Thinking about selling Splawn Quickrod

[Badronald]

First off I must say that the gain channels/gears are about perfect. Absolutely killer.

However the cleans are not useable at all for me. Very middy and the highs are spikey. I'm a huge Blackface fan and I understand most amps cannot pull those tones off but there has to be better cleans than this.

I'm not sure what to do as I'm so torn about this amp. Crunch and leads are perfect, the loop is fantastic. Build quality is excellent. I really want to keep it......

I'm just thinking out loud. Maybe an eq in the loop, compressor. However I really don't want to have to kick a pedal on and off while on stage as I'm changing to the clean channel.

Anyway, I'm torn.

 

[sleewell2]

what year is it? I think the new ones have a better clean don't they?

 

[311boogieman]

I kind of agree that the clean channel is not the best you are going to find and an EQ pedal will definitely help. I don't use this amp ('08) for cleans too much so it doesn't bother me. Spiky treble is not an issue on mine but I'm wondering if you should do some tube or cab swapping. I've had some tubes in there (Tung Sol and EXH) that made it way to ice picky for me. I also tried it with my Recto cab (V30s) and didn't care for that all. I'm settled on JJs and Small Blocks now.

YMMV

 

[shreder75]

Have you tried rolling back on your volume knob when on the clean? That's how I got a good clean when I was gigging. I ran first gear with the gain maxed. That had an effect on the amount of hair the clean would have, but mine was a 2006. Anyway, used to work pretty well, especially running the dd 20 modulated delay in the loop. Mind you, this was live and loud. The older loop wasnt great unless you had some volume going on. Sounds like you have the improved loop

 

[Adambomb]

I've been thinking about the same for awhile now. GREAT amp, I just have others I like more. I've tried it all with my Quick Rod and I agree, the tone of that clean circuit is just stale. Sure speakers and tubes can help but you can't change the initial "base" tone of the cleans. I had best results with a TungSol 12ax7 in the clean channel. Still has some punch to the cleans though. You want great cleans and great modded plexi overdrive drop the coin on a new or used BE100. Or if cleans are more important to you and want a great rock tone, the 20th Shiva has the best cleans of any modern amp I've ever had. The Mark V was a close 2nd but I like the richness of the Shiva cleans.

 

[MrDowntown]

can the clean channel be modded? just a thought.

May be too technically difficult to be considered cost feasible. But it'd be a damn shame to let it slide, considering you love the grit channel, when (maybe) for a few hundred or less a mod may help clean it up. again, just a thought.

 

[mark-m]

Crazy idea that works for me.
I picked up one of those little 40 watt Roland cube amps.
I use it only for my cleans.
Just loud enough, and I did need to get an A/B/Y. But I can get several different clean sounds to go along with my tube amps 2 crunch channels.

 

[Badronald]

Crazy idea that works for me.
I picked up one of those little 40 watt Roland cube amps.
I use it only for my cleans.
Just loud enough, and I did need to get an A/B/Y. But I can get several different clean sounds to go along with my tube amps 2 crunch channels.

I did think about this. Maybe pick up a used Blues Jr or something and an A/B switch. It's another mic and more stuff to set up but....

 

[mark-m]

Crazy idea that works for me.
I picked up one of those little 40 watt Roland cube amps.
I use it only for my cleans.
Just loud enough, and I did need to get an A/B/Y. But I can get several different clean sounds to go along with my tube amps 2 crunch channels.

I did think about this. Maybe pick up a used Blues Jr or something and an A/B switch. It's another mic and more stuff to set up but....

That's why I went with the cube, 19 pounds and built in effects.
So far its been more than well worth it.... for me anyway.

 

[311boogieman]

Here is what I do.


I got an MXR ABY pedal that has the added benefit of a 'Thru' jack.

I plug the Rectoverb into 'A'
I plug the Splawn into 'B'
I plug the Vypyr 60 (Twin model) on Thru

(doesn't really matter the combination, I should probably hook the Recto up to 'Thru' as that is the amp I play the most.)

If I play all three amps on their clean channels I'm in clean heaven - with my effects in the Recto.

Similarly, if I put the Vypyr 60 on 'Diezel VH4', my fav dirt model on there, and play all the amps dirty then Holy Mother of God it is an insanely tasty tone.

 

[Revson]

Would you be able or want to do a 4CM setup with a pod or boss GT used for the clean tones?

 

[Chris6870]

Would you be able or want to do a 4CM setup with a pod or boss GT used for the clean tones?

I do this with an RP1000. I set it up using the 4CM and I use a Fender Deluxe reverb model for cleans,Vox model for edge of breakup. For dirty tones, I bypass all the modeling and use just the amp, and then add in effects as needed. I'm ok with the clean channel on my Splawn I run the gain up pretty high, sounds weak with the gain down to low. I just get more variety using the RP1000.

 

[MarcoR]

If your willing to drop the coin for a second amp and an A/B/Y switcher, I would instead consider a small midi switching system. Something with an audio switcher that you could switch in/out an EQ for the clean channel and a control function switcher to toggle the channels on your amp. This would open up so many other options for adding effects and all with the convenience of a single press of a button.

You can find a used midi controller for $100 or less and a used midi switcher like an Axess GRX4 for another $100 This gear will serve you through many other gear/rig changes and open up many possibilities.

Just thought I would through that out there even though no one thinks like this anymore...

 

[the rossness]

I had two QR's and tried to like them but just couldn't. If you really like the OD side, why not just get a clean amp and A/B to each rig? IMHO, Line 6 do a great clean, and they're cheap!

 

[Badronald]

I had two QR's and tried to like them but just couldn't. If you really like the OD side, why not just get a clean amp and A/B to each rig? IMHO, Line 6 do a great clean, and they're cheap!

I just sold my sons Line 6 combo last night. I'd quit guitar if I had to gig with that thing.

 

[Racerxrated]

If you like the dirty tone I'm with everyone else, get a clean amp and A/B them. You could get a head switcher and run both into the same cab, or a regular A/B pedal. Don't get rid of a tone you like.

 

[Chris6870]

Maybe try a Super Sport. Cleans are very good.

 

[Tone Ranger]

I ran my QR with a Pod HD 500 with 4cm. Worked great, had the Splawn OD with the Pod's cleans. There was some added noise though.

Shameless plug, but im trying to sell both QR and Pod HD500w/ gig bag...

 

[Chris6870]

I ran my QR with a Pod HD 500 with 4cm. Worked great, had the Splawn OD with the Pod's cleans. There was some added noise though.

Shameless plug, but im trying to sell both QR and Pod HD500w/ gig bag...

As I said above I'm using the RP1000 with 4CM and it works perfectly,no noise, and there is no coloration of the tone. I had tried the HD500 and it did do weird stuff to the original tone. 4CM really is the best option if you like your amps core tone.

 

[the rossness]

I had two QR's and tried to like them but just couldn't. If you really like the OD side, why not just get a clean amp and A/B to each rig? IMHO, Line 6 do a great clean, and they're cheap!

I just sold my sons Line 6 combo last night. I'd quit guitar if I had to gig with that thing.

I'm telling you, they make great clean tones- not much else, but great cleans.