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Audiofanzine FR
Published on 03/09/09 at 04:26
(Originally written by Eulfred/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
Tube amplifier head (four 6L6GC and four 12AX7).
- 120 watts (4/8/16 ohms switchable).
- Switch for EL34 or 6L6GC operation (original 6L6GC).
- Three channels (clean, crunch and ultra) switchable via the provided footswitch.
- Clean channel controls: volume, bass, medium, treble.
- Crunch channel controls: gain, volume, bass, medium, treble (active EQ).
- Ultra channel controls: gain, volume, bass, medium, treble (active EQ).
- Master volume.
- Attenuation selector: Tight, medium or loose.
- FX loop with footswitch control plus send and return controls.
- Line output with level control.
- Footswitch and protection cover included.
- Dimensions: 26.6" x 11" x 11.3".
- Weight: 50.7 lb.
UTILIZATION
Rather easy to use:
- clean
- crunch
- ultra
Very effective EQ that allows you to get a wide sound range even if this sort of amps are conceived for powerful music. Avoid it if you want a mellow clean sound...
The FX loop can be controlled with the very nice and sturdy footboard provided.
SOUNDS
Clean channel: this channel has a very neutral response and it faithfully reproduces the natural sound of your guitar. With single coil pickups, you get a crystal-clear sound while with vintage humbuckers you get a round and warm sound with a slight crunch if you play hard and the guitar's volume is fully up. The sound is not so nice with high output level humbuckers because it crunches faster and you'll have to turn down the volume control of your guitar to keep a perfectly clean sound.
This channel has a wide dynamic response. With an EQ and a compressor (multi-effect processor in the FX loop) you can really shape a clean sound that can compete with other products in the same category (of course, you won't reach the clean sound of a Fender, Roland, Rivera, etc.).
Crunch channel: The name of this channel doesn't really describe its sound... i mean, it does produce a crunch sound but only with a very low gain setting (1 or 2)!!! Higher gain settings produce heavy overdrives and fat distortions. The sound is very impressive, it has huge dynamics and accuracy but it's not cold. Mids are sharp and you can get many exciting sound ranging from AC/DC's fat crunch to Van Halen's brown sound and Georges Lynch's distortion, Bettencourt's sharp sound, Kirk Hamett's fat distortion, etc. The active EQ is ultra-effective and you can color the sound with the master control and the channel volume: Turn up the volume to get a sharp sound or the master control to get a fuller Marshall sound!
This channel alone is worth the price of the amp.
Ultra channel: it doesn't add a lot more distortion because the crunch channel is already very hot...
IMHO it doesn't sound as good as the crunch channel, the response is colder, with slightly boosted highs and lows, and it doesn't sing as much. It's a channel to get a fat heavy metal sound.
This channel has no crunch only extreme distortion.
It can be used as lead channel by shredders!
I tested this amp a few hours with a 4 x 12" Peavey Sheffield speaker cabinet, a Boss GX700 multi-effects processor in the FX loop, an N4, a Lag Roxanne and a Super Strat HSS with Di Marzio an Lace Sensor pickups.
OVERALL OPINION
I think I've found the amp that will be my loyal companion for many years. I will certainly fine tune my settings with increasing experience and I hope to discover additional sound possibilities. The amp is rather easy to use if you spend enough time with it (much easier to use than the system I previously had: power amp + preamp + effects processor).
The value for money is not very good but you'll find it secondhand at a nice price.
This hi-gain amp is very versatile even though it's conceived primarily for fat distortion fans. I'm happy with my purchase.
Last note: don't buy it if you play only at home... a 120-watt tube amp is very loud!
Consider that when you buy it.
Tube amplifier head (four 6L6GC and four 12AX7).
- 120 watts (4/8/16 ohms switchable).
- Switch for EL34 or 6L6GC operation (original 6L6GC).
- Three channels (clean, crunch and ultra) switchable via the provided footswitch.
- Clean channel controls: volume, bass, medium, treble.
- Crunch channel controls: gain, volume, bass, medium, treble (active EQ).
- Ultra channel controls: gain, volume, bass, medium, treble (active EQ).
- Master volume.
- Attenuation selector: Tight, medium or loose.
- FX loop with footswitch control plus send and return controls.
- Line output with level control.
- Footswitch and protection cover included.
- Dimensions: 26.6" x 11" x 11.3".
- Weight: 50.7 lb.
UTILIZATION
Rather easy to use:
- clean
- crunch
- ultra
Very effective EQ that allows you to get a wide sound range even if this sort of amps are conceived for powerful music. Avoid it if you want a mellow clean sound...
The FX loop can be controlled with the very nice and sturdy footboard provided.
SOUNDS
Clean channel: this channel has a very neutral response and it faithfully reproduces the natural sound of your guitar. With single coil pickups, you get a crystal-clear sound while with vintage humbuckers you get a round and warm sound with a slight crunch if you play hard and the guitar's volume is fully up. The sound is not so nice with high output level humbuckers because it crunches faster and you'll have to turn down the volume control of your guitar to keep a perfectly clean sound.
This channel has a wide dynamic response. With an EQ and a compressor (multi-effect processor in the FX loop) you can really shape a clean sound that can compete with other products in the same category (of course, you won't reach the clean sound of a Fender, Roland, Rivera, etc.).
Crunch channel: The name of this channel doesn't really describe its sound... i mean, it does produce a crunch sound but only with a very low gain setting (1 or 2)!!! Higher gain settings produce heavy overdrives and fat distortions. The sound is very impressive, it has huge dynamics and accuracy but it's not cold. Mids are sharp and you can get many exciting sound ranging from AC/DC's fat crunch to Van Halen's brown sound and Georges Lynch's distortion, Bettencourt's sharp sound, Kirk Hamett's fat distortion, etc. The active EQ is ultra-effective and you can color the sound with the master control and the channel volume: Turn up the volume to get a sharp sound or the master control to get a fuller Marshall sound!
This channel alone is worth the price of the amp.
Ultra channel: it doesn't add a lot more distortion because the crunch channel is already very hot...
IMHO it doesn't sound as good as the crunch channel, the response is colder, with slightly boosted highs and lows, and it doesn't sing as much. It's a channel to get a fat heavy metal sound.
This channel has no crunch only extreme distortion.
It can be used as lead channel by shredders!
I tested this amp a few hours with a 4 x 12" Peavey Sheffield speaker cabinet, a Boss GX700 multi-effects processor in the FX loop, an N4, a Lag Roxanne and a Super Strat HSS with Di Marzio an Lace Sensor pickups.
OVERALL OPINION
I think I've found the amp that will be my loyal companion for many years. I will certainly fine tune my settings with increasing experience and I hope to discover additional sound possibilities. The amp is rather easy to use if you spend enough time with it (much easier to use than the system I previously had: power amp + preamp + effects processor).
The value for money is not very good but you'll find it secondhand at a nice price.
This hi-gain amp is very versatile even though it's conceived primarily for fat distortion fans. I'm happy with my purchase.
Last note: don't buy it if you play only at home... a 120-watt tube amp is very loud!
Consider that when you buy it.