First (and second) clip of our prototype amp

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ZEN Amps

ZEN Amps

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After years of complaining about shitty phone clips, here's one that has it all!

Massive compression, weird notchy / honky eq, fairly sloppy playing and even some string noise thrown in. The missed pinch harmonic is the icing on the cake.

More importantly though we're really happy with how this design is coming along. A long way off completion, but thought we'd share a quick warts and all clip from the bench for anyone interested. This is an SG standard straight in through Mesa V30's, set for med-hot modded Marshall tones.

 
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That sounds really good to me. Not too polite, which I personally love.

You can always add more to sweeten an amp up or give it some more “squish”, but once you take all that rawness away, it’s impossible to get it back.

Hope that makes sense? Yeah, I’m digging what I hear there…..
 
ZEN Amps said:
After years of complaining about shitty phone clips, here's one that has it all!

Massive compression, weird notchy / honky eq, fairly sloppy playing and even some string noise thrown in. The missed pinch harmonic is the icing on the cake.

More importantly though we're really happy with how this design is coming along. A long way off completion, but thought we'd share a quick warts and all clip from the bench for anyone interested. This is an SG standard straight in through G12M reissues, set for med-hot modded Marshall tones.

Click to expand...

Honestly, I WANT all of it raw and as it is.
Cellphone or a butthole with a mini cassette player packed up in there, etc.
No polish, be a fucking man and make it happen
and the mistakes are great “wind-ups”
-it’s what follows right?
THAT’S the flavor of the vibe that nobody has the recipe for, it’s in each individuals make-up.
That’s why it’s f’n cool man.
Time to go listen to some Zappa, Black Napkins…


 
Sorry man don’t take this the wrong way but I don’t like it. I love the tone of the amp but it reminds me of the era of weird mids in splawns. I don’t know if it’s how it’s dialed in or how the amp is voiced, just those mids don’t sit right to my ears. It seems to sit too low? Is it intended to be Mesa and Marshall inspired? I’m not a Mesa guy so that might be why?

I’m holding off any true impressions until you’re done designing and can throw it under a mic like the rest of the collection. I do love the growl and aggression so keep it up!
 
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bright and chunky! Would be to dial in my way . Sounds cooo zen . Always love your stuff
 
Cool that you guys are doing your own thing.

Keep it up.

Cell Phone clips = more clips at the end of the day (in general across the board)
 
glpg80 said:
Sorry man don’t take this the wrong way but I don’t like it. I love the tone of the amp but it reminds me of the era of weird mids in splawns. I don’t know if it’s how it’s dialed in or how the amp is voiced, just those mids don’t sit right to my ears. It seems to sit too low? Is it intended to be Mesa and Marshall inspired? I’m not a Mesa guy so that might be why?

I’m holding off any true impressions until you’re done designing and can throw it under a mic like the rest of the collection. I do love the growl and aggression so keep it up!
Click to expand...
My guess would be from just being a phone clip. I hear some of what you’re saying, although still much better to me than any Splawn lol. I’ve compared once Splawn QR’s from 3 different era’s in the same room plus a Nitro there and imo they all had about equally awful midrange and feel. The 2005 one was just a little better and the 2012 (I believe it was) was the worst of the bunch and they all still walked and quacked like ducks on each powechord
 
Yeah that squawky midrange is not evident in-person, and one of the reasons I've never bothered with a phone clip before. We were just dialling things in on the bench and thought we'd share a quickie.

I'm doing a better Tool clip now, I know how universally adored Jonesy is around here. It'll have a proper mic and everything.
 
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< TRIGGER WARNING>

The following clip:
- Is close miked
- Is double tracked
- Has bass and drums
- Contains slightly loose playing
- Is Tool

Do not listen if you have an aversion to any of the above - you have been warned.

LP custom with DDJ pickup - Zen prototype amp - Mesa recto cab - SM57 - Neve pre

Amp dialled in and mic placed for a relatively bright sound like the original recording. No post-EQ except for a gentle HPF at 100Hz (seeing as there's a pesky bass player involved).

 
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