60 posts
Any (if) Tweaker owners here still happy with theirs? Been looking for a newer era head (nothing against vintage stuff ala Fender Bandmasters and such, just need more TLC than I care to provide) strictly for pedal use. These are known to gel with drive pedals due to a nice clean channel. Tried the 40 yesterday and am considering it. Really want to use my Jetter R2 into something better suited than my high, HIGH gain Marshall, lol. Shoulda kept the Z. Shit. =/
Yep, still digging mine. It gets weekly play at my jam, I spent about an hour with it last night. I dig the clean channel. It's got a lot of range. It takes pedals extremely well, so I use it a lot. I've got a few of my homebuilt pedals hitting it... the honey bee, sobbat drivebreaker, and wampler ecstasy or paisley feeding it, and it takes them all and say "thank you sir, may I have another." Only thing that isn't stellar about mine is the speaker... I still don't love the G12H30 and one of these days I'm going to replace it with something with a hemp cone. But that wouldn't apply to the head. Why are you looking at the 40 watt as opposed to the 15, tube preference? or can you just run shit really loud?
Thanks for the input, sounds nice! Yeah, I ten to play 'em loud fwiw, but I just figured more headroom = better for pedal use. Maybe I'll nab the 15 and try it for a few days and I could always swap to the 40 if need be.
I run the 15 with the gain a little past half and the master volume on half. I get just a touch of breakup at that level, and through 1x12, it's loud enough for a drum set, bass, keys, and two other guitar amps. With a 2x12 I have to turn it down a little from there.
Still playing my Tweak 15 head into a Rebel cab almost every night. Perfect for me - sounds good clean at moderate volume levels and makes my pedals sound good.
Off topic - big surprise to me - I got a POD hd, mainly for higher gain dicking around and it sounds really good (read fun to play) set to preamp mode and plugged into the Tweak's effects return. Good presence (sans harshness) and clarity - better than direct for higher gain and great feel too. The different amp models have way more character than original and XT pods I've owned.
Thanks Tobe, sounding good to hear that as well. So it looks like they were not just a flash in the pan - every major gear board I happen to pop into seems to have a 'tweaker' thread dozens of pages long with happy owners, just wanted to see if our own were still equally satisfied.
Oh, and btw, I'm in now as well....bought the 40 yesterday, couldn't resist using the v-day $70 dollor coupon. (=
I still really enjoy mine. I have to say, I've considered selling it lately but ONLY because I want a Mini Rec and I'd need to sell either it or the Budda. That said, the Tweaker sounds really good and that Red Shift sounds GREAT through it. I still haven't rolled improved tubes through it either, so I think any time now (just ordered some) it's going to get even better.
I want to talk to you more about your Red square and whether I should sell and upgrade. I LOVE the Red Shift! The Red as a unique voice that is just killer. if the Helium side is in front and can make it have more gain, I might have to have one as it would make it even better to have a higher gain version of that tone. Might want to email you a few questions.
The great thing about the Red2 is that the Hellium side can be used as you mentioned, kicking that already sweet as hell Red tone up with more saturation, he chose a good match up to stick together in one pedal, but man, the Hellium ALONE in use is the secret weapon....sounds like a JTM IMO, not sure why they named it "Hellium ", lol! You can use that side as a clean, stand alone boost for other drive pedals (or your amp), pumping up the Red side, etc, but I love the Hellium side into a clean amp for some killer JTM vintage light crunch. And yes, I agree, this Jetter pedal paired with the clean channel of the Twk 40 has had my attention since I brought the amp home, ESPECIALLY the Red Shift > Egg match up, just sooo juicy, low gain, bluesy growl!
edit: oh yeah - I think already owning the Red Shift, you could get by just using your OCD before the Jetter for similar results. Not sure I'd lay out $200+ if you already have a nice, clean boosty type pedal.
Not knowing what the Helium side sounds like, by it's description, I was thinking more Timmy>Red Shift would be closer.
However, I was thinking selling the Red Shift and getting a used Red Square so the diff would probably be < $50 or so.
No one has degooped the helium yet to determine the source of the circuit. It's only a matter of time. Given Jetter's history, the chances are very good it's copied from someone else.
DreamTheaterRules — Feb 11, 2013I have to say, I've considered selling it lately but ONLY because I want a Mini Rec and I'd need to sell either it or the Budda.
Thanks alot, lol. You have officially given me Mini Rec GAS. Never followed any of the buzz when they hit. Your post made me start looking into it and listening to clips. DAMN. So much love, and a couple years into ownership for many and still happy. Seems to be quite the tone machine. From what I gather - it happens to have a stellar clean channel and takes pedals too. Most of the clips sound great. Yeah, thanks again, pfft! ;)
I'm just sayin....I've got a Tweaker 40 here and a receipt....and my loccal GC has a couple mini Rec's on hand....just sayin...
