O
Odin
Member
Went to GC on the way home and played some amps.
All amps tested with a Les Paul Standard with Burstbuckers.
'77 Marshall JMP 50 watt head in dirty white or cream tolex, matching 2x12 with old British Greenbacks. $2399 GC price. Too bight, no mojo, kinda odd sounding. I'm sure it could be restored to sound good, but this was didn't. If it sounded great and was priced at half price it wouldn't be a terrible deal, but I'd still pass on it.
I also played a new Vintage Modern into a matching 4x12 cab - pure crap to my ears. It just sounded thin and distorted or lacked depth and balls no matter how I dialed it in.
Tried to fiddle with the JVM 1/2 stack but it was broken.
Played a Sewell Wampus Cat combo - absolutely beautiful cleans, great bluesy slight drive. For country or blues, or if you like to use pedals (I don't) this amp is perfect. Great sounding amps, I've played them and worked sound for guys playing them and they always sound stellar. Too expensive. Lots of 6L6 vintage Fender inspired tone in there.
Roccaforte 30 (volume and tone on each channel) small box head thru Rocca 2x12 - this amp kicked ass. It was thick and meaty, louder than hell, and really versatile for a simple amp. it slayed the Vintage Modern in every way. I would like this amp. Not high gain, but a good crunch and grind was easy and it never sounded small. This is a gigging amp.
Roccaforte Custom 100 also through Rocca 2x12 - did nothing for me. Good God this mother is fucking LOUD. The gain comes on way to fast and way to much, and it gets harsh as you crank up the gain. I could dial in a good tone at lower gain settings, but this amp just wasn't my thing. It might smooth out if you crank up the master volume, but with the master on 9 o'clock I was shaking Squiers off the wall outside the loud room. Could easily play stadiums with this thing. The 30 watter was killer though.
Framus Dragon head and matching 4x12 cab - what? Clean was fair, crunch was poor and lead was bad. The controls were simple and I liked the dual masters, but this amp sounded weak, thin and buzzy when gained up a little. Not very loud compared to the Roccaforte, either. I don't get it, but I certainly never would buy one aqfter playing this one.
Hiwatt Custom 100 (new) white tolex, and Lead 100 (used) black tolex both thru a Hiwatt 4x12 with Fanes - Lead 100 was disappointing, Custom 100 was awesome, although loud and not too versatile. If you like pedals this amp would be great. If you like one really good sound and need volume this amp would be great.
Mesa Mark IIc small head into Marshall 4x12 1960 cab - not much to say here. Cleans were pretty good, not great. Medium gain was OK, not great. Heavier sounds were not good. I know how to dial in a Mesa in less than 2 weeks (which isn't easy to do) but I could get the magic happening with this one. BTW, it was only $3099 used. What a bargain. Not.
I passed on playing the Rectumfryers, I owned a first year Triple Recto head and it plain sucked, and it was the best Recto I ever played. Flubby-flubby-buzztone is not my thing.
Kinda disappointed in the high dollar room tonight, I never even though about reaching for my wallet.
All amps tested with a Les Paul Standard with Burstbuckers.
'77 Marshall JMP 50 watt head in dirty white or cream tolex, matching 2x12 with old British Greenbacks. $2399 GC price. Too bight, no mojo, kinda odd sounding. I'm sure it could be restored to sound good, but this was didn't. If it sounded great and was priced at half price it wouldn't be a terrible deal, but I'd still pass on it.
I also played a new Vintage Modern into a matching 4x12 cab - pure crap to my ears. It just sounded thin and distorted or lacked depth and balls no matter how I dialed it in.
Tried to fiddle with the JVM 1/2 stack but it was broken.
Played a Sewell Wampus Cat combo - absolutely beautiful cleans, great bluesy slight drive. For country or blues, or if you like to use pedals (I don't) this amp is perfect. Great sounding amps, I've played them and worked sound for guys playing them and they always sound stellar. Too expensive. Lots of 6L6 vintage Fender inspired tone in there.
Roccaforte 30 (volume and tone on each channel) small box head thru Rocca 2x12 - this amp kicked ass. It was thick and meaty, louder than hell, and really versatile for a simple amp. it slayed the Vintage Modern in every way. I would like this amp. Not high gain, but a good crunch and grind was easy and it never sounded small. This is a gigging amp.
Roccaforte Custom 100 also through Rocca 2x12 - did nothing for me. Good God this mother is fucking LOUD. The gain comes on way to fast and way to much, and it gets harsh as you crank up the gain. I could dial in a good tone at lower gain settings, but this amp just wasn't my thing. It might smooth out if you crank up the master volume, but with the master on 9 o'clock I was shaking Squiers off the wall outside the loud room. Could easily play stadiums with this thing. The 30 watter was killer though.
Framus Dragon head and matching 4x12 cab - what? Clean was fair, crunch was poor and lead was bad. The controls were simple and I liked the dual masters, but this amp sounded weak, thin and buzzy when gained up a little. Not very loud compared to the Roccaforte, either. I don't get it, but I certainly never would buy one aqfter playing this one.
Hiwatt Custom 100 (new) white tolex, and Lead 100 (used) black tolex both thru a Hiwatt 4x12 with Fanes - Lead 100 was disappointing, Custom 100 was awesome, although loud and not too versatile. If you like pedals this amp would be great. If you like one really good sound and need volume this amp would be great.
Mesa Mark IIc small head into Marshall 4x12 1960 cab - not much to say here. Cleans were pretty good, not great. Medium gain was OK, not great. Heavier sounds were not good. I know how to dial in a Mesa in less than 2 weeks (which isn't easy to do) but I could get the magic happening with this one. BTW, it was only $3099 used. What a bargain. Not.
I passed on playing the Rectumfryers, I owned a first year Triple Recto head and it plain sucked, and it was the best Recto I ever played. Flubby-flubby-buzztone is not my thing.
Kinda disappointed in the high dollar room tonight, I never even though about reaching for my wallet.