LPMojoGL
Well-known member
Had all of these at my house a couple of times. Someone on TGP asked me how they compared. Thought I'd share what I wrote. @scottosan @Junk Yard Dog and @Shredsmcgee might have more or varying input.
"JCM did the Marshall thing, sounded great with an SD1 pushing it. Rowdy and raw, fun.
The rest have more gain = no boost required, and effects loops that are handy for post gain delay, and using an eq pedal for tone shaping and overall volume control.
Phil X, more refined, best master volume. Reminds me of Zakk NRFTW or Dokken BFTA tone on the hi gain setting, can sound more JMPish on lower settings, without the bloated bass and skreechy highs.
SLO, more modern voicing, decent cleans on clean channel, JCMish crunch channel, all the smooth singing gain you want on the od channel, effects loop volume super handy. Gorgeous.
Mezza, like an upgraded SLO with Marshall EL34 power section, meatier mids, bigger lows, negative feedback knob to adjust overall feel and brightness, more versatile with ability to boost clean and crunch channels giving 5 sounds instead of 3, more gain on the crunch channel would be enough for many folks, OD channel rips. Versatile, punchy, mean Beast. Would like to side by side it with a Wizard MTL.
Rocca C80, this one is modded by @scottosan (who also makes ToneNerd pickups, best handwired pups for the $, check em em out). I believe it is a Jose mod with 5 way diode switch, metro effects loop, 3 way bright switch that's kind of Bogner XTC like in that it changes gain, punch knob with pull bass boost...the best feeling modded Marshall for my playing style. Scott won't sell it to me, so I've been looking for another one to mod. They've doubled in price the past couple years ( like everything). I wouldn't like it near as much stock.
Splawn QR, another beast, different levels of gain cover a big range, broad mids that will always be heard in a mix, huge bang for buck on used market. Hangs right there with the other amps, but we preferred the clarity of the SLO, punch of the Mezza and tight responsive saturation of the Rocca.
Emplexador, played in the amp room at GC for 15 minutes. GC Arlington TX has it for $1700. I'd much rather have the Splawn."
Adding, we also compared the Friedman 2x12 and Bogner OS2X12. The Friedman sounds good, a bit bigger and more modern than the Bogner. Kind of in between a Mesa Recto cab and the Bogner. Probably closest to the 4x12s. The Bogner sounded maybe more vintage. I won't be flipping my Bogner to get a Friedman, but if I were shopping for one right now, I'd go with the best deal.
"JCM did the Marshall thing, sounded great with an SD1 pushing it. Rowdy and raw, fun.
The rest have more gain = no boost required, and effects loops that are handy for post gain delay, and using an eq pedal for tone shaping and overall volume control.
Phil X, more refined, best master volume. Reminds me of Zakk NRFTW or Dokken BFTA tone on the hi gain setting, can sound more JMPish on lower settings, without the bloated bass and skreechy highs.
SLO, more modern voicing, decent cleans on clean channel, JCMish crunch channel, all the smooth singing gain you want on the od channel, effects loop volume super handy. Gorgeous.
Mezza, like an upgraded SLO with Marshall EL34 power section, meatier mids, bigger lows, negative feedback knob to adjust overall feel and brightness, more versatile with ability to boost clean and crunch channels giving 5 sounds instead of 3, more gain on the crunch channel would be enough for many folks, OD channel rips. Versatile, punchy, mean Beast. Would like to side by side it with a Wizard MTL.
Rocca C80, this one is modded by @scottosan (who also makes ToneNerd pickups, best handwired pups for the $, check em em out). I believe it is a Jose mod with 5 way diode switch, metro effects loop, 3 way bright switch that's kind of Bogner XTC like in that it changes gain, punch knob with pull bass boost...the best feeling modded Marshall for my playing style. Scott won't sell it to me, so I've been looking for another one to mod. They've doubled in price the past couple years ( like everything). I wouldn't like it near as much stock.
Splawn QR, another beast, different levels of gain cover a big range, broad mids that will always be heard in a mix, huge bang for buck on used market. Hangs right there with the other amps, but we preferred the clarity of the SLO, punch of the Mezza and tight responsive saturation of the Rocca.
Emplexador, played in the amp room at GC for 15 minutes. GC Arlington TX has it for $1700. I'd much rather have the Splawn."
Adding, we also compared the Friedman 2x12 and Bogner OS2X12. The Friedman sounds good, a bit bigger and more modern than the Bogner. Kind of in between a Mesa Recto cab and the Bogner. Probably closest to the 4x12s. The Bogner sounded maybe more vintage. I won't be flipping my Bogner to get a Friedman, but if I were shopping for one right now, I'd go with the best deal.
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