:D
Noooooooooo! I want to be first :D LOL. waiting on bonus from work before I can get mine...
LMAO!! ;D ;) We'll see. Heading up there in a bit. But man, the more I dig through the boards, the more I like what I'm reading/hearing. I even stumbled onto a couple posts from dudes who have the mini and happened to have added the Bogner red and say it screams through it. Extra Coolness. I read a few comments that the mini is tonally a bit different than the big brothers and that it indeed has a tighter low end now. Even saw a few Mark V owners state they sold their V and kept the Mini! wowzers. Anyway, gotta hear for myself - never really been a recto fan but the clips sound great. Only thing making me nervous is the lack of a 16ohm out jack but apparently the 8 ohm is safe with a 16ohm 4x12 cab. My cab is running 4 x 25 watt blackbacks, so I dunno, might work out good.
:D As long as it's not Highlander.... Ok I need sleep lol... Yeah it's been extremely positive feedback on the mini. I have been in hurry up and wait mode since last fall. I could work a trade (which I will do after the money comes in) but after preaching "We can't spend any money right now" my daughter would look at me with new gear (even tho its a trade for the old) and I'd never hear the end of it. Ugh... the politics of family economics...
you could disconnect two speakers in your 4x12 (leaving two in parallel if they're 16ohm speakers, or two in series if 4ohm (unlikely)) and have an 8ohm cab that can handle 50 watts.
I hear ya Paul, don't know how you family guys do it to be honest. And I definitely know where you're coming from on the *if they'd get the damn bonus on the next pay deposit, grrr* <<< was just there last month.
Thanks for the tip Sheep - good to know. I read a post from a dude on the MESA board who copied/pasted a response from Mesa tech support stating the 8 ohm out is totally safe w/16 ohm cabs but you'd lose a hint of volume. I'll give it a whirl and see. I do see plenty of guys running them into 4x12's so it must be ok. That's IF I pull the trigger, lol...just got off the phone with GC, wanted to know if I could use the Prez' Day coupon towards it - he said "no". We'll see when I get there.
Figures... Paul and I have been hot on these for a year and Derek will have one by the end of the day. So, in response to your remark about us married guys, I say "You single guys have it made! " But then I get home and there's this hot blonde waiting on me and I say, "You can have your mini Rec, Mr. smartpants! " LOL
It's a given for me now. Just deciding what I need to sell. Funny thing is, I told Paul, I have the money, just can't get by with buying another amp and cab unless I sell a thing or two. In this case though, it's not so much family dynamics or economics as SPACE dynamics. LOL I can't FIT another amp in my current music room. I have 3 amps in two other rooms now! :)
Let me know if you get a discount. My guy who has THROWN deals at me for years, many times letting me by new gear because I know I can flip it and get my money back because the deals are so good, has told me since day one "we aren't allowed to discount Mesa. " He went as far as telling me "if you ever want to buy a Mesa, be ready to buy something else." What he meant was, he couldn't discount the Mesa at all, but he'd cut whatever else I bought to less than cost to equal out the no discount on the amp.
LMAO. I just ended a relationship with a very hot blonde (for my ugly ass), strawberry at that, lol. Ironic. Only reason I even have the money though is because I did have it stashed already to take that boozehound on a cruise. No mas. ;) I was essentially living with her for the past several months and I did earn a huge amount of respect for you married dudes...you'll never hear me say a word when someone here says they don't have the time to play/practice and record more. I USED to scoff at that. Bullshit. Totally understand now. :P
Yeah, I'm not getting my hopes up for the 15% off - he went out of his way to say the "system is locked" and "we're not allowed to unlock and alter the price on any Mesa gear." >:(
edit: course, come to think of it - they told me the exact same thing about the Bogner pedal, yet they tried the code and it worked. :)
Yeah, I never thought I'd have the killer gear I have now and struggle sometimes to find 15 minutes a day to play, much less an hour to PRACTICE. If I were single, I'd probably be a pretty decent guitar player! LOL
Man throw kids and family illnesses in there and it becomes even less time... Over the last few years i have gone months and months without touching a guitar. At one point I was resigned to saying ok, those days are done, time to just sell it all and move on. But that mentality really bothered me. and when i eventually did find a few minutes to sit and play, it felt really good, not to be corny or anything but it's a part of me that I realized I can't ever really part with. I just have to accept that I can't dictate when I will be able to play, or to be as sharp as I'd like. But I needed to keep playing. Once I made that realization it was easy to accept GAS for new gear. LOL.
