NAD - Some days are just... (Bogner, Splawn & Fryette porn)

[stratjacket]

Amp 1)
So a while back I bought a Fryette Sig X from Guitar Center online (the thread that started the Crazy Deal Alerts). The amp showed up a little dusty but in great shape. It sounded pretty damn good, but while I was looking through the Fryette manual to figure out what all those damn switches did, I noticed the manual said in big bold letters "USE ONLY KT88 or 6550. NOT INTERCHANGEABLE WITH ANY OTHER TUBE TYPES!"
The amp came with KT66's. So I wasn't sure what happened during it's time at Guitar Center. To be on the safe side, I took it to Andrews Amp Lab here in Atlanta and had him check it out and replace the power tubes with 6550's.


Amp 2)
After months of sitting on the fence, researching and drooling over an Eclipse, I bought several other items in lieu of the Eclipse. Enter the Splawn Quick Rod (as well as the Fryette Sig X above).

Amp 3)
After all the fence sitting, I ended up buying the Eclipse anyway. I bought the Bogner Helios Eclipse before it became the item of dispute between 2 fellow rig talkers on here.

The amazing day is that the Eclipse was delivered the same day Andrews Amp Lab called and said the Fryette was ready for pickup. So 2 amps, same day, it was a good day!!

The Bogner had a bad tube before it was shipped, so the the seller sent me enough cash to buy a new set of preamp tubes. I ordered a full set up JJ's from EuroTubes including JJ power tubes. Tonight I threw the whole set in the Eclipse and it fucking slays.

I may have found what became the dispute, not sure. When I set the bias, the initial reading was 9mA, extremely low. I adjusted to 37mA and BAM, the thing just came alive. Really happy camper.

I may have an amp addiction...

 

[311boogieman]

Wow Dude! Congrats.

Kinda hard to follow the story but I guess a picture says it all right?

Looks like you need to update your sig too

 

[Fret-Shredder]

Incredible set up. That is one serious wall of tone. Congratulations.

 

[skullfxr]

Damn nice! I want a bogner bad, but my checking account digresses.

 

[RedB4Black]

Looks awesome! Now you need to rock out to some Stryper riffs with that Splawn

Does the Eclipse have a software editor like with the H9 pedals or something like Fractal?

 

[KHE]

that must have been an awesome day for you stratjacket \m/

 

[Racerxrated]

Congrats! That's a hell of a NAD!

Couple concerns though...first, KT66? That's a terrible mismatch for that transformer, I'd be worried about that down the road...I'd contact Fryette and find out what damage may have been done from previous use. Still working now is a good sign but there might be some unseen future issue that you may have to deal with.....

How in the world did the Bogner get shipped with the bias at 9ma? That must've sounded horrible..if it was used maybe the seller pulled his "good" tubes and threw in some random 34s without biasing...but if it came from the factory with that bias shame on them.

 

[MetalHeadMike]

Congrats man!!! That Splawn looks SICK

Your not the only one with a problem

 

[LunatiBSW]

HNAD x3 dude.
It’ll be a Fun weekend I’m sure.
Enjoy learning those new machines!

I see no problem here, carry on

 

[misterspockyall]

Sitting here with my original Helios like... i need an Eclipse too lol

 

[Pentatonic Wanker]

HOLY CRAP Dude! Nice collection!

Grats on the new amp(s). I was wondering how the Bogner was gonna be for you after that thread started on the classifieds.

I'm glad it all worked out.

 

[Exo-metal]

Killer dude, do u have a favorite? So the eclipse, it rules?

 

[stratjacket]

Thanks all, appreciate the feedback. I do need to unload some things.

Looks awesome! Now you need to rock out to some Stryper riffs with that Splawn

Does the Eclipse have a software editor like with the H9 pedals or something like Fractal?

There is no editor for the Eclipse, it's an amp. Maybe you're thinking of the Eventide Eclipse rack unit?

Congrats! That's a hell of a NAD!

Couple concerns though...first, KT66? That's a terrible mismatch for that transformer, I'd be worried about that down the road...I'd contact Fryette and find out what damage may have been done from previous use. Still working now is a good sign but there might be some unseen future issue that you may have to deal with.....

How in the world did the Bogner get shipped with the bias at 9ma? That must've sounded horrible..if it was used maybe the seller pulled his "good" tubes and threw in some random 34s without biasing...but if it came from the factory with that bias shame on them.

Yeah, I was definitely concerned about the KT66 in there. Once I read the manual, I turned it off and never powered on again until I got it back from the shop. But all seems well.

On the Bogner, I'm really not sure what happened with the bias, but it was a pretty big turn of the pot to get it up to ~37ma. I don't know if it came from the factory like that or it was done afterwards.

HOLY CRAP Dude! Nice collection!

Grats on the new amp(s). I was wondering how the Bogner was gonna be for you after that thread started on the classifieds.

I'm glad it all worked out.

Yeah thanks. It all worked out in the end.

 

[stratjacket]

Killer dude, do u have a favorite? So the eclipse, it rules?

Same trap as all of us, too many favorites. The Eclipse is awesome, but I only played it last night for a couple of hours. I will get to know it more, but it's pretty damn good. Wide range to tones in it with the modes across channels 2 and 3.

The KSR Artemis II has been my favorite amp I benchmark all other amps against. The JVM boosted is one of the most fun to play and picking it up used, it's the cheapest amp I got.

 

[ClintN667]

Congrats on the amps! I'm contemplating another Quick Rod or Nitro but this time I want to buy one that I pick the headshell(both mine had the tacky flame style) unless I win some money and can get a Butterslax. I absolutely adore my KSR but I need to scratch the Marshall esq itch.

 

[jabps]

Cool stuff. Fantastic collection of tone.

Funny, my last three amps back when I was flipping years ago was the Quick Rod, Sig X and the JVM410. I liked all three. For me it came down to the JVM and the Sig X. The JVM won out (for me), I would have kept both but at the time I was gigging constantly and wanted a true backup. Plus the JVM is a little more knarly to my ears than the Sig X, still wish I had that amp though. Oddly two of the three "amps" I regret letting go the most were Steve's amps...my Ultra Lead and Sig X. And my old original run 5150.

 

[firejack]

Now that's how you do a NAD! Congrats.
Holy wall of smackdown. That's one hell of an amp collection. If that were mine I'd never leave that room.

 

[firejack]

Oh man just noticed your list of guitars in your sig. Can you post a pic of that collection?

 

[stratjacket]

Oh man just noticed your list of guitars in your sig. Can you post a pic of that collection?

Sure man, here you go:

 

[Beandust]

Damn what a hard life! Lol. Nice Cave