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

[John D Harris]

Looks like just another one in the herd of newcomers.

So...you buy your gear solely based on looks?

Or were you refering to the specs?

If so...you buy your gear solely based on specs?

Just checking...Just checking...

 

[cnltb]

So...you buy your gear solely based on looks?

Or were you refering to the specs?

If so...you buy your gear solely based on specs?

Just checking...Just checking...

Dude...relax.


I'll sure try this amp if and when I get the chance to and might then comment on first hand experience. Till then this'll have to do...a first impression based on what I have seen( pic and specs) in comparison with what else I have seen.
Fair enough, no?
If I like what I hear when trying it and if I need another amp at that time and have the money too, I might just get this head...to answer your two questions...

 

[JimiLL]

Dude...relax.


I'll sure try this amp if and when I get the chance to and might then comment on first hand experience. Till then this'll have to do...a first impression based on what I have seen( pic and specs) in comparison with what else I have seen.
Fair enough, no?
If I like what I hear when trying it and if I need another amp at that time and have the money too, I might just get this head...to answer your two questions...

So what exactly was the point of your post then?

 

[will33]

The "nother one in a herd of newcomers" would be yet another mini 300/500 watt with a slightly tweaked preamp hooked up to the same bang-olafson(sp?) power board all the others are. I think Roger's set out to do something really good here. If that means putting out a big power amp that might be briefcase sized instead of book sized, more power to him. I, for one, don't care if my amp weighs less than my bass and don't get all hung up on "is it 6lbs. or is it 4lbs?......aw man, that's a deal breaker".....tone is more important than that, the rest is whining. Some of us still actually do carry 80lb.+ tube amps.....because they sound good.

 

[Chef]

Moderator Insert:
Hey: you kids play nice in here, or I'll be back.

 

[nostatic]

Who is in this "herd of newcomers"?

And if Baer is included, should it be a herd or a sloth?

 

[darius8]

Heres a question. BAER reps have been posting here in the AMP forums quite regularlly, why can't they bring with them a few clips (in different styles of music) of their new amp? Or point us to where they are?

 

[will33]

Heres a question. BAER reps have been posting here in the AMP forums quite regularlly, why can't they bring with them a few clips (in different styles of music) of their new amp? Or point us to where they are?

I don't think the amp is actually available yet, at least not to the general public....maybe a handful of "test players". Something a couple pages back about different manufacturing partners or something. The 112 cab is available but the next run of those will also be tweaked, due to neodymium availability...or rather lack of it.

 

[R Baer]

Darius, I have to say that I'm not a big fan of sound clips. When you hear a sound clip on a company's website, most of what you are hearing is the the musician's talent and the instrument itself. After that, you are listening to string type and age, the mic, the recording equipment and the playback equipment. Somewhere in the mix is the amp itself, but it's only one piece of the puzzle. The honest truth is that if like the sound of the instrument used for the clips and the bassist is laying down some amazing groove, then you are going to think the amp is the bomb. If you don't like that instrument and you think the clip blows, well... you get the picture.

You are also trusting that the manufacturer hasn't tweaked the recording at all. No sound clip on a website is going to tell you what that amp is going to sound like with you playing your instrument through it. That said, we will probably put up clips after the amp is released, but to me it's more of a marketing tool, rather than a useful gauge of whether or not an amp will work for you.

 

[cnltb]

So what exactly was the point of your post then?

The title of this thred is:"New Head: Valkyrie from Baer Amps... Thoughts?"

 

[bongomania]

Darius, I have to say that I'm not a big fan of sound clips. When you hear a sound clip on a company's website, most of what you are hearing is the the musician's talent and the instrument itself. After that, you are listening to string type and age, the mic, the recording equipment and the playback equipment. Somewhere in the mix is the amp itself, but it's only one piece of the puzzle. The honest truth is that if like the sound of the instrument used for the clips and the bassist is laying down some amazing groove, then you are going to think the amp is the bomb. If you don't like that instrument and you think the clip blows, well... you get the picture.

You are also trusting that the manufacturer hasn't tweaked the recording at all. No sound clip on a website is going to tell you what that amp is going to sound like with you playing your instrument through it. That said, we will probably put up clips after the amp is released, but to me it's more of a marketing tool, rather than a useful gauge of whether or not an amp will work for you.

^^^ Truth!

 

[cnltb]

Darius, I have to say that I'm not a big fan of sound clips. When you hear a sound clip on a company's website, most of what you are hearing is the the musician's talent and the instrument itself. After that, you are listening to string type and age, the mic, the recording equipment and the playback equipment. Somewhere in the mix is the amp itself, but it's only one piece of the puzzle. The honest truth is that if like the sound of the instrument used for the clips and the bassist is laying down some amazing groove, then you are going to think the amp is the bomb. If you don't like that instrument and you think the clip blows, well... you get the picture.

You are also trusting that the manufacturer hasn't tweaked the recording at all. No sound clip on a website is going to tell you what that amp is going to sound like with you playing your instrument through it. That said, we will probably put up clips after the amp is released, but to me it's more of a marketing tool, rather than a useful gauge of whether or not an amp will work for you.

