Splawn Amps

[splatter]

I looking at the Splawn line and can't decide between the quick rod and the Nitro. I play classic Rock to Metal. currently have Dual Rec but missing the mid range punch of the Marshall style amps what is your opinions.

I have had 3 quick rods and 1 nitro . Loved the QR hated the nitro .

the QR is a tight articulate amp and to my ears the nitro was mushy and dark

 

[_actual time_]

How does the Bogner Helios compare to the quick rod ?

i've owned both--4 pre QR--and i'm selling the Helios.

to my ears, the Helios has better pure tone at the high gain sounds, through the hot input, like 80s metal or Maiden or early Metallica that was Marshalls.

but the QR is almost as good at high gain, and for me they're both equally good at the medium-gain AC/DC and low-gain 70s sounds. plus the QR is easier to deal with when changing sounds--stomp on the footswitch or turn a knob, where on the Helios you have to re-dial the Gain, Vol, and some eq.

if i did a lot of recording, i'd keep the Helios, it does sound better. but i don't, and my time is tight so i like to just plug & play, so the QR won for me.

 

[akadave]

I will say this they are tight, not stiff but you can hear everything your guitar and you, do through the amp. Extremely articulate and spews hate!

I think that makes it EASIER to play....a lot of folks say spawn amps have a stiff feel...I didn't find that to be the case.....The Streetrod played itself....sounds like a produced record right out of the amp....FX loop still lacking though.....compared to a friedman/suhr anyway....I've heard the crank it and it levels off comments about it before. In my experience, the tone changes a bit.

Yeah Im at the point where I cant live without the tight articulate nature of my SR. Its addictive! I torn right now between getting a QR or a Friedman Small Box. I dont have a way to test the Friedman only have youtube examples.

 

[braintheory]

How does the Bogner Helios compare to the quick rod ?

i've owned both--4 pre QR--and i'm selling the Helios.

to my ears, the Helios has better pure tone at the high gain sounds, through the hot input, like 80s metal or Maiden or early Metallica that was Marshalls.

but the QR is almost as good at high gain, and for me they're both equally good at the medium-gain AC/DC and low-gain 70s sounds. plus the QR is easier to deal with when changing sounds--stomp on the footswitch or turn a knob, where on the Helios you have to re-dial the Gain, Vol, and some eq.

if i did a lot of recording, i'd keep the Helios, it does sound better. but i don't, and my time is tight so i like to just plug & play, so the QR won for me.

Agreed. The Helios is like you said maybe less practical because of dialing it in, but still one of the best Marshall type amp made right now and also one of the most (if not the most) organic sounding amps made today along with the Telos model. Even my 2016 wizard mtl is not quite as organic but close and has other strengths compared to the Helios

 

[akadave]

How does the Bogner Helios compare to the quick rod ?

i've owned both--4 pre QR--and i'm selling the Helios.

to my ears, the Helios has better pure tone at the high gain sounds, through the hot input, like 80s metal or Maiden or early Metallica that was Marshalls.

but the QR is almost as good at high gain, and for me they're both equally good at the medium-gain AC/DC and low-gain 70s sounds. plus the QR is easier to deal with when changing sounds--stomp on the footswitch or turn a knob, where on the Helios you have to re-dial the Gain, Vol, and some eq.

if i did a lot of recording, i'd keep the Helios, it does sound better. but i don't, and my time is tight so i like to just plug & play, so the QR won for me.

Agreed. The Helios is like you said maybe less practical because of dialing it in, but still one of the best Marshall type amp made right now and also one of the most (if not the most) organic sounding amps made today along with the Telos model. Even my 2016 wizard mtl is not quite as organic but close and has other strengths compared to the Helios

Just watched a couple of demos with the Helios. Wow! That thing does sound great! I may go that way instead of the Small Box.

 

[braintheory]

How does the Bogner Helios compare to the quick rod ?

i've owned both--4 pre QR--and i'm selling the Helios.

to my ears, the Helios has better pure tone at the high gain sounds, through the hot input, like 80s metal or Maiden or early Metallica that was Marshalls.

but the QR is almost as good at high gain, and for me they're both equally good at the medium-gain AC/DC and low-gain 70s sounds. plus the QR is easier to deal with when changing sounds--stomp on the footswitch or turn a knob, where on the Helios you have to re-dial the Gain, Vol, and some eq.

if i did a lot of recording, i'd keep the Helios, it does sound better. but i don't, and my time is tight so i like to just plug & play, so the QR won for me.

Agreed. The Helios is like you said maybe less practical because of dialing it in, but still one of the best Marshall type amp made right now and also one of the most (if not the most) organic sounding amps made today along with the Telos model. Even my 2016 wizard mtl is not quite as organic but close and has other strengths compared to the Helios

Just watched a couple of demos with the Helios. Wow! That thing does sound great! I may go that way instead of the Small Box.

