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Post by RandomHero on Feb 11, 2006 16:37:21 GMT -5
I'm thoroughly impressed thus far. It beats the b'jeezus out of my little old Marshall MG30. More to come.
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Post by Ripper on Feb 12, 2006 13:59:05 GMT -5
Nice amp Randomhero! I was eyeballing one at Long & Mcquade ( Canadas big music store )
A guy was checking it out and it had such a smooth, thick tone. Its a hybrid is it not? I like the chicken head knobs too!
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Post by RandomHero on Feb 12, 2006 16:32:48 GMT -5
Yep. It's not just a tube preamp into a plain solid-state power amp either. The power amp takes it's behavioural cues from a small, low-voltage circuit in the amp, composed of a preamp tube and a proportionally-sized dummy-load speaker, so it can emulate the power amp too... I -really- like the cranked tube tone it gives me. The best thing is that it's (at least the 30+ models) got a built-in power attenuator! You can get that tone at bedroom volume. Needless to say, I think a lot of it so far, but more testing is to come.  |
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Post by RandomHero on Feb 19, 2006 15:16:17 GMT -5
...and had to return it for money when my car broke. *in shock, crying to come later*
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Post by Ripper on Feb 21, 2006 16:38:20 GMT -5
OMG!....Oh man that sucks! hang in there mon ami.
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Post by ChrisK on Mar 22, 2006 18:59:10 GMT -5
What do you think of the reliability. Many on Harmony Central bemoan it as being of "cheesy" build.
I really like/want to like the tube modeling w/ the attenuation. I notice that most of the models mimic the Korg stuff (hint, hint).
I'm stuck in "creeping feature'itis" in that I seem to want the next model's features (such as a decent speaker). I don't care about the power over 15 Watts (as long as I can turn it down to 1 Watt), I have a Mesa MK IV for real audible particle beam welding.
Piano's n Stuff in PGH (PnS, mind you, they don't sell pianos) has the AD30VT for $210, the AD50VT for $330, the AD100VT and VTH for around $500'ish, all thru the end of March (Madness).
The AD30VT has the VOX original 10" speaker (like I know what that means). The AD50VT has the Celestion Seventy 80 speaker. Fer a $110 differential, aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah yep, get the AD50VT.
Did you notice the creeping efficiency of the models?
Model____Power out__Power in___Efficiency
AD15VT___15 Watts___23 Watts__65%
AD30VT___30 Watts___45 Watts__67%
AD50VT___50 Watts___52 Watts__96%
AD100VT_100 Watts___100Watts__100%
Something's GeFooey (check yer work, dude) here on the latter two.
What I really want is the power attenuation, 15 Watts Max of output, the presence control from the AD100VTH, all in a micro-sized head that I can plug into the other combo amps/ speaker enclosures that I have laying about in the lab (I use the Mark IV mostly as a right leg rest).
After all, I just want a 1 Watt amp w/ real tube tone (and just can't bring myself to buy the Carr Mercury for $2,200 [that's 2.4 times what I paid for the Mark IV!]).
Oooh, another hint! Did ya know that one of Mesa's largest customers (Gluing Cabinets or something like that) has/had a "special list" of discounted Mesa gear parked about the chain (Mesa does NOT discount, and punishes dealers that do). I bought a Mesa Recto-Verb head for $700 NEW, a 1x12" expansion cabinet for $280 NEW, and the Mark IV that had been returned a couple of times (it then had a knob broken off in the store and was offered as used (even tho much warranty remained)). The trick is to get to see the list, and go visit the Gluer's of Cabinets in your area.
Well, I can solder, and am somewhat familiar w/ electronics (everything IS physics folks), so I ordered the parts (get two of everything, dude) along w/ a cover and casters (GC looses everything in store) and went to work.
While replacing the broken pot, I found three other unsoldered wire joints in the front panel wiring, two on tone controls. Geeeee, I wonder why it was returned? Well, $800 plus about $100 in stuff got me a Mark IV (now $2,000 for my model)!
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Post by sumgai on Mar 22, 2006 20:15:55 GMT -5
Chris, Man, I hate being the one to burst your bubble.  Apparently your school of higher education didn't go in for anything else, but us fancy pants types had to be able to distinguish what kind of classes were taking: If it's green, you're in Biology; If it stinks, you're in Chemistry; If it makes flashy sparks, you're in Electronics; and If it doesn't work, then you're in Physics!  sumgai |
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Post by RandomHero on Mar 22, 2006 23:50:42 GMT -5
Hey now. I work at GC. XD
I'm proud to say we're a lot cooler than that. We do loaners and the like. One of my customers had his heart set on a Fender Twin Reverb, used. He bought it from me and soon brought it back because it was hissing at him. We didn't have another used one in stock, so I took it back, returned it, put it on repair order, then used his credit on account to buy him a Fender Frontman 212 100 watt combo to use since he had to gig. It's likely to take longer than our 30-day return policy for his amp to be fixed, but whenever it is, I'll refund him full price for the Frontman anyway, and let him have his Twin back at no extra cost.
