Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: Twinfan on June 06, 2010, 11:43:57 AM
-
Well it was a hot and sticky night in the Derbyshire hills, and by the end of the gig I was dripping wet through. Great gig though!
The Ecstasty took a little bit of dialling in to get the balance across channels etc, but I now have a base setting. I think it'll get better and better over the next few gigs as I learn how to set it up. There are so many options that you need to try things to find out what works for you. So far, I'm finding that:
1) The clean channel sounds best with the channel volume up full, then using the gain control as a volume. This gives a Fender-y tone with a hint of crunch, think Keef or SRV.
2) The blue channel is a great classic Marshall rhythm sound, then by adding the boost on top you get a more 80s rock rhythm. Unboosted = Whitesnake or Free, boosted = Dio or Ozzy
3) Independent channel volumes are really nice for gigging! I can set the red channel up for solos at a louder volume, then match the green (clean) and blue (crunch) levels for rhythm. I also have a boost on the clean channel to highlight certain parts (e.g. some arpeggio stuff in a few tracks), plus that boost on the blue channel to pick some parts out in quieter songs if required.
4) This is a rock amp, and it wants to be LOUD. I had the masters around 9 o'clock using Class A mode (to cut power a bit) and it was only just ticking over, yet it was punchy and beefy. I now want to play a massive stadium gig to get the thing REALLY cooking! :lol:
5) The FX loop is really, really good. I run a delay and a reverb through it, and being able to switch the loop on via the footswitch means I can hit the red channel and loop switches at the same time to get a delayed solo tone, then switch it off again with one stomp. VERY handy.
So overall I'm dead impressed with it. I've got to swap the mute stomp switch today as it was sticking a bit, which is a common problem with modern switches, otherwise it's good to go for its second gig next Saturday!
-
nice :D
the switch to switch on or off my loop is the one thing I miss with my engl (actually the one thing i miss is that the footswitch leads are way too short so i can't really use them easily :lol: ). It has two separate loops, but then if you have an effect which you would use on both channels, you're screwed. :lol:
-
Sounds like a winner. Now you've hit another good point ref the volume because if you like the sound now.... just wait until you can crank it! Apparently, they sound mediocre at low volumes but once they're opened up you will be in God's land! Fantastic that you already have useable gigging tones, as you say it can o0nly get better. 8)
-
I don't suppose I'll ever get the chance to hear it at its absolute best, which is a bit of a shame. I need to explore the power cutting options a bit more to see if they can get that cranked tone at a bit less volume. Supposedly you can get it down from 100 to 7 watts!
-
It all sounds rather scary! :lol:
Glad you're pleased with it though.
-
:lol:
Definitely not your kind of amp, Phil! If you need a wide range of classic and modern rock gain tones at different volumes though, it's got to be a hard amp to beat...
-
In the highly unlikely event that I ever need a gigging amp, it's going to have Volume, Tone, maybe Gain - and a couple of pedals in front of it! :lol:
-
1) The clean channel sounds best with the channel volume up full, then using the gain control as a volume. This gives a Fender-y tone with a hint of crunch, think Keef or SRV.
Interestingly, I found exactly the same with both my Engls, but my Mesa was almost the opposite & needed the clean gain on 6 at least.
Glad you like your new amp :) Consider me firmly in the "multi-channel with lots of bells & whistles" camp :)
-
I don't suppose I'll ever get the chance to hear it at its absolute best, which is a bit of a shame. I need to explore the power cutting options a bit more to see if they can get that cranked tone at a bit less volume. Supposedly you can get it down from 100 to 7 watts!
100w IS alot of grunt in an amp and the power switching never works that well for me (tonally). You could always try running it into a small valve power amp if you want a cooking output stage.
Glad its working out for you, Bogners are great amps - its tough to get everything balanced out in a channel switching amp so all the various tones are equally great.
-
The power switching actually works pretty darn well. You get that extra compression and 'juice' going on, rather than it being firmer and cleaner - just as you'd get from a cranked amp. I'm really impressed that all the features do what they claim to do, and they don't sound bad - just different. It's a very well designed and thought out amp.
Here's a rough and ready clip of it, using my Top Bound Esquire:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPuyplVeQGc
-
Glad to here that the amp worked nicely for it's first outing. What did Martin and the rest of the band think of it?
One more question what was the reverb and delay you were puting through the loop?