I prefer the Helios to the Small Box, but they both have they're strengths and weaknesses. The Smallbox (like other Friedmans) will sounds darker, smoother, more polished/less raw, but will sound beefier and more tight and chunky on palm mutes, while the Helios will be more raw, organic, open, bright/cutting with a great upper mid growl that you'll never hear in any Friedman

 

[akadave]

How does the Bogner Helios compare to the quick rod ?

i've owned both--4 pre QR--and i'm selling the Helios.

to my ears, the Helios has better pure tone at the high gain sounds, through the hot input, like 80s metal or Maiden or early Metallica that was Marshalls.

but the QR is almost as good at high gain, and for me they're both equally good at the medium-gain AC/DC and low-gain 70s sounds. plus the QR is easier to deal with when changing sounds--stomp on the footswitch or turn a knob, where on the Helios you have to re-dial the Gain, Vol, and some eq.

if i did a lot of recording, i'd keep the Helios, it does sound better. but i don't, and my time is tight so i like to just plug & play, so the QR won for me.

Agreed. The Helios is like you said maybe less practical because of dialing it in, but still one of the best Marshall type amp made right now and also one of the most (if not the most) organic sounding amps made today along with the Telos model. Even my 2016 wizard mtl is not quite as organic but close and has other strengths compared to the Helios

Just watched a couple of demos with the Helios. Wow! That thing does sound great! I may go that way instead of the Small Box.

I prefer the Helios to the Small Box, but they both have they're strengths and weaknesses. The Smallbox (like other Friedmans) will sounds darker, smoother, more polished/less raw, but will sound beefier and more tight and chunky on palm mutes, while the Helios will be more raw, organic, open, bright/cutting with a great upper mid growl that you'll never hear in any Friedman

Just to throw another wrench in there, how about the Runt 50?

 

[braintheory]

How does the Bogner Helios compare to the quick rod ?

i've owned both--4 pre QR--and i'm selling the Helios.

to my ears, the Helios has better pure tone at the high gain sounds, through the hot input, like 80s metal or Maiden or early Metallica that was Marshalls.

but the QR is almost as good at high gain, and for me they're both equally good at the medium-gain AC/DC and low-gain 70s sounds. plus the QR is easier to deal with when changing sounds--stomp on the footswitch or turn a knob, where on the Helios you have to re-dial the Gain, Vol, and some eq.

if i did a lot of recording, i'd keep the Helios, it does sound better. but i don't, and my time is tight so i like to just plug & play, so the QR won for me.

Agreed. The Helios is like you said maybe less practical because of dialing it in, but still one of the best Marshall type amp made right now and also one of the most (if not the most) organic sounding amps made today along with the Telos model. Even my 2016 wizard mtl is not quite as organic but close and has other strengths compared to the Helios

Just watched a couple of demos with the Helios. Wow! That thing does sound great! I may go that way instead of the Small Box.

I prefer the Helios to the Small Box, but they both have they're strengths and weaknesses. The Smallbox (like other Friedmans) will sounds darker, smoother, more polished/less raw, but will sound beefier and more tight and chunky on palm mutes, while the Helios will be more raw, organic, open, bright/cutting with a great upper mid growl that you'll never hear in any Friedman

Just to throw another wrench in there, how about the Runt 50?

I don't like the Runts as much. I like that they're brighter and maybe a bit more gritty than other Friedmans, but when I hear them next to the other Friedmans like the BE, it's just not in the same league. Honestly, though for my taste I'd choose a stock late 70's jmp 2203 (or even a good 80's JCM 800) boosted with a good overdrive pedal over any Marshall type amp out there except the Cameron stuff. It may lack some features and practically but will have a more raw, organic, and ballsy sound than the others and is also more affordable too

 

[akadave]

How does the Bogner Helios compare to the quick rod ?

i've owned both--4 pre QR--and i'm selling the Helios.

to my ears, the Helios has better pure tone at the high gain sounds, through the hot input, like 80s metal or Maiden or early Metallica that was Marshalls.

but the QR is almost as good at high gain, and for me they're both equally good at the medium-gain AC/DC and low-gain 70s sounds. plus the QR is easier to deal with when changing sounds--stomp on the footswitch or turn a knob, where on the Helios you have to re-dial the Gain, Vol, and some eq.

if i did a lot of recording, i'd keep the Helios, it does sound better. but i don't, and my time is tight so i like to just plug & play, so the QR won for me.

