Carol-Ann Triptik - The Straight Goods, Please

[Mailman1971]

You know the routine Rob....
buy one....rock it. Use/abuse........sell it for some new toy.
Flash cash....some one has one they will sell to try the next amp.

We have all traveled that road numerous times.

Fuck man, my shoes are worn!

I have worn out a few pairs myself.

 

[LP Freak]

I played one back to back with a PWE EH3 and went home with the PWE. The clean on the CA was beautiful though.

The CA was similar to the 20th Shiva IMO.

 

[Shiny_Surface]

I hear what you're saying, Gary, but this is exactly the mentality that worries me. Am I reading a bunch of watered down comments from owners, because they are too scared to voice their true opinion because they don't want to upset the builder (Alan)? Or, are those that are not overly impressed with the amp still towing the party line simply to keep their re-sale potential higher? Regardless, when I see reviews ranging from "the best" to "meh", it really makes me wonder. Add to it that I am reading the majority of these reviews on TGP and, well, you know what I mean.....

Just because someone doesn't like a given amp doesn't mean the amp is no good, for precisely the reason you highlight: one man's "grail" is another man's "fail". I don't think we should shy away from voicing our true opinions of products. It's not being unfair to the builder/manufacturer, it's just sharing a personal opinion!

It's an achilles heel of internet forums imo, see it all the time especially on TGP.

The motives come from all different directions. An owner who wants to preserve the resale value and/or make a quick sale, not wanting to offend the builder without a pile on, or just avoiding the ire of fanboi groups in general. Or simply wanting to fit in with forum culture and withholding not having a 100% opinion of a popular piece of gear.

The end result is the same in that it directly and/or indirectly censors/filters opinion to the prospective buyer that could help them make a decision.

 

[rlord1974]

Boom ^

 

[rlord1974]

And that's what makes my original post such a form letter to begin with. We already know exactly how the thread will play out, making the initial question essentially irrelevant.

 

[Mailman1971]

all the clips I have watched all the Carol Ann amps sounded good.
If your curious...scratch that itch brother!!
Worst case? You get....dont gel with it....sell it.....(CROSS IT OFF YOUR LIST)

If you havent took these for a ride.... its a MUST!!

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=142615

 

[rlord1974]

I guess my remaining options, to truly know for sure how I feel about the amp, are:

1 - Regular PayPal; or
2 - PayPal Gift

 

[Mailman1971]

I guess my remaining options, to truly know for sure how I feel about the amp, are:

1 - Regular PayPal; or
2 - PayPal Gift

HA!!!

 

[pstar]

pm on its way.... keep under your hat ---- goddo, t.o.'s very own

 

[Ventura]

And that's what makes my original post such a form letter to begin with. We already know exactly how the thread will play out, making the initial question essentially irrelevant.

Yep, sing a lil' ode for the bulge in your wallet that is no more

So it goes - GAS is a frenzied addiction... I'm down with the sickness (ooooh wah kah kah kah)

 

[steve_k]

Extremely tight, uncompressed, controlled and articulate. Tracks well, plenty of gain, plenty of clarity across the sonic palette. Single notes are very thick with harmonic overtones. It is one of the few amps of this gain level that is quiet to the stops. The Trip is a solid, well built amp. Although it certainly isn't designed to be a Brit type of amp, it does fall into that style of gain and tone - for the lack of anything else better to describe it. With the 2.5 channels it gives you 3 modes of play to cover your needs. It's not a metal amp by any means. It is definitely an amp that will bring about the good, the bad and the ugly in a player!

 

[IntenseJim]

I was thinking you could buy one with a 72 hour approval trial period. If it's not floating your boat then you can return it albeit lose the cost of s/h both ways. On the other hand, who really cares about amps when Steve_K's avatar is right there!

 

[kurtsstuff]

Rookies...

 

[glip22]

The Triptik is all about an imbalance and pushing the boundries. If I am not mistaken there are only two gain stages pushed to the line of instability. This gives you a quieter less compressed higher gain tone. It also brings in dynamics, note separation and bloom. It is a smoother tone compared to a hairy one. Doesn't have allot hair around the edges so to speak.It was not designed too and I am sure if one wanted a different sound Alan can build it or voice it this way. It has a big round low end that that gives it a solid platform for a big sound. For me personally I thought it was a very cool amp. I tend to prefer a little more hair and sizzle in my amps. Many do not. Its all about personal preference. Do not forget Alan knows the Dumble and has modded Marshalls way back in the 80's. His new Tucana 3 is one on my list as tastes and times change. What one may not love a few years ago one may love now. A Triptik voiced for my tastes would be cool as well. There is no doubt Alan can build it. Customer service is as good as it gets with him as I worked with him aside from a dealer so I have a point of reference.

