Can this thing get decent tones at low volumes?

[fragglerick]

I'm not talking "don't wake the baby" volume, I just don't wanna blow the windows out when I'm playing at home.

[xxxsoundxxx]

More than decent. Mine gets them at "Don't wake the baby" volumes as well as "I can't hear myself
can you turn down a little" volumes. I actually prefer mine lower volume.Half power drops the volume too but effects the tone/feel a lot. Not bad at all just different like most triode/pentode amps. Darker and "scrunchier" like early ZZ top or something.

[Ayton(e)]

My Competition sounds excellent from zero up to whatever in triode, and that's still pushing 30 watts. I'd guess it'd be just as good/better on the Street Rod. I have been SO glad my amp has this switch. Prefer it to killing volume in the loop. It's super warm and chewy and loose. It is different, more compressed and liquidy – old ZZ Top is a good approximation. The ballsy raw articulate sound is waiting for you in full power mode, when you can run it, but triode is a lot less picky about volume, very consistent.

[richedie]

So how many Splawn amps come with triode ption??
I need.my amp Ro work at hpme and I can't afford a new Splawn but could afford a used one or anything used that worked.at low volumes.

[Ayton(e)]

Sept 23, 2011 21:33:19 GMT -5 richedie said:

So how many Splawn amps come with triode ption??
I need.my amp Ro work at hpme and I can't afford a new Splawn but could afford a used one or anything used that worked.at low volumes.

It tends to go on the lower wattage models, so Competition, Street Rod and, I'd guess the 50 watt version of the Super Comp though I don't know for sure.

There are other ways to control the volume, so don't worry too much about it. Any age Splawn you can put a volume box or pedal in the loop to squash the signal between pre-amp and power amp, and used ones from '09 (?) onwards have that function built in. I just benefitted from Triode because the amp always sounds and feels better to me without the loop engaged at all. Triode gives you a really warm and lyrical tube tone at even tiny volumes without having to use any tricks.

[richedie]

I hear you can get great bedroom volume tones with the SR using the loop level.....and I asume the loop is always engaged? I didn't get too into that when I tried it. What did you guys think of the master on the SR? I was hoping it could be a touch better.

[bigjilm]

The loop can be disengaged. The master volume is pretty dang good. Apartment playing, engage the loop, dial down the loop volume, turn up the master. Played a gig last night (hard rock) at a place where we have to be pretty low, volume wise. I didn't have to use the loop volume at all, just the master.

[rocknrolla]

Keep in mind that a lot of the tone is coming from the 12" speaker flapping around and resonating inside it's enclosure. No guitar speaker is designed to be played at TV volumes so no matter what amp you play you will always be giving up a little for low volume playing. That said, with the loop volume you should be able to get acceptable tones for low volume practicing but it will really shine at gig levels. Kind of like a Corvette can get you back and forth to work but it needs to be ran at speed to make full use of it's capabilities.

[richedie]

Some amps just do a much better job at low volumes. Maybe it's the master volume?
I know my Bogner and PWE sound worlds better at bedroom volume than wither thw VHT ST 50 I had nor the new Mesa Dual Rectified that I had. This can affect whether or not I keep an amp. I play a lot at home and my DR and VHT collected lots of dust at home. Sounded good with the band though. I need an amp that can do it at home and the gig for me to get my money's worth. I just can't cross that bridge again and go digital.
I don't find speakers the determining factor either.