splawns, volume

[dmko]

Hi, I'm new to this forum... I'm considering getting a Splawn Competition...

I had a look at a couple of vids of splawn amps on you tube, and I was impressed by a clip entitled "Splawn modded Marshall 1959 reissue - Rhythm channel samples." www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hfq-7lTG_o

What particularly impressed me was the guy that did the video said he was getting that sound with the master volume on 0.5.

Now what i want to know is, does anybody else on this forum get those types of sounds claimed in this clip at that low volume? Or do the splawn modded marshall's have a fundamentally different circuit which would mean they respond differently at ultra low volumes?

[LooseCannon]

If you are impressed with the tone on that vid in low volume you'd really be blown away when you'll hear it cranked, amazing tone.

[Jammermatt]

Sounds pretty much like my Compy on 1st gear at low volume. Mine has a bit more lows to my ear, probably due to me having the Big Blocks and probably due to the recording device used. Like Loose said, about 9 or 10 o'clock is where the juice is at. But, I play mine in the bedroom every day and it sounds great.

[dmko]

thanks for the responses guys....

I definately knew from the moment i heard sound clips at the splawn site a few months ago that the amp had some seriously good sounds when cranked... But I think that the video i directed you guys to might have helped answer some questions I had about the way Splawns sound at bedroom volumes... I figure if I'm going to spend $1500 on an amp it would be ideal if it could sound good in as many possible scenarios as possible (whether that be the bedroom, rehearsal room, small club, large club)...

[Ayton(e)]

Hmmm. It's easy to be positive about these amps which carry the tones we love, but someone specifically looking for info on low, low volume performance should be made aware that this is a tricky area. The amps are definitely stiffer and harsher at low vol., with a kind of metallic high end. The notes really start to round out and sound wonderfully tubey with the master getting away from bedroom/apartment friendly levels.

Luckily there are a few things you can do.

- If you have bright speakers (the Emi X Pattern) then Triode mode sounds great and lets you push the master. Sounds muffled with darker speakers. I'm a big fan of this mode with the Emis.

- Lower sensitivity speakers (96, 97) let you get the master up a bit.

- Most commonly, the old volume-control-in-the-effects-loop trick. This can be a processor, a pedal, a volume box etc.

I'm not trying to piss on anyone's chips, I just think if you're looking for low volume info you should be told the truth. It's a struggle and a compromise to get super tone at low levels... but I played my old modeling amp yesterday and I wouldn't go back!

[Jammermatt]

I second everything Ayton said. I am a fan of the Triode mode as well.