 

[RG955TT]

I have a OD3 and while not a Tripik I think some of the same things come thru, as others have said, really quiet, fat tone for days, super clean, and really useable 3 channel amp with great tone but not a metal amp IMO. Mine is a combo and heavy as hell but totally a keeper and is my second favorite amp next to my Bogner XTC 20th EL34. Given the other amps I own I think that speaks for itself.

 

['63-Strat]

Honestly it sounds like it'd be right up your alley. I always take opinions from people who's playing I don't know online with a huge grain of salt. Despite lots of debate to the contrary online, the reality is if really dislike someone's playing and tone in real life, I certainly don't care what their opinion is of a piece of gear I'm interested in. I wouldn't ask someone's opinion on which car drives best that routinely slams into their own garage etc either you know what I mean? So it's the same online. Many (but certainly not all) owners of guitar gear can't play for shit but are still passionate about their hobby and post as if they're an expert, it is what it is.

There are so many factors that come into play. So it is pretty much irrelevant imo that this amp has gotten mixed reviews. Even with a great player, their style/touch/guitar/pickups/cab/speaker may not be an ideal match. If you see someone post a vid with similar gear and playing ability /style as you post a vid you're floored by then yeah that may hold some water to what your opinion would be in person.

But when you have someone that can barely play and say they wanted EJ or Bonamassa type tones etc and this amp sucks for that etc that could be entirely user error. Even perception of gain is super relative to what your control/experience level is. I was lucky to start out w a rivera-era fender super champ my dad found used for cheap (ptp 1x10 18 w combo). Well I could only access a fraction of what that amp can do as a kid because I sucked. Of course at the time all I wanted was mesa levels of gain and thought that amp was either squeaky clean or mk I style leads. And my opinions on the amp then would've been much worse than now because I was a freaking noob. So yeah, only way for you to know for you is to buy it to try it in all likelihood.

 

[rokker]

I too have wondered about the triptik and trip r...i think there are not many clips out there to go one....some amps have tons of clips like the be100 so you can get an idea of the different tones it can produce. Bonamassa has a ca amp of some sort if that helps.
I was interested since it is handwird and multi channel....i cant think of many others like that. Hope rob buys one so he can tell us all about it...that is the best way to find out if you like it...should be able to sell it if you dont like it for nearly what you paid...only have seen a few used ever.

 

[glip22]

Honestly it sounds like it'd be right up your alley. I always take opinions from people who's playing I don't know online with a huge grain of salt. Despite lots of debate to the contrary online, the reality is if really dislike someone's playing and tone in real life, I certainly don't care what their opinion is of a piece of gear I'm interested in. I wouldn't ask someone's opinion on which car drives best that routinely slams into their own garage etc either you know what I mean? So it's the same online. Many (but certainly not all) owners of guitar gear can't play for shit but are still passionate about their hobby and post as if they're an expert, it is what it is.

There are many sound guys, engineers,producers, techs, etc.. that suck or do not even play but have a great ear for tone. Allot of these guys are responsible for the tone of players you may consider to have great tone. The player is not even responsible for his tone in some cases.I take opinions from people I know have a good referrence for comparison. Just because they cannot play well does not mean they do not know a great amp when they plug into it. Nothing personal here either. Sorry I missed your last concert at Madison Square Gardens. I really tried to get tickets but they sold out in like two minutes.

 

[rlord1974]

Now, now. Let's keep this thread PG-13 fellas......

 

[Inca Roads]

Honestly it sounds like it'd be right up your alley. I always take opinions from people who's playing I don't know online with a huge grain of salt. Despite lots of debate to the contrary online, the reality is if really dislike someone's playing and tone in real life, I certainly don't care what their opinion is of a piece of gear I'm interested in. I wouldn't ask someone's opinion on which car drives best that routinely slams into their own garage etc either you know what I mean? So it's the same online. Many (but certainly not all) owners of guitar gear can't play for shit but are still passionate about their hobby and post as if they're an expert, it is what it is.

There are many sound guys, engineers,producers, techs, etc.. that suck or do not even play but have a great ear for tone. Allot of these guys are responsible for the tone of players you may consider to have great tone. The player is not even responsible for his tone in some cases.I take opinions from people I know have a good referrence for comparison. Just because they cannot play well does not mean they do not know a great amp when they plug into it. Nothing personal here either. Sorry I missed your last concert at Madison Square Gardens. I really tried to get tickets but they sold out in like two minutes.