Purest , most expressive el34 based amp ?

[Hardvalve]

Landgraff 50 or 100 watt head. Never played anything that comes close.

I thought Landgraff just made pedals

No he made about 15 50 watt heads, 2 100 heads, several Tweed Deluxe styled, Tweed Champ styled, and a few one offs. He was best known for his pedals, but his amps were the best I played. Problem is got up to a 4 year wait. He died last year, so no more.

Were the 50 and 100 watters plexi type amps or something else? Where did you get to try them?

I owned some, and still do. John was a good friend for many years. I got to play many prototypes, and bought some of the first ones he made. Also several pedals. Amps were made when he had time between making pedals. I regret selling my 100 w head. They are plexi based, but a lot more going on. Think Trainwreck/Marshall/Dumble, while not being any of them.

 

[Jdub]

My old 1972 Marshall small box by far. That amp taught me that definitive EL34 tone comes with hearing damage.

no arguing that. especially the hearing damage part. But yes indeed a great old 4 holer is tough to beat.

 

[Jdub]

Landgraff 50 or 100 watt head. Never played anything that comes close.

I thought Landgraff just made pedals

No he made about 15 50 watt heads, 2 100 heads, several Tweed Deluxe styled, Tweed Champ styled, and a few one offs. He was best known for his pedals, but his amps were the best I played. Problem is got up to a 4 year wait. He died last year, so no more.

Were the 50 and 100 watters plexi type amps or something else? Where did you get to try them?

I owned some, and still do. John was a good friend for many years. I got to play many prototypes, and bought some of the first ones he made. Also several pedals. Amps were made when he had time between making pedals. I regret selling my 100 w head. They are plexi based, but a lot more going on. Think Trainwreck/Marshall/Dumble, while not being any of them.

very cool . except that he passed away. es no bueno

 

[Jdub]

i had a k60 for a long time.

i hand a love hate relationship with it

loved fast mode

dynamics of the wall

great old school marshall cranked to ten sound.

could not get over the ghosting and low end break up when running it that way.

very fickle with pedals as well.

i think i would have been better off with thte hd version which seems to address these tupe of problems fors players who run em flat out.

interrested in the ert 33 but hate el84

gonna ask hogy at namm if he makes an el34 version

tried the concord as well. but that one felt like a cracked 50w metal panel. great. but not what i wS looking for.

def need to check a hd version with ps 2

What is ghosting?

Tough to describe but will try.. I certainly do not know how to explain it electronically or technically . But it my laymen words it is like this.
With many non master volume amps in particular, when you crank them super loud and get the power section cooking there is a sort of background almost out of phase sound to the tail of the notes if you listen closely. some people hate it, others don't notice it. Some actually like it or somewhat use it as benchmark or indicator of purity in the signal path if you will.. , but i don't think they would call it ghosting they call it part of the great tone..

 

[supersonic]

I have had just about every amp but one of these. They sound great. I cant remember, are these class A?

I cant recall either. It had the fast gradual switch but I think that was pentode /triode, I think was AB but not positive. It has been a long time.

They definitely sound incredible, that's for sure. Man, that Bogner porn page is crazy. Do you still have a 100b? Those are really awesome amps. Right now, I only have one amp, but it is awesome, the Masotti x100m. I love it, but I miss the days of having multiple amps.

I sold my last one several years ago when I decide to go into business for myself. needed the cash..

the one I really want back is xtc 100b #001!!!

I know man, that's crazy, serial number 1!!!!!! what year was that built? That's a long time back!!

feb 92. its still around, just not mine anymore. It is actually in the SFbay area. I sold it to friend. he is on here occasionally..

Was the date written on the back of the foot control in sharpie? I feel for you, I sold a pre50 SLO and a Pre50 Marsha, big mistakes. Will never sell my 100B.

 

[Jdub]

i had a k60 for a long time.

i hand a love hate relationship with it

loved fast mode

dynamics of the wall

great old school marshall cranked to ten sound.

could not get over the ghosting and low end break up when running it that way.

very fickle with pedals as well.

i think i would have been better off with thte hd version which seems to address these tupe of problems fors players who run em flat out.

interrested in the ert 33 but hate el84

gonna ask hogy at namm if he makes an el34 version

tried the concord as well. but that one felt like a cracked 50w metal panel. great. but not what i wS looking for.

def need to check a hd version with ps 2

What is ghosting?

Tough to describe but will try.. I certainly do not know how to explain it electronically or technically . But it laymen terms it is like this to me..
With many non master volume amps in particular, when you crank them super loud and get the power section cooking there is a sort of background almost out of phase sound to the tail of the notes if you listen closely. some people hate it, others don't notice it. Some actually like it or somewhat use it as benchmark or indicator of purity in the signal path if you will.. , but i don't think they would call it ghosting they call it part of the great tone..

 

[hstlaurent]

Gorgeous sounding amps. I've wanted a Komet since the Constellation came out. Somehow I always manage to end up buying something else instead, though.

they are beautiful sounding. IIRC mine ate tubes pretty quick but that is no surprise i suppose being that is pretty much a crank it up type of amp . The Constellation was the 18watter el84? I am kinda fuzzy on details.

Yeah, it was their 30 watt el84 design. To this day it may be the best looking cabinet design I've ever seen. I've heard rumblings that there might be a new Komet design coming this year which has my interest is pretty piqued.

Yeah a new K19 version is supposed to come out with 4 el84 tubes instead of 2 this year. I think it will be announced at nam. They have also been working on a new kt88 based design for a while. But it's not clear if it will come out this year or not.

