Plexi EVH-Style (Suhr and Bray)

[journeyman73]

asked this on the other forum but thought i would try here too...

im curious if anyone has tried a david bray 4550 and suhr SL68?

They both seem to be late 60's plexi style amps that excel at nailing early VH tones and im wondering about similarities/differences between them.

Thanks!

 

[Rick Lee]

I haven't tried one, but am very interested in getting one. I wish I could find someone local who has one. Subscribing!

 

[Jayy]

I don't have a Suhr SL68, but it seems like another amp I would love. I do have this Bray 4550 Deluxe and absolutely freaking love it! I had David Bray specifically build, voice, and set it up to chase the VH tones and it is outstanding. I can't recommend David Bray enough. Great to work with, a wealth of knowledge, and a top notch dude! He even helped me out with suggestions and advice on problems I was having with another amp from a different builder that wasn't his problem to deal with at all.

Any questions about the 4550 that I can answer I'd be glad to. I'd love to try an SL68 someday. Here is a clip of my amp that Dave recorded before sending it to me.

 

[RedPlated]

I've heard clips of 4550's and they are outstanding.

I get a little confused when it comes to the different models and features. Can you shed and light on those?

 

[Jayy]

Yeah he offers different options. Mine is the 4550 Deluxe, which is all of his options. It has a PPIMV master volume that is two volumes in series that is foot switchable. So basically you can set the first master higher and the second lower and foot switch between them for a volume boost, or leave it off and have just one master.

It is very much a hot rodded plexi voicing, so it's plex no matter what you do, but the Deluxe allows you to blend channels one and two as much or as little as you want without jumpering them, There is also 3 pots which pull out to change voicing. The mids pot pulls out and is a vintage/hot switch to give a bit more break up or urgency in the amp. It just makes it more aggressive. The treble pot pulls out to accentuate the upper mids, highs, and harmonics, and the volume 1 pot pulls out as a bright switch. This has a brighter effect at lower seetings on the volume one knob, but basically becomes unnoticeable at volume 1 on ten where it is naturally it's brightest.

Then there is the plus mode. you plug into the top right jack and pull out the volume 2 pot and that puts both channels active and in series. Even more gain and somewhat of a change in voicing. Tons of gain. Honestly, I never use this mode. The regular mode is plenty! Whether in plexi mode, which is where I stay, or plus mode you can always blend in any or all of channels 1 and 2 as you want. Usually I am just in plexi mode with channel one at 8 or 10 and channel 2 at 0 to 3. Channel 2 in plexi mode just sort of darkens the amp a little and thickens up the lows if you want. I hope that helps!

 

[Stradazone]

The Suhr SL68 is great for EVH tones, I did this video with lots of VH inspired playing

I've never played through a Bray

 

[journeyman73]

The Suhr SL68 is great for EVH tones, I did this video with lots of VH inspired playing

I've never played through a Bray

Al, you could sound like evh thru anything!

 

[hammered]

The Suhr SL68 is great for EVH tones, I did this video with lots of VH inspired playing

I've never played through a Bray

Great gosh almighty

 

[jape23]

I don't have a Suhr SL68, but it seems like another amp I would love. I do have this Bray 4550 Deluxe and absolutely freaking love it! I had David Bray specifically build, voice, and set it up to chase the VH tones and it is outstanding. I can't recommend David Bray enough. Great to work with, a wealth of knowledge, and a top notch dude! He even helped me out with suggestions and advice on problems I was having with another amp from a different builder that wasn't his problem to deal with at all.

Any questions about the 4550 that I can answer I'd be glad to. I'd love to try an SL68 someday. Here is a clip of my amp that Dave recorded before sending it to me.

That is smoking! Glad you are digging your amp.

 

[charvelstrat81]

I have been a BRAY fan for the old VH tone since hearing this,

 

[Jayy]

I have been a BRAY fan for the old VH tone since hearing this,

Yeah, doesn't that shit just make you sick? LOL. She can tear that shit up! That's another good example of the Bray 4550 at low volume too.

 

[journeyman73]

I have been a BRAY fan for the old VH tone since hearing this,

Geez - is she actually going into a low imput here?

 

[journeyman73]

Yeah he offers different options. Mine is the 4550 Deluxe, which is all of his options. It has a PPIMV master volume that is two volumes in series that is foot switchable. So basically you can set the first master higher and the second lower and foot switch between them for a volume boost, or leave it off and have just one master.

