Please talk me into/out of the PT100

[LukeCurd]

Wow, that´s a lot of different opinions Thanks for all your contributions!!
I will have to go and try the PT100 again, but I´m not really sure if it´s the right amp for me anymore. Maybe there is a better alternative for me if you know what I like and dislike about my current amps.

SLO
pro: organic, does react to the guitars tone control well, great lead amp, had it for many years with matching cab so I´m kind of attached to it, great clean, mid gain and high gain tones, doesn´t take pedals well as it doesn´t let the pedals character come through (probably because the clean channel is no real clean channel)
con: loop sucks, only two sounds available (clean/lead or crunch/lead), sometimes too refined and "slow" sounding, can´t sound really aggressive, clean bleeds into the od channel

Ultralead
pro: versatile with the onboard eq, makes you a better player as there is basically no compression, great metal tone (which I don´t need often, it´s just nice to have from time to time), very fast response, takes pedals well
con: sterile and hifi cleans, second channel not organic enough for mid gain tones, you can´t really dial that stiffness out of all three channels

So what´s missing is an amp that is tighter, faster and more aggressive than the SLO without being as stiff as the Ultralead, with a good clean channel that takes pedals well and great loop, so a modded Marshall came to mind. Maybe one of the other CAA amps? Or a Quickrod?

Satriani JVM. That's my pick. IMO it smokes the PT at less $$$$$

Thanks, will look into that as well!

I would recommend a Diezel Herbert from what you just described.

 

[garey77]

I played a PT100 and couldn't dial out a certain grainy texture from the dirty side. Albeit, I wasn't using a CAA cabinet, but it was comparable. I really wanted to love the amp, but try as I might, I couldnt get out of it what I wanted. I ended up getting a Pittbull UL that I love. I think the next amp I'll try will be a diezel or Friedman. The Friedman will surely get the Marshall thing happening.

 

[GtarLover]

Wish I had experience with the PT-100, but from what you are saying and what others have suggested as options, I am thinking Diezel as well.

Herbert, VH4, or Hagen. All have serial and parallel loops for your choice and while Diezel tone is Diezel tone, all are VERY versatile with excellent cleans. I have owned each of these, kept Herbert and Hagen. Throw in the midi capability of the Diezels and for me it's a no brainer. Full disclosure, I also own a Soldano SLO and a Splawn QR

As another member mentioned, the SLO is difficult for live use because of the channel options. It rocks when there is no need to quickly change, yet the Diezel's are AMAZING live. Full midi, loop options, multiple channels with individual tone controls, shall I go on?

If you can pony up the cash, Diezel doesn't disappoint, IMO.

 

[SLOgriff]

Actually, the SLO has a pretty decent loop! It sounds better than the XTC's loop (which adds a certain treble/high end when engaged). You just have to use high end units with line-level's. I use a new TC-Flashback and it sounds great in the SLO's loop!

The SLO is a killer amp in a live setting (not sure where you guys are coming from). Cleans are great, Crunch is killer, Overdrive is killer. You just have to have the right tubes and speakers!

Obviously it's not for everyone but I'm 95% sure that anyone that did NOT like an SLO must have had one with mismatched tubes or it was biased WAY TOO hot. Soldano's sound best between 23-28 ma.

 

[GtarLover]

Not trying to be silly here griff. I LOVE my SLO, it has Gold Lion KT77's in it and it smokes. I only meant that I like to be able to do the switching with midi. I don't have a RJM unit, so I don't use my SLO in live situations because of that. Plus as I mentioned, I have Diezel's that have the midi capability.

Question, I am wondering because you mentioned that clean, crunch, and overdrive are all killer. I don't disagree, yet how do you switch between them live? Are you flicking the switch on the head manually during the show? I am under the impression that it isn't possible to switch between the 3 options via footswitch.

I just want to be able to use all of the possibilities of my amps via midi or footswitch. I don't want to have to flip switches on the head during a show, just my thing.

 

[SLOgriff]

Not trying to be silly here griff. I LOVE my SLO, it has Gold Lion KT77's in it and it smokes. I only meant that I like to be able to do the switching with midi. I don't have a RJM unit, so I don't use my SLO in live situations because of that. Plus as I mentioned, I have Diezel's that have the midi capability.

Question, I am wondering because you mentioned that clean, crunch, and overdrive are all killer. I don't disagree, yet how do you switch between them live? Are you flicking the switch on the head manually during the show? I am under the impression that it isn't possible to switch between the 3 options via footswitch.

I just want to be able to use all of the possibilities of my amps via midi or footswitch. I don't want to have to flip switches on the head during a show, just my thing.

I never thought about KT77's...does it give it an EL34 tone?? No, I really only use the Crunch & Overdrive. I roll back the guitar's volume for Clean tones (on the Crunch) and it works well for me....especially with a nice chorus pedal in front. I feel the SLO just cuts thru better than the Diezels, but I'm sure it depends on the cab as well. RJM is the way to go for midi. The mini amp gizmo would work $229. I dont use rack stuff anymore....just my pedalboard these days so I only do minor tap dancin' and I think I have better tones using pedals!

 

[scruffydoo]

The clean is beautiful, the drive channels are smokin' with a modded Marshall flavor.

+1, if it's a hot rod marshall your after then this has to be one of the best, very susceptible to cab choice though, I had mine paired with a mesa V30 cab and was very disapointed, sounded flat and dull, switched to a marshall cab and wow, it's like a new amp, totally different tone.

