napalmdeath
Well-known member
Got the 50 watt head today - it was originally scheduled for delivery tomorrow, but it showed up today!
First off, I didn't spend much time in the Plexi input, or clean channel. And to be honest, I really didn't buy it for that option. I'll check it out, at some point.
I hopped right to Hot input, and channel two, shifting between 70's and 80's. Both of these modes just simply KILL! They both take boosts very well, too. They very much remind me of gears 1 & 2 on the Splawn Competition I had. But, more articulate, richer in harmonics, and very much just as aggressive, but less gain. Both are VERY usable, and I'm on the fence which I like more! They're both sick!
Again, not much experimenting, I more/less played in those two modes, and absolutely love it. I did pull that back off - JJ's across the board - EL34's and ECC83S. I put an NOS Mullard in V1, and a Tungsol in V2, and it really came alive! HUGE improvement! I think I will try some KT77's this weekend. Should be that much better!
Some complain about no footswitch. I got a "demo" from Sweetwater, and it's basically as new, and mine came with a gold Bogner 2-button footswitch?? Maybe you get one now, or did I get lucky??
Ok, the bad.. It's noisy. It's damn near as noisy as the Marshall JVM's I had! It seems to get really bad cranking the FX Loop return! I was getting white noise with the gain completely at zero! Is this normal?? Of course, it's less noticeable with lower return level settings. I run my effects in the loop, or I'd just turn the loop off. I need an ISP! Second issue - my TC Flashback "POPS" when hitting the footswitch? My chorus doesn't, my reverb doesn't - what gives?? Could it be the pedal?? It's pretty new, and I had no problems in my JSX with it...
Maybe some Helios owners can chime in.. Oh, and for those of you wondering - this amp is EXTREMELY tight and focused. With a boost, and will get as mean and nasty as you want it, and is clear, and razor sharp. Again, it reminds me a lot of a Splawn, but a much more polished, more articulate tone. I've owned 2 Splawns, and I'd take this amp over owning another Splawn. It's THAT much better. Killer, Killer amp!
The loop issue bothers me some what. I only have the problem with that particular pedal.
First off, I didn't spend much time in the Plexi input, or clean channel. And to be honest, I really didn't buy it for that option. I'll check it out, at some point.
I hopped right to Hot input, and channel two, shifting between 70's and 80's. Both of these modes just simply KILL! They both take boosts very well, too. They very much remind me of gears 1 & 2 on the Splawn Competition I had. But, more articulate, richer in harmonics, and very much just as aggressive, but less gain. Both are VERY usable, and I'm on the fence which I like more! They're both sick!
Again, not much experimenting, I more/less played in those two modes, and absolutely love it. I did pull that back off - JJ's across the board - EL34's and ECC83S. I put an NOS Mullard in V1, and a Tungsol in V2, and it really came alive! HUGE improvement! I think I will try some KT77's this weekend. Should be that much better!
Some complain about no footswitch. I got a "demo" from Sweetwater, and it's basically as new, and mine came with a gold Bogner 2-button footswitch?? Maybe you get one now, or did I get lucky??
Ok, the bad.. It's noisy. It's damn near as noisy as the Marshall JVM's I had! It seems to get really bad cranking the FX Loop return! I was getting white noise with the gain completely at zero! Is this normal?? Of course, it's less noticeable with lower return level settings. I run my effects in the loop, or I'd just turn the loop off. I need an ISP! Second issue - my TC Flashback "POPS" when hitting the footswitch? My chorus doesn't, my reverb doesn't - what gives?? Could it be the pedal?? It's pretty new, and I had no problems in my JSX with it...
Maybe some Helios owners can chime in.. Oh, and for those of you wondering - this amp is EXTREMELY tight and focused. With a boost, and will get as mean and nasty as you want it, and is clear, and razor sharp. Again, it reminds me a lot of a Splawn, but a much more polished, more articulate tone. I've owned 2 Splawns, and I'd take this amp over owning another Splawn. It's THAT much better. Killer, Killer amp!
The loop issue bothers me some what. I only have the problem with that particular pedal.
