skoora
Well-known member
Sorry no new purchases to report but found two things I had never considered that really impressed me and one that was nice to finally play in Person.
At GC, a purple Charvel caught my eye, it was a Pro Mod Dinky. Actually felt amazing for a thinner neck than I usually don’t like. Caramelized neck. Was set up very well, apart from the low E which had too much buzz. What I really dug was the electronics. Global coil split and a 5 way for the two HB’s. Every choice sounded useable and really good. The frets were SS I think and was hard tail. It doesn’t seem like this color comes with a trem option or I’d be giving it a hard look right now. Indonesian but was killer none the less.
A little blonde caught my eye sitting on a Soldano and I’m always up for someone’s take on old school designs. It was a Milkman Dairy Air 30 watt. Real simple, vol, treble, mid and bass.
It sounded great clean off the bat but I’m a fan of cranking Fenders with Gibsons (assuming it was even based on an Fender) and holy shit did this rip when you maxed the volume and treble. It was like early browns and mid 60’s Bassman heads where they rock like a juiced Marshall when you max them out and keep the bass low. But the way it responded to volume rolloff was the cream on top. Hard rock for days with a chunky tight low end in the bridge and then switch to the neck with the volume down and a great jangly, semi dirty neck tone. Nice, medium gain, barking rock tone at 12 O’clock and the change into fire breathing monster happens literally as you go from 9-10 on the volume. It’s in my head but of course it was very expensive because of, you know..Booteak!
Need to go back with my Powerbrake and try it again to see if it’s still glorious without the loud volume high.
Last but not least, got to try a Friedman Jose at another store (Atlanta Discount Music). I liked it but it didn’t make me go holy shit! I mean, it was good, but you’re looking at the price tag hanging as you’re playing it. I think any good plexi and a pedal or two would get you there, but of course you get master volumes and a nice little history tribute to Arredondo too.
Both Masters were weird, in that there was no sound until 1&1/2 to 2 and then it jumps on to a level above what would be considered quiet enough, if someone was sleeping nearby. So this amp wants to get up and go. The setting that clicked for me, as meaty enough with the right kind of juice, was using the Pre stack master, the modern presence and just the regular volumes I and II to taste without using the additional gain stage. I think at a healthy volume it would crush in a band mix for an excellent hard rock tone.
At GC, a purple Charvel caught my eye, it was a Pro Mod Dinky. Actually felt amazing for a thinner neck than I usually don’t like. Caramelized neck. Was set up very well, apart from the low E which had too much buzz. What I really dug was the electronics. Global coil split and a 5 way for the two HB’s. Every choice sounded useable and really good. The frets were SS I think and was hard tail. It doesn’t seem like this color comes with a trem option or I’d be giving it a hard look right now. Indonesian but was killer none the less.
A little blonde caught my eye sitting on a Soldano and I’m always up for someone’s take on old school designs. It was a Milkman Dairy Air 30 watt. Real simple, vol, treble, mid and bass.
It sounded great clean off the bat but I’m a fan of cranking Fenders with Gibsons (assuming it was even based on an Fender) and holy shit did this rip when you maxed the volume and treble. It was like early browns and mid 60’s Bassman heads where they rock like a juiced Marshall when you max them out and keep the bass low. But the way it responded to volume rolloff was the cream on top. Hard rock for days with a chunky tight low end in the bridge and then switch to the neck with the volume down and a great jangly, semi dirty neck tone. Nice, medium gain, barking rock tone at 12 O’clock and the change into fire breathing monster happens literally as you go from 9-10 on the volume. It’s in my head but of course it was very expensive because of, you know..Booteak!
Need to go back with my Powerbrake and try it again to see if it’s still glorious without the loud volume high.
Last but not least, got to try a Friedman Jose at another store (Atlanta Discount Music). I liked it but it didn’t make me go holy shit! I mean, it was good, but you’re looking at the price tag hanging as you’re playing it. I think any good plexi and a pedal or two would get you there, but of course you get master volumes and a nice little history tribute to Arredondo too.
Both Masters were weird, in that there was no sound until 1&1/2 to 2 and then it jumps on to a level above what would be considered quiet enough, if someone was sleeping nearby. So this amp wants to get up and go. The setting that clicked for me, as meaty enough with the right kind of juice, was using the Pre stack master, the modern presence and just the regular volumes I and II to taste without using the additional gain stage. I think at a healthy volume it would crush in a band mix for an excellent hard rock tone.
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