It is very much a hot rodded plexi voicing, so it's plex no matter what you do, but the Deluxe allows you to blend channels one and two as much or as little as you want without jumpering them, There is also 3 pots which pull out to change voicing. The mids pot pulls out and is a vintage/hot switch to give a bit more break up or urgency in the amp. It just makes it more aggressive. The treble pot pulls out to accentuate the upper mids, highs, and harmonics, and the volume 1 pot pulls out as a bright switch. This has a brighter effect at lower seetings on the volume one knob, but basically becomes unnoticeable at volume 1 on ten where it is naturally it's brightest.

Then there is the plus mode. you plug into the top right jack and pull out the volume 2 pot and that puts both channels active and in series. Even more gain and somewhat of a change in voicing. Tons of gain. Honestly, I never use this mode. The regular mode is plenty! Whether in plexi mode, which is where I stay, or plus mode you can always blend in any or all of channels 1 and 2 as you want. Usually I am just in plexi mode with channel one at 8 or 10 and channel 2 at 0 to 3. Channel 2 in plexi mode just sort of darkens the amp a little and thickens up the lows if you want. I hope that helps!

Almost every clip of the bray is evh-type tones...for pbvious reasons

Is that sizzle or grainy type mids i tend to hear always there or can you dial it out?

 

[Jayy]

Yeah he offers different options. Mine is the 4550 Deluxe, which is all of his options. It has a PPIMV master volume that is two volumes in series that is foot switchable. So basically you can set the first master higher and the second lower and foot switch between them for a volume boost, or leave it off and have just one master.

It is very much a hot rodded plexi voicing, so it's plex no matter what you do, but the Deluxe allows you to blend channels one and two as much or as little as you want without jumpering them, There is also 3 pots which pull out to change voicing. The mids pot pulls out and is a vintage/hot switch to give a bit more break up or urgency in the amp. It just makes it more aggressive. The treble pot pulls out to accentuate the upper mids, highs, and harmonics, and the volume 1 pot pulls out as a bright switch. This has a brighter effect at lower seetings on the volume one knob, but basically becomes unnoticeable at volume 1 on ten where it is naturally it's brightest.

Then there is the plus mode. you plug into the top right jack and pull out the volume 2 pot and that puts both channels active and in series. Even more gain and somewhat of a change in voicing. Tons of gain. Honestly, I never use this mode. The regular mode is plenty! Whether in plexi mode, which is where I stay, or plus mode you can always blend in any or all of channels 1 and 2 as you want. Usually I am just in plexi mode with channel one at 8 or 10 and channel 2 at 0 to 3. Channel 2 in plexi mode just sort of darkens the amp a little and thickens up the lows if you want. I hope that helps!

Almost every clip of the bray is evh-type tones...for pbvious reasons

Is that sizzle or grainy type mids i tend to hear always there or can you dial it out?

You can lessen it a bit on the 4550 Deluxe by pressing in the mids pot which lessens the aggression and by backing off the gain a bit if you have the bright switch in (off), but it's always there somewhat. It's very much a hot rod plexi. It is a bright, open, cutting amp.

 

[journeyman73]

Yeah he offers different options. Mine is the 4550 Deluxe, which is all of his options. It has a PPIMV master volume that is two volumes in series that is foot switchable. So basically you can set the first master higher and the second lower and foot switch between them for a volume boost, or leave it off and have just one master.

It is very much a hot rodded plexi voicing, so it's plex no matter what you do, but the Deluxe allows you to blend channels one and two as much or as little as you want without jumpering them, There is also 3 pots which pull out to change voicing. The mids pot pulls out and is a vintage/hot switch to give a bit more break up or urgency in the amp. It just makes it more aggressive. The treble pot pulls out to accentuate the upper mids, highs, and harmonics, and the volume 1 pot pulls out as a bright switch. This has a brighter effect at lower seetings on the volume one knob, but basically becomes unnoticeable at volume 1 on ten where it is naturally it's brightest.

