New Head: Valkyrie from Baer Amps... Thoughts?

[R Baer]

Originally Posted by 5StringPocket

This seems to have a lot in common with the Thunderfunk TFB800 but I'm holding out for the Valkyrie. I really like the design concepts and think it will sound wonderful with a pair of ML112's. The eq section, power section, use of big iron, and 2 ohm stability look excellent but the optical compressor and way the tube is employed put it over the top for me. I'm hoping the low end voicing is a little tighter and not quite as wide as the Mesa M6. Would I be wrong in assuming that if the damping and transient response are robust that eq would be used to adjust how tight or open the low end is voiced? My current GB ShuttleMax 9.2 is a fine amp I have no complaints with but was wondering if there would be a perceived difference in heft and harmonic content of the notes versus the Valkyrie through a pair of ML112's. Any plans to update the Baer website with the current blackface Valkyrie?

Updates to the site soon. Just bought a decent DSLR to take pics of the ML212 and ML115. I'll get a couple shots of the Valkyrie and post it on the site as well.

Don't have much experience with the Mesa M amps, so I can't comment about the low end response. Without going into too much detail, we go about the low end contour and HPF differently than most amps and I think it results in the low end being a little tighter, without it really sounding that way, if that makes any sense. Most companies want their amps to sound huge low down, by building in a big, broad, low end boost and setting the HPF very low, usually in the 30Hz range, or lower and then rolling off very steep. Having so much deep lows come through however, can put quite a strain on your cabinets and cause rumble in some rooms. We keep the bass a bit tighter down low and then throw in the DEEP control, which is a peak filter centered at 45Hz. If you feel the deep lows could be a little fatter, a little boost here will do that. Personally, I like to cut just a hair with the Deep and boost a little with the bass, which is set at 80Hz. Much more effective at making your bass sound phat, IMO. About the only time I ever add any boost with the DEEP control is when I'm playing with a pick. A few dB boost here really helps thicken up the tone nicely.

[derridiandrift]

Originally Posted by R Baer

The preamp is all solid state with a solid state power section. In between the two, you have a switchable, tube guitar amp, complete with an output transformer. It was really designed to give you a more of an "all tube amp like sound" than you typical get from just having a single 12AX7 in the preamp.

Oh no, now you've done it. Direct price (in Canada)?

[tbird36go]

Ok if I don't get one of these amps as soon as they become available for sale I might have a violent breakdown. Seems to be the amp to end all amps for me & that's just how I would like it. The Valkyrie sitting on top of two 212 cabs sounds like a dream. Roger is the Dream Weaver.

[R Baer]

Originally Posted by tbird36go

... The Valkyrie sitting on top of two 212 cabs sounds like a dream.

Or your neighbor's worst nightmare!

[tbird36go]

My neighbors are lucky my band has a large practice space in downtown & that I'm a soon to be touring again musician with a new band. I really want a valkyrie!

[JamesGoodall]

I'm still waiting on the day this thing comes out! C'mon, Roger, give us a little hint as per the date?

[R Baer]

Originally Posted by JamesGoodall

I'm still waiting on the day this thing comes out! C'mon, Roger, give us a little hint as per the date?

At this point, estimating a ship date for the amp seems something akin to shooting myself in the foot, so I'm trying to stay away from giving out dates at this point. I can tell you a bit about what is going on with the amp, but will have to leave it at that for now. A few months back, we had what we considered a final prototype that we could go into production with and were getting geared up to do so. We started working with a new manufacturing partner and quickly came to the conclusion that all the hand wiring on the amp was going to be a very labor intensive procedure. Labor intensive is never a good thing when it comes to manufacturing. Going over the amp, we just found a lot of places where the wiring could have been made easier, had the boards just been laid out a bit differently. There were also a couple other places where we felt the design could be improved, like using larger, higher temp rated supply caps on the power supply board.