 

[Jdub]

I have had just about every amp but one of these. They sound great. I cant remember, are these class A?

I cant recall either. It had the fast gradual switch but I think that was pentode /triode, I think was AB but not positive. It has been a long time.

They definitely sound incredible, that's for sure. Man, that Bogner porn page is crazy. Do you still have a 100b? Those are really awesome amps. Right now, I only have one amp, but it is awesome, the Masotti x100m. I love it, but I miss the days of having multiple amps.

I sold my last one several years ago when I decide to go into business for myself. needed the cash..

the one I really want back is xtc 100b #001!!!

I know man, that's crazy, serial number 1!!!!!! what year was that built? That's a long time back!!

feb 92. its still around, just not mine anymore. It is actually in the SFbay area. I sold it to friend. he is on here occasionally..

Was the date written on the back of the foot control in sharpie? I feel for you, I sold a pre50 SLO and a Pre50 Marsha, big mistakes. Will never sell my 100B.

Yes. signed R.B. Feb '92 on the footie

 

[Jdub]

Landgraff 50 or 100 watt head. Never played anything that comes close.

that sounds enticing. No can find anymore correct?

 

[milkchickenbomb]

i had a k60 for a long time.

i hand a love hate relationship with it

loved fast mode

dynamics of the wall

great old school marshall cranked to ten sound.

could not get over the ghosting and low end break up when running it that way.

very fickle with pedals as well.

i think i would have been better off with thte hd version which seems to address these tupe of problems fors players who run em flat out.

interrested in the ert 33 but hate el84

gonna ask hogy at namm if he makes an el34 version

tried the concord as well. but that one felt like a cracked 50w metal panel. great. but not what i wS looking for.

def need to check a hd version with ps 2

What is ghosting?

Tough to describe but will try.. I certainly do not know how to explain it electronically or technically . But it my laymen words it is like this.
With many non master volume amps in particular, when you crank them super loud and get the power section cooking there is a sort of background almost out of phase sound to the tail of the notes if you listen closely. some people hate it, others don't notice it. Some actually like it or somewhat use it as benchmark or indicator of purity in the signal path if you will.. , but i don't think they would call it ghosting they call it part of the great tone..

Apprciate the description. Can't say I've ever noticed this, but I've never played any non-MV amps at a band volume.

 

[Hardvalve]

Landgraff 50 or 100 watt head. Never played anything that comes close.

that sounds enticing. No can find anymore correct?

People that have them rarely sell them.

The D'Lux usually goes for 4500 or so.

The 50W about 6-7000

Never seen a 100 W for sale, his one offs, who knows? The Champs 1500-2000.

 

[Jdub]

Landgraff 50 or 100 watt head. Never played anything that comes close.

that sounds enticing. No can find anymore correct?

People that have them rarely sell them.

The D'Lux usually goes for 4500 or so.

The 50W about 6-7000

Never seen a 100 W for sale, his one offs, who knows? The Champs 1500-2000.

I see, thanks for that. I am done buying amps... I hope..

 

[Hardvalve]

Landgraff 50 or 100 watt head. Never played anything that comes close.

that sounds enticing. No can find anymore correct?

People that have them rarely sell them.

The D'Lux usually goes for 4500 or so.

The 50W about 6-7000

Never seen a 100 W for sale, his one offs, who knows? The Champs 1500-2000.

I see, thanks for that. I am done buying amps... I hope..

They were close to that before he passed. They are special, no doubt, supply/demand.

 

[mentoneman]

not el-34 but i played a komet the same week as a mojave plexi45 loaded with nos glass and for my tastes the mojave outshined the komet for clean to roar on the knob and that was what i was specifically listening for. strange thing is with stock tubes the plexi was not that special

 

[born_hard]

The Friedman Phil X amp is a very pure and expressive EL34 amp. It has tons of Gain, but thats not the highlight of this amp.
The Highlight is:
- The feel under the fingers when you solo, it responds like a race car when you push the accelerator pedal. Very direct and responsive. On the other hand you never fight this amp, its always with you, not against. Even if you turn the Preamp Gain way down and crank the Master Volume. Its JCM800 city.
- the amp is very versatile for a 1 channel amp since you can alter the Gain structure. think JCM800 with little bass, then Rodded JCM800 with more Gain and added bass frequencies, and then Hot Rodded JCM800 with a modern touch. Then the V+ and V- switch, awesome
- the attack is very AC/DC like, very fast attack, very good for shredding!
- You know most amps are 3D on their tail but slow on pick attack, then on the other hand you have these ENGLs with very fast attack but somehow boring tail.
The Phil X is just like a good JCM800. Fast on the attack but very much happens if you let the chord ring out. The sound just develops from there. Even if you dont hit your chord correct, the amp doesnt punish you, its always with you as i said, its still sound great.
This amp is like a perfected JCM800, not harsh and weak on the bass, strong and raw. Its very Rock´n Roll but on the edge to a metyl amp like Übershall/5150/Rrectifier. On the Edge. The voicing is just tone heaven.
- wide Mid and treble controls for tone shaping. the Bass control is very subtle but its voiced already perfect, just where you want the guitars in the mix.
- good serial Loop
- very very good Master Volume. You dont need an attenuator for this amp. Even very low volumes does sound good.
This amp has balls, character, its not saggy or dry. Its fast but not boring, you can play simple chords and it sounds good. You can shred like Gilbert and it sounds good. What else do you need? It wont get much better, if you like JCM800 and beyond. If you`re a vintage guy and you want sweet Plexi tones, thats not the amp for you.