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Amps you hate

#21
Peavey always sounds so.....what is the word I'm looking for here?...well...it just sounds so darn Peavey!

Ampeg is grainy.

SWR- Sound Without Rump

Eden- it's OK, but probably one of the more "colored" sounds out there (no, I'm NOT being racist- we're talking about sound quality only)

There, that's my list.
 
#22
I guess I'm a little confused... You say don't list low end gear, yet list Avatar and Carvin. ? .


ojthesimpson said:
(snip)
don't put crate, peavey, or whatever low end gear.
So, what big hitters strike out with you?

here's mine.
1. all SWR's (treble, slap, funk, not my bag baby)
2. Trace Elliot (unnatural tone, to much low end)
3. Carvin (mud)

speaker cabs,
1. avatar (i hate to say it but i was horribly dissapointed with mine, low end was weak, tone was sterile)

FIY
I play on
Gk 1001rb
Ampeg 8x10
Sansamp Di
Click to expand...
 
#23
dont said:
I had an Ampeg stack that was terrible; it was very expensive, had a weak bottom, and lacked punch and power. It was also very heavy.
I could give a long list of speakers that have been disappointing; I love my Genz-Benz NEOX212, though getting a second one has been a problem---I'm not sure if my local dealer or Genz-Benz is at fault.
Click to expand...

I agree with the Ampeg remark although I won't say I hate their gear. But expenisve and heavy? You bet. The SLM/Ampeg SVT-CL (and later and SVT-2 Pro) went into distortion way too early for my taste; YMMV.
IMO the SVT-4 Pro I briefly owned sounded way underpowered for it's 1200 watt rating, although it's tone was very good. I also will say the undistorted tone of the CL and the 2-Pro heads are great. Distortion doesn't work for me.
As far as Ampeg's cabs are concerned they're brutally heavy for their power handling ratings. I love the sound of my BXT410HL cabs but IMO they aren't among the best choice for a B-string as far as 4-10 cabs are concerned. Plus they weigh 122 lbs each! :eek: Yeah, I know...I already own a handtruck! ;)

But, if SLM/Ampeg would reproduce an SVT head that was true to the original SVT (there are many threads on this topic) I'd be happy to move an 810 cab around. :)

-Art.
 
#25
freshmeat1989 said:
Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat? Whats not to like about warm, smooth, bassy goodness? :D
Click to expand...


What you call "warm, smooth, bassy goodness" sounded like mud to me. :D

I couldn't a coax thick/sharp slap sound for the life of me, way to much midrange.


I am definitely a plug and play type guy though; i.e. if I it doesn't sound good with only minor tweaks (I normally have my settings completely flat) then I don't like it.
 
#26
I must be an odd-bird. I rather like the sound of the Eden D-410XLT cab. :confused:

I also liked the sound of SWR's Goliath SR and Goliath-III cabs when I used them with my old GK2000RB head. Obviously, it wasn't the warmest sounding combination, but it had tons of punch and headroom. :bassist:
-Art
 
#28
abark000 said:
I couldn't a coax thick/sharp slap sound for the life of me, way too much midrange.
Click to expand...

How do you like SWR's cabs? I'd assume a lot of slappers would like their tone.

Regarding the Eden: That's where we differ soundwise, and that's O.K., different strokes. I prefer to bump my mids slightly. I don't slap much (or very well ;)), I've found a bit of mid-boosting helps me hear myself with the mondo-hearing-impaired-crank-it-to-eleven guys I play with. :D

I'm presently putting together an amp setup that will (hopefully) do the job for me with everything set flat. Like you, I hate to tweak knobs to get a sound I like.

Respectfully, Art
 
#32
I love it!! Every one has talked crap about all the pro lines of brands like SWR and Ampeg, but I'm glad no one said anything bad about GK's pro line (yet).



For the worst sounding amps I've ever tried were the
1. Squeir 15 watt combo. Yeah I know it's a package combo, but still, that thing sucked so bad that you could turn the B,M and T swithes eaither way and you wouldn't hear a bit of difference.

2. Laney 60 watt combo it's what I have now. It sounds good with a BP-200 but it's sounds gradually died out over time and now it's just starting to crap out on me. Gallien Krueger time!!!!

3. All peavey gear. I've tried their cabs and basses and heads. They all sound so mushy and undefined. I actually A/B'ed and 700MAX or something head with a peavey 410 and a Trace Elliot 410, I 'd choose boxy/bland over muddy any day of the week!!!! Infact the only time ANY of their gear sounded good to me is when I pushed a "bright" botton on some peavey head going into a peavey 210 cab. It's not actually bright it just added PRESENCE. I like PRESENCE.
 
#37
Arthur U. Poon said:
How do you like SWR's cabs? I'd assume a lot of slappers would like their tone.

Regarding the Eden: That's where we differ soundwise, and that's O.K., different strokes. I prefer to bump my mids slightly. I don't slap much (or very well ;)), I've found a bit of mid-boosting helps me hear myself with the mondo-hearing-impaired-crank-it-to-eleven guys I play with. :D

I'm presently putting together an amp setup that will (hopefully) do the job for me with everything set flat. Like you, I hate to tweak knobs to get a sound I like.

Respectfully, Art
Click to expand...


I try to rarely slap, but when I test something for a potential purchase I "empty the bag of tricks" so to speak. :D Two-handed tapping, pickstyle, fingerstyle, chords, and a little slapping.

When I was shopping for my cab the two it came down to were the SWR Goliath 410 and the Ampeg SVT410HLF. The Eden stuff didn't sound as good to me as either of those cabinets.

After testing the two cabs, I found that the SWR are a slappers dream; deep bottom coupled with highs that could go from clanky to shrill. Not the cab for me.

The only way I can describe the tone of the 410HLF is meaty and solid with a great sound with all my settings flat. Good frequency response (32-20000hz if I am not mistaken), solid construction, musical sounding tweeter, the only fault I can find with it is that it is like 110+lbs.


About the mid-boost, definitely, that is the way to cut through the typical smiley face EQ of the average guitarist. Fits like a puzzle fills the mix.

I wasn't bashing Eden gear, just stating that the ones I have played out of didn't impress me. In a year I could find one that rocks my socks, go figure. :D
 
#38
Hmmm a lot of SWR haters here....

I love my Silverado Special with 2 -12s it rocks. I always hear myself and it has plenty of bottom end. I have used it at large outdoor concerts (of course the main PA speakers filled the venue) and the amp sounded great.
I haven't found one of the large SWR amps I like though...
And I NEVER liked ANY Trace Elliot amp I tried out.
 

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