Blades - Firebolt - Let's set the record straight! GREAT AMP

  • Thread starter Thread starter billowen99
  • Start date Start date
we didn't get much snow here in east lansing, its really cold though.

hey if anyone is interested my band is playing the Q106 homegrown throwdown on 1/27 at the loft and we would love to see as many people as possible come out. i'll buy you shot & love you long time!!!
 
I have a buddy's Blades at my place right now. It is a cool sounding amp but it doesn't blow me away.. For one thing I can't get over the fact that it's a Blades, haha. I mean there are a ton of amps that I would buy first in that price range just based on the whole history and builder reputation alone (which we don't need to go into)

Sound-wise it's good. I'd say it's a bit on the modern high gain side of things. Lean, mean and punchy but I get bored of it quickly. Nothing special to my ears. It's almost like he took the "mod" part of a modded Marshall and made that the basis of an amp but it doesn't have a signature characteristic or snarl that makes those amps great to begin with. For me, there's no wow factor. It's supposed to be the "brown sound" thing and beyond and there are some good clips of it copping this sound but to me in the room it's more 5150 or 6534 than Marshall. Anyway, it' s a nice sounding and decent feeling amp to play. I'm also borrowing a ceriatone Chupa which I prefer by a mile.

Just my opinion and I'm happy the OP is a proud owner. Having had (borrowed) the Blades for awhile now, I'm left wondering if I'd really love a Cameron as much as I think I would since everyone tells me the Blades basically "is" a Cameron. Ha! Opening another can of worms.. :scared: A properly modded Cameron three channel like the one John Wesley uses is still something I lust after. I have a feeling they're not even close.


A1174384-FBAF-4D84-B3F5-E22DEE582981_zpsbt0nibkk.jpg
 
billowen99":10dbd1vo said:
Reza - thank you very much. I appreciate that thoughtful response.
Again, I'm sorry that I went off thinking it was you. I did check out
your band, and yes.......anyone who is out there gigging get's
my respect. We're not just sitting around in some bedroom
recording and "editing". Playing live is what it's all about.
I managed to play 50 gigs in 2016. Not too bad while holding
down my own business.


Hi Bill,

What cabs, speakers, guitars, pickups are you running?

I'm not too far from you in Colorado Springs. We have amp fests at my place occasionally. Usually eat, drink a few beers and listen to kick ass amps. It's always a good time. I would like to hear your Blades at some point.

Anyway, don't let the welcome wagon get you down. They mean well, for the most part. :D
 
Hi Gsxrbusa - Lately I've been running an old 80's Marshall 4x10 with the original celestions and
a Fuchs Feiten 2x12 cab with Fane Speakers. Both sound great with the Blades.
Tom Anderson guitars don't hurt either ;-)
 
glassjaw7":6t1zw4lk said:
I have a buddy's Blades at my place right now. It is a cool sounding amp but it doesn't blow me away.. For one thing I can't get over the fact that it's a Blades, haha. I mean there are a ton of amps that I would buy first in that price range just based on the whole history and builder reputation alone (which we don't need to go into)

Sound-wise it's good. I'd say it's a bit on the modern high gain side of things. Lean, mean and punchy but I get bored of it quickly. Nothing special to my ears. It's almost like he took the "mod" part of a modded Marshall and made that the basis of an amp but it doesn't have a signature characteristic or snarl that makes those amps great to begin with. For me, there's no wow factor. It's supposed to be the "brown sound" thing and beyond and there are some good clips of it copping this sound but to me in the room it's more 5150 or 6534 than Marshall. Anyway, it' s a nice sounding and decent feeling amp to play. I'm also borrowing a ceriatone Chupa which I prefer by a mile.

Just my opinion and I'm happy the OP is a proud owner. Having had (borrowed) the Blades for awhile now, I'm left wondering if I'd really love a Cameron as much as I think I would since everyone tells me the Blades basically "is" a Cameron. Ha! Opening another can of worms.. :scared: A properly modded Cameron three channel like the one John Wesley uses is still something I lust after. I have a feeling they're not even close.


A1174384-FBAF-4D84-B3F5-E22DEE582981_zpsbt0nibkk.jpg
The one Blades I played was a decent sounding amp, but I'd take the 5 Camerons I've owned over it by a long shot. When they sell used for 800 or so that's about right. An 800 and a pedal is a better option for that tone. IMO.
 
Don't ever buy a Reza amp! He connects wires with scotch tape!!!!!
 
glassjaw7":3oyvzz8t said:
I'm also borrowing a ceriatone Chupa which I prefer by a mile.

I'm interested to know how the Blades comapres to the Chupa. The Chupa is my all-time favorite amp at this point. It really is a great sound. But it's also based on an (incorrect) Cameron one-off schematic someone posted to the web years ago. I'm just curious is all haha. You get much time with both amps?

Especially since you can get a Chupa for under $1000. And a Blades is what... $2500???? I can build the Blades amp myself for like $800-1000. We all have access to the schematic. Just a matter of going to Granger or some other electronics supply and buying the parts.
 
