NAD: Driftwood Purple Nightmare W/clips.

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VESmedic

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What an absolutely incredible sounding amplifier... absolutely phenomenal. I’ll write a review later.

2 clips:

one with stock 6L6/KT88 combo, the other with gold lion KT77/KT88 combo. Marshall 1960BV cab, unidyne 57, built in boost engaged. ESP horizon, EMG 57/66 set. Phenomenal amp, one of the best I’ve ever owned for sure.
Unfortunately SoundCloud audio will ruin the tone, but it is what it is.

https://soundcloud.app.goo.gl/wkt9MWrmnoR5ZSk69

https://soundcloud.app.goo.gl/65zj1H5grPazhgRX6
 
Grats on the NAD! Was this the one that was in the classifieds not too long ago? Sounds awesome. I prefer the 6l6/kt88 combo ever so slightly. Seems to be a bit tighter and have a more searing high end grind.
 
ErikT said:
Grats on the NAD! Was this the one that was in the classifieds not too long ago? Sounds awesome. I prefer the 6l6/kt88 combo ever so slightly. Seems to be a bit tighter and have a more searing high end grind.
Click to expand...

Hey Erik, I’m not sure! I bought it off of Facebook, not sure if he posted it here. To me the KT77s seem more focused and deeper in the lows, really hard to decide what I like better, I could use either/or and be happy I think. I’m gonna mic up my recto cab later and compare, I only did one clip of my recto but the Marshall has better low end. I have a set of 6CA7s and gold lion KT88s coming this week that I’m interested to try, my buddy loves this combo more than anything, so we will see!
 
VESmedic said:
Hey Erik, I’m not sure! I bought it off of Facebook, not sure if he posted it here. To me the KT77s seem more focused and deeper in the lows, really hard to decide what I like better, I could use either/or and be happy I think. I’m gonna mic up my recto cab later and compare, I only did one clip of my recto but the Marshall has better low end. I have a set of 6CA7s and gold lion KT88s coming this week that I’m interested to try, my buddy loves this combo more than anything, so we will see!
Click to expand...
Listening now on speakers, instead of my phone, I agree and like the KT77 mix better. Both sound great though, including the newest recto clip! You got yourself a winner. Love the idea of the 6CA7 and KT88 combo.
 
Some good tones, i've always wanted to try a Dirftwood but alot of people state it's very similar to a 5150 and i just can't deal with that tone anymore lol. Is that the case? or does it have something else going on?
 
I am curious about this amp as Kristian Kohle showed it and compared it to his Brunetti and a Mesa Dual Rec.

It has a dry, cold sound mostly, it seems. Sounds good for that kind of thing, but might not be what I want. Kristian dialed in more mids than what you would get out of a Mesa Dual Rec and the low end is tighter even w/o the boost. I wish I could find a similar boutique amp that is more like an improved Marshall rather than a SLO/5150 or Mesa Dual Rec. Perhaps EL-34s would help the Driftwood in this direction.

 
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I too wonder if it is brutal like a 5150, but hopefully has more clear and articulate note seperation?
 
I’ll reply back alittle later when I have alittle more time but I guess all I’ll say is , does that sound like a 5150 to you ? Serious question, because I often say trust your ears, because regardless of what I or anyone else says, your ears are gonna dictate what you think l.

To me, no, it’s not a 5150 at all . It’s much more clear, completely different bottom end ( different than any other amp really to me) and nowhere near as messy. It’s also much thicker and beefier sounding overall and more robust than a 5150. I am NOT saying a 5150 is thin or not robust by any means, it’s one of the classics for a reason, but compared to the driftwood, it’s not the same at all.

I truly believe the amp has its own thing going on. At times I hear a recto vibe, and a 5150 vibe in other situations. So much of what people perceive as great tone or memorable tone is often just great riffing or writing, and our brain associates the two together, so take that into consideration to when evaluating any tone.

The amp is very much unique to me, but if I had to describe it ( which I’m bad at) it’s very much a refined better thicker more articulate and clean sounding 5150 with a Diezel power section: that’s really the best deception i can give, and even then, take that for what it’s worth. It definitely has that liquidy Diezel feel and squish but is still very tight and clean, it really is it’s own thing, huge huge fan of this amp.
 
Sounds great!! Almost got one in trade few years back. Yes the Recto/5150 is cutting hairs. Pending on the set up and dialing in.
the nightmare did sound original from the several clips I heard. But true test is to get it and play it. ?
 
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