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Post by popmann on Aug 1, 2016 18:47:07 GMT -6
Anyone play the new line? It sounds to me like the 15 and the 45 are right up my alley. Clips say the one in the middle--the classA 18/30 or whatever is kinda weird sounding to me....and the little 007 is a little recording/practice amp maybe....but, those two seem right up my alley. These are the 15:
It sounds like my little custom el84 that is my primary recording amp--only is sounds like it does a little heavier/gainier....and maybe just because of the reverb does "super clean" a little nicer. The 45 clips sound a lot more hit or miss. I've not found bad clips of the 15. Not saying they're not out there, but....I think it says something that all the demo folks' different axes/styles, seem to all sound pretty good.
For you DI folks--it apparently has a way to turn the power section off and record with a cabinet simulated DI out the back....huh....
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Post by svart on Aug 2, 2016 6:52:36 GMT -6
I had a 45 in the studio a few months ago. Pretty decent amps, seem well built. It's definitely trying to drum up some of the bassman nostalgia, but they don't really sound the same.
I found that the 45 sounded a bit more deluxe/twin-like than bassman-like, and had a distinct lack of low end when turned up, and had a bit of midrange honk.
All in all, it sounds like a fender.
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Post by Martin John Butler on Aug 2, 2016 7:53:35 GMT -6
The Bad Cat Bobcat comes in 5, 20, an 100 Watt versions. It's based on the 1957 Fender circuit, and sounds like a Fender on steroids. Hand made in America, point to point wiring, foot switchable boost, pedal in and outs, great spring reverb.
Mine sounds better than any Fender I tried lately, although I haven't tried the new Bassbreakers yet.
Popmann, those links were "unavailable".
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Post by popmann on Aug 2, 2016 8:00:39 GMT -6
34s always give a mid honk. Ultimately, they've just made a power scaled BluesBreaker....not a Fender, but depending on the depth of your experience with vintage amps--that really doesn't sound that different from a Tweed Fender--just has less lows and more mid "honk", if you will because of the 34s. I'm curious to play how well(or if) they were able to voice the preamp for nice cleans from a pair of 34s--that's a big ask, IME. Those are some mid honky power tubes. Somehow, when you put 4 of them together (ala 100wt Plexi/superlead/superbass) that seems to go away or at least be lessened....
But, the tweed bassman doesn't sound like the later heads....the tweed circuit is much more Marshall-like....at least Marshall of the era....so, that's what they're doing--building some hybrid of the Fender tweed tone stack and the marshall power sections and speakers....with modern stuff like the power scaling and the recording out on one. Scaling is a lovely invention. I've always wondered how it was different than Variacs, which seems to change the feel/tone but not effect the volume much....but, not an EE....I can just tell you it's damn effective on my Reinhardt--MUCH, MUCH more than any attenuator I ever owned at keeping the sound and feel of the 34s dimed while not shaking things off the wall.
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Post by popmann on Aug 2, 2016 8:17:21 GMT -6
fixed the links....sorry--this is the only forum I frequent that takes the straight URL and converts it to embed--I seem to F it up every time here. Ha.
I own three P2P amps. They're wonderful....and no single one have this kind of range. They can't. None do that I've ever played. Part of that is the commitment to historical accuracy. Things like power scaling and post inverter master volume circuits....switchable reconfig of the gain staging....it takes PCB circuits.
This isn't a Fender tweed retro repro. It's taking the Tweed stack.....Marshall power sections and speakers....and modern appointments like the power scaling, recording out, and the kind of multiple function switching of that 3 way on the 15....
There's not really anything here I can't already do....but, again--I have three amps because you can't cover the range with one. The 15 is my sound because it works from the middle out in terms of gain....squeaky clean Fender is readily available everywhere....heavy dirt is readily available elsewhere....but, the in between grind I live most of my time in is the stuff of el84 amps cranked up and certain Tweed Fenders with certain types of drive pedals in front....this is amp/cable/guitar....it isn't as sweet a cleans as my VVT or as RAWKin a dirt as my Reinhardt--but, starts at my mid gain custom el84 and does BETTER getting super clean and BETTER at heavier....this is a gig-able amp for me. I sort of wish they'd had the gain stage switch switch the reverb--i mean, being digital, they could've made the reverb sound like an old spring on the low gain, the the hall on the middle, them a tighter kind of room on the heavy....but...still....
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Post by Martin John Butler on Aug 2, 2016 8:23:09 GMT -6
It sounds like a Fender. Better than the Blues jr. I had recently. Perhaps there's something a little dull about the tone in general, but it could be the recording itself. The reverb sounds right.
