rsm
Well-known member
@Spaceboy YT - the new home of new rock stars. 
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journeyman73
Well-known member
I spent a couple weeks with a 120…I wanted to like it soooo much - the feature set, flexibility, range…everything.
It was pretty cool - could access a lot of different tones and tweak as much as could be desired. At the end of the day, though, other than that flexibility/versatility nothing was really unique or compelling about its tone and feel.
Honestly, can anyone point out something about its tone and feel that makes you say to yourself ‘no fucking way I am letting that amp go’? Anything at all that isn’t predicated on versatility or flexibility?
I think the comparisons to Friedman are they both have that slightly processed/refined/edges taken off/whatever you call the slightly distant feel. It used to be way worse with earlier Friedmans but is still there to some extent compared to other more immediate amps.
I found the Revv to be a perfectly competent but not exceptional amp.
It was pretty cool - could access a lot of different tones and tweak as much as could be desired. At the end of the day, though, other than that flexibility/versatility nothing was really unique or compelling about its tone and feel.
Honestly, can anyone point out something about its tone and feel that makes you say to yourself ‘no fucking way I am letting that amp go’? Anything at all that isn’t predicated on versatility or flexibility?
I think the comparisons to Friedman are they both have that slightly processed/refined/edges taken off/whatever you call the slightly distant feel. It used to be way worse with earlier Friedmans but is still there to some extent compared to other more immediate amps.
I found the Revv to be a perfectly competent but not exceptional amp.
Brandonrz
Well-known member
That’s the problem with these amps with just shit loads of features. They’re all just okay. They never really excel at anything. Nor do they ever have a unique tone where you hear it and go oh that’s a “whatever”. I’d rather have a single channel amp that rips than a 4 channel amp that’s just okay at everything.
Greazygeo
Well-known member
The only good amps are Marshall JMP / JCM 800 2203‘s with a sd-1 or Mesa IIC++’s.
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braintheory
Well-known member
Even the few multi-channel amps that I liked, I’d only use one channel of them vs other amps I’ve got and only need a small fraction of their knobs & features haha
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braintheory
Well-known member
Well said, Friedman’s still haven’t imo addressed the tonal areas that I feel are what’s really needed. I think most likely him and other makers just dial in what they like, which I respect and is probably how it should be, but I think it’ll therefore probably never really get the more raw or gritty/unapologetic sounds that have more wow or impact to my ears
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braintheory
Well-known member
You can certainly cover a huge amount of high gain ground with just those 2 and even be more than enough for some guys. I like a few boosts even more than an ‘80’s SD-1 with it personally. Those 2 amps at least stood the test of time 40+ years later without really being exceeded soundwise, just feature & practicality-wise aka boring-wise. I wanna hear something make them obsolete strictly soundwise. Still patiently waiting for such an amp to come out
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Brandonrz
Well-known member
I think every amp I own actually has two channels…. But the only one I own that two channels get used is my rev e dual rectifier. The red and orange channel modern both have their own place imo.
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braintheory
Well-known member
Haha the Rev E is the one Recto I still haven’t tried. I’ve got a Rev C, D & Triple Rev F (C modded by Mike B) and I only use the orange mode on all of them. If I didn’t have a iic+ I may have some use for red, but orange brings the throaty growl that I associate the recto tone with
Brandonrz
Well-known member
Yeah the red gets real brutal boosted. I typically set the back to the ‘normal’ mode, diode, loop off sounds crazy. Then orange channel, switch the back to modern. The e has a pretty wild brightness to it compared to other early iterations I’ve tried.
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braintheory
Well-known member
It’s brighter you think than a C or D? The clips I’ve heard seemed like it would be darker than those 2, but who knows
Greazygeo
Well-known member
I was being a bit sarcastic…a 2203 can be passable for me, but will get annoying pretty quickly trying to get what I want from it.