Anybody else remember that video of billy from back in the day raving about his new amp line that was coming out and you could clearly see a big pile of cocaine on the table? :lol: :LOL: :lol: :LOL: :lol: :LOL:
 
Jeff Hilligan":2wc2rh6r said:
MrDowntown":2wc2rh6r said:
it's predicted we'll get snow here in NC over the weekend...Lord, God, it'll be a month before the stores have milk and bread.

:lol: :LOL: :rock: iirc that photo was taken in NC couple years ago....minus Abominable of course. :lol: :LOL:

It's getting ready to throw down our way...saw one report calling for 12" snow! Jeez this place shut TF down.
 
MrDowntown":19mbqteb said:
Jeff Hilligan":19mbqteb said:
MrDowntown":19mbqteb said:
it's predicted we'll get snow here in NC over the weekend...Lord, God, it'll be a month before the stores have milk and bread.

:lol: :LOL: :rock: iirc that photo was taken in NC couple years ago....minus Abominable of course. :lol: :LOL:

It's getting ready to throw down our way...saw one report calling for 12" snow! Jeez this place shut TF down.

Stay warm, fed and safe! It is a brutal winter for many.
 
Jeff Hilligan":29s2hb1n said:
MrDowntown":29s2hb1n said:
it's predicted we'll get snow here in NC over the weekend...Lord, God, it'll be a month before the stores have milk and bread.
[/quot

we are supposed to get 6 to 8 inches of rain over next couple days in the san fran bay area. flooding, yay!
 
mooncobra":1i61i8x3 said:
Jeff Hilligan":1i61i8x3 said:
MrDowntown":1i61i8x3 said:
it's predicted we'll get snow here in NC over the weekend...Lord, God, it'll be a month before the stores have milk and bread.
[/quot

we are supposed to get 6 to 8 inches of rain over next couple days in the san fran bay area. flooding, yay!

CANNONBAAAAAAALLLLLLL
 
I should have known this thread would be somewhere up at the top :lol: :LOL:

Bill (or Billy :poke: ),

I'm not sure I'm following your logic here. Granted we've never met nor spoken in person so I apologize if I'm being irrational. This is just an observation.


billowen99":12cvff2a said:
....you may want to read all that I have posted. If you perceive it as "defending" him,
you are mistaken. I'm not defending anything that was done in the past. I have already stated
that I was "unaware" of any of it. ...

You keep saying you are not defending him and that you were unaware of 'it'.

billowen99":12cvff2a said:
So........I've seen plenty of threads here on RT bashing Billy Blades. As a VERY HAPPY customer and owner of SN #100 Blades Firebolt 50w head, I felt compelled to set the record straight. Billy is a super nice guy and takes the time to build a high quality amp that sounds great! ...

That's my two cents. Blades amps are freakin' killer, well built amps. Period. Tone for days! LOVE IT! I'm going to order a 2nd one just have a backup...... But I will be buying MORE Blades amps very soon.......simply because, it's a flat out killer amp........the best I've heard and played!!!

But you came crashing into Rig-Talk stating that you've seen plenty of threads here on RT bashing Billy Blades? Every thread here since the beginning of the fiasco regarding Mr. Blades has contained a lot of the same information about his character and level of product quality. You came here compelled to set the record straight. I fail to see how you can now play dumb like you didn't know. See what I mean?


PS: Congrats on your 50 gigs last year. I only sat around in my bedroom and played my guitar. Or tried anyway. :scared:
 
jeez........another on who can't let it go? I can explain it one more time for ya.
I'm surprised that you read through all of the menutiae and still could not see
that, even in my title on my post, I say "GREAT AMP".

I had never read anything on this board. I can't even remember how or why
I even got here, but I did some sort of search for Blades Firebolt and saw
some people bashing Mr. Blades. I was surprised because my experience
with Billy and his amp was nothing but great.

So..........I searched RT and found lots of threads about him and his amps.

So.........I simply wanted to set the record straight as far as the amp goes.
Mine sounds fantastic. And that is what I tried to communicate. You can
perceive that as defending Billy, but if I went that far, I'd say that my
comments relate to the AMP and not the person.

I made simple statements that the amp is great and my experience with
him was pleasant. Not in defense of him as I don't know "him" as a person
other than my business dealings with him which went just fine. AND
by the way...........I did not pay this $2,500 number that everyone is
throwing around. He may list that price on his site, but who actually
sells their stuff for the price listed? I paid quite a bit less and I'm happy
with the deal.

So...........as I previously stated, I'd much rather talk about killer gear
than droning on with people who can't move on. Hope that helps.
Perception changes everything. People look for what they want to find.
 
billowen99":1bpvn1gz said:
I did not pay this $2,500 number that everyone is throwing around. He may list that price on his site, but who actuallysells their stuff for the price listed?
Just for the record, the prices listed on my site are the prices that I sell my amps for. I've run a special on a specific amp once in awhile, but except for announced special prices on a specific amp or for a specific period of time, the prices listed on the site is what I sell them for.

Steve
 
Back
Top