Philosophy Amplifiers

[calypsocoral302]

Just about the same price as the Orange head, very slick design. 4xKT88's and 3x12AX7's.

Check 'em out!

[Mr. Foxen]

Philosophy Amplifiers LLC- Innovative Tube Bass amp Manufacturer

PHILOSOPHY amplifiers???

Brief summary: Style over substance.

[One Drop]

They deleted that thread and reposted in the same forum. So not cool.

They say they want to hear from us, but delete our posts. The new one is full of unsubstatiated vague marketing speak, and some pretty bold statements about beating other amps on functionality, and stuff about equaling more powerful SS amps.

If they don't want to have feedback and a dialogue, they should take out an ad instead. Nothing worse than taking potential customers for fools. We aren't, so don't insult our intelligence.

From the clips I think it could be an amazing sounding amp. I'm not so sure about the usefulness of the mid control from what I saw and heard, though maybe I didn't understand the concept so well. But it's moot, they will have a bumpy ride the way they are going. Maybe that foam pad will help smooth the way?

[KramerBassFan]

So they basically put a amp that was wired in the garage, with average rate components, stick a big price tag on it, put it in what looks to be a hardwood box with no handles or corners, and expect it to be a big sell?

Good luck.

Now, i'm all for different idea's and small companies... but this one is interesting.


Also, it reminds me of one of those old school Tube Radio's you see in antique and junk shops, that is massively overpriced and not even that good in the first place... kind of looks cool, and if it was cheap you'd get it, but otherwise it just accumulates more dust.....

[Sartori]

Originally Posted by One Drop

I'm not so sure about the usefulness of the mid control from what I saw and heard, though maybe I didn't understand the concept so well.

What does the mid control do?

[JimWasHere]

Originally Posted by KramerBassFan

put it in what looks to be a hardwood box with no handles or corners

Actually, one of the pics from the back shows that it's 3/4 a/c, fir, from the looks of it.

[One Drop]

Originally Posted by Sartori

What does the mid control do?

According to their manual:

"MID SHIFT (Denoted by two arrows) - Shifts the frequency range of the mid-dip, or mid-hump. This knob is dependent on the bass and treble controls.


Modern Sound: A “modern” bass tone is defined as one with a tight-low end, a mid scoop, and a crisp high end. This can be achieved by turning the treble and bass knobs past twelve-o'clock on the amplifier. This will naturally boost the low end and top end, and create a middle scoop. The key to our amplifiers however is the middle shift control. Use this control to contour “where” in the frequency you want your mid scoop. To the left of twelve-o’clock will scoop out the low mids, giving you a crisper, brighter tone. Turning the knob to the right of twelve-o’clock will result in a dip of the high mids, which will result in a warmer, beefier bass tone.
Vintage Sound: A “vintage” bass tone is defined as a warmer, woolier classic sound found on many rock, blues, and jazz albums of the 60’s. This can be achieved by keeping the treble and bass knobs below twelve-o’clock. This will naturally boost more of the mids in the amplifier, which results in a classic, vintage sound. Again, the mid shift control plays a vital role in tailoring this tone. Keeping the mid shift knob be- low twelve-o’clock will result in bluesy bass tone rich in low-mids. Turning the mid shift knob past twelve-o’clock will yield that famous cutting, warm bass tone heard on many classic rock albums of the 60’s. "

So it's a mid scoop knob, and you can turn it to scoop the low or the high mids. To bump up the mids you have to turn down the Bass and Treble controls, (and I guess then adjust the Gain or Master Volume to get the same SPL?) which they seem to say are interactive with the mids control. I assume it's cut only, though they refer to using it as a mid hump, though it only 'boosts' by cutting the highs and lows. It seems an odd way to control the mids to me, as you lose the ability to tailor your lows for the room, and highs for presence and sparkle if you want pronounced mids.

[JimWasHere]

Well, now we are dating tones... Right on, brother!

Or rather, it's definitely an "original" idea.

[bongomania]

FWIW, several days ago they asked in that thread whether it would be cool if they deleted that thread and started over--and nobody said "no".

[One Drop]

Originally Posted by bongomania

FWIW, several days ago they asked in that thread whether it would be cool if they deleted that thread and started over--and nobody said "no".

In that case I apologize for ranting. I always check the threads I've posted in by searching my own name, and I never saw it come up, but it could well have been buried a few pages back in the results.

[KramerBassFan]

Originally Posted by JimWasHere

Actually, one of the pics from the back shows that it's 3/4 a/c, fir, from the looks of it.

A wha?

[MAMMOTHvolume]

Originally Posted by One Drop

According to their manual:

"MID SHIFT (Denoted by two arrows) - Shifts the frequency range of the mid-dip, or mid-hump. This knob is dependent on the bass and treble controls.