Then there is the plus mode. you plug into the top right jack and pull out the volume 2 pot and that puts both channels active and in series. Even more gain and somewhat of a change in voicing. Tons of gain. Honestly, I never use this mode. The regular mode is plenty! Whether in plexi mode, which is where I stay, or plus mode you can always blend in any or all of channels 1 and 2 as you want. Usually I am just in plexi mode with channel one at 8 or 10 and channel 2 at 0 to 3. Channel 2 in plexi mode just sort of darkens the amp a little and thickens up the lows if you want. I hope that helps!

Almost every clip of the bray is evh-type tones...for pbvious reasons

Is that sizzle or grainy type mids i tend to hear always there or can you dial it out

You can lessen it a bit on the 4550 Deluxe by pressing in the mids pot which lessens the aggression and by backing off the gain a bit if you have the bright switch in (off), but it's always there somewhat. It's very much a hot rod plexi. It is a bright, open, cutting amp.

Thanks, thats sort of what i figured.

I found some clips of a 4550 doing ac/dc but it didnt seem quite vintage enough...maybe this amp would be more halen and hair metal for me

 

[Stradazone]

The Suhr SL68 is great for EVH tones, I did this video with lots of VH inspired playing

I've never played through a Bray

Al, you could sound like evh thru anything!

Having a great plexi circuit and variac built into the amp doesn't hurt
There's absolutely no fizz or grainy tone to the SL68 which is a big plus

 

[RedPlated]

Yeah he offers different options. Mine is the 4550 Deluxe, which is all of his options. It has a PPIMV master volume that is two volumes in series that is foot switchable. So basically you can set the first master higher and the second lower and foot switch between them for a volume boost, or leave it off and have just one master.

It is very much a hot rodded plexi voicing, so it's plex no matter what you do, but the Deluxe allows you to blend channels one and two as much or as little as you want without jumpering them, There is also 3 pots which pull out to change voicing. The mids pot pulls out and is a vintage/hot switch to give a bit more break up or urgency in the amp. It just makes it more aggressive. The treble pot pulls out to accentuate the upper mids, highs, and harmonics, and the volume 1 pot pulls out as a bright switch. This has a brighter effect at lower seetings on the volume one knob, but basically becomes unnoticeable at volume 1 on ten where it is naturally it's brightest.

Then there is the plus mode. you plug into the top right jack and pull out the volume 2 pot and that puts both channels active and in series. Even more gain and somewhat of a change in voicing. Tons of gain. Honestly, I never use this mode. The regular mode is plenty! Whether in plexi mode, which is where I stay, or plus mode you can always blend in any or all of channels 1 and 2 as you want. Usually I am just in plexi mode with channel one at 8 or 10 and channel 2 at 0 to 3. Channel 2 in plexi mode just sort of darkens the amp a little and thickens up the lows if you want. I hope that helps!

Definitely helps, thanks!

 

[journeyman73]

The Suhr SL68 is great for EVH tones, I did this video with lots of VH inspired playing

I've never played through a Bray

Al, you could sound like evh thru anything!

Having a great plexi circuit and variac built into the amp doesn't hurt
There's absolutely no fizz or grainy tone to the SL68 which is a big plus

al, im curious...i just came across some iso tracks of the first vh album and, man, there seems to be a lot of fizz and hair to the tone.

i know you have nailed a lot of vh tones - are your amps and their gain generally less fizzy than these iso tracks? even if your not as close as the original fuzzed out tracks?

 

[Stradazone]

The Suhr SL68 is great for EVH tones, I did this video with lots of VH inspired playing

I've never played through a Bray

Al, you could sound like evh thru anything!

Having a great plexi circuit and variac built into the amp doesn't hurt
There's absolutely no fizz or grainy tone to the SL68 which is a big plus

al, im curious...i just came across some iso tracks of the first vh album and, man, there seems to be a lot of fizz and hair to the tone.

i know you have nailed a lot of vh tones - are your amps and their gain generally less fizzy than these iso tracks? even if your not as close as the original fuzzed out tracks?

Yes, way less fizz, you can listen to any recordings of EVH in their club days prior to recording VH 1 or anything off the 1st VH tour, I have tons of bootleg recordings, and they're nowhere near the fizz that was on the 1st studio record, I think a lot of that was the recording process, preamps, compressors, tape machine saturation...I would always strive to get the 'live' early VH tones rather than the recorded tones since they're a better representation of what his amps really sounded like

Btw, in case you didn't know..Suhr worked on EVH's #1 Marshall, the SL68 has pretty much the same circuit and minor tweaks that Ed's amp originally had