20 watt plexi

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ClintN667

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Any of you guys have the 20 watt plexi? What do you think about it? I've been eyeing getting a 50 watt Ceriatone or maybe another Splawn but since the 20 watt plexi and JCM are at ZZounds I'm tempted in grabbing one of those.
 
I got the plexi SV20 right when they came out as I always wanted one in a smaller package (both in wattage and weight). Just finished recording an album that featured it in parts. Man does it slice right through any mix. We were focusing on the drum performance and had to ask the engineer to turn down the guitar.

I did get an attenuator for home as it is quite loud even in the 5W mode. I have tried boosting it with an SD-1 and a green rhino but both sound a bit woofy/weird in the bass (even with it bass off and rolling back the tone on the pedals. Not adding gain, just boosting volume.) it doesn’t sound bad, just not the sound of the amp+ boost. Slightly artificial. I’ve watched Pete Thorn’s boosting a plexi style amp and this amp can’t quite handle the pedals like they sound in his video.

Plugging straight in it does sound great and cleans up very well. Very responsive to picking dynamics. Overall I’m happy with the purchase, just wish I could find a pedal that could boost it when needed and have it sound like the amp but boosted.
 
My Splawn Supersport is massive sounding. Can do plexi and jcm very well.
 
I should note that it is VERY picky on speakers. Either greenbacks or splawns smallblocks.
 
swamptrashstompboxes":1gsb4jsd said:
My Splawn Supersport is massive sounding. Can do plexi and jcm very well.

Yet, the guy was asking about the new 20 watt Marshall. Nobody cares about your Splawn
 
mrlucky":2hxuvf12 said:
swamptrashstompboxes":2hxuvf12 said:
My Splawn Supersport is massive sounding. Can do plexi and jcm very well.

Yet, the guy was asking about the new 20 watt Marshall. Nobody cares about your Splawn

I don't always look for everything new, I was unaware. I shop the used market.

No need for the negativity.
 
I understand the financing part, but at that price. Marshall is ridiculous.

Edit: at least they are made in the UK and not China like the other Marshall’s.
 
swamptrashstompboxes":beqfvgxa said:
My Splawn Supersport is massive sounding. Can do plexi and jcm very well.
I have always liked the sound of Splawns but I have seen some questionable things with build quality. I wonder how the 20 watt plexi's are built in comparison.
 
sutepaj said:
swamptrashstompboxes said:
My Splawn Supersport is massive sounding. Can do plexi and jcm very well.
I have always liked the sound of Splawns but I have seen some questionable things with build quality. I wonder how the 20 watt plexi's are built in comparison.


I have opened very few chassis that looked better than the guts of my nitro and promod. They have been abused for 10+ years and I have never had a problem. I have not really heard of a problem unless it is something going wrong on newer models.

I have not opened up the Supersport yet, but it sounds great, huge iron too.

The only negative I see with Splawns is that the bias seems to drift faster than some other amps.i set them every six months noticing maybe 2 mA off. Also they don't get along with a lot of common speakers like V30's and t75's.

If there is anything going wrong on the regular I would like to know what. Both of my big boys are 2007-2008ish.
 
mrlucky":2kvb5nb9 said:
swamptrashstompboxes":2kvb5nb9 said:
My Splawn Supersport is massive sounding. Can do plexi and jcm very well.

Yet, the guy was asking about the new 20 watt Marshall. Nobody cares about your Splawn

I care about Splawns! Splawn lives matter :lol: :LOL:
 
From the gut shots I’ve seen, build on these Marshall 20 watters is ok. Not phenomenal but adequate. Lots of board-mounted components (tubes, jacks, pots), but the board doesn’t look scary like some Peaveys, for example.
 