I have had a listen to your clip good job it sounded good otherwise you might have had a hasbo coming your way compiments of your neighbours. Sounds very nice I particually liked the dirtier tones.
-
I use a Malekko Chicklet reverb and an MXR Carbon Copy delay.
The rest of the band didn't have much to say about the amp to be honest!
-
Sounds good to me :) It'd be tempting to get a good channel switcher in the future if I ever get a band and get gigging again (and if I have the disposable income :lol: )!
-
sounds really good :D
I'll have to try the clean channel volume thing too.
-
Nice Dave - probably too much amp for my simpleton playing though! That's a nice sounding Esquire :wink:
Is the Malekko a new pedal for you? I don't recall you mentioning it before.
-
Yeah, only got it last week after waiting approx 6 weeks from ordering it :roll:
I picked up their chorus too. Very nice pedals :D
-
lovely bit of kit, great sparkly cleans.i'd always prefer too much power than too little, esp for the cleans and i'm sure
the blue/red channels sound great even at bedroom volume,as big modern amps often do
-
Yeah, it doesn sound good at lower volumes. I was quite surprised, given some of the reviews on t'interwebnet...
-
Sure sounds nice Dave. So a good versatile gigging amp, yes?
-
Indeed Johnny, indeed. Especially in a band that plays a range of tunes like we do and has two guitarists. In a one guitar band you can get away with a lot less, but if you want a range of gains at a range of volumes like I do, then the XTC is a godsend...
-
Indeed Johnny, indeed. Especially in a band that plays a range of tunes like we do and has two guitarists. In a one guitar band you can get away with a lot less, but if you want a range of gains at a range of volumes like I do, then the XTC is a godsend...
I can understand what you mean. The more songs you play from all kinds of styles, the more tones you need. I'm glad it's worked out for you. Some of these multi channel amps around now really are more than one trick ponys. It's EL34 isn't it?
I've been trying loads of different tones out in rehearsals with 3 channels and my pedals. It gets to be quite a tap dance now.
-
Yep, EL34s. Everything else I've got is KT-66...
-
Twin you said 'I now want to play a massive stadium gig to get the thing REALLY cooking!'
Sorry dude, ain't even gonna happen if you play a big stadium gig, especially if it's outdoors sound guys want the control now, so using a 100w head live in just about every situation you'll ever encounter it's not going to be cooking.
Attenuators are your friend, wattage just gives a different tone to be honest these days..
I play 35w Trainwreck clone live and I used an attenuator to get the volume down to reasonable levels and It's great. I've only played one gig where I didn't have to use the attenuator and that was just because I forgot it, over powered the band a tad in a 500 capacity venue.
Most amplifiers I build these days for gigging are 15w - 35w.. more than enough power.
-
Attenuators suck balls, and I prefer the sound of a big amp - none of this namby pamby 20w fannying around . Big valves = big sound to my ears.
The stadium gig thing wasn't meant literally :roll: Anywho, the master volumes on the XTC work great for rehearsals and small gigs. Reinhold knows his onions.
-
15 - 20 watts might be good for smaller gigs but it's nice to have some headroom spare. I like power amp drive but it can be a little overated, my WEM for example was on permanent mushy meltdown at some gigs, it sounded good in a vintage sense but just got too ragged.
30 - 50W is usually more than enough for most gigs but with decent pedals and a good MV I agree with TF that the extra watts don't really pose a problem, they are at least there is you need them.
Just becuase you have a Ferrari doesn't mean you can't drive at the speed limit :D
-
^ exactly mate, that's my point. I prefer to have some "room" rather than have an overly saturated sound. The latter is fine for recording, but if you need to vary volume levels you need headroom...
-
The master volumes on these modern heads are the business i think. Its so controllable, bedroom volumes are no problem. For cleans you do need lots of power for that bell like chime, its luuurvely!
My tone with the Koch doesn't really change that much from F LOUD to liver mangling, larynx vibrating with gag reflex FFF LOUD. A slight exaggeration you think? No! Plug into the cab at 4ohms if you have it and crank it. After 10 mins you will feel ill! Now thats loud, proper loud. I don't know what the Db level is at that volume in a small room but it must be above 140. I did this in my old flat with my Charvel when i had no neighbours. :twisted:
When these amps were designed they did think of us mere mortals at home too.
Bring it to the meet Dave, we'll have a blast!
-
Glad you're digging the XTC Dave, they're great amps.
