TotallyRadGuitars
Well-known member
Picked these two up in a short span of time.
First one, a Stephenson Lead 30. Kind of an odd amp, one I hadn't heard about before seeing it for sale. I didn't really know what to expect but I'm extremely impressed. It sounds great, has quite a bit more gain than I expected as well. I haven't had the chance to take proper pictures and check out the internals yet but I will do that soon. For now, just some cell phone pictures:
It doesn't exactly match any of the current models on the Stephenson site. No effects loop, but it does have an EQ bypass, 3-way bright, and gain hi/lo switch. It also has two octal power tube slots (fitted with 6V6's) and two EL84's, all of which can be enabled or disabled from switches on the rear panel. And yes, it has those weird toroidal transformers, or at least one of them. It also has a real great sounding spring reverb and a very odd 6SN7 phase inverter tube. Fit and finish is superb and I'm impressed at the condition really. As is probably no surprise to anyone, I snagged it off of GC used, and it was nicely packed with no missing parts or broken switches.
I'm looking forward to digging into it a bit more. Really unique amp, obviously modeled after a plexi style sound but it doesn't sound much like anything else I have right now, and not too bad at lower volumes too. I haven't even gotten around to trying the different power tube combos or ultra-linear mode yet.
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Next, a GKG RR2. This is a Korean made continuation of the original Russian Roulette that came out something like... 2009? 2010? I remember thinking they were really cool but at the time I didn't have much cash and I could buy an old USA Kramer for $500-600 so a $900 GKG didn't seem like that much of a value prospect. Anyway, it plays and sounds great. The neck is interesting, it has that odd 3-ply binding I've seen on other Korean guitars, and the neck is SUPER thick. I mean, really thick. Not at all like an 80s claw neck that it's clearly inspired by. The headstock shape is also longer and a little different. The original RR had duncans, this one has some no-name pickups, they sound good but not super high output, but that doesn't bother me much. Oh, and a real German OFR. Love the finish on it either way:
Forgive the mess. The room is a bit scattered right now.
First one, a Stephenson Lead 30. Kind of an odd amp, one I hadn't heard about before seeing it for sale. I didn't really know what to expect but I'm extremely impressed. It sounds great, has quite a bit more gain than I expected as well. I haven't had the chance to take proper pictures and check out the internals yet but I will do that soon. For now, just some cell phone pictures:
It doesn't exactly match any of the current models on the Stephenson site. No effects loop, but it does have an EQ bypass, 3-way bright, and gain hi/lo switch. It also has two octal power tube slots (fitted with 6V6's) and two EL84's, all of which can be enabled or disabled from switches on the rear panel. And yes, it has those weird toroidal transformers, or at least one of them. It also has a real great sounding spring reverb and a very odd 6SN7 phase inverter tube. Fit and finish is superb and I'm impressed at the condition really. As is probably no surprise to anyone, I snagged it off of GC used, and it was nicely packed with no missing parts or broken switches.
I'm looking forward to digging into it a bit more. Really unique amp, obviously modeled after a plexi style sound but it doesn't sound much like anything else I have right now, and not too bad at lower volumes too. I haven't even gotten around to trying the different power tube combos or ultra-linear mode yet.
---------------------------------
Next, a GKG RR2. This is a Korean made continuation of the original Russian Roulette that came out something like... 2009? 2010? I remember thinking they were really cool but at the time I didn't have much cash and I could buy an old USA Kramer for $500-600 so a $900 GKG didn't seem like that much of a value prospect. Anyway, it plays and sounds great. The neck is interesting, it has that odd 3-ply binding I've seen on other Korean guitars, and the neck is SUPER thick. I mean, really thick. Not at all like an 80s claw neck that it's clearly inspired by. The headstock shape is also longer and a little different. The original RR had duncans, this one has some no-name pickups, they sound good but not super high output, but that doesn't bother me much. Oh, and a real German OFR. Love the finish on it either way:
Forgive the mess. The room is a bit scattered right now.
