Going with a Fireball instead of the Ares

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Strandberg Junkie

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Itching to buy one of these so bad but it needs to be able to do low volume well.
I'm in a small room with 2 connected neighbors so my limits once the sun goes down
is usually medium to loud TV volume.

Are the two masters interactive or two separate 'channels'?

Got a PM in to @ClintN667 to ask him about this also.

Thanks.
 
I only heard good things about Kyle’s master volume.
 
Donnie B said:
Itching to buy one of these so bad but it needs to be able to do low volume well.
I'm in a small room with 2 connected neighbors so my limits once the sun goes down
is usually medium to loud TV volume.

Are the two masters interactive or two separate 'channels'?

Got a PM in to @ClintN667 to ask him about this also.

Thanks.
Click to expand...
Ugh that sucks…
 
Others can chime in but to add what I PM'd you it's not like having a 5150 or 6505 or even a Mark IV where it can go from 0 to blowing your doors off at 1. I used mine without my Fryette and was running it about as loud as a plug in on my computer.
 
That’s awesome about the NFB knober. How well does this amp take boost/drive pedals?
 
Ares sound good at low volume but like most amps really does it's thing when wound up.
 
You'll be fine with a KSR dude. I actually thought something was wrong with my Orthos when I first got it because I had to juice the master and volume way past what I normally would. But I'm also used to playing 2203s and rectos where your dick gets ripped off with the master on 2.

There is a ton of sweep in KSR volume pots and the tone stays pretty will intact at low volumes. Great master.
 
Also, to answer your question directly - at least on the Orthos the masters are completely independent, not interactive. It's almost like it's own channel as you can assign various voicing switches to each master (in addition to the traditional use as a volume boost for soloing).
 
Donnie B said:
Itching to buy one of these so bad but it needs to be able to do low volume well.
I'm in a small room with 2 connected neighbors so my limits once the sun goes down
is usually medium to loud TV volume.

Are the two masters interactive or two separate 'channels'?

Got a PM in to @ClintN667 to ask him about this also.

Thanks.
Click to expand...
I have a KSR Ares and I found you can get great low volume tones by either engaging the effects loop where you set the send/return volumes on the back to levels that sound great but can keep the volume bedroom level low (you don't even have to actually have anything in the effects loop) or have an effects unit with an input/output that you can adjust to get the desired volume without choking the tone.

It can get pretty loud, and quickly, without having the effects loop engaged.

The two master volumes will act just like two separate channel volumes.

It's one of my favorite amps, and my favorite of all the KSR amps, and I have owned them all, and even though I really liked all the other ones, this one is my Go-To for that killer KSR tone :)
 
I have an Orthos2 100w and it's very tameable. The 2 masters behave like separate channels (in my case, engaging the second "mode" of the main channel switches to Master 2, not sure if the Ares is the same).

However both channels also have "level" controls. Between the two, level and master, you can keep it very quiet. I know the Ares does not have this ability though.

Not to push you into something more expensive than you've budgeted for, but I honestly would just go straight for the Orthos/Gemini or Juno, and choose the 50w version. It'll be the same volume as the Ares, it's a little bigger head shell, but you get the extra channels and level controls to tweak it more and it might even do lower volume better than the Ares, or at least be easier to tweak since you have two ways to control the volume instead of just the master. Something to think about.
 
Already have the Ironball 20 and really do love the tone, especially with the boost in,
but still need to get away from a metal headshell/EL84 setup.

Fireball gets me the traditional headshell, 6L6s, and the built in power soak.
As soon as the dogs are gone we'll be downsizing again and this is quite a bit smaller
than the Ares considering it has the same output tubes.

717oZ1pv26L.jpg


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Found a mint one up the coast for a good deal so 'might as well jump'.

@Guitarjon (y) for the review!
 
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I've got a Fireball too and I think it's an absolute beast. Mine is an old 60w, the new 25w should be even better with the separate clean/lead gain controls, which is the biggest limitation on mine, and you'll have a built in gate. It's very much an instant gratification amp for me, plug in, set controls to noon and it's already a great cutting metal tone, tweak from there if you desire, or not.
 
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