it in an apt. or a house. Splawns are made to be played at high volumes. Rock music is meant to be played at high volumes. Splawn amps shine at gigging volume. I think what Craig does is perfect and works great. If you want that tone and don't want to rip peoples heads off in your house put a blanket over the cabinet. Alot easier solution then putting a master volume on the amp. Which I still don't understand why you would want to do that?
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Post by shinysurface on Mar 27, 2008 8:41:46 GMT -5
That's what cracks me up about a lot of negative reviews on Splawns. Usually their from peeps who played the amp in their bedroom and want that ultra high sustain/distortion at low volumes where they don't tick off their neighbors be it in an apt. or a house. Splawns are made to be played at high volumes. Rock music is meant to be played at high volumes. Splawn amps shine at gigging volume. I think what Craig does is perfect and works great. If you want that tone and don't want to rip peoples heads off in your house put a blanket over the cabinet. Alot easier solution then putting a master volume on the amp. Which I still don't understand why you would want to do that? The home/apartment/bedroom player demographic shouldn't be completely ignored though IMO, I think they make up a sizeable percentage of fans and potential customers. The fact that some players are trying all these different volume tricks is a testament to Splawn that they still want to own one even if they aren't on stage which is the amp's main strength I'm sure some Splawn owners did play live/gig at some point in the past but are older now or maybe some other circumstance has changed their situation..... Wasn't too long ago I was blasting my QR with a drummer and now I'm primarily a basement dweller lol....I hope I can crank it live again someday though I feel most bad for the apartment dwellers, that has to the toughest situation volume wise IMO. At least if you own a house you can crank it up and enjoy it unless the people you live with get in your way lol..... |
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Post by DonaldDemon on Mar 27, 2008 8:51:52 GMT -5
That's what cracks me up about a lot of negative reviews on Splawns. Usually their from peeps who played the amp in their bedroom and want that ultra high sustain/distortion at low volumes where they don't tick off their neighbors be it in an apt. or a house. Splawns are made to be played at high volumes. Rock music is meant to be played at high volumes. Splawn amps shine at gigging volume. I think what Craig does is perfect and works great. If you want that tone and don't want to rip peoples heads off in your house put a blanket over the cabinet. Alot easier solution then putting a master volume on the amp. Which I still don't understand why you would want to do that? The home/apartment/bedroom player demographic shouldn't be completely ignored though IMO, I think they make up a sizeable percentage of fans and potential customers. The fact that some players are trying all these different volume tricks is a testament to Splawn that they still want to own one even if they aren't on stage which is the amp's main strength I'm sure some Splawn owners did play live/gig at some point in the past but are older now or maybe some other circumstance has changed their situation..... Wasn't too long ago I was blasting my QR with a drummer and now I'm primarily a basement dweller lol....I hope I can crank it live again someday though I feel most bad for the apartment dwellers, that has to the toughest situation volume wise IMO. At least if you own a house you can crank it up and enjoy it unless the people you live with get in your way lol..... Mybe someday Scott will make a low wattage amp, like the Marshall 18w so you can still get close to the Splawn tone at reasonable levels but for now these are 50/100/120w stage monsters. When I lived in my apartment the only time I turned the Splawn on was to give it a quick check before a show. It;s about the right tool for the application, I think. Using a 100w amp in your apartment is like using a jackhammer to drive a nail for a picture frame on your wall.  |
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