yeah, I've said this before, but years ago I broke my left wrist playing basketball. After a year of trying to play and it just being too painful, I gave it up. I sold all my gear except my Ibanez Artist (high school graduation present) and my GK 250ML. It ate at me for years. I went about 10 years without playing, and missed it constantly. When our 10th anniversary was coming around, I had told Amy for months that I wanted to start playing again if I could do it without pain. She bought me my first PRS, and I've been playing since. It's way different this time though. I have never been close to what I was before. I used to PRACTICE. Sit down and learn a whole album in a couple nights and then have all the solos down in a few more. I NEVER do that anymore. Add to that the wreck I was in just a couple years after I started playing again which damaged nerves in my left hand, and I'm doomed to never be good again! :( But I love it and it's part of me and I won't ever quit again even with if the recent problems (now my arthritis has found those same two fingers that the nerve damage is in). I almost had to cut my wedding ring off months ago, and haven't been able to ever get the swelling down enough to get it back on since. But I'm not quitting again. I'll go lefty like Rich did and start all over, before I do that! ;)
Yep... try having a full time job, a high maintenance family, part time running a studio with a partner, building guitars and effects, and playing guitar in one band and bass in another band. All the music parts are what keep me sane for the other madness. Yeah, it's Thursday night, too... jam night!
charger — Feb 14, 2013Yep... try having a full time job, a high maintenance family, part time running a studio with a partner, building guitars and effects, and playing guitar in one band and bass in another band. All the music parts are what keep me sane for the other madness. Yeah, it's Thursday night, too... jam night!
I'm convinced you don't sleep. :)
But yeah, totally agree on the music keeping you sane through the rest - that's exactly it for me.
I've thought the same thing. And I've spent weekends with him at WHStock/BertStock events... He doesn't sleep much! :)
...yes, agree with all of the above, nothing corny about it, and I'd even get spiritual on ya and add, when you're single - music can be your salvation, lol!
Welp - I tried the Mini Rec. Passed. Guess I'm just not a recto guy. It was good, real good, but it didn't demand I have it. I only personally loved one tone I was getting out of it, the clean channel set to the 'pushed' setting was a great Mark IV type crunch with nice growl and clarity. Otherwise, the cleans were not what I read/hoped them to be (both pedals I tried sounded like ass through this as well), and the lead channel was a little too grind-y, mushy for me, especially lower register notes, kinda compressed down there or something, dunno, just didn't jive w/me.
So you are saying keep the Tweaker and the Superdrive, and buy a Bogner Red....
If I can hijack this back towards it's original direction, how are you liking the Tweaker? I have to admit that I've been very interested in it since it was introduced. Love the two channels and layout of them. Don't want/need the extra watts, but would almost HAVE to have one except.... I like the gain, but don't love it. If I could really get a more Marshall type crunch with the gain up, I'd probably have had one before now. I often turn the gain up to 2:00 to 3:00 with the Hot switch on. It's nice, but it's a smoother gain than the crunchy Marshall I'd really like. I've thought about swapping tubes to push it more that way (EL34s) but I know that won't change the character of the gain that much. The Egnater has a smoother gain. Since it was one channel originally, Bruce designed it to roll off some top end as you turn up the gain. IMO, while that can be a good idea, it keeps the amp from getting into JCM 800 type crunch, even though it has the gain.
And from what I've read, the two channel version really isn't a clean channel and a gain channel. It's two identical channels, so it doesn't address this issue.
Leave it to Howie to want more brightness from an amp. I've rarely, if ever, met an amp that didn't have more than enough treble for me.
I agree on the Mesa, Derek. I haven't yet met a Recto gain channel I loved. On the other hand, I absolutely love some of the Dual Caliber-era Mesas. I've been craving a DC-3 for a while now. It's actually on the dark side.
We have similar taste then, Howie, I was also kinda wanting a bit more traditional 60/70's Marshall from the Tweaker 40 (along with the Fender it delivers) to go with a good clean channel for cleans and pedals. It's a killer amp, does a lot of things really well, in fact, I didn't see any flaws, all the tones it sets out to do, it does. BUT, I took it back and went with what I was looking at last year at this time - the 1 watt Marshalls. I was off work today to rest (1/2 Marathon in the morning and it's gonna be in the 20's :o) and of course I squeezed in a couple hours for a trip to both GC's here, lol. One of them had four of the 1 watt 50th heads on hand. I took my Bogner and Red2 pedals (just as I did for the Mini Rec). They were all really cool and instantly much more pleasing to my ears than the Recto (just a lifetime of ear conditoning I guess). The JCM was actually my least fav and I recall drooling over the clips last year. Go figure. The JMP was awesome but no loop and a bit brighter than the others. I quickly narrowed it down to the JTM and DSL. The DSL won out because it does what the JTM does but more, and it has a nice loop. The cleans are great, no breakup with the gain low and master dimed no matter which guitar I used. Both pedals sounded perfect through this. Then with the clean channel gain cranked up (and the volume), it has a really sweet vintage Marshall crunch. The lead channel - more great tones, but sounded best with the gain from 11-2 oclock, then hit with a pedal for a thick, saturated lead tone.
