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Ritonkeupon « It's loud, simple and effective »
Published on 03/25/14 at 15:54The amp has an ordinary design (the grill cloth on the front panel is identical to blackheart amps). While not beautiful, it seems pretty solid.
I changed the knobs, they weren't readable enough, in general (specially in the twilight onstage), so I replaced the chrome caps with good old black and white ones (the design is even more basic).
Power: 50 watts, the right amount to take the best out of the tubes (...as much as a super lead or a 5150 with the master set to 0.50 or 1).
USE
Very easy to use.
The amp features two channels, lead and clean. The second OD offers at least a "third" channel (only switchable with the footswitch).
Each channel features a bright switch (but unfortunately it can be engaged with the footswitch).
The master and 3-band EQ (as attenuators) are common to both channels.
The Caiman is very easy, you can master it in no time.
SOUND
The Caiman is versatile, it excels at nothing but is great for anything!
It works perfectly with pedals (especially distortion ones) and it's a real plus. We have a champ here, no more struggling with bee swarms or electric blades.
The character of the clean channel is rather exquisite, without overdoing it, with a good headroom, very rock, '70s hard rock. I prefer to add to it a shredmaster or EQ it with a Boss HM 2 to get a dirtier and coarser sound.
The clean sound is clean, a bit dull. With Bright engaged, it's a treat, with single-coils and a reverb (what it lacks most, in my opinion), you are taken back t the '60s surfer scene.
The EQ is effective, the Caiman goes low deep. However, it cuts easily through the mix, the mids are present and it's a big advantage.
Your playing and the guitar's character are respected, the Caiman lets it all through. This amp gives me a sense of "constancy," it's the kind of gear that allows me to make the best of my playing, I'm not frustrated by a clichéd or borrowed sound (in the sens of "No matter what I do, I sound like...") Without having a particularly subtle playing, I immediately appropriated this amp.
OVERALL OPINION
I've been using it for almost a year.
I've had several amps and have tried quite a few, but it's the first time that I'm satisfied with the "factory" version (without tinkering with it). In any case, it's an awesome deal due to its versatility, power, ease-of-use, and price.
I changed the knobs, they weren't readable enough, in general (specially in the twilight onstage), so I replaced the chrome caps with good old black and white ones (the design is even more basic).
Power: 50 watts, the right amount to take the best out of the tubes (...as much as a super lead or a 5150 with the master set to 0.50 or 1).
USE
Very easy to use.
The amp features two channels, lead and clean. The second OD offers at least a "third" channel (only switchable with the footswitch).
Each channel features a bright switch (but unfortunately it can be engaged with the footswitch).
The master and 3-band EQ (as attenuators) are common to both channels.
The Caiman is very easy, you can master it in no time.
SOUND
The Caiman is versatile, it excels at nothing but is great for anything!
It works perfectly with pedals (especially distortion ones) and it's a real plus. We have a champ here, no more struggling with bee swarms or electric blades.
The character of the clean channel is rather exquisite, without overdoing it, with a good headroom, very rock, '70s hard rock. I prefer to add to it a shredmaster or EQ it with a Boss HM 2 to get a dirtier and coarser sound.
The clean sound is clean, a bit dull. With Bright engaged, it's a treat, with single-coils and a reverb (what it lacks most, in my opinion), you are taken back t the '60s surfer scene.
The EQ is effective, the Caiman goes low deep. However, it cuts easily through the mix, the mids are present and it's a big advantage.
Your playing and the guitar's character are respected, the Caiman lets it all through. This amp gives me a sense of "constancy," it's the kind of gear that allows me to make the best of my playing, I'm not frustrated by a clichéd or borrowed sound (in the sens of "No matter what I do, I sound like...") Without having a particularly subtle playing, I immediately appropriated this amp.
OVERALL OPINION
I've been using it for almost a year.
I've had several amps and have tried quite a few, but it's the first time that I'm satisfied with the "factory" version (without tinkering with it). In any case, it's an awesome deal due to its versatility, power, ease-of-use, and price.