I've found the same thing with bigger gigs - you always think you're gonna be able to crank your amps more, but in reality its rarely the case. I remember playing at Newcastle Uni's smaller room (about 1000 capacity) and thought I'd be pinning the pair of stacks (Marshall 2203 and a Selmer T&B) I was using at the time - wrong! It wasn't even as loud as the typical pub gigs we were playing.
I'm playing a biker gig out in Brampton (about 6-8 miles east of Carlisle towards Newcastle) at the weekend and I'll be taking the 100w HTH high gain monster with me through a 4x12, plus the HTH 1x12 plexi combo and running them together. I doubt the masters will get above the usual 2-3 level I have them at in pubs. Since the 1x12 combo is open backed, I might even point it out into the fields behind us to reduce the stage volume but still get some spill from the back of the cab and have a 'cranked' tone through FOH and the monitors :D
-
Yeah, the XTC is really nice. I took it to 'DC rehearsal last night, as we're planning some non-DC gigs so I needed some flexibility. Even the bass player and singer loved it! :lol:
-
but did the drummer notice? - thats the acid test :lol:
-
He nodded in agreement :lol:
-
Ha I totally missed that you got the XTC!
Crank that beast and have fun!
-
Cheers mate!
Still loving the 101B Classic :D
-
You know, after reading your thread I went upstairs, plugged the XTC in, put it in 100W and VariAC on and BAAM, TONE TONE TONE!!!
I never tried the VariAC in 100W, only in 50W. It's PERFECT!
Oh my, now I need to stop selling ...
-
You should try the Classic if you get chance Hunter - more options via the larger footswitch, you might like it...
-
You should try the Classic if you get chance Hunter - more options via the larger footswitch, you might like it...
I played a classic. It's what made we wanna get a Bogner in the first place. It has nicer cleans than the 100B but I do prefer the more crazy red channel on the 100B (the classic one is pretty crazy already LOL).
-
I love the blue channel - sheer joy!
-
The power switching actually works pretty darn well. You get that extra compression and 'juice' going on, rather than it being firmer and cleaner - just as you'd get from a cranked amp. I'm really impressed that all the features do what they claim to do, and they don't sound bad - just different. It's a very well designed and thought out amp.
Here's a rough and ready clip of it, using my Top Bound Esquire:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPuyplVeQGc
Nice one. That's what I remember, the clean is really nice and chimey. On the 100B it's a bit bland - actually I prefer using blue and dialing back the guitar volume for stuff like "Dream On" or "Don't Speak" (yeah we actually play those). I also like that you didn't use so much gain - I always dial in too much :lol:
How was it set, 50W / 100W? Class A / AB? Excursion? Air? Gain Structure? Pre-EQ? EQs and all that?
-
Now you're asking!! I think:
Full power
Old style
Excursion 'M'
Gains around 1 o'clock
Clean EQ around 1 o'clock with the mids scooped to 10 o'clock
Gain EQs around 1 o'clock too with the bass around 10 o'clock
B2 pre-EQs throughout
-
Anyways, now I'm in trouble. I was about to close the deal on the 100B sale, and now I played it, because of YOU, again, and have to keep it. Too awesome to let go :(
-
Whoops!
-
Anyways, now I'm in trouble. I was about to close the deal on the 100B sale, and now I played it, because of YOU, again, and have to keep it. Too awesome to let go :(
It's better to find out now and have to apolodise to someone than regret it mate! I'm glad for you that you've realised... strange really because it was only yesterday I had a brief chat with Dave ( cheers for your time mate it was good to finally talk to you... and I'm still looking for the PU) and we couldn't believe you were going to sell it. So nice one, glad you've come to your senses. :lol:
-
Anyways, now I'm in trouble. I was about to close the deal on the 100B sale, and now I played it, because of YOU, again, and have to keep it. Too awesome to let go :(
It's better to find out now and have to apolodise to someone than regret it mate! I'm glad for you that you've realised... strange really because it was only yesterday I had a brief chat with Dave ( cheers for your time mate it was good to finally talk to you... and I'm still looking for the PU) and we couldn't believe you were going to sell it. So nice one, glad you've come to your senses. :lol:
Yeah well, I got that 2554 and it sounds amazing - Marshall can only be done by a Marshall - and I thought that's it, I don't need anything else. So I was ready to drop some serious cash on a Marsha from Dave Friedman - but that 100B is so awesome and so rare, I would surely regret it, and then there'd be no way back.