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Post by svart on Aug 2, 2016 8:35:51 GMT -6
34s always give a mid honk. Ultimately, they've just made a power scaled BluesBreaker....not a Fender, but depending on the depth of your experience with vintage amps--that really doesn't sound that different from a Tweed Fender--just has less lows and more mid "honk", if you will because of the 34s. I'm curious to play how well(or if) they were able to voice the preamp for nice cleans from a pair of 34s--that's a big ask, IME. Those are some mid honky power tubes. Somehow, when you put 4 of them together (ala 100wt Plexi/superlead/superbass) that seems to go away or at least be lessened.... But, the tweed bassman doesn't sound like the later heads....the tweed circuit is much more Marshall-like....at least Marshall of the era....so, that's what they're doing--building some hybrid of the Fender tweed tone stack and the marshall power sections and speakers....with modern stuff like the power scaling and the recording out on one. Scaling is a lovely invention. I've always wondered how it was different than Variacs, which seems to change the feel/tone but not effect the volume much....but, not an EE....I can just tell you it's damn effective on my Reinhardt--MUCH, MUCH more than any attenuator I ever owned at keeping the sound and feel of the 34s dimed while not shaking things off the wall. The main technical difference is that power soaks on the output are approximating a single impedance, usually by applying a resistance(which is linear across frequency), but speaker loading can have a vastly different impedance across frequency as well as over volume. You end up changing the dynamic of the system formed between the speaker, transformers, tubes, etc, when you apply a resistance as a load. Some power soaks have attempted approximating a reactive load through inductors and light bulbs, and have had pretty good success at it, but still aren't quite the same. Essentially the power soak just loads the output tubes, but the preamp and intermediate stages aren't affected much. A variac scales the voltage/power to the amp as a whole, so the biasing/voltage/power scales in a similar ration between all the active devices, but the overall system stays relatively the same.. Until you reach the point where it simply doesn't work right anymore. This affects all the tubes of the system relatively equally, much like what happens when you "drive" the amp with a booster. Overall, i'd say the bassbreakers aren't a classic amp. They'd be a good touring/practice amp, but they don't have much in the way of interesting qualities that make them worthy of studio work over any of the other well-loved fender variants. |
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Post by popmann on Aug 2, 2016 9:42:11 GMT -6
But, now what's the difference in London's Power Scaling and Variac? That's the new tech. I know the diff in attenuators/soaks and Variacs, but my understanding is that the patented Power Scaling (not fender's Patent) does a similar deal in terms of denying voltage to the power section.....maybe the difference is it doesn't do it for the whole amp--just the power. I can tell you it doesn't change the feel or tone on the Reinhardt until you get low enough to not push the speaker enough....
This IS new for a factory built amp. Power scaling has been around for what 6-8 years.....but, it was (my understanding) an expensive license to London....thus it was only put into boutiquey hand built things that could absorb the cost. But, only the 45 has that....
I don't hear the same thing you guys hear, though--I don't think these sound like a Fender much at all. They are obviously aiming at the Matchless/Z/Div13 audience....with their 200 ton gorilla price scaling.
I'll go find one and play it....hopefully right along side the Mesa 25:5, which is a one channel amp for ME....that bottom channel is pasty metal....so, it's just this but $1299 vs $599. Those two seem to be the ones to beat for a single amp with that kind of flexibility/range. The 15---the 45 here is just a power scaled BluesBreaker. My cup of tea, but not different than what I have built better.
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Post by Guitar on Aug 2, 2016 12:44:20 GMT -6
Hmmm.. I just don't like the way it sounds. I'd rather have a tweed combo or an old Bassman head, probably for similar or less money. Or go all the way and get a Marshall of some sort. Also, it's pretty darn ugly. One positive thing I can say is that it clearly has its own voice and is not a copy of some other sound, they got that right.
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Post by popmann on Aug 4, 2016 10:30:04 GMT -6
Missed my window this time....all the 15s are gone around town-there were still some heads when I first posted this #lazyBird.
Everywhere still has the other 3 models. I'm telling you--this is a sound that hasn't been available south of the boutique makers until this. It's a unique piece. I doubt anything with modern PCB factory builds will become "classic".....there are 900k amp models now....
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Post by Ward on Aug 4, 2016 10:50:16 GMT -6
In their defense, Fender have made some of the greatest amps of all time too.
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Post by Johnkenn on Aug 5, 2016 18:09:58 GMT -6
fixed the links....sorry--this is the only forum I frequent that takes the straight URL and converts it to embed--I seem to F it up every time here. Ha It's a pretty nifty feature. |
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Post by Johnkenn on Aug 5, 2016 18:10:46 GMT -6
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Post by joelhamilton on Aug 5, 2016 18:22:48 GMT -6
Absolutely LOVE. It's exactly what I look for in an amp. Haven't heard a fender I liked in years either. They all seemed constipated to me. this one has really got me wanting a new amp. |
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Post by popmann on Aug 10, 2016 10:18:44 GMT -6
Absolutely LOVE. It's exactly what I look for in an amp. Haven't heard a fender I liked in years either. They all seemed constipated to me. this one has really got me wanting a new amp. Which did you play? I see GC just got a 15 head back in stock....that was the one whose clips spoke to me....I guess I have to give up on the idea of being able to play the range in one room. It does look like they have the 45 combo....so....maybe I can hook it up to a single cab there--try the 15 and 45 through the same cab. |
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Post by Guitar on Aug 12, 2016 9:07:51 GMT -6
I was just watching an Anderton's video and they use the Bassbreaker a lot. I have to change my opinion, I thought it sounded fantastic with these strats.
It looks like they could be running it through a 4x12 speaker cabinet, which could make a difference to me. I'm not sure which Bassbreaker it is but it's not that big.
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Post by popmann on Aug 12, 2016 10:29:13 GMT -6
It's the 15.
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