Tried a Fuchs (pronounced FEWks... I'm watching you...) Overdrive Supreme 50 2x12 combo today... I think I need to go back and try it out with an attenuator to get the full valve potential out of it, but at low volumes it was a bit brash and a bit harsh, and fairly beastly-sounding. Note clarity was really good, though, even with high gain dialled in, so I have high hopes for the "full power" blasting I'll give it with an attenuator. These things go for something like $3500 new (£2250) so I shouldn't judge it on low-volume tests.
Control panel was a tad strange, lots of pull-pots on offer, but dreadful if you are gigging and have sweaty fingers and need to adjust using the pull-pots as the dials are quite smooth. I only played for a few minutes and tried to use them and my fingers just kept slipping off the dials before I gave up and used my t-shirt to grip them with.
From left to right they were:
Gain dial -> Bright switch -> Deep switch -> Rock / Jazz switch-> High dial (pull for high mids) -> Mid dial (pull for added mid gain) -> Low dial -> Input Gain -> Output Gain (pull for O/D) -> Master -> Accent (presence, essentially) -> Reverb
I imagine it to be as uncompromising as a Fryette / old VHT in note clarity, I have heard that many an "awesome" guitarist has come away shaking their heads, because even with all the gain whacked up, this thing will really show all your flaws if you're not an accurate and clean player. (Which means I'd best use the saving-up time to practice should I ever decide to buy that Fryette Pittbull I've been GASing for... or this if it turns out to sound nice at full-whack *sigh*)
The tone-hunt continues! ^_^