One thing I have learned about manufacturing is that there are two schools of thought when it comes to getting a product on the market. School of thought number one, says you get the damn thing working, put it on the market to get some cash flow going, then fix everything you know could be better on the next revision(s). Sounds horrible, I know, but a lot of companies work this way because at some point in a product’s development positive cash flow really is of the utmost importance. The other school of thought says that you keep tweaking the product until you know it is absolutely the best it can be and you don’t release it until you are really happy with it. Inevitably, a much more self fulfilling, yet expensive option.

So, the issues at hand presented us a dilemma. Go forward with the amp as is and get some cash flow going, or go back in and fix the things we know could be better and in the end, let us get manufacturing cost down a bit. Well, being the typical Virgo that I am, it really just didn’t sit right with me to put the amp out there, knowing it isn’t as good as it could be. I also feel like the early adopters put a lot of faith in us and it just didn’t feel right selling them an amp I know will be better on the next revision. So, I bit the bullet and decided to go back into the boards one more time and make some improvements.

Right now, we have all the new boards and components ordered, with the goal of having the new and improved Valkyrie prototype to show at NAMM. With the schedule we have it’s going to be close, but if the amp gods are kind to us, I think we can pull it off. Of course, this means we will be putting the thing together about two days before the NAMM show, but this seems to be normal NAMM behavior for most companies. After NAMM, we go right into building a small beta run of probably 5 to 10 amps that will let us get the manufacturing and testing procedures a bit more ironed out. After those go out, we should be starting our first real production run which will probably be 25 units at a time.

So, no delivery dates, but I wanted to let everyone know where we stand. I know we have taken some flack for not getting this out sooner, but this is really a very complicated endeavor that requires a lot of time and effort to pull off. I also don’t have the luxury of a big company bank account supporting all the R&D like the big boys do. Every little step forward means having to find the financing to do so, so there have been times when progress has been halted simply by a lack of funds to proceed further. The good news is, we are making progress and the goal is definitely in sight. As always, many thanks out to the TB community for all their support. I’ve seen some other companies eaten alive on here for taking so long to get a product to market, so I really appreciate the fact that everyone seems to be rooting for us!

[Chef]

Totally rooting for you!

I think I have a pretty good feel with what you're going for with the Valkyrie; though I do have one question I don't think has been addressed:

Will the Valkyrie compliment, or, contrast with the armadillos in the trousers of the ML cabs?

[JGR]

Good for you for sticking to your guns - keep pressing onward!

[R Baer]

Originally Posted by Chef

...Will the Valkyrie compliment, or, contrast with the armadillos in the trousers of the ML cabs?

Think of it as armadillo chow.

[nordyboy]

Nice one Roger, thanks for the update.

Having worked in the motor trade for the last 20 years I can honestly say one thing that frustrates folk so much is manufacturers releasing products with known issues before they are sorted.
Your honesty and integrity are a credit to you, I can see why the ml112 is so good.

[Darren Low]

Ooo this looks nice.

[Ewo]

IMHO, you made a good decision not to rush the Valkyrie into production, Roger.

What distinguishes your product is the attention to detail, with the design driven by a deep player's understanding of what works on stage. This ain't gonna be a "same old, same old" amp.

And as a current customer (the ML112s), I figure good things are worth waiting for!

[MysticMichael]

Originally Posted by R Baer

One thing I have learned about manufacturing is that there are two schools of thought when it comes to getting a product on the market. School of thought number one, says you get the damn thing working, put it on the market to get some cash flow going, then fix everything you know could be better on the next revision(s). Sounds horrible, I know, but a lot of companies work this way because at some point in a product’s development positive cash flow really is of the utmost importance.

Ooh, don't ever do that - if you can help it. That's the "Microsoft model".