Agreed. The Helios is like you said maybe less practical because of dialing it in, but still one of the best Marshall type amp made right now and also one of the most (if not the most) organic sounding amps made today along with the Telos model. Even my 2016 wizard mtl is not quite as organic but close and has other strengths compared to the Helios

Just watched a couple of demos with the Helios. Wow! That thing does sound great! I may go that way instead of the Small Box.

I prefer the Helios to the Small Box, but they both have they're strengths and weaknesses. The Smallbox (like other Friedmans) will sounds darker, smoother, more polished/less raw, but will sound beefier and more tight and chunky on palm mutes, while the Helios will be more raw, organic, open, bright/cutting with a great upper mid growl that you'll never hear in any Friedman

Just to throw another wrench in there, how about the Runt 50?

I don't like the Runts as much. I like that they're brighter and maybe a bit more gritty than other Friedmans, but when I hear them next to the other Friedmans like the BE, it's just not in the same league. Honestly, though for my taste I'd choose a stock late 70's jmp 2203 (or even a good 80's JCM 800) boosted with a good overdrive pedal over any Marshall type amp out there except the Cameron stuff. It may lack some features and practically but will have a more raw, organic, and ballsy sound than the others and is also more affordable too

I have a 78' JMP 2203 that is stock. I probably need to get inside of it a bias it. It sound pretty good but I like to have the amp do all the hard work without having to kick it in the front end with a pedal. I have a THD Hotplate that I use with it. Im torn on whether to get it modded or not or just sell it for something I would use more.

 

[Purpleibby]

I will say this they are tight, not stiff but you can hear everything your guitar and you, do through the amp. Extremely articulate and spews hate!

I think that makes it EASIER to play....a lot of folks say spawn amps have a stiff feel...I didn't find that to be the case.....The Streetrod played itself....sounds like a produced record right out of the amp....FX loop still lacking though.....compared to a friedman/suhr anyway....I've heard the crank it and it levels off comments about it before. In my experience, the tone changes a bit.

Yeah Im at the point where I cant live without the tight articulate nature of my SR. Its addictive! I torn right now between getting a QR or a Friedman Small Box. I dont have a way to test the Friedman only have youtube examples.

If it was me I'd get the new Friedman BE-50 Deluxe(WOW)....I see less of a point in getting a small box anymore since the structure switch has been implemented.

 

[akadave]

Havent heard one in person but to be they sound softer and fuzzier than any Splawn I have heard of played.

How does the Bogner Helios compare to the quick rod ?

 

[napalmdeath]

Havent heard one in person but to be they sound softer and fuzzier than any Splawn I have heard of played.

How does the Bogner Helios compare to the quick rod ?

Not in my experience - I've owned both. The Helios is FAR from soft and fuzzy. It's very warm, and darker than the Splawn. The can get dialed in very similar, however. The Helios is a very polished, darker Plexi.

 

[MetalHeadMike]

Just picked up a Quickrod Drob B+ this week and so far am REALLY digging it. Its a lot closer to the feel I've been after offering a nice balance of sag and tight attack. Awesome amp!

 

[akadave]

I must have heard a bad setup on Youtube then

Havent heard one in person but to be they sound softer and fuzzier than any Splawn I have heard of played.

How does the Bogner Helios compare to the quick rod ?

Not in my experience - I've owned both. The Helios is FAR from soft and fuzzy. It's very warm, and darker than the Splawn. The can get dialed in very similar, however. The Helios is a very polished, darker Plexi.

 

[peckhart]

Here is my take. I played Mesa Dual Rec/Tverbs and 5150s with a few other non Marshall type modern amps for years. Enter my first serious band in 2007 doing more 80s stuff and I started down the Marshall path. Fell in love with the EL34 modded Marshall growl and used DSLs and Vintage Moderns for a few years. Wanted something new and liked the feature set of the Quick Rod. Bought a 2009 model in early 2010.
Really loved that amp and was my first step into quality boutique amps. It was very noticeable right away that it was in a different league. The power and clarity of each string made going from the DSL like going from a boom box to an expensive surround sound system.
I always lived on Gear 2 and loved the solo feature. I did find that rhythm playing was awesome, but leads could be a chore some nights. If I was off that amp could really highlight it. Leads in the hotshot zone can be a bit razor sharp and lack something in the single notes where other amps stay a bit fatter and bloom a bit more. For a hack like me it could be tough at times...when I was really playing well it wasn't an issue. In a way that amp made me a better player.
I found the loop fine if I ran it wide open, but if I used the loop volume at all there was a definite tone change. It sounded it's best with loop off or it's volume all the way up and the master at least close to 9:00. Pretty loud at that point.
The other thing that bugged me was the treble control. Said to be more of a treble blend it is well documented how many of us owners ran treble on 0. On 0 there was a mid bump and the amp had a high end sizzle and bite that I liked. From 9:00 up to 1:00 it actually sounds darker and the high end smooths out. You lose some thickness too. After 1:00 you bring back some treble but it never gets the bite or thickness back. I ended up relying on the Presence and mids to control the high end.
To keep this getting too much longer I sold that amp and it is now my rhythm guitarists amp. I still enjoy hearing that bad boy.
I went away from Splawn for a bit but went back on a brand new fully loaded with all the options QR in 2016. It just wasnt the same. I guess i didnt like the changes that are said to make it easier to play. Maybe it's the Classic Tones? Any way I moved on from it.
My main amp for a while now has been a Helios 100. It's nice and raw and aggressive, but maybe not quite as mean as the QR. More useful EQ and fuller single notes. Easier to play overall, but still has good clarity and balls. Thick with a nice chime in the high end. The QR has a tighter and bigger low end but its not to say the Helios doesn't have a nice punch to it. It's really pretty simple and I run it as a single channel amp. Good loop that takes my Empress Para EQ well.