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Post by ChrisK on Mar 23, 2006 13:08:06 GMT -5
Random,
Yeah, I know. Most GC's are cool (unfortunately my local one has gone "uninteresting"). I went into one in eastern Ohio and asked for a better price on a Gib$on SG faded. Off the bat, he offered -$70 on a $689 street price. Not bad, we'll see.
What thinkest anyone?
sumgai,
No, all of my schools of education taught me the "proper" classifications of their "business'". (If there's money involved, it's a business).
The product of universities is tenure, consulting income, career growth for the administrators, and preserving the accreditation (by only graduating the "safe"). The (paying) students are just the "fuel".
My statement about physics is the result of my life GeDankengang (thought continuum) as I finally begin to figure out what it is that I really do. I'm an analyst of everything, a professional daydreamer.
All of the above, once able to be encapsulated as a specific theme of science, exited the stream of (then) current physics, and thence became a discipline.
I live to discover "the model(s)". Many common models apply across disciplinary borders.
Some collect stamps or coins, I collect people. Most have outlines on the pages in the "album" where they "go", a few don't and go on the blank pages in the back.
I'm only interested in those on the back pages.
Undiscovered country is.
DO
I "acquire" new disciplines and take a cursory look across the current technology. I note my observations thereof, study the theme in detail, revisit my notes, write white papers, and file for IP.
LOOP
As we search for TOE (the Theory Of Everything) in physics, I'm confident that there is only one (meta/mega) model afoot in our encapsulation (universe). And, it will involve physics at the highest and all subsequent levels. A firm foundation in physics is the best foundation for most hard sciences. The best teacher of physics IMHO was Asimov.
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Post by ChrisK on Apr 5, 2006 19:43:44 GMT -5
Anyhoo,
I like the amp. Especially fer $320 (had to get the Celestion).
The tweed 4x10 is pretty similar to my bro'n law's '59 Reissue Bassman.
The blackface 2x12 is pretty similar to a Twin.
The AC15 and AC30TBX? are similar to the originals.
The Brit models are similar'ish.
The Recto model ain't close to my Mark IV (thank God).
But, being able to crank and wank at a "brown" 150 mW (and up, to 50 W) is neat. It gets "about" as loud as a '65 Deluxe RI (22 Watts of 6V6's).
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Post by Runewalker on Apr 5, 2006 23:56:57 GMT -5
CK:
You are some kinda Tesla-Huygens-Mach-Hawking-Bohr-Einstein-Newtonian beatnik. I am in awe.
Nice touch inserting the word foundation twice into a paragraph with a referrence to Asimov. One more and you would have had the whole Trilogy. And let me be the first 'supporter' to stand tall for a firm foundation.
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Post by ChrisK on Oct 23, 2006 19:14:31 GMT -5
So I'd bought the VOX AD50VT back in March 2006 and like it. It has replaced the Mesa MK IV as a foot rest in my office.
I wandered into a music store today and scored the VOX VC-12 foot controller for $150 new in box, on clearance.
They also have a '64 VibroVerb Custom (PTP) fer $1,500 new. Hmmmmm.........
And a delicious Gib$on ES-137 Custom.........
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Post by UnklMickey on Oct 24, 2006 14:26:15 GMT -5
....It has replaced the Mesa MK IV as a foot rest in my office.... so the Mesa is now just used furniture. as you know, used furniture can be hard to get rid of. i'll be glad to help you out, Chris. just send it to the Unklmickey used furniture dump. i'll even pay for the shipping. unk |
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Post by ChrisK on Oct 24, 2006 17:27:24 GMT -5
Sure, but coincidently shipping is $50 and handling is $1,900, right around the price of a new one.
It's getting fitted with EL34s in the two class A 6L6 sockets.
GC had 2 matched EL34s normally $50 for $20.
GC had 4 matched EL34s normally $100 for $50.
Hmmmm, what a deal, 3 fer a dime, 6 fer a quarter!
With my web special $10 off coupon, I bots the set of two.
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Post by UnklMickey on Oct 24, 2006 17:44:49 GMT -5
dang it, them handling charges always seem to get in the way.
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