The IIC+ I had couldn’t move on down the road fast enough. Thought I did pretty good selling it for $750.00. Should have held onto it for 25 years I suppose.
The Sd-1 is still good after all these years..after a bit of modding so all the low end doesn’t go away. ?
Brandonrz
Well-known member
Definitely has some more low end, but the presence control on it is nuts. Not fizzy, super sharp.
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braintheory
Well-known member
Hm interesting, I’d have to try an E. I wouldn’t really consider any recto I’ve tried to have what I interpret as a real sharp sound except maybe the Badlander. I actually think my C has the most low end of any Dual Rec I’ve tried, but less low mids, which I think is why some say they have less low end
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braintheory
Well-known member
Yeah I know you were lol. Those 2 amps wouldn’t quite make top 5 for me, but both great imo and stood the test of time. What I respect a lot about those 2 amps is that they (and just the early Recto’s) are the only high gain amps I can think of (of what I’ve tried) that have a truly raw sound like other good vintage amps. After that I found Wizard’s & Naylor’s are to me to be close but no cigar in that department of being raw. If I didn’t have a Klon I would have kept the ‘80’a SD-1. I liked it a lot still
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Randy R
Well-known member
I have good luck with my revv, dial it in with the presence and resonance all the way off.
Rex Rocker
Well-known member
If you like SD-1's, also try the Wylde OD/GT-OD. EXTREMELY close to the point you'd almost say it's a direct clone, just slightly less low-mid mud and slightly more high mid grind.
Then again, people complain about modern SD-1's being too harsh. I think the grind is why I'd reach for an SD-1 over a TS, personally.
Then again, people complain about modern SD-1's being too harsh. I think the grind is why I'd reach for an SD-1 over a TS, personally.
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Candiria
Well-known member
Revv sounds like ENGL making a 5153. Sounds fine, but it's boring and synthetic sounding/feeling. Not what you want from an amp that expensive IMO. For most people interested in Revv I would probably suggest a 5153 or an original Savage.
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pipboy90
Well-known member
What would you consider your top 5 favorite amps?
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PSGuitar
Active member
I should say that we are all different and hear things differentlt and enjoy different things.
So I didn't mean to offend anyone by saying it's a great amp, when others may hate it.
For me, I really like the Revv. I don't own it but I've played a friend's from his studio, a few times, enough to know I like it. It reminds me of some of my favorite amps. It's a joy to play for me.
I wish I could get my hands on a KSR to play! I also wish I could get an Engl Powerball II to play. Same, with a few Diesels. Friedman as well, like the BE Deluxe 100.
I feel like I'll never be able to afford any of these although I'd I can afford a $2000 amp, I should be able to save a bit more and get the one I really want.
I'm a big Bogner fan and my 20th Anniversary Shiva is my main amp today.
That said, I'd love a 20th Anniversary Bogner Ecstacy. I love the way it is designed and laid out with the channel boosts and all.
It doesn't have the extra functionality, midi, ability to save patches and run direct with the Revv to me is cool because I can easily record it and run it live without a cab. And I like the tone.
So I didn't mean to offend anyone by saying it's a great amp, when others may hate it.
For me, I really like the Revv. I don't own it but I've played a friend's from his studio, a few times, enough to know I like it. It reminds me of some of my favorite amps. It's a joy to play for me.
I wish I could get my hands on a KSR to play! I also wish I could get an Engl Powerball II to play. Same, with a few Diesels. Friedman as well, like the BE Deluxe 100.
I feel like I'll never be able to afford any of these although I'd I can afford a $2000 amp, I should be able to save a bit more and get the one I really want.
I'm a big Bogner fan and my 20th Anniversary Shiva is my main amp today.
That said, I'd love a 20th Anniversary Bogner Ecstacy. I love the way it is designed and laid out with the channel boosts and all.
It doesn't have the extra functionality, midi, ability to save patches and run direct with the Revv to me is cool because I can easily record it and run it live without a cab. And I like the tone.