Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: the_bleeding on September 24, 2007, 12:09:05 AM
-
Hey guys, i used the search function and couldnt find any information so i'm starting my own thread.
I've come across one of these puppies and GAS is taking over but i was wondering what people's impressions of these were like. From what i've heard, they're the holy grail of jcm900's because theyre ALL tube, and they have enough gain to melt faces. Is this true? How would it compare to my 30th anniversary?
thanks :)
-
The SLX are inferior to the Dual Reverb series for the simple reason that both channels share a pre-amp, ie, it's not a true 2 channel amp - it's a single channel with a boost function.
And so much is made of the fact that the DR series (which I own one of) has a diode in the preamp... bollocks, you cannot hear any difference and anyone who said otherwise is a straight-up liar.
The Dual Reverb's have 2 true channels (although they share an EQ which is a minor inconvenience) and the clean holds it's own. If my 900 broke down, I'd buy another one without a moments hesitation. Absolutely amazing sound which is perfect for me and what I do. 8)
-
The SLX are inferior to the Dual Reverb series for the simple reason that both channels share a pre-amp, ie, it's not a true 2 channel amp - it's a single channel with a boost function.
And so much is made of the fact that the DR series (which I own one of) has a diode in the preamp... bollocks, you cannot hear any difference and anyone who said otherwise is a straight-up liar.
The Dual Reverb's have 2 true channels (although they share an EQ which is a minor inconvenience) and the clean holds it's own. If my 900 broke down, I'd buy another one without a moments hesitation. Absolutely amazing sound which is perfect for me and what I do. 8)
I have to disagree, When I had my DR it was fairly obvious that something was digitized in the 2nd channel. I actually compared the two channels side by side with a boost and diming the gain and the 'clean' channel sounded way fuller and beefier. From what I gather the SL-X is better for heavier sounds though. If its anything like the 900 DR, I generally wouldn't touch it with a 20ft amp pole.
-
I thought about getting an SLX when they were new & had the chance to buy one a few years ago after they'd stopped making them, have always regretted not doing it. Absolutely tons of gain & a really good metal sound.
It's true that it's a one channel amp with switchable volume rather than two different sounding channels, but if you like that one sound (I do/did) then go for it!
-
Antag: that's my limited experience with the SLX as well - soundscape is limited to metal, but it does metal well.
-
I have a JCM900 4101 DR combo which I've had from new and, as it was one of the early ones, came with EL34s instead of 5881s. Haven't used it for some time (too loud for home use). Like the 2 channel flexibility. Although it is classed as 'all valve' it uses clipping diodes on the high gain channel to help the distortion - I would have preferred a standard valve preamp circuit. However when I added a 1912 extension cab (with 150watt sidewinder speaker) it produced some good sounds (at high volume) when the power amp started working and a pretty neat/loud little mini stack.
-
If I only wanted a single channel amp with a boost, I'd buy an SLX no problem but I prefer the two channel versatility.
It's not a pristine clean but it's a helluva lot better than you expect from a Marshall.
-
I'd take a DSL over a JCM900, and an 800 over either.
-
DSL? EW! And god forbid the TSL's, they're appalling.
-
so the only downside is the lack of a clean channel? who needs one of those :twisted:
okay, heres the thing though, i'd be getting this to make up for my 30th anniversary's lack of dynamics. My 30th anniversary is just too loose on the attack, and does NOT do any sort of technical death metal for the reasons that its not clear enough, doesnt have enough gain on its own, and is too loose and spongy. Would the sl-x be brutal enough to make up for this?
-
My best advice would be:stop the "deathMetal"! :lol: By the way,how come so many here do play Metal..?
-
JCM900 SLX's are great, I've owned the MkIII, SLX and DR.
I'd choose the SLX for heavier styles any day, but I'd choose an 800 over them if u can get a hold of one.
-
My best advice would be:stop the "deathMetal"! :lol: By the way,how come so many here do play Metal..?
hahaha yeahh... its emberassing to say death metal these days. And i think alot of metal heads are here because theyre like OMFG! WARPIG HAS MOST OUTPUT IN THE WORLD! METALLLZZ.
but back to the point, i just want something that gets heavy as shite for metal, while retaining clarity. My 30th anniversary doesnt get heavy enough for me (gets too spongy), and does NOT retain clarity. Will the sl-x do this for me?
