Splawn Nitro - 1 week later

[RedB4Black]

Well, starting off, I really liked the lower gain tones I was getting out to of the Nitro. That's not why I bought this amp though. The clean channel seems alright, but, for all I care, it may as well be a one-channel amp. After spending about an hour and a half with it on Friday night, I could not find a high gain tone I was completely satisfied with. I know this is supposed to be a darker amp, but to me it is brighter than a lot of amps I've owned. I was thinking maybe it was the KT77s that were giving me concerns - this is the first time I've played these tubes. In order to get a nice thick tone like I liked, I had to turn the resonance knob way up and that caused the low-end to be boomy and the palm mutes were not tight. I also couldn't seem to dial out a certain high-end frequency that was just grating on my nerves. After Friday night I was dejected and seriously remorseful that I sold my Engl SE to buy this amp. I was already plotting ways to trade away this amp without taking a huge $ hit.

I sent a few PMs to the Windsen (shredhead34) the resident Nitro expert. He was kind enough to help me out with some things. I figured I'd try the el34s and sell it if that didn't do it for me.

On Saturday, I figured I'd go buy another MXR 10-band eq to see if that would help. I put that in the loop and that cured all the issues I was having. I get a nice thick tone without the boomy low-end and that piercing high-end frequency that was giving me issues was easily fixed.

So in the end, I'm pretty satisfied. The distortion is saturated yet clear. I think the saturation level lands somewhere between a VHT and ENGL. I think it's reminiscent of my old D60 with more saturation. People compare it to an uberschall but I don't think it is as saturated or has the low end of the uber - though it certainly has a lot of low end. It's definitely tighter and the clean channel is balanced better. You turn the gain up to eleven and it doesn't get muddy or fizzy. This amp is much more open sounding that I'm used to. My Diezel can be fairly compressed. Turning the resonance knob up definitely compresses/thickens the signal. The Diezel has kind of a hi-fi voicing to it so the Splawn voicing is a nice alternative. I don't think I'll ever like anything better than the Herbert's channel 2+ though.

Lastly, I don't know what the difference between od1 and od2 is supposed to be. I guess it is one more gain stage. I didn't think there was a dramatic difference in sound - just more in the feel I guess. Kind of like effect of a very slight clean boost.

Speaking of boosts, I boosted the amp with an OD808 and the Xotic BB preamp. I guess I just like the transparency of the BB because I always prefer that. I don't know why I keep the OD808 around. The boost does what the boost does.

I just ordered a Weber Bias Rite so I'll be putting trying the el34s in it soon.

 

[TX6Strings]

I'm glad your diggin' it. I'm running EL34's in mine and am happy with it. She does take a bit of tinkering around with at first!

 

[thegame]

You need an external EQ to dial out harshness ? Not cool.

I'm not trying to bag on Splawn but I do hear a certain high end harshness in every Splawn clip I've ever heard.

 

[shred-o-holic]

You need an external EQ to dial out harshness ? Not cool.

I'm not trying to bag on Splawn but I do hear a certain high end harshness in every Splawn clip I've ever heard.

That's what caused me to sell my QuickRod/Promod....that harshness..

 

[cobrahead1030]

what cab/speakers are ya running with it?

 

[Odin]

I haven't played a Nitro, but I do own a QuickRod. And it can be harsh depending on how the controls are set.

It's difficult for some people to do, but I suggest setting the controls with your ears and not using your eyes at all. This sounds strange, but too many people never experiment with their controls much beyond what they think should sound good.

I found that my QuickRod harshness was all controlled by the Middle control. I don't like a scooped Mid sound at all, so I naturally kept the Middle control above Noon when I first got the amp. I kept fiddling with the Presence and Treble controls trying to dial out a certain upper end thing I didn't like, but only after I turned down the Middle control did it smooth out the amp the way I wanted.

I also frequently run my Bass around 3 o'clock and my Treble OFF with the Presence low, which would sound like shit on other amps I own, but on Gear 1 of the QuickRod it sounds great. Switch to Gear 2 and everything needs to change.

Keep turning those knobs.

Also, what speakers are you using?