 

[MetalHeadMike]

Played for a while tonight and went through the gears and while they all bring something great to the table, I think gear one is really starting to grow on me. I play thrash and death metal and 1st gear clean boosted offers such a pissed off articulate tone.

 

[Detroit1973]

Just picked up a Quickrod Drob B+ this week and so far am REALLY digging it. Its a lot closer to the feel I've been after offering a nice balance of sag and tight attack. Awesome amp!

That is what I've always been after too. I found it in my Soldano Avenger, although I would love to own a quickrod one day

 

[Detroit1973]

Played for a while tonight and went through the gears and while they all bring something great to the table, I think gear one is really starting to grow on me. I play thrash and death metal and 1st gear clean boosted offers such a pissed off articulate tone.

Which boost are you using?

 

[ericb]

Here is my take. I played Mesa Dual Rec/Tverbs and 5150s with a few other non Marshall type modern amps for years. Enter my first serious band in 2007 doing more 80s stuff and I started down the Marshall path. Fell in love with the EL34 modded Marshall growl and used DSLs and Vintage Moderns for a few years. Wanted something new and liked the feature set of the Quick Rod. Bought a 2009 model in early 2010.
Really loved that amp and was my first step into quality boutique amps. It was very noticeable right away that it was in a different league. The power and clarity of each string made going from the DSL like going from a boom box to an expensive surround sound system.
I always lived on Gear 2 and loved the solo feature. I did find that rhythm playing was awesome, but leads could be a chore some nights. If I was off that amp could really highlight it. Leads in the hotshot zone can be a bit razor sharp and lack something in the single notes where other amps stay a bit fatter and bloom a bit more. For a hack like me it could be tough at times...when I was really playing well it wasn't an issue. In a way that amp made me a better player.
I found the loop fine if I ran it wide open, but if I used the loop volume at all there was a definite tone change. It sounded it's best with loop off or it's volume all the way up and the master at least close to 9:00. Pretty loud at that point.
The other thing that bugged me was the treble control. Said to be more of a treble blend it is well documented how many of us owners ran treble on 0. On 0 there was a mid bump and the amp had a high end sizzle and bite that I liked. From 9:00 up to 1:00 it actually sounds darker and the high end smooths out. You lose some thickness too. After 1:00 you bring back some treble but it never gets the bite or thickness back. I ended up relying on the Presence and mids to control the high end.
To keep this getting too much longer I sold that amp and it is now my rhythm guitarists amp. I still enjoy hearing that bad boy.
I went away from Splawn for a bit but went back on a brand new fully loaded with all the options QR in 2016. It just wasnt the same. I guess i didnt like the changes that are said to make it easier to play. Maybe it's the Classic Tones? Any way I moved on from it.
My main amp for a while now has been a Helios 100. It's nice and raw and aggressive, but maybe not quite as mean as the QR. More useful EQ and fuller single notes. Easier to play overall, but still has good clarity and balls. Thick with a nice chime in the high end. The QR has a tighter and bigger low end but its not to say the Helios doesn't have a nice punch to it. It's really pretty simple and I run it as a single channel amp. Good loop that takes my Empress Para EQ well.

Great post. . Just figured I'd say that . ha

Eric

 

[MetalHeadMike]

Played for a while tonight and went through the gears and while they all bring something great to the table, I think gear one is really starting to grow on me. I play thrash and death metal and 1st gear clean boosted offers such a pissed off articulate tone.

Which boost are you using?

Been back and forth between the TS9 and the Timmy with drive/gain at 0. Not adding any gain via the pedals; strictly using them to get the low end attack/tightness I like. The beautiful thing with this amp is that even when doing the former there is the perfect amount of sag for me keeping it fun to play; not having to fight it. Honeymoon phase obviously, but I have to say I am VERY happy with this amp.