really like my competition

[zao]

I really am happy, I owned a quickrod earlier this year and I like this amp better. It sounds really good, I like a nice crunch, with some saturated gain and a clear sound. This amp isn't fuzzy but really sounds awsome. The build quality is excellent and built well. I have 4 other amps so I don't need a clean channel. This amp also I think sounds a little bit better than the quickrod.

[Jammermatt]

Are you using an attenuator of any kind?

[zao]

no

[Hacksaw]

cool Zao, I've heard that before, too. may just be some of that 50 watt magic! I had a 80's marshall 50 watter that was just beautiful. you know.. had the mojo. I am tiking the competition has that mojo going on... ?? I will try one one day!

and HI! been a while.

[hollywood]

;D I hear all good things over the Competition. Congrats buddy!!!! ;D You lucky dog.

[Jammermatt]

I've been using the volume pedal in the loop trick on mine. Switched over to 25 watt mode it has a slightly mellower, smoother tone to my ears (I think Myxolidian touched on why this is sometime back and now I hear it since I quit using the attenuator). I really dig it. I dig the regular tone also, but it's just one more flavor.

[luigi]

What settings are you using Zao?.

[Jammermatt]

Just try noon on everything. That seems to be the trick for me. Definitely very little fiddling required.

[myxolidian]

jammermatt said:

I've been using the volume pedal in the loop trick on mine. Switched over to 25 watt mode it has a slightly mellower, smoother tone to my ears (I think Myxolidian touched on why this is sometime back and now I hear it since I quit using the attenuator). I really dig it. I dig the regular tone also, but it's just one more flavor.

Yup. Must be that pentode/triode that's unique to the Comp. I imagine that it would do some nice, dark(er) greasy tones in triode? I'm really fighting an urge to buy a Comp...

[LooseCannon]

I will get my comp in about a month, but I have another amp with pentode/triode and the pentode sounds better to me. Triode is more vintagy with less punch.

[Jammermatt]

Myxolidian. You gotta know, my ear isn't quite as well trained as all y'alls - so if I am hearing a difference there must be something there. I play mine at home for the most part. When I was using the Hot Plate, attenuated at -8db and more, I could NOT hear a difference between Pentode and Triode at low volume.

However, when I went to the volume-pedal in the loop trick I was able to boost the MV up to about 10:00 and still keep the volume down which I couldn't do with the Hot Plate. This is when I noticed a difference in the tone. To my ears, it sounds *mellower* - a little smoother if you will - and a little more saturation in the 25 watt mode. Keeping in mind of course that the volume pedal is taking a little off the top end which you just have to accept for low-volume play - which may provide a little bit mellower of tone. But, even so, when I switch back and forth between 25 and 50 watts I notice that the 50 watt mode sounds more aggressive with more upper-end snarl while the 25 watt mode seems smoother and mellower. In 25 watts with the volume pedal, I lose some top end, but to my ears I really like the tone as I kinda like that fluid tone.

Next chance I get to crank 'er up, I'll check out the difference again without any attenuating of any kind and report back to whether there's a diff. I don't have a mic or recording capabilities, but you're welcome to drop by next time you're up here.

My ears and my rig... your mileage may vary at your house.

[myxolidian]

Hmmm. Maybe I'm just wrongly assuming that all pentode/triode switches are the same...but I have it on one amp and the difference is HUGE...I mean, to the point where it's not even questionable.

Is your Comp a fairly new version? I ask because the difference that you seem to be describing sounds a bit more subtle (actually, a lot more subtle) and I actually feel that I hear it in my QR with just the normal half power switch which isn't a pentode/triode type.

[Jammermatt]

Mine is practically brand new, got it in January. Like I said though, I don't get to crank it up much, and that could be why it seems subtle to me. Also, my ear is probably not as sensitive as some, so you'll need to keep that in the decision matrix LOL.

Nice thing though, with the triode/pentode switch on the comp, you don't have to monkey with the ohms knob when switching modes. It just stays the same.

You might give Scott a call, though. The definitive expert. So far, I really like mine. I wanted a great sounding Marshall that is easy to use, and that's what I got.

[famousguy]

myxolidian said:

jammermatt said:

I've been using the volume pedal in the loop trick on mine. Switched over to 25 watt mode it has a slightly mellower, smoother tone to my ears (I think Myxolidian touched on why this is sometime back and now I hear it since I quit using the attenuator). I really dig it. I dig the regular tone also, but it's just one more flavor.

Yup. Must be that pentode/triode that's unique to the Comp. I imagine that it would do some nice, dark(er) greasy tones in triode? I'm really fighting an urge to buy a Comp...

i'm curious, since it's "different" from the other amps, when you hit the half power do you need to switch the ohms on the competition, or can you just hit the switch and go?

[Jammermatt]

famousguy said:

i'm curious, since it's "different" from the other amps, when you hit the half power do you need to switch the ohms on the competition, or can you just hit the switch and go?

Famous,

No, you do not have to change the ohm setting. This is somehow taken care of with the triode/pentode switching and is unique to the Competition only as far as I know. I was told this by the man, Scott, himself so it comes on good authority. I switch mine back and forth all the time - no problems.

I do, however, switch it into standby before changing the power setting. I don't know if this is necessary or not, but I'm a girl about this thing.