FourT6and2
Well-known member
primerib":2feh65zd said:
lol WTF. Well he said something along the lines of his Peters Hydra being "the best amp in the world he's ever played in the history of ever."
lol WTF. Well he said something along the lines of his Peters Hydra being "the best amp in the world he's ever played in the history of ever."
skoora
Well-known member
Peter's is definitely the one brand I've wanted to try for a long time but would need to demo in person. Plus I get confused by the preamp choices and what exactly they could do with guitar dynamics and settings. I wonder if there's too many preamp choices and the names get a little esoteric. A field trip to Peter's HQ to demo everything would be a blast.
JamesPeters
New member
the4thlast1":24734tpu said:I tell ya what James why don't you send me a FSM to demo, If I don't like it I won't tell anyone.
lol!
Well I should be visiting NJ again this year, in a few months probably. If you could make it there (Edison area), you could try a bunch of my designs including the FSM. Let me know if you want me to keep you in the loop about the trip. I'm not sure if there's enough interest for there to be an ampfest, but that might happen too.
JamesPeters
New member
skoora":2inop78n said:
Sorry about that! I went a bit nuts with the latest names like FSM and GNL. Basically I ran out of names that I could use within a certain theme, and by that point I got a little "who cares what it's called anymore" with the whole thing.
The Vega and Regulus are using a different naming scheme since they're not the modern high gain designs. In any case I hope the explanations on my site (under "list of channel designs"), and the sound clips, helps clear things up.You're not in NJ are you? I might be taking a trip there in a few months. You could try some Peters amps then.
skoora
Well-known member
"Hey look at that pussy!……and that cat"
I just couldn't resist…..
Unfortunately, I couldn't imagine getting up to Jersey easily. I reckon one day I'll get to jam on a few.
I just couldn't resist…..
Unfortunately, I couldn't imagine getting up to Jersey easily. I reckon one day I'll get to jam on a few.
7 Stringer
Well-known member
By THE way, a very good friend of mine came over this week end, a tone freak, like me and all of you here 
We tried every amp I have here, and he brought a couple of his, a 6505+ and a DSL 100. He was sold on my Peters, by far. That's compared to all my amps. He was tripping on the clean too, wich is my favorite clean of all the amps I ever tried, including my dads Fenders.
Seriously. The tones that Peters amps generate are very unique and feel so great under you fingers. Very responsive, it's scary how they react to your Picking force. Whack them strings and watch out, you get what you give.
We tried every amp I have here, and he brought a couple of his, a 6505+ and a DSL 100. He was sold on my Peters, by far. That's compared to all my amps. He was tripping on the clean too, wich is my favorite clean of all the amps I ever tried, including my dads Fenders. Seriously. The tones that Peters amps generate are very unique and feel so great under you fingers. Very responsive, it's scary how they react to your Picking force. Whack them strings and watch out, you get what you give.
J
jcmtone1
Active member
What kind of transformers do the peters amps use? Is the effects loop tube buffered or solid state?
old_metal_head
New member
I am.ejecta":3t60om37 said:
dooredge
Well-known member
Hydra/Halo incoming tomorrow. 
firejack
Well-known member
the4thlast1":2dokq067 said:
My experience of the Hydra VS Gryphon/GNL...
HYDRA:
For my gear and the way I play, the Hydra is the perfect lead amp.
Thick, juicy and rich. Liquid and effortless to play. Single notes really sing when playing solos through the Hydra.
It's got more saturation and compression than the Gryphon, and as a result it sounds more sticky and elastic.
If I could afford a triple channel Peters amp, I'd get the Hydra as the lead channel. No contest.
For the way I play rhythm and riffage though, the Hydra isn't exactly my thing.
I like to dial my amp's gain down and hit the preamp hard with highly resonant guitars and high output pickups.
And way before I tried the Hydra, I found my perfect rhythm sound in the Gryphon with this approach.
Since discovering that sound, I've found that no other amp compares.
The Hydra is still a great sound for rhythm tones, but for me and the way I play it's just a little too thick and grunty.
GRYPHON/GNL:
The Gryphon and GNL both have a very similar tonal footprint with the key difference being the GNL has more gain and a leaner low-end.
Both have a plinky attack and open, strident highs in comparison to the Hydra's rich bloom and slightly attenuated highs.
And the mids on the Gryphon/GNL have more of a growl going on rather than the Hydra's grunt.
So when it comes to rhythm and riffage, all these characteristics of the Gryphon/GNL variants just work the best for me and my equipment.
The Gryphon/GNL is no slouch in terms of lead tones, but after owning the Hydra I can attest that the Hydra does it better.
When it comes to soloing and single notes, the Gryphon/GNL can feel a little stiff. I have to work harder when soloing on the Gryphon/GNL.
On the other hand, the Hydra seems to coax the notes out from under my fingers and has more complexity to the tones overall.