Not only would you disappoint the early adopters - your most important constituency, certainly at this point, but you might shoot yourself in the foot long-term: For a manufacturer of boutique gear - and you are definitely in that category now - anything that calls into question the quality of your product - and/or the integrity of your business practices - automatically weakens your brand identity. And since your brand is still in its formative stages - being created for the first time right now, in real time, as your first new products are being developed and rolled out - such a hit to your reputation could cause lasting damage; the kind of damage that could inhibit your ability to charge full price for your products - thereby forcing you to make further compromises to the quality of your product, forcing you further down into the "commodity" jungle: thereby creating a vicious cycle which no boutique manufacturer could survive intact. Which means that taking the high road is not only the ethical thing to do, over the long term it's also the smart business move.

Originally Posted by R Baer

So, the issues at hand presented us a dilemma. Go forward with the amp as is and get some cash flow going, or go back in and fix the things we know could be better and in the end, let us get manufacturing cost down a bit. Well, being the typical Virgo that I am, it really just didn’t sit right with me to put the amp out there, knowing it isn’t as good as it could be. I also feel like the early adopters put a lot of faith in us and it just didn’t feel right selling them an amp I know will be better on the next revision. So, I bit the bullet and decided to go back into the boards one more time and make some improvements.

It must take a lot of faith to keep investing scarce money into product development, while you continue to not see any revenue coming in from it. Weasels - or simply well-intentioned people who find themselves in over their heads - might easily go for the fast buck instead, not caring about their customers, not caring about the future of their companies. That's why customers are so cautious. That's why those companies ultimately go out of business.

My feeling is that the market will always support genuine quality. It might mean you're marketing only to a select (elite?) sub-group of players who can fully appreciate the merits of your product. But if you do it right, you can eventually win over a large enough share of that market to make a healthy go of it.

May The Force continue to be with you, Roger!

MM

[meRTKendrew]

Saw the pictures on Facebook of the latest circuit board revision. Too cool!

-rtk

[vin*tone]

Is that a voltrage switch on the back?.... multitapped or fixed model "export" transformer?

[nostatic]

I played this head today at NAMM and talked with Roger for quite a while. Nice because Sun AM wasn't too crazy. This head sounds phenomenal. The topology has some nice features and there is a serious tube feel that can be had due to the way the head is done. I'm a micro guy but I may need one of these. It is that good.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by nostatic

I played this head today at NAMM and talked with Roger for quite a while. Nice because Sun AM wasn't too crazy. This head sounds phenomenal. The topology has some nice features and there is a serious tube feel that can be had due to the way the head is done. I'm a micro guy but I may need one of these. It is that good.

+1 It continues to look innovative and solid. I hope this eventually comes to market. Tough time to release a high end/high prices/full weight amp, but this one has 'all the stuff' seemingly.

Isn't it spooky to be at NAMM when things are really quiet!?! I had the TecAmp booth LITERALLY to myself last year for about 1/2 hour on Saturday morning. NO ONE around at all, just a sign in the booth saying 'enjoy'. I was really able to give that stuff a good tryout at moderate volume.

[smeet]

Originally Posted by nostatic

I played this head today at NAMM and talked with Roger for quite a while. Nice because Sun AM wasn't too crazy. This head sounds phenomenal. The topology has some nice features and there is a serious tube feel that can be had due to the way the head is done. I'm a micro guy but I may need one of these. It is that good.

How would you compare the feel and sound of the Valkyrie to your Monique?

[tombowlus]

Originally Posted by smeet

How would you compare the feel and sound of the Valkyrie to your Monique?

First off, the Valkyrie head is definitely coming to market.

Regarding this question, the Valkyrie is way more flat/accurate/balanced than Monique, and Monique is much more colored and gloriously tube-like (at least with the tube drive section disengaged on the Valkyrie). Monique's colorations don't stop it from being solid from top to bottom, and nicely balanced, but it has a lot more personality and voice of its own. The Valkyrie will brutally spit out whatever you feed into it, and it seems very accurate. You can definitely dial in some nice tube drive with that circuit engaged, but Monique is more about a full, lush, clean (or grindy, if you want), vintage tube tone.

They are both outstanding units, but with very different design goals.