Modern Sound: A “modern” bass tone is defined as one with a tight-low end, a mid scoop, and a crisp high end. This can be achieved by turning the treble and bass knobs past twelve-o'clock on the amplifier. This will naturally boost the low end and top end, and create a middle scoop. The key to our amplifiers however is the middle shift control. Use this control to contour “where” in the frequency you want your mid scoop. To the left of twelve-o’clock will scoop out the low mids, giving you a crisper, brighter tone. Turning the knob to the right of twelve-o’clock will result in a dip of the high mids, which will result in a warmer, beefier bass tone.
Vintage Sound: A “vintage” bass tone is defined as a warmer, woolier classic sound found on many rock, blues, and jazz albums of the 60’s. This can be achieved by keeping the treble and bass knobs below twelve-o’clock. This will naturally boost more of the mids in the amplifier, which results in a classic, vintage sound. Again, the mid shift control plays a vital role in tailoring this tone. Keeping the mid shift knob be- low twelve-o’clock will result in bluesy bass tone rich in low-mids. Turning the mid shift knob past twelve-o’clock will yield that famous cutting, warm bass tone heard on many classic rock albums of the 60’s. "

So it's a mid scoop knob, and you can turn it to scoop the low or the high mids. To bump up the mids you have to turn down the Bass and Treble controls, (and I guess then adjust the Gain or Master Volume to get the same SPL?) which they seem to say are interactive with the mids control. I assume it's cut only, though they refer to using it as a mid hump, though it only 'boosts' by cutting the highs and lows. It seems an odd way to control the mids to me, as you lose the ability to tailor your lows for the room, and highs for presence and sparkle if you want pronounced mids.

sounds like a fender tone stack to me

[One Drop]

Originally Posted by MAMMOTHvolume

sounds like a fender tone stack to me

Oh yeah. At least we know they can read the RCA manual!

[Sartori]

Originally Posted by One Drop

According to their manual:

"MID SHIFT (Denoted by two arrows) - Shifts the frequency range of the mid-dip, or mid-hump. This knob is dependent on the bass and treble controls.


Modern Sound: A “modern” bass tone is defined as one with a tight-low end, a mid scoop, and a crisp high end. This can be achieved by turning the treble and bass knobs past twelve-o'clock on the amplifier. This will naturally boost the low end and top end, and create a middle scoop. The key to our amplifiers however is the middle shift control. Use this control to contour “where” in the frequency you want your mid scoop. To the left of twelve-o’clock will scoop out the low mids, giving you a crisper, brighter tone. Turning the knob to the right of twelve-o’clock will result in a dip of the high mids, which will result in a warmer, beefier bass tone.
Vintage Sound: A “vintage” bass tone is defined as a warmer, woolier classic sound found on many rock, blues, and jazz albums of the 60’s. This can be achieved by keeping the treble and bass knobs below twelve-o’clock. This will naturally boost more of the mids in the amplifier, which results in a classic, vintage sound. Again, the mid shift control plays a vital role in tailoring this tone. Keeping the mid shift knob be- low twelve-o’clock will result in bluesy bass tone rich in low-mids. Turning the mid shift knob past twelve-o’clock will yield that famous cutting, warm bass tone heard on many classic rock albums of the 60’s. "

So it's a mid scoop knob, and you can turn it to scoop the low or the high mids. To bump up the mids you have to turn down the Bass and Treble controls, (and I guess then adjust the Gain or Master Volume to get the same SPL?) which they seem to say are interactive with the mids control. I assume it's cut only, though they refer to using it as a mid hump, though it only 'boosts' by cutting the highs and lows. It seems an odd way to control the mids to me, as you lose the ability to tailor your lows for the room, and highs for presence and sparkle if you want pronounced mids.

Doesn't sound that useful to me.

[One Drop]

Originally Posted by Sartori

Doesn't sound that useful to me.

To be fair the classic Fender tone stack has a cut only mid control, with no sweep, if I'm not mistaken.

[bongomania]

...and that switchable center frequency does seem to be the feature Philosophy is touting, rather than anything novel about mid-scoop per se.

[hdfixer]

I have played through a prototype of this head at last summer's Maker Fair in San Mateo CA.

If tube heads are your thing, it was pretty nice. As mentioned above it is similar, though not identical, to a Fender tone stack, meaning it was easy to walk right up to it and dial in all sorts of different sounds. It did have a lovely and controllable overdrive. Quite musical.

[Sartori]

Originally Posted by One Drop

To be fair the classic Fender tone stack has a cut only mid control, with no sweep, if I'm not mistaken.

Yes, and I'm not overly fond of that, either.

[Bassmec]

I had a look, its an odd looking beast, the fit and finish of the hand wiring and cabinetry has that "boho chic" fit where it touches boutique look?. Where I sort of prefer that "built for an armored division command and control vehicle", fit and finish.
So If I wanted somebody to build me a 4 KT88 tube amp today,
It would look just like this one:

Also its very disappointing to discover that there is nobody
called Philip involved at Philosophy.
PS On my old matamp the handles that protect! the recessed controls are bolted through the aluminium front panel into steel cheek plates that bolt directly to the top and bottom of the partridge transformers that are also secured by four bolts in the lower plane through the heavy gauge chassis and tied together laterally by a mid line pre amp valve shield plate that also picks up the other transformer fixings. Thussly the heavy transformers are secured on 3 sides and the choke on 2 in a head case capable of stopping a couple of half spent rounds or the odd bit of flack. Thats my kind of amp!.

[One Drop]

I would destroy that head in a weeks worth of gigging, unfortunately. No way it would stand up to anything but being treated with kid gloves.