Comparison: Landry G3, or Splawn Quickrod?

[sahlomonic]

Both of these amps are generally built for 80's hard rock. Both built in the JCM800 and hot rodded plexi style. I have a three-gear Quickrod, but have been very curious about Landry amps for years, even before I heard about Splawns.

Who has played both? Pros and cons of each?

 

[Jayy]

I'm in on this topic as well. I just ordered a G3 from Landry and am really excited to get it! I agree with you on the "JCM800/hot rodded plexi" thing with the G3 based on what I've heard in video clips. Sadly, I've never had a chance to play one (there ain't jack shit in my area to try out) and I've had to order based on reviews, videos, and discussions.

 

[Beyond Black]

IMO the Landry has a little more sag, with a woodier, chewier, browner sound than a Splawn. It's got a bit more of a vintage hotrodded Marshall sound. Landry = modded plexi. Splawn = modded JCM 800. Both are great amps.

 

[sahlomonic]

IMO the Landry has a little more sag, with a woodier, chewier, browner sound than a Splawn. It's got a bit more of a vintage hotrodded Marshall sound. Landry = modded plexi. Splawn = modded JCM 800. Both are great amps.

Based on the clips I've heard of Landry amps I would completely agree. I bet the new B+ option on the 2016 models give it the sag most players would likely want out of their Splawn, including me haha. 1st gear on the Quickrod is supposed to be hot rodded plexi-like, but to my ears all the gears are the same tone, just increasing gain/saturation levels. All good though; can't get a bad sound of it.

A lot of Splawn guys favor the Splawn Smallblock speakers over the traditional Greenback route. I have yet to try them, but my 2x12 with Lynchbacks and my Marshall 4x12 with old Greenbacks is damn good to my ears.

I can get some great early VH tones out of my Quickrod, but it is just a little tight for that style. It even does modern heavy rock very well.

 

[Rev]

I have A/B both of them. I am a current Splawn owner and had the opportunity to have Bill show up at my place on his way back from New York to let me try out his G3...what service!! The G3 is a brighter amp and I had to allow my ears to adjust for a moment. After the adjustment period I really heard how great this amp sounded. I would say the G3 is every great 80's rock album in one amp. It really excels at every variant of modded Marshalls. There is a percussive bounce under the fingers that felt like the notes played themselves in a way. I don't use a clean channel as I have a Pro Stock B+, but the G3 clean was stellar. I could really use a clean that sounded that good. The G3 has a vintage spongy feel where the Splawn had a modern throaty mid punch. The voicing of both amps were very similar and I would be splitting hairs on that issue. Both amps cover the same sonic territory. The Splawn has more voicing options with the 3 gears and 2 overdrives. I did not try the newer G3 with the diode switch which I really like on the BE100. If I had the funds I would own both amps.

 

[Beyond Black]

IMO the Landry has a little more sag, with a woodier, chewier, browner sound than a Splawn. It's got a bit more of a vintage hotrodded Marshall sound. Landry = modded plexi. Splawn = modded JCM 800. Both are great amps.

Based on the clips I've heard of Landry amps I would completely agree. I bet the new B+ option on the 2016 models give it the sag most players would likely want out of their Splawn, including me haha. 1st gear on the Quickrod is supposed to be hot rodded plexi-like, but to my ears all the gears are the same tone, just increasing gain/saturation levels. All good though; can't get a bad sound of it.

A lot of Splawn guys favor the Splawn Smallblock speakers over the traditional Greenback route. I have yet to try them, but my 2x12 with Lynchbacks and my Marshall 4x12 with old Greenbacks is damn good to my ears.

I can get some great early VH tones out of my Quickrod, but it is just a little tight for that style. It even does modern heavy rock very well.

I'd love to try one with the B+ option. Some Splawns are too tight for my taste. I used to have a 50W Competition that
had just the right amount of sag. Killer amp, wish I still had it. I had the Splawn BB/SB X pattern in my Splawn 4x12, and I changed those out for Greenbacks. It was so long ago, I couldn't even tell you how they sounded, but I dug the GB's much more and didn't look back. Still have that cab loaded with GB's and it kills. One more thing about the Landry, it's got am amazing master volume. I'd play it at night when everyone's sleeping at whisper volumes and couldn't believe how good it still sounded.