The Splawn amps I had last year were 2009 Nitro and a 2011 Quick Rod. Opening them up looked good to me but Im not extremely savvy when it comes to that sort of thing. The main thing that does deter me from another Splawn is I just sold my Splawn cab and my new KSR cab is a V30 and a CB75. The two heads I had really didnt jive with the V30 especially the Quick Rod. The reason I got rid of the Quick Rod was 100 watts even with the loop volume still needed to be cranked to get the full effect and both were a bit dry for some of the stuff I was doing at that time. Had I been able to get my Orthos without selling them I would have kept them especially the Nitro especially now that I have a two notes to attenuate. If I do go that route I will def get a Supersport or a 50 watt of the one channel versions since I never used the cleans. I have been leaning towards a Ceriatone more than anything mainly because Im trying to learn how to do some mods and I really wouldnt want to experiment with a Splawn or similar amp. The temptation with the 20 watt is having no interest with Zzounds plus their return policy.

Although if the 20 watt Marshalls dont play well with boosts thats a deal breaker.

Im only allowing myself one more amp purchase this year so I want to make it count. I may wait for the JJ jr reviews before making a decision. Thankfully I adore my KSR so Im not in any kind of rush just starting to plan really.
 
Splawns definitely are drt, definitely don't like V30's and definitely need to be played loud to get the best from them. The Supersport is more friendly on the volume front, still doesn't like V30's and isn't quite as dry.
 
I love how punchy Splawn amps are and now that I have something to attenuate a bit better I've definitely been thinking about another one. My Nitro was very percussive and it worked decent with V30's. I've really been wanting to try a fully loaded model.
 
ClintN667":1mddgte8 said:
I love how punchy Splawn amps are and now that I have something to attenuate a bit better I've definitely been thinking about another one. My Nitro was very percussive and it worked decent with V30's. I've really been wanting to try a fully loaded model.

I used k85's with my nitro. It really didn't like V30's for some reason. Again mine is a KT88 though.
 
ClintN667":8f8ompac said:
The Splawn amps I had last year were 2009 Nitro and a 2011 Quick Rod. Opening them up looked good to me but Im not extremely savvy when it comes to that sort of thing. The main thing that does deter me from another Splawn is I just sold my Splawn cab and my new KSR cab is a V30 and a CB75. The two heads I had really didnt jive with the V30 especially the Quick Rod. The reason I got rid of the Quick Rod was 100 watts even with the loop volume still needed to be cranked to get the full effect and both were a bit dry for some of the stuff I was doing at that time. Had I been able to get my Orthos without selling them I would have kept them especially the Nitro especially now that I have a two notes to attenuate. If I do go that route I will def get a Supersport or a 50 watt of the one channel versions since I never used the cleans. I have been leaning towards a Ceriatone more than anything mainly because Im trying to learn how to do some mods and I really wouldnt want to experiment with a Splawn or similar amp. The temptation with the 20 watt is having no interest with Zzounds plus their return policy.

Although if the 20 watt Marshalls dont play well with boosts thats a deal breaker.

Im only allowing myself one more amp purchase this year so I want to make it count. I may wait for the JJ jr reviews before making a decision. Thankfully I adore my KSR so Im not in any kind of rush just starting to plan really.

If you want and don't mind waiting a day I will put up a quick demo of the plexi level of gain on the splawn. If you get back to me I have no problem throwing that together.

It will just be raw with a rode videomic on my DSLR, but it's better than nothing.
 
Stradazone":3ewvienw said:
mrlucky":3ewvienw said:
swamptrashstompboxes":3ewvienw said:
My Splawn Supersport is massive sounding. Can do plexi and jcm very well.

Yet, the guy was asking about the new 20 watt Marshall. Nobody cares about your Splawn

I care about Splawns! Splawn lives matter :lol: :LOL:
+1

Hey Al. Good to see you again. You are a big reason I have mine :D :cheers:



PS Splawn loop is very clean imo and can take a lot of 'abuse'. Clean channel is clean and can stay clean if needed.
 
sutepaj":2js4h1pf said:
swamptrashstompboxes":2js4h1pf said:
My Splawn Supersport is massive sounding. Can do plexi and jcm very well.
I have always liked the sound of Splawns but I have seen some questionable things with build quality. I wonder how the 20 watt plexi's are built in comparison.

311, since you are a splawn forum mod have you ever heard of questionable build quality? I haven't opened up the SS, but the other two are impeccable.
 
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