So in the end, I have a second amp similar to my modded 2203, but different in certain ways (the mids are definitely diff and it has a nice dedicated clean channel). Plus, it's a Marshall, it sounds killer through my Greenback cab, no need to change a thing there. Another nice plus is the .1 switch so I can run it through the 100 watter if need be. Just a great, well rounded amp.
Oh, and they let me use the Prez Day coupon!!! It was like $637. Not bad and much better than the stupid high retail they're asking for these things. I remember thinking if I ever nabbed one, it'd have to be used. Got me a new one newayz, lol...
Kabala — Feb 14, 2013...yes, agree with all of the above, nothing corny about it, and I'd even get spiritual on ya and add, when you're single - music can be your salvation, lol!
Welp - I tried the Mini Rec. Passed. Guess I'm just not a recto guy. It was good, real good, but it didn't demand I have it. I only personally loved one tone I was getting out of it, the clean channel set to the 'pushed' setting was a great Mark IV type crunch with nice growl and clarity. Otherwise, the cleans were not what I read/hoped them to be (both pedals I tried sounded like ass through this as well), and the lead channel was a little too grind-y, mushy for me, especially lower register notes, kinda compressed down there or something, dunno, just didn't jive w/me.
Might not make any difference for use with pedals, but I have read the amp tightens up considerably when the fx loop is switched on (even if you aren't using it).
Hmm, good point, I definitely did not look at the store, just jacked in and started messing with settings. And it was a Marshall cab too at that, so 99% sure it wasn't V30's. Scary thing is though, lots of dudes saying the stock Mini is actually the tightest Recto Mesa has come out with yet and it still wasn't for me. Anyway, I'm really digging the new amp, all is well now!
I'm still fooling around with the Bogner pedal too. Here's another clip. Same exact piece of music as before, I just replaced the opening crunchy riff on the left with the Bogner > DSL 1watt (clean channel)...and I also retracked the lead take with the same thing two pieces, just tweaked the pedal and amp a bit from the rhythm tone. The other clip/amp has more upper mid snarl, but this has some cool grunt and growl to it. After some more learing with the Bogner and the DSL, I can see both these tones sitting nicely together and panned apart in a mix.
Bogner Red Jam / Save As
Holy crap that sounds really good :)
If money allows i may have to look at one of those DSLs :)
It's so cool. I'm positive I have my pedal platform amp now, not to mention the other things it does. The loop is quiet and clean too, big PLUS. And even dimed and running into a 4x12 it's not very loud IMO, I haven't even bothered with the lower vol setting at that (guessing it'll be like a loud tv or something, lol).
3 trips to Bowling Green, and you still can't forget the year I brought my strat, a new amp (High Octane) and brand new, unbroken in, and not the right match speaker (Lead 80). You and Matt, get over it already! :D
My normal tones are not bright. I use humbuckers 85% of the time. I was specifically referencing a design choice Bruce makes where he rolls off treble as you turn the gain up. Makes for smoother gain and not so much the Marshall 80s JCM crunch.
charger — Feb 15, 2013Leave it to Howie to want more brightness from an amp. I've rarely, if ever, met an amp that didn't have more than enough treble for me.
I agree on the Mesa, Derek. I haven't yet met a Recto gain channel I loved. On the other hand, I absolutely love some of the Dual Caliber-era Mesas. I've been craving a DC-3 for a while now. It's actually on the dark side.
Interesting! First, it sounds great. Second, a 1 watt pedal platform.... first time I've heard that! LOL
I read a guy the other day complaining about the 1 watters saying that some of them sounded so good it was a crime that Marshall didn't make them at least 5 watts so they were gig-able. Sigh.... might have to look at one...
Well most dudes looking for pedal platform amps are usually needing some volume for gigging, garage jams, etc. And remember, there's a .01 switch to use the amp and slave it into another, more powerfull head - nice touch. But for home recording sans major volume, this is ideal. I hate gushing, but I can't get enough of this amp right now - the green channel is just so good. The cleans are incred. And you've already heard the Bogner Red through it. If I have time this week, I'm gonna shoot ya a short jam of the Red 2 on its Red setting + the Helium engaged. FAT, open tone through the DSL 50th! The other 50th 1watters are great too, at least the ones I tried (which was all but one, lol), but they have no loops and no dedicated clean channel.
Ok, more and more interested but..... how is the gain channel? I really can't see myself buying one if it's not great. I can stay with the Tweaker if I'm just using pedals, and the Red is a pretty easy decision at this point.
The gