Moving to a Twin Jet Uber... QUESTIONS!

[Ventura]

Hello Folks!!

I currently have a NOS '07 Uberschall. It's loaded with EL34's and to the best of my knowledge is not a Rev.Blue and most certainly is not a Twin Jet.

I'm trying to get rid of another rig, and I've kept it solely for its dirty/crunch channel, but since I've been schooled on the fact the new TJ has a great Channel 1 for everything from clean to mean, I thought I'd take the plunge. Couple questions - I'm a HOOOOGE fan of EL34's, but this new '09 unit is loaded with KT88's. Can this head support EL34's without too many complications (removing chassis, re-biasing, etc) or do the new KT88 tubesets really make this thing sing as it is? Right now, I'm using it primarily for Channel 2, it's an insanely great sounding amp with my detuned guitars - ultra powerful and thick, super focused, and still warm and brown with the EL34's... I don't want to lose that.

So, any advice, any chime in's, any opinions - I'm all ears and need to make this decision quickly before the opportunity passes me by.

Mondo Thanks!

V.

 

[Jay Strange]

I wouldnt count on the clean channel to be a useful clean channel.
More mean to meaner.
Killer amp the TJ is

 

[parntz145]

I just sold my twinjet. They are a great head for sure. I didnt have the updated channel 1, but I wouldnt really count on it having a nice crystal clean. Jay is right it's just like a mean to meaner. From what I understand channel 1 is 80% of the gain as channel 2. If you are looking for a great head for distorted tones buy one. If you need a clean channel it's not what you are looking for. You can pull a Jake e Lee type clean with some tweaking.

 

[Death by Uberschall]

Here's some cleans with the gain set 10 o'clock which means it could be set even cleaner if needed. Bogner has made the clean channel mod standard on current production and will retrofit older ones at no charge.

 

[Ventura]

Alright Fellow Uber-Cats... So far thanks a ton for the feedback you've offered. The dealio is, albeit the current Uber I have does offer some decent cleans, and the "other" amp I am unloading offers awesome cleans, I have an amp I am keeping (Diezel VH4S) who's clean channel is awesome...does everything. But what I DO need is a dirty/mean channel 1 on this Uber, and from the PM's and this thread, it appears as though the new TJ can do this no problemo.

So - serious feedback (not THAT kind, but the verbal kind)... What's with the KT88's, better than EL34's...?? Warm and brown and thick hi-gain with awesome bass response?? I love the fact this current EL34 loaded Uber sounds earth shattering at low to mid levels with the bass barely turned up. When it does get loud, the amp, running through an oversized custom 2x12 Bogner cab (running a V30 and a GT75), is focused, doesn't get 'muddy' and sounds perfectly articulate. Will I get this with the KT88 tubeset? Can I swap to EL34's without difficulty? Who out there can list the pro's and con's of either?

I really appreciate your input here folks. I love my Uber right now, but as mentioned, downsizing is my goal, and I want to keep Channel 2, but better my Channel 1.

Peace...Rock On...Play More...
V.

 

[TheMagicEight]

So - serious feedback (not THAT kind, but the verbal kind)... What's with the KT88's, better than EL34's...?? Warm and brown and thick hi-gain with awesome bass response?? I love the fact this current EL34 loaded Uber sounds earth shattering at low to mid levels with the bass barely turned up. When it does get loud, the amp, running through an oversized custom 2x12 Bogner cab (running a V30 and a GT75), is focused, doesn't get 'muddy' and sounds perfectly articulate. Will I get this with the KT88 tubeset? Can I swap to EL34's without difficulty? Who out there can list the pro's and con's of either?

I don't really care about channel 1 on the Uber; yeah it's a little important, but channel 2 is - like for most people - what did it for me. I say that because the fact that the TJ has KT88s was a big factor for me. I've played both Ubers with EL34s and KT88s, and I'm pretty happy with my decision so far of going with the TJ.

What I've found is that the KT88s feel more solid; they open the Uber up just a little to give it a somewhat less compressed feel at extreme gain levels, and so to me it feels like they move more air. Low volume playing sounds as good as ever, and while the EL34s probably have a few nuances that can be seen as advantages over KT88s, I'll take the KT88s far before I take EL34s.

As for swapping tubes, you'd probably need to replace a resistor to get the tubes to bias correctly. It's a relatively easy mod if you're comfortable with a soldering iron, know how to bias, and are informed of which resistor you'd replace and to what value. However, I'm pretty sure you'd void the warranty in doing so.

Anyway, my 2 cents is that the KT88s kick ass!

 

[Ventura]

Well then, KT88's sound alright... Perhaps it's time for yours truly to just LET GO of the past (sob sob, EL34's, sob sob) and get on with the new!! I remember this happening with my Diezel - they went from EL34's (sigh....) to 6550's (I believe) and ya, the 'upgrade' was just that. BUT DAMN I LOVE THAT VINTAGE BROWN SNEER OF AN EL34 LOADED AMP!!!! Sigh...

Alright, new TJ arrives next week with an UberKab. Will keep y'all posted.

V.

