Burp! Pardon me, it's just a little GAS.......

[Twinfan]

Well, it's been a little while since I bought anything guitar related due to band uncertainty.  Until very recently it looked like all my projects had completely folded but, after a parting of the ways with Martin of MJW Amps, my rock covers band is going to continue under the new name "Jump The Shark".  So I need new gear don't I?  ;)

First up is a the mighty Klone Centaur, built by JuanSolo here on the forum.  I'm a big fan of John's work, and as always this pedal is superbly built.  For tone, this thing is just incredible.  I've played loooooooooooooooooooooooads of boost/overdrive pedals and this is the best of the lot.  Believe the hype.  If you've got a great amp and need a pedal that makes it "more", these are it.  Fantastic!  It now sits on my smaller pedal board for home and rehearsal use.




Secondly, as I'm going to start maintaining my own amps, I've ordered a Weber Bias Rite from the US which has just been despatched.  Should save me a few quid in the long run!




Lastly, and much more expensively, is one of the beasties below.  I've been following the blog over the last 9 months, and had my eye on one since the beginning but couldn't really afford/justify one.  I found out last week that I'm not going to be made redundant after all (I've been under threat for 6 months), so as a celebratory gift to myself I went straight to Sounds Great and put a deposit on one of the three they're getting!

I love my Bogner XTC for live use but it's too loud to use at home as the pots are off or ON!  The power scaling will be superb for me, plus the auto-biasing and valve flexibility will be fun to play with.

It should arrive within the month...!

[HTH AMPS]

from what I've heard, the power scaling on those amps is a bit of a porkie, its just a PPI master volume.  however, if it works, it works - nuff said.

the clips of the amp are great, really nailed that tone Slash was getting back in the day.

nice work by Juansolo on the Klone, had that on my list of things to do for years.

[Philly Q]

It was never going to be a long wait, was it?   :lol:

I like the look of the Klone Centaur, very tidy tribute to the Klon!

And the Slash amp has power scaling, does it?  I had no idea Marshall were embracing that technology.

[juansolo]

The Klon surprised the hell out of me. Really, really fantastic thing. So much so I now have to build one for me and I'm not a fan of overdrives. Though mine will be a Crom... ;-)

[Twinfan]

HTH - if you're right then Marshall are lying.  I would suggest your info is wrong?

http://www.afd100.com/blog/stage-1-engineering-complete/

"this amplifier features an auto-biasing function which works together with the output power control........The power control allows the user to obtain power amp distortion at volumes as low as 0.1W going to full 100W with the simple twist of a knob"

[Ian Price]

All looks good Dave - the only thing that doesn't do it for me is the Weber  :) That Klone looks great - I'm assuming you'll be getting some clips up soon for it    

I've not really had any GAS for ages. I've dabbled in a few things but nothing serious. I'd love to get a Marshall Silver Jubilee one day.

Quick edit - the amp sounds pretty great here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iG_OHT7JXw&feature=related

[Twinfan]

Sounds superb here too being played by Chris George:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ehwnoo1sFxU

[Ian Price]

It does indeed. Watched that one just before the Slash one. Was great to hear some classic G'n'R being played through it.

Are you now MJW-less Dave?

[Twinfan]

All bar one mate, I've just got the JTM45/100 half stack (which is actually Ceriatone based with MetroAmp transformers, and cabinets built by Jeff at Matamp.  Jeff built my 2x12 too) .  It's my 'classic' amp, and the one I'll use if YC/DC do any random gigs from time to time.  A man's gotta have a half stack, right?  ;)

[HTH AMPS]

HTH - if you're right then Marshall are lying.  I would suggest your info is wrong?

http://www.afd100.com/blog/stage-1-engineering-complete/

"this amplifier features an auto-biasing function which works together with the output power control........The power control allows the user to obtain power amp distortion at volumes as low as 0.1W going to full 100W with the simple twist of a knob"

what I've heard may indeed be wrong, but it wouldn't be the first time a manufacturer had been economical with the truth.  from what it says on the AFD100 website, it doesn't much sound like a PPI-MV to be fair.

[Twinfan]

Yeah, you never know I guess but the wording is quite specific isn't it?  With the all the biasing technology in there, I don't see why they wouldn't be scaling power as they say they are.

I'll find out when I get it I suppose as I can stick the bias rite on it and check the voltages....

[dave_mc]

nice!

cool name for the band :lol:

[Twinfan]

CHeers Dave - our bass player is an IT and web subculture geek!  :lol:

[Philly Q]

my rock covers band is going to continue under the new name "Jump The Shark". 

So who's Fonzie?

[jpfamps]

Yeah, you never know I guess but the wording is quite specific isn't it?  With the all the biasing technology in there, I don't see why they wouldn't be scaling power as they say they are.

I'll find out when I get it I suppose as I can stick the bias rite on it and check the voltages....

Kevin O'Conner of London Power, who owns the trademark "Power Scalling", claims that he was in negotiation with Marshall re a licencing deal to use power scaling but that this fell through.

This would suggest that Marshall have been working on some implementation of variable voltage control, so I suspect that this amp uses similar technology to Power Scaling.

Tubesync have a "bias engine" that will automatically adjust the bias (I think that this was developed for use in Hughes and Kettner amps), and it looks as if Marshall have developed something similar.