Like some of the others suggested, I'd look at Diezel also, I have a Hagen which will do a more modern sounding tight rock/metal on ch3 with a superb thick lead on 4 and also a tasty marshall on ch2. Ch1 clean is very useable but can't beat the PT imv. Very versatile rock amp and def not all pointy guitar metal.

 

[GtarLover]

Not trying to be silly here griff. I LOVE my SLO, it has Gold Lion KT77's in it and it smokes. I only meant that I like to be able to do the switching with midi. I don't have a RJM unit, so I don't use my SLO in live situations because of that. Plus as I mentioned, I have Diezel's that have the midi capability.

Question, I am wondering because you mentioned that clean, crunch, and overdrive are all killer. I don't disagree, yet how do you switch between them live? Are you flicking the switch on the head manually during the show? I am under the impression that it isn't possible to switch between the 3 options via footswitch.

I just want to be able to use all of the possibilities of my amps via midi or footswitch. I don't want to have to flip switches on the head during a show, just my thing.

I never thought about KT77's...does it give it an EL34 tone?? No, I really only use the Crunch & Overdrive. I roll back the guitar's volume for Clean tones (on the Crunch) and it works well for me....especially with a nice chorus pedal in front. I feel the SLO just cuts thru better than the Diezels, but I'm sure it depends on the cab as well. RJM is the way to go for midi. The mini amp gizmo would work $229. I dont use rack stuff anymore....just my pedalboard these days so I only do minor tap dancin' and I think I have better tones using pedals!

My Herbert has EL34's in it, so does my Splawn. I feel like I got that covered. I don't even know what the EL's would sound like in it. I got it with the Gold Lion's in it and don't see any reason to change because they sound awesome. I especially like the tones when the master is getting around 5-6, it's just pretty frickin loud!! I hear what you are saying about only needing the Crunch/Overdrive and then rolling of the volume to clean it up. That would probably work and the amp gizmo is something i have been looking at for quite a while. Thanks for the ideas.

I have been playing my Herbert live for a while and I don't seem to have a problem cutting through. I like it mid-heavy I am not a scoop out all the mids kinda guy. So, maybe that's why. I am also using Diezel 4X12's with K100's in the top cab and V30's in the bottom cab. The other guitar player in the band is playing a Mesa Roadster and a Les Paul, so he covers lot's of lower range...I want to say that the mix is great (of course I stand by my rig ). I suppose the only way to really know is to record a show and listen back.

Sorry to the OP for hijacking the thread

 

[Capulin Overdrive]

Henning Cherry Bomb?


From your description, sounds like you're after a Wizard Metal or MC.

 

[tripstan]

Wizard or check out the Diezel's. 100w Einstein does the Marshall flavor well but with its own twist.

 

[WizardSouth-JP]

Lots of good info on the PT here, some helpful info for sure. If you're looking for a more Marshally gain, don't eff around, just buy a Friedman BE100. I had a PT100 and sold it to buy the Friedman. I liked the PT, very usable gain, WHOMP was cool, Feedback added some great feel - but for me, the Friedman just has that woody attack. PT100's are best matched with greenbacks from what I remember, Vintage 30's not so much so cab may have not mated too well for those playing this amp with Vintage 30's. Remember this is also a signature amp so to each his own, fingers and different guitars play a part in tone.

 

[amp maniac]

Thanks guys for all your input. Greatly appreciated
I ended up with an Ecstasy. Not exactly what we were talking about in this thread, but I played one and fell in love with it. Couldn´t help, had to buy it. Great machine

 

[LukeCurd]

Thanks guys for all your input. Greatly appreciated
I ended up with an Ecstasy. Not exactly what we were talking about in this thread, but I played one and fell in love with it. Couldn´t help, had to buy it. Great machine

Cool you found what you were looking for. We are just being tone freaks and hijacking your thread!

Luke

 

[amp maniac]

Thanks guys for all your input. Greatly appreciated
I ended up with an Ecstasy. Not exactly what we were talking about in this thread, but I played one and fell in love with it. Couldn´t help, had to buy it. Great machine

Cool you found what you were looking for. We are just being tone freaks and hijacking your thread!

Luke

Yeah I´m really happy.
And speaking of being a tone freak... looking at those three amps makes me seriously doubt there´s any sanity left... if there ever was some

 

[LukeCurd]

Thanks guys for all your input. Greatly appreciated
I ended up with an Ecstasy. Not exactly what we were talking about in this thread, but I played one and fell in love with it. Couldn´t help, had to buy it. Great machine

Cool you found what you were looking for. We are just being tone freaks and hijacking your thread!

Luke

Yeah I´m really happy.
And speaking of being a tone freak... looking at those three amps makes me seriously doubt there´s any sanity left... if there ever was some

If you want insanity go look into a "womans closet" We just like Tone. Don't get it Twizted.

 

[MrPlexi]

I played one in a controlled environment along side 5 or 6 other amps and I really didn't like it very much at all. It was one of the few amps I would describe as bland, and didn't have much punch. This had the whomp II and all the bells and whistles. It still sounded good, but it was nothing that I would hang on to considering the competition.

I owned one for about 4 months and that's how I felt. The overdrive was just a bit sterile and harsh to my ears. When I compared it side by side with 101b
the 101b was just sweeter and smoother to me. It has way to much treble I had to run the treble on 2 or 3 most of the time. But the clean channel was killer even though I rarely used it.
I traded it for Carol Ann OD3 and couldn't be happier. Much better lead tone for me.