 

[Chubtone]

Turn the treble off. Use the Highs that the Presence knob offers. Turning the Treble knob off doesn't really get rid of the Treble, it just makes the amp react in a way that is really cool. It effects the overall EQ and the gain of the amp subtly but in a way that takes away what you are talking about.

I don't need any EQ to dial out harshness on my Splawn. I just can't put the knobs in the same positions that I do for my Marshalls, or my Mojave. I had to put the knobs in a different position than I did on the Bogner Ecstasy 101B and the Egnater TOL100 I sold when I got the Splawn. It's a different amp and I haven't missed the Bogner or the Egnater for one second since I got the Quickrod 2 years ago.

I'm a dealer so I've played the Nitro too. Same deal.

 

[jabps]

Agree with Chub and Odin here...Scotts got some different things going on EQ wise because you just can't place the knobs as you normally would with most amps. When I had my QR i really worked the Presence knob and not so much the Treble and mids...it's kinda weird but like Odin said adjust to your ears and not your eyes. It's same concept as the XXX and JSX...you've got to play around with it. Once you find it though and crank it...that's were the Splawns shine. IMO.

 

[RedB4Black]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I'll definately try it with the treble off. I used to run my Uberschall with the Treble real low and loved the way it sounded then. Right now with the eq in the loop I've found a tone that I'm real happy with - much better than anything I ever got with my Uberschall. I'd like to lose the eq though if I can.

I've run my nitro through my all v30 Diezel cab (rear loaded) and my Bogner ubercab. I'm finding that this may be part of the problem with the highs I'm having. I may just have to get me a Splawn big block/small block cab.

 

[TX6Strings]

Turn the treble off. Use the Highs that the Presence knob offers. Turning the Treble knob off doesn't really get rid of the Treble, it just makes the amp react in a way that is really cool. It effects the overall EQ and the gain of the amp subtly but in a way that takes away what you are talking about.

I don't need any EQ to dial out harshness on my Splawn. I just can't put the knobs in the same positions that I do for my Marshalls, or my Mojave. I had to put the knobs in a different position than I did on the Bogner Ecstasy 101B and the Egnater TOL100 I sold when I got the Splawn. It's a different amp and I haven't missed the Bogner or the Egnater for one second since I got the Quickrod 2 years ago.

I'm a dealer so I've played the Nitro too. Same deal.

Thanks for the tip! I'll have to try this with my Nitro and see how it reacts. FWIW, I'm running mine through a Marshall cab with 75s (I know I know) but there's no harsh highs it actually sounds quiet good!

 

[windsen]

matt and i have talked about this a lot and there are so many variables that come into the picture. i know that for me, my nitro has never had an issue with sounding bright or harsh. in fact it's very dark and smooth. a lot of people were telling me my recordings of the nitro were too dark and didn't have any high end bite, haha. a part of that had to do with my recording technique but still...the nitro for me is anything but a bright amp. i am running through different cabs and speakers.

 

[TX6Strings]

matt and i have talked about this a lot and there are so many variables that come into the picture.

There really are. One BIG variable I've found is the guitar used. The Nitro not only tells on you if you can't play but it tells on you if you're playing a crappy guitar!

 

[RedB4Black]

matt and i have talked about this a lot and there are so many variables that come into the picture.

There really are. One BIG variable I've found is the guitar used. The Nitro not only tells on you if you can't play but it tells on you if you're playing a crappy guitar!

All I have are PRS

 

[Odin]

Also, on the QuickRod when you turn the Treble all the way OFF the tone gets thicker but doesn't lose its high end. The Treble control doesn't do what most other amp Treble controls do.

Since I only play on 1st Gear I tend to add a lot of lows since 1st Gear is a "plexi" styled gear and lacks the low end thump of Gears 2 & 3.

 

[Inca Roads]

Congrats Matt!!!
She sounds like a keeper.

 

[TX6Strings]

matt and i have talked about this a lot and there are so many variables that come into the picture.

There really are. One BIG variable I've found is the guitar used. The Nitro not only tells on you if you can't play but it tells on you if you're playing a crappy guitar!

All I have are PRS

Uh oh! Better start up grading!!

 

[shreder75]

piercing high end on the nitro?

weird