 

[TheMagicEight]

Well then, KT88's sound alright... Perhaps it's time for yours truly to just LET GO of the past (sob sob, EL34's, sob sob) and get on with the new!! I remember this happening with my Diezel - they went from EL34's (sigh....) to 6550's (I believe) and ya, the 'upgrade' was just that. BUT DAMN I LOVE THAT VINTAGE BROWN SNEER OF AN EL34 LOADED AMP!!!! Sigh...

Alright, new TJ arrives next week with an UberKab. Will keep y'all posted.

V.

Cool! I'd love to know how the new Uberkab sounds. Right now I'm using the Twin Jet with my standard Bogner 4x12 with G12M greenbacks, and it's fucking unbelievable, but I'm still curious.

The one thing I've found is that while the Ecstasy sounds alright with Mesa Rectifier cabs, the Twin Jet and a Recto cab is an awful combination.

 

[Ventura]

Well then, KT88's sound alright... Perhaps it's time for yours truly to just LET GO of the past (sob sob, EL34's, sob sob) and get on with the new!! I remember this happening with my Diezel - they went from EL34's (sigh....) to 6550's (I believe) and ya, the 'upgrade' was just that. BUT DAMN I LOVE THAT VINTAGE BROWN SNEER OF AN EL34 LOADED AMP!!!! Sigh...

Alright, new TJ arrives next week with an UberKab. Will keep y'all posted.

V.

Cool! I'd love to know how the new Uberkab sounds. Right now I'm using the Twin Jet with my standard Bogner 4x12 with G12M greenbacks, and it's fucking unbelievable, but I'm still curious.

The one thing I've found is that while the Ecstasy sounds alright with Mesa Rectifier cabs, the Twin Jet and a Recto cab is an awful combination.

Well, I've always been a believer (at least with the quality boutique brands) that matching heads and cabs is a good thing. I know some other companies do it from a marketing point of view, and I am sure even Bogner and Diezel and Splawn and Cornford do as well, but not to the same degree. I see Mesa/Boog as kinda generic along with Marshall and Peavey and other cab makers. Usually loaded with V30's, yada yada. The Uberschall registers some serious low end thump - a cabinet needs to handle this low end thump, while still being able to deliver the mids and highs. Without sounding like a wiener-consumer, I just know the UberKab has its bonuses matched with the Uber head. I'm stoked to have it in the studio environ soon!!! Will keep y'all posted.

V.

 

[TheMagicEight]

Well, I've always been a believer (at least with the quality boutique brands) that matching heads and cabs is a good thing. I know some other companies do it from a marketing point of view, and I am sure even Bogner and Diezel and Splawn and Cornford do as well, but not to the same degree. I see Mesa/Boog as kinda generic along with Marshall and Peavey and other cab makers. Usually loaded with V30's, yada yada. The Uberschall registers some serious low end thump - a cabinet needs to handle this low end thump, while still being able to deliver the mids and highs. Without sounding like a wiener-consumer, I just know the UberKab has its bonuses matched with the Uber head. I'm stoked to have it in the studio environ soon!!! Will keep y'all posted.

V.

Agreed. It bugs me when companies just assume V30s will work best with their amps. Then again, they are easily recognized and all things considered, a pretty good sounding speaker.

I actually wouldn't lump Mesa Boogie in with Marshall and Peavey. The Rectifier cabs are specifically tuned towards the Rectifier, and although the amp sounds good with other cabs, it sounds most classic to me with a Recto 4x12. Mesa seems to have some really killer ideas - unlike Marshall who ride on their name, and both Marshall and Peavey that use cheap parts to cut costs - and although I haven't cared for a few of their products, I believe the technology behind it is really incredible. For example, the idea of having different modes on the Mark V is something I'd love to see in other amps. I think the reason they're not up there in the price range of Diezel, Bogner, Splawn etc. is because they've got enough demand that they can cut costs by producing more units, not by cutting quality. Anyway, I really like the company.

 

[Ventura]

And I do concur to a degree... I am just tired of Mesa/Boogie...I think that's it - I see too much of them. However, on their side, they have a multitude of amazing industry patents that have precipitated down through other brands and that alone proves they don't sit on their laurels. So, my brashness aside - they are good amps, just not my style.

ANYWAY - all things considered, the new rig shows up next week and I am very, very excited. Having sold my old Rev.Blue just the other day for a retardedly low price, I can only say I'm okay with that - I wanted more out of my Channel 1. The new TJ seems to have this covered, and I also read or heard through the grapevine that Peter Diezel's answer to the Uberschall was the Herbert - and seeing as I've flirted with the Herbert in addition to my VH4S, I think having a Bogner fill that spot is a grand idea.

Merry Xmas Folks!! Play lots, Play loud...life is loud V.

 

[se7en]

V, we talked about this pretty thoroughly...I will add that in a video, Reinhold said something to the effect of 'Kt88's were a natural progression for the Uber'.

 

[emperor_black]

The clean mod that bogner does, will it turn channel 1 of the TJ into the channel 1 of say a rev blue Uber?

 

[Ventura]

The clean mod that bogner does, will it turn channel 1 of the TJ into the channel 1 of say a rev blue Uber?

Mr. Black - I do believe you should go with the TJ... Just IMHO.

V.