Chubtone
Well-known member
First of all, I know there are legit guys and great players on Rig Talk who haven't dug the Splawn amps or couldn't get what they wanted out of it after decent periods of trying them out. I'm not speaking of them. There is no way everyone is going to like one amp and that's totally cool. It's just funny when you meet people from online in my store and you were just sure they were going to rip by their demeanor and attitude and coming off like an expert online. Then you hear them play and you are just stunned. This has happened to me dozens of times. Then later you have to read their review of what you had just heard them do in your store. 
Here's a recent, week old example:
As a Splawn dealer I see some weird stuff. We had this guy recently come in and he wanted to try out the Quick Rod. So most likely if he's in LA and knows about Splawn he's on some sort of forum or something. So he brings his guitar in and plugs into the amp and really seems like he knows what he's doing so I just hang back and don't bother him. So he starts playing and the guy is......... uhm....... how do I say it? Well let's just say he wasn't a runner-up for the Ozzy gig
So he starts playing without touching a knob. 10 seconds in he's like "uhg, this thing is horrible. I don't like the tone of it". By tone I asked if he meant the amount of gain or the EQ. He said "both". He asked if he could play the Bogner Ecstasy Classic. I'm like, "The Splawn has knobs on it". He hadn't touched a knob or the OD1/OD2 switch or the Gears knob. He wasn't interested in turning a knob. But he loved the Ecstasy Classic without turning a knob on it either. It wasn't really well dialed in either.
So as he left I was just thinking "there goes a new confirmed Splawn hater out into the world to give his expert opinion to whoever will read it."
For years, I have known within 30 seconds if a single channel, vintage style amp was going to sound good or not. But modern amps with all these features and switches and controls need to be delved into a little. Can you imagine playing a Boogie MKIV and not turning a knob to try and get it where you want it? How about playing a CCV-100 or one of the many feature Fortin mods without flipping switches or turning knobs and immediately and all expert like declaring it sucked? That's what this guy did and I wonder what forum he's sharing his expertise and Splawn experience in.
Here's a recent, week old example:
As a Splawn dealer I see some weird stuff. We had this guy recently come in and he wanted to try out the Quick Rod. So most likely if he's in LA and knows about Splawn he's on some sort of forum or something. So he brings his guitar in and plugs into the amp and really seems like he knows what he's doing so I just hang back and don't bother him. So he starts playing and the guy is......... uhm....... how do I say it? Well let's just say he wasn't a runner-up for the Ozzy gig
So he starts playing without touching a knob. 10 seconds in he's like "uhg, this thing is horrible. I don't like the tone of it". By tone I asked if he meant the amount of gain or the EQ. He said "both". He asked if he could play the Bogner Ecstasy Classic. I'm like, "The Splawn has knobs on it". He hadn't touched a knob or the OD1/OD2 switch or the Gears knob. He wasn't interested in turning a knob. But he loved the Ecstasy Classic without turning a knob on it either. It wasn't really well dialed in either.
So as he left I was just thinking "there goes a new confirmed Splawn hater out into the world to give his expert opinion to whoever will read it."
For years, I have known within 30 seconds if a single channel, vintage style amp was going to sound good or not. But modern amps with all these features and switches and controls need to be delved into a little. Can you imagine playing a Boogie MKIV and not turning a knob to try and get it where you want it? How about playing a CCV-100 or one of the many feature Fortin mods without flipping switches or turning knobs and immediately and all expert like declaring it sucked? That's what this guy did and I wonder what forum he's sharing his expertise and Splawn experience in.
