I like angry amps (Splawn content)

[Lublin]

I've owned a lot of amps in my time playing guitar and I'm always searching for which one leaves me with the biggest smile. I favor channel switchers which offer nice cleans and really angry, snarling overdrive. Tone-wise I'm really partial to anything Marshall-esque. My favorite amp thus far was an EL34 Bogner Shiva. I sold it because I wanted a little more gain than it had to offer and I don't want to use OD pedals. I think they mask what the amp's overdrive channel is trying to accomplish. Also, it was an early model which didn't have a variable boost on the OD channel which I like.

A few days ago I picked up a brand new Splawn Quick Rod in a Plexi headshell for a price I couldn't refuse. It arrived yesterday and I got a chance to run it through its paces.

In a nutshell, this is a fire-breathing Marshall-esque amp with 3 "Gears" of overdrive (Gear 1: exploding JMP, Gear 2: exploding 800, Gear 3: 800 at meltdown - a bit noisy and too much gain for me), a really awesome clean channel, and a variable solo boost for the overdrive channels. There's an effects loop volume which helps tame the volume on the amp which is REALLY loud. It's got way more gain on tap than the Bogners I owned (which I love and want). It's also a much more immediate amp than the Bogners which have a bit of sag to them. The clean channel is surprisingly really, really nice.

All in all this amp is way more up my alley than any amp I've owned to date.

Here's a photo I grabbed off the web:

 

[Wayniac3]

Congrats !I have heard these live and liked them.. never have played one yet to see how they feel

 

[rupe]

Cool amp...I like them a lot and they can't be beat for the price.

 

[bigangryguitar]

I had a chance to spend a few hours with a Quickrod a few years back and really dug the lead channel. The older ones had a pretty weak clean channel but I hear the new ones have fixed that as you stated. Definitely a killer amp and on par with stuff costing a couple grand more imho.

 

[Les Zombie]

i like splawn amps, i owned a bunch of them and they never let me down.

 

[Lord Toneking]

I've got an old 3 pre Quickrod and couldnt be happier. The clean channel kinda sucks on mine but it works for what I do

 

[Chris O]

I have a 3 pre I got here from Inca Roads. It's a terrific amp. As it's an older model, it doesn't have the loop volume, and the QR is STUPID LOUD barely turned up and at half power, so I put a Suck Knob in the loop. Perfect! Super solid, high quality, and sounds great, although it has it's own interpretation of modded Marshall for sure. Love it. Wish I had been able to snag a Competition, but the QR kinda seems to be their flagship Marshall killer, where the Nitros are more in the modern realm.

 

[jcj]

Love 'em, but they are LOUD

Does the loop volume work well, while maintaining feel?

 

[FUZZboat]

proud owner of a splawn modded 2203x

 

[Rev]

Love 'em, but they are LOUD

Does the loop volume work well, while maintaining feel?

As of 2010 the QR's have an improved loop. It is perfect!

We'll hook up when the Rhodes get's down here and I'll have my 2010 QR in hand too?

 

[thenine]

The amp that puts the biggest smile on my face is the mighty Uber. I have a Splawn modded 1987XL and it puts a smile on my face too.

 

[The Hoff]

Congrats sir! Splawn is one of the few amps I haven't played. Definitely need to check one out, I've absolutely loved all the clips I've heard.

 

[headlessdeadguy]

I love my Quick Rod! It can get really pissed!

 

[Lublin]

Love 'em, but they are LOUD

Does the loop volume work well, while maintaining feel?

As of 2010 the QR's have an improved loop. It is perfect!

We'll hook up when the Rhodes get's down here and I'll have my 2010 QR in hand too?

I would have to agree with this statement! The loop volume is very effective for taming the beast. It sounds fantastic turned down!

P.S. This amp is stupid loud. Just had it cranked and my neighbor down the road heard me!

 

[Tone Ranger]

I have a 3 pre Quickrod. Been with Splawn since 2003. Great stuff!

 

[jcj]

Love 'em, but they are LOUD

Does the loop volume work well, while maintaining feel?

As of 2010 the QR's have an improved loop. It is perfect!

We'll hook up when the Rhodes get's down here and I'll have my 2010 QR in hand too?

Sounds great. Just let me know....we'll make it a party

 

[Badchord]

Love my Splawn, but it is the older clean channel - not so great, but love the tones with the volume backed off on the overdrive channel. Cleans up great - specially in first gear. It is loud and gets better sounding the louder it gets.

 

[zee1usa]

Need to try a splawn!

 

[Lublin]

My buddy and bandmate Nick came by to give the Splawn a try tonight. He left smiling and liking it a lot. He even commented that it may be more clear than his 20th Anniversary Bogner Shiva which was pretty awesome. We also swapped the stock Chinese preamp tubes for a matched set of JJ's I had in an amp I'm not currently using. The end result was the mids getting a tad darker and beefier which we both agreed sounded fantastic.

I'm currently playing it through a Bogner branded Avatar oversized open-back 2x12 cab loaded with V30's and am considering selling it in favor of a matching Splawn closed-back 2x12 cab to really tighten up the sound. I'll have to email Scott Splawn and get a price for one. Does Splawn offer any speakers that resemble a V30?

Pic of my current setup:

 

[Rev]

My buddy and bandmate Nick came by to give the Splawn a try tonight. He left smiling and liking it a lot. He even commented that it may be more clear than his 20th Anniversary Bogner Shiva which was pretty awesome. We also swapped the stock Chinese preamp tubes for a matched set of JJ's I had in an amp I'm not currently using. The end result was the mids getting a tad darker and beefier which we both agreed sounded fantastic.

I'm currently playing it through a Bogner branded Avatar oversized open-back 2x12 cab loaded with V30's and am considering selling it in favor of a matching Splawn closed-back 2x12 cab to really tighten up the sound. I'll have to email Scott Splawn and get a price for one. Does Splawn offer any speakers that resemble a V30?

Pic of my current setup:

I had Rhodes build me a 2x12 with Weber 1265's in it and everything sounded a lot better. Tighter and thumping low end! The QR works best with a Greenback type speaker. If you're used to V30's it will be a much different tone....but much better! Go for Weber's or the Splawn SB's