+1

 

[Chef]

One more factor in clip posting:
What's you listening device?
Android? I-pad? Laptop? Computer with built in speakers; outboard speakers? Do you have a sub?

There's a ton of variables in clip posting.

This isn't to say they can't be informative, but, they're certainly colored by a myriad number of things...

 

[JGR]

All that is true, but in this day and age, it's not that hard to put together some clips that convey the general vibe. Most folks will be able to discern if it is something in the realm of what they are looking for tonally. You have more control over the variables than in live environments, and with a bit of care, you should be able to put something together that conveys a fairly accurate representation that highlights the product's features and versatility. Even YouTube sound quality has improved.

 

[will33]

One more factor in clip posting:
What's you listening device?
Android? I-pad? Laptop? Computer with built in speakers; outboard speakers? Do you have a sub?

There's a ton of variables in clip posting.

This isn't to say they can't be informative, but, they're certainly colored by a myriad number of things...

+1

I don't think there really is a way to accurately convey it across the internet. Even with a great playback system, it isn't the same as being in the room with the amp.

 

[KJung]

All that is true, but in this day and age, it's not that hard to put together some clips that convey the general vibe. Most folks will be able to discern if it is something in the realm of what they are looking for tonally. You have more control over the variables than in live environments, and with a bit of care, you should be able to put something together that conveys a fairly accurate representation that highlights the product's features and versatility. Even YouTube sound quality has improved.

+1 Clips by a few people with different playing styles, combined with descriptions and multiple reviews by reviewers not associated with the company is probably even better than the typical 10 minute trial at Guitar Center that is the typical mode of trying before buying, if you can even get that (since most gear these days has very poor distribution in stores).

The quality of these new small recorders is phenomenal, and it is pretty easy to get a good set of phones and really hear what is going on, at least in the context of a given player, style and bass, etc.

However, to Roger's point, +1 in that a single clip should be used as it was intended... a single, small data point when evaluating gear that most (if not virtually all players) would never get to hear in person.

Also, I find clips VERY useful for parsing the comments and reviews of individuals, since it gives you a good feeling of what they feel 'sounds good' (and, to put it bluntly, if the reviewer has the skill on his instrument to really be able to evaluate and rate and review anything in meaningful way... the 'garbage in garbage out' sort of thing that I've heard at so many GTG's). One man's 'fat and creamy' is another man's 'tubby and muffled'... one man's 'clean, bright and immediate' is another man's 'sterile, with no character'

 

[sonic 7]

I also have to agree with Mr. Baer. The posting of sound clips, whether on u
Youtube or otherwise is just not an effective way to demonstrate an amp. Regardless of the integrity of the manufacturer there way too many variables . The designer could actually hiurt buisness by unintentionally ommiting certain demo combinations. You just have to sit down in a quiet room with YOUR bass , play the amp and decide for yourself.

 

[will33]

I find Ken's clips useful because enough variables are controlled that you can hear a difference in what's being compared. Playback systems vary but if you listen to them all on the same one, it may not be an accurate representation of the actual sound but the differences will come through. Some random clip from a manufacturer doesn't tell me much, there's too many variables.

That said, Ken sounds like Ken, no matter what he plays.

 

[KJung]

I find Ken's clips useful because enough variables are controlled that you can hear a difference in what's being compared. Playback systems vary but if you listen to them all on the same one, it may not be an accurate representation of the actual sound but the differences will come through. Some random clip from a manufacturer doesn't tell me much, there's too many variables.

That said, Ken sounds like Ken, no matter what he plays.

Again, any player who can play has his own sound, and also will gravitate toward the gear that results in providing that 'sound' most simply.

I agree that a manufacturer posting clips is not really useful. However, IMO, I would LOVE to see more TBers post clips for the reasons mentioned in my previous post.

Also, +1 that posting clips should be more of an anchor for detailed reviews, not as an end in itself.

However, the wonderful thing about TB is that you can ignore anything that isn't helpful. I pretty much ignore most posts be endorsers, since they have a 'dog in the hunt', etc.

Lots of ways to parse this info.

For a small company like Roger, where virtually no one will ever hear that amp prior to buying, detailed reviews anchored by clips is IMO not only a good way to evaluate that piece of gear, but IMO the only way for most to get at least some info prior to purchasing.

 

[tombowlus]

Darius, I have to say that I'm not a big fan of sound clips. When you hear a sound clip on a company's website, most of what you are hearing is the the musician's talent and the instrument itself. After that, you are listening to string type and age, the mic, the recording equipment and the playback equipment. Somewhere in the mix is the amp itself, but it's only one piece of the puzzle. The honest truth is that if like the sound of the instrument used for the clips and the bassist is laying down some amazing groove, then you are going to think the amp is the bomb. If you don't like that instrument and you think the clip blows, well... you get the picture.

You are also trusting that the manufacturer hasn't tweaked the recording at all. No sound clip on a website is going to tell you what that amp is going to sound like with you playing your instrument through it. That said, we will probably put up clips after the amp is released, but to me it's more of a marketing tool, rather than a useful gauge of whether or not an amp will work for you.

+1