Helios or Splawn

[iamjoe]

Which would you choose for 80's Heavy Metal - Priest, Maiden, Merciful Fate etc?

 

[Kidkramer71]

I have not played a splawn so I can only go by clips .
I would say that most of the clips Ive heard with splawn a sound very saturated and have more gain then the Helios .
For 80's stuff I think the Helios nails it all day long , not as much gain but very clear and sustains forever .
I think a lot of today's amps have more gain then the amps in the 80's .
I love my Helios makes me smile !!
Best of luck !!!

 

[JerEvil]

I have a Quick Rod "Low B+" and it KILLS for Mercyful Fate. Let me see if I can find a clip.

 

[JerEvil]

Here you go:

Mercyful Fate
http://www.tonefinder.com/?section=id&value=15699

Testing some OD's pt1

Testing some OD boosts pt.2
http://www.tonefinder.com/?section=id&value=15892

Some Metallica wanking:
http://www.tonefinder.com/?section=id&value=15154

This is hands down, my all time favorite amp.

 

[///MK]

The B+ quickrod is killer for that genre.

 

[Chris6870]

Splawn was built for that.Also you could get 2 Splawns for what a Helios goes for.

 

[Rev]

Splawn was built for that.Also you could get 2 Splawns for what a Helios goes for.

This

You can also just lower the gain knob and get 80's style gain levels which was mentioned above. The B+ is any type Marshall sound you want. I would also add this disclaimer.....the new KSR Ares can do any Marshall tone as well as Mesa style tone in one head box. A perfect blend of hard rock and metal.

 

[WizardSouth-JP]

Mesa Triple Rec

 

[DannyM]

Which would you choose for 80's Heavy Metal - Priest, Maiden, Merciful Fate etc?

Do you still have the Bogner Twinjet and Bogner 20th Anniversary Shiva ?
I was getting great Mercyful Fate tone on channel 1 of the Twin Jet I had. I've never owned one but would think that they 20th Shiva would be able to get that tone too?
I never played a Helios but owned a Splawn Competition and it too would get great Mercyful Fate tones from the Melissa and Dont Breat the Oath albums.

 

[Lord Toneking]

I may be the oddball but I didnt like the B+ Splawn at all. I have an older 3 pre Quickrod and the B+ was just awful imo. It lacked the 'bite' and sizzle that I get out of my old Splawn. For lower volume I just made myself a cut box and run it thru the loop, it works just fine

 

[JerEvil]

I may be the oddball but I didnt like the B+ Splawn at all. I have an older 3 pre Quickrod and the B+ was just awful imo. It lacked the 'bite' and sizzle that I get out of my old Splawn. For lower volume I just made myself a cut box and run it thru the loop, it works just fine

HOW DARE YOU???

 

[Junk Yard Dog]

I received a new Splawn Pro Stock B+ and a new Helios 100 within two weeks of each other. The Helios costs twice as much and has clean channels, which I never use.

I loved the Helios, but I wanted a bit more gain from it without using a boost, though boosts worked well.

In the end, I kept the Splawn. I don't use clean channels, and the Splawn had all the gain I wanted without a boost. The Helios is not as loud and has a better Master Taper, but the Loop Volume on the Splawn works well. Gig levels, no problems. I don't run the Splawn past 9:30.

I finances the Helios through credit card, so I paid it off once I sold it to a fellow forum member. Both are great amps. The Splawn will get you great tones at half the price, but the Helios is just great also.

 

[iamjoe]

Do you still have the Bogner Twinjet and Bogner 20th Anniversary Shiva ?

No sir, I am shopping for a new amp

 

[harsh59]

Not trying to hijack , but for people who have played the b+ and the standard QR . How would you describe the difference in tone and feel ?

 

[Lord Toneking]

Not trying to hijack , but for people who have played the b+ and the standard QR . How would you describe the difference in tone and feel ?

Difference for me was that the B+ was soft, mushy and lacked bite and sizzle, whereas my QR has tightness, fast attack, punch and....sizzle

 

[crwnedblasphemy]

I agree with Lord Toneking. But not the b+. Never played that. Just the newer standard.

 

[WizardSouth-JP]

I have a B+ Pro Stock with 6550's and the Helios. Different amps - both are awesome

 

[thiswaythatway]

Mesa Triple Rec

This one.

 

[LowDesertSludge]

Mesa Triple Rec

This one.

Everything he mods sounds so bitchin!