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Le Taz « Hefty for the price! »
Published on 09/05/12 at 06:08Amp head and all lamps 4x6L6 5x12ax7, 2 channels (clean & overdrive) with 1 volume and gain per channel, but not common EQ master volume (managing 2 channels), presence and effects loop.
The head is not too heavy for a 100w lamps. It's made in china, but the assembly is very clean and good quality components (for the made in china). So no reliability problems on the horizon, Mike Soldano would not let his name affixed on an amp that slap in 6 months, like Bugera.
UTILIZATION
The configuration is simple. Perhaps too, for some uses. Found its sounds very easy, but it must accommodate both channels with the same EQ and reflect the lack of master volume.
Similarly, the two channels not behaving the same way, it will probably have to compromise on equalization, the clean channel is a little more bright than the overdrive channel.
No need for manual anyway. A pair of ear and a little common sense can make the adjustments.
SOUNDS
The clean channel is not really extraordinary. Despite 6L6, do not expect most of the Fender or even Mesa Mark "Kekchose." Enough to rock some arpeggios. If you are looking for a deep sound of Mark Knopfler or Gilmour, do not forget to pick up supplies, the road will be long: it is not made for this. But I did not say "not for the blues." This channel has a secret weapon is that crunch, and crunch very well. AC / DC, blues rock, rock to the rhythm right, no problem, with the advantage of being more accurate than a vintage crunch, with more "bounce".
The lead channel takes over in terms of gain. We crunch right now, but with a more smooth, less British, more U.S. more ... ben Soldano anything. With my rapes go beyond 6 has no effect, there is a huge saturation. The difference between a small gain at 6 and 10 is lighter, but probably due to precisely match the guitar plugged into the machine. I usually put the gain around 4 or 5, supplementing with a booster for solos, just to have 2 levels of saturation in the foot. But, plug'n'play, a volume knob suffice.
You'll understand, it's the channel of the device. Distortion to the Soldano: compression U.S. was this feeling of smoothness, but in any open grain. It does fuzze ever, even with micro guts, spit it just enough for rock'n'roll. on the other hand, do not expect the subtlety of a soldano in the transcript and transparency of the sound. This is the idea we have in fact: a supercharged Marshall, more accurate and compressed / smooth. It will not all blues, but for the big rock and hard without worry. For metal, the amp is basically a little bright, it is difficult to dug the sound, even if it behaves well with extreme tunings. Up to you, but I do not believe too, except to slam some rack effects, including an equalizer.
A small tour of the 12AX7, with changes in v1 and v2 can even adjust the sound, even if there is nothing radical. If transformers are not bad, these Chinese lamps are generally bright, highly saturated and imprecise. Small tung sol, or even a 12AT7 in v1 already cleared and balance the sound. The JJ are great in v2. I loved it with a Sylvania NOS.
OVERALL OPINION
The only problem with this amp is to want to use both channels at most, knowing that equalization is common unfortunately a real drag. Channel 1 offers a pushed drive british very bright, much more than the channel two. So except to make some MIDI with an equalizer presets, they prefer to use in his clear, although not extraordinary, given that channel 2, although very typical rock / hard rock saturation offers us more singing, but not clean or even crunch exploitable.
I insist on the appearance U.S. Soldano, this head. It is certainly not versatile. But if you like the big Californian rock (Van Halen, Mr Big, Chickenfoot or whatnot) it's really a great deal, it is more comfortable as well as some more expensive amps, and access a universe normally expensive amplification (VHT, Soldano, etc.) that nobody else offers this award, relativizing also the fact that this amp is paid 2 to 3 times cheaper. If it is not as accurate, subtle and precise as its inspiring on the value, it wins hands down.
I did more, for lack of money, but surely redeem this toy. At that price, it would be a shame not to. In this segment, if it is not versatile, the projection quality, dynamics, texture saturation left behind the amps as well Blackstars range. However, these will be more versatile. I prefer the grain, and I actually preferred this amp head AFD, and at the same price, I would do this choice.
The head is not too heavy for a 100w lamps. It's made in china, but the assembly is very clean and good quality components (for the made in china). So no reliability problems on the horizon, Mike Soldano would not let his name affixed on an amp that slap in 6 months, like Bugera.
UTILIZATION
The configuration is simple. Perhaps too, for some uses. Found its sounds very easy, but it must accommodate both channels with the same EQ and reflect the lack of master volume.
Similarly, the two channels not behaving the same way, it will probably have to compromise on equalization, the clean channel is a little more bright than the overdrive channel.
No need for manual anyway. A pair of ear and a little common sense can make the adjustments.
SOUNDS
The clean channel is not really extraordinary. Despite 6L6, do not expect most of the Fender or even Mesa Mark "Kekchose." Enough to rock some arpeggios. If you are looking for a deep sound of Mark Knopfler or Gilmour, do not forget to pick up supplies, the road will be long: it is not made for this. But I did not say "not for the blues." This channel has a secret weapon is that crunch, and crunch very well. AC / DC, blues rock, rock to the rhythm right, no problem, with the advantage of being more accurate than a vintage crunch, with more "bounce".
The lead channel takes over in terms of gain. We crunch right now, but with a more smooth, less British, more U.S. more ... ben Soldano anything. With my rapes go beyond 6 has no effect, there is a huge saturation. The difference between a small gain at 6 and 10 is lighter, but probably due to precisely match the guitar plugged into the machine. I usually put the gain around 4 or 5, supplementing with a booster for solos, just to have 2 levels of saturation in the foot. But, plug'n'play, a volume knob suffice.
You'll understand, it's the channel of the device. Distortion to the Soldano: compression U.S. was this feeling of smoothness, but in any open grain. It does fuzze ever, even with micro guts, spit it just enough for rock'n'roll. on the other hand, do not expect the subtlety of a soldano in the transcript and transparency of the sound. This is the idea we have in fact: a supercharged Marshall, more accurate and compressed / smooth. It will not all blues, but for the big rock and hard without worry. For metal, the amp is basically a little bright, it is difficult to dug the sound, even if it behaves well with extreme tunings. Up to you, but I do not believe too, except to slam some rack effects, including an equalizer.
A small tour of the 12AX7, with changes in v1 and v2 can even adjust the sound, even if there is nothing radical. If transformers are not bad, these Chinese lamps are generally bright, highly saturated and imprecise. Small tung sol, or even a 12AT7 in v1 already cleared and balance the sound. The JJ are great in v2. I loved it with a Sylvania NOS.
OVERALL OPINION
The only problem with this amp is to want to use both channels at most, knowing that equalization is common unfortunately a real drag. Channel 1 offers a pushed drive british very bright, much more than the channel two. So except to make some MIDI with an equalizer presets, they prefer to use in his clear, although not extraordinary, given that channel 2, although very typical rock / hard rock saturation offers us more singing, but not clean or even crunch exploitable.
I insist on the appearance U.S. Soldano, this head. It is certainly not versatile. But if you like the big Californian rock (Van Halen, Mr Big, Chickenfoot or whatnot) it's really a great deal, it is more comfortable as well as some more expensive amps, and access a universe normally expensive amplification (VHT, Soldano, etc.) that nobody else offers this award, relativizing also the fact that this amp is paid 2 to 3 times cheaper. If it is not as accurate, subtle and precise as its inspiring on the value, it wins hands down.
I did more, for lack of money, but surely redeem this toy. At that price, it would be a shame not to. In this segment, if it is not versatile, the projection quality, dynamics, texture saturation left behind the amps as well Blackstars range. However, these will be more versatile. I prefer the grain, and I actually preferred this amp head AFD, and at the same price, I would do this choice.