If it helps, it will be the 50 watt version, and the first thing im doing is converting it to either el34's or 6550's.
-
If you want more punch in the low end, always go for a 100w amp. I'd change it over to 6550s too rather than 5881s or EL34s as it'll be tighter for metal styles.
Also (fwiw), the Dual Reverb amps have considerably more than 'a diode' in the preamp - the entire signal path is littered with opamps. That's not to say they can't sound good, but you can hardly call it an all valve signal path by any stretch of the imagination.
I can't see why people care about diodes or opamps in valve amps anyway - that's exactly whats in stompboxes and there are loads of OD pedals that sound great.
:twisted:
-
If you want more punch in the low end, always go for a 100w amp. I'd change it over to 6550s too rather than 5881s or EL34s as it'll be tighter for metal styles.
Also (fwiw), the Dual Reverb amps have considerably more than 'a diode' in the preamp - the entire signal path is littered with opamps. That's not to say they can't sound good, but you can hardly call it an all valve signal path by any stretch of the imagination.
I can't see why people care about diodes or opamps in valve amps anyway - that's exactly whats in stompboxes and there are loads of OD pedals that sound great.
:twisted:
yeah, if i could get a 100w version i would, but the only one available to me is 50w, so therefore i'm puttin in 6550's to make up for that lack of bass. Plus, i'll be driving the poweramp harder to keep up with my 30th anniversary (i'll probably use them at the same time), so that should help too.
Problem i find with the dual reverbs is that they dont get brutal enough by themselves without a boost pedal in front, and the dirty lacks balls due to all of the SS cr@p in the signal path... IMO, the clean channel boosted sounds heavier than the dirty channel on those things :roll:
-
I think you should bare in mind that you can cut the power from pentode to triode on the 900s, do you want the option to be able to cut from 100 to 50w or 50 to 25w?
but also by the sound of it your going to really crank it anyway ? :P
-
I think you should bare in mind that you can cut the power from pentode to triode on the 900s, do you want the option to be able to cut from 100 to 50w or 50 to 25w?
but also by the sound of it your going to really crank it anyway ? :P
i cant get a 100w because none are available on the current market right now. I just happened to find a guy with a 50w version for sale. These things havent been made for something like 8 years, so finding them is relatively difficult.
And i dont believe the 50w (2500 sl-x) version has a pentode/triode switch, but even if it did, i'd always keep it in pentode. Triode eats bass response and cuts gain in half... its like going from humbuckers to single coils...
-
The SLX are inferior to the Dual Reverb series for the simple reason that both channels share a pre-amp, ie, it's not a true 2 channel amp - it's a single channel with a boost function.
There is no boost in the SL-X. It is dual master volumes, no boost involved.
I have a modded 100 watter SL-X and JCM 800 cabinet I'm trying to sell...
-
There is no boost in the SL-X. It is dual master volumes, no boost involved.
I have a modded 100 watter SL-X and JCM 800 cabinet I'm trying to sell...
What is this mod you speak of. I might have to jump on it if its the right price.
-
I have the 100W version and use the half-power switch down to 50W for gigs, practise and recording. It's brilliant knowing that if I ever need to, I can really melt someones face. 8)
-
There is no boost in the SL-X. It is dual master volumes, no boost involved.
I have a modded 100 watter SL-X and JCM 800 cabinet I'm trying to sell...
What is this mod you speak of. I might have to jump on it if its the right price.
I had the transformer replaced with a Marstran replica of a 1969 1959SLP transformer and the gain brought down a little for more headroom and power side distortion. Between both mods they beef up the tone quite a lot.
I'll sell my straight cabinet and the head for $1300 plus whatever it costs to ship. The tubes are fairly new SED "Winged Cs" (best new EL34 quite easily) and NOS German RFT ECC83s in the preamp which should last quite a while. I have a footpedal, not sure that it's original but it works.
And it does have the triode/pentode switch as well. Even with the mod it still won't quite do clean, but starts at mildly overdriven. I have not done this, but I would probably put a 12AT7 in the preamp to bring the gain down and give more headroom. I'm fairly sure the payoff would be large.
It's a good amp. I'm going to miss it, but I'm trying to upgrade to a Roccaforte DRRS.