I'm more of a rhythm/riff guy than a lead guy, so that's where my priorities lie.
Presented with only one high-gain channel option, I chose to compromise on the lead tones and stick with the Gryphon/GNL channel.
But if I could afford a triple channel or wanted to prioritise soloing , I'd choose the Hydra without a second thought.
Hope that helps.
ejecta
Active member
old_metal_head":1pmfa26g said:
First step is to admit it. Good job.
JamesPeters
New member
dooredge":3m9j6ug6 said:Hydra/Halo incoming tomorrow.
I hope you like it!
Email me the serial number (at the email address on my site) and I'll give you whatever notes about it that I have (if there's something about the circuit of that amp in particular which makes it different in some way). I'll also give you some notes about the amp's usage. It's not rocket science but there are a few pointers which might help.
JamesPeters
New member
jcmtone1":2so24avg said:
The effects loop is solid state. I tried some tube designs before I went with solid state, but it was difficult to keep the response as consistent and as low noise with tubes. Solid state made more sense in this case. The loop is my own design, hand built like the rest of the innards.
As for the transformers I use: I generally don't publicly disclose this sort of thing. Here's my explanation...
The parts used in an amp are important to how it sounds, but not in the ways most people really understand. I don't want to contribute to a mystique for "transformer brand A" or "transformer brand B" which gets spread around out of context. Also, what works well for me isn't necessarily what would work well in other amps for the sort of sound/response the designer intends (or vice versa). I don't want to seem to be favoring a certain brand unfairly, when other amp builders use different transformer brands with equally good results in their different sounding amp designs.
What's funny is that in 2003 I had used "transformer brand X" (name hidden to protect the innocent, lol) and when people discovered it, they accused me of being cheap by not buying "transformer brand Y" which was the more promoted brand among boutique builders. Truth is, they cost roughly the same and "brand X" actually sometimes cost me more (total landed cost); I had used both and compared them, then chose "brand X" for the response they gave in my circuits. Anyway a couple years later, "brand X" became prevalent among boutique builders and it was no longer presumed to be inferior to "brand Y". I want to avoid this sort of thing.
I use transformers which are designed and built well, and they cost roughly as much as any high quality transformer you could assume I'd be buying. I don't choose them based on the money I (don't) save.
I choose them because they're made consistently and made well.If you want to talk about components more I'd be glad to talk on the phone about it. I'd just rather not post publicly about it. I hope you understand.
the4thlast1
Well-known member
JamesPeters":1js8o84h said:the4thlast1":1js8o84h said:I tell ya what James why don't you send me a FSM to demo, If I don't like it I won't tell anyone.
lol!
Well I should be visiting NJ again this year, in a few months probably. If you could make it there (Edison area), you could try a bunch of my designs including the FSM. Let me know if you want me to keep you in the loop about the trip. I'm not sure if there's enough interest for there to be an ampfest, but that might happen too.
I'm happy to see you have a sense of humor. I wasn't sure how you would take that one haha...
I also appreciate your offer to try out more of your designs that's a very nice gesture. If I can make it out there I would love to.
X
xGYPSYx
New member
the4thlast1":1b49efqb said:JamesPeters":1b49efqb said:the4thlast1":1b49efqb said:I tell ya what James why don't you send me a FSM to demo, If I don't like it I won't tell anyone.
lol!
Well I should be visiting NJ again this year, in a few months probably. If you could make it there (Edison area), you could try a bunch of my designs including the FSM. Let me know if you want me to keep you in the loop about the trip. I'm not sure if there's enough interest for there to be an ampfest, but that might happen too.
I'm happy to see you have a sense of humor. I wasn't sure how you would take that one haha...
I also appreciate your offer to try out more of your designs that's a very nice gesture. If I can make it out there I would love to.
So I'd never heard of you before reading this thread about 2am.....it's 7:13 now texas time and I've been reading and listening to tone clips because hot damn....you are the man. I'm an experienced guitarist but was a late bloomer as far as my tone quest goes....however....in the last few months that has seriously (and seriously neurotically) changed. I am a desperate man....and your amps are incredible.
So what needs to take place in order for an "ampfest" to occur?
What is an "ampfest?"
Do you open your cathedral to all those who seeketh monster tone?
...and finally....have there ever been any group buys?
Thanks,
Gypsy
G
guitarobert
Member
+1 on this thread. Peters is the best I've played through, for my taste at least. I'm still discovering new tonal nuances depending on where the gain is set on each channel. Just played through my Hydra/FSM/Halo last night and it brought those good kind of chills. I haven't even changed the tubes since I got it almost 3 years ago. it should only sound better with a fresh set of power tubes! With other amps I've had to do a lot of tube rolling. My GAS is subdued. Maybe a bit of curiosity about the Gryphon family of tones, but that's it these days. James is a great guy to talk with as well and is very supportive. I can't say enough good things about the experience in regards to his support as well as his amps.
JamesPeters
New member
the4thlast1":3jb6xbim said:
It would be great to meet you!
I appreciate your understanding, especially with our past. I get the impression I could've done better.
JamesPeters
New member
xGYPSYx":7hodkz1x said:
Hi Gypsy,
Thanks for the compliments!
"Ampfests" have generally been something like this: a bunch of people bring amps to a place that's rented/borrowed (hall, club, warehouse, large basement somewhere), and they get to try one another's amps. Usually it's about hearing amps which are a bit off the beaten path, something not usually found in large chain stores, because those can be tried by people easily enough. It's not bad to have a few more popular amps at the ampfest though, since it keeps things grounded with a more realistic perspective. The rest of the ampfest details are open. It depends on the number of people attending, and that can be difficult to determine because usually lots of people say they're going to attend but only a smaller number actually show up. If fewer people are there it becomes less structured, since there's more time to talk and jam. If lots of people attend, it's best to go around the room one amp at a time to hear each amp, and afterward do some things like back-to-back comparisons of amps people are most interested in (and then jam if there's time).
It's also a nice way to meet people you've only spoken with online, who are part of a forum (like this one) you frequent.
There's a possibility of a Texas ampfest this year as well; it would probably be in Dallas/Fort Worth. I have a lot to do this year so I'm unsure how much I can travel, but this has come up as a good possibility.
There haven't been group buys of my amps since they're made one at a time by me, customized in a number of ways to the individual player. I'm not sure how I could go about that, realistically speaking, since it's not feasible to ship out a batch of amps all at once (to be fair to everyone in a group buy) unless I complete all the amps and then ship them all (which means everyone waits longer).
If you want to talk with me, I can call you. Send me an email from my contact info on my site, with your phone number and a suitable time to call. Thanks!
JamesPeters
New member
guitarobert":33laxavz said:
Thanks Bob! I think you're a great guy too!
the4thlast1
Well-known member
JamesPeters":bggoxbq3 said:
Hmmm, could you have done better ? The thing is I think your customer service is great, you go out of your way to find out what the player is looking for and you are very prompt with responses to any questions. You are reliable and honest with build times which seem to be very reasonable. All these things are great. Your build quality is also top notch ! I mean its hard to ask for more, a buyer would have to just take a chance like with any other amp out there and buy one, if it doent workout then so be it, your amps are not hard to sell on the used market, its not the end of the world right ? .
Now If you are trying to win over every customer with exactly what they are looking for than I could go on with my experience :
When it comes to tone its such a hard thing even if you talk to someone for a couple hours to be sure they will love the amp you suggest. My only gripe was that when I didnt love the Chimera and put it up for sale you assumed it was user error , that my guitar or the way I set it up is the problem....Since I had several guitars and learned years ago from a professional luther how to set them up I knew that it was just a personal tone preference that kept me from keeping the Chimera. Sevenstringer bought the amp from me and happened to mention he also did not jive with that amp. If you would have offered me the option you offered him of changing it or swapping for a Gryphon I would have jumped at the offer but you did not give me that option.
Dont get me wrong as an amp builder you do not have to make an offer like that to someone who buys an amp from you, that would be going over and beyond on your part. My point is that there is a chance the Gryphon would have been more what I like. Its also possible the newer FSM channel is what I would like. Sevenstringer and I normally have similar taste and since he didnt love that Chimera either it goes to show you that its not user error, a dud guitar or a poor setup. Its just user taste. Even now in this thread you were going on about how I might have been setting up my guitars wrong. Its just a stale topic for me at this point. I know very well how to setup a guitar, better than a lot of "techs" around these parts. It didnt happen over night but I started playing guitar when I was 10 and Im 35 now, all the aspects of guitar including a proper setup has been something I have worked on since the start of my adventure.
At the end of the day it doesnt really matter what I think though. There are lots of guys on here who fell in love with one or several of your amps. Ive never said you make "bad" amps I think you make an awesome product actually I just didnt end up with the right one for me. Even though there were things about the Chimera I would have liked a bit different it was a unique and ballsy tone. It had lots of headroom , a very strong sounding amp, I was impressed by it for sure. Its what made me want to try a Hydra later on.
So I guess my point with all this is that when you noticed I was selling the amp you contacted me. You didnt have to say anything, I would have been fine with that. I was ok with taking a little hit on it , I got to try a cool amp and it just didnt work out, not a big deal.
So for me the only way you could have done better would have been that when you contacted me you could have just said something like "Im sorry you didnt love the amp" , "Its possible you would like one of my other channels more", "Good luck with the sale" .. It was when you started telling me my guitar was probably the issue , it just rubbed me the wrong way. It was like you couldnt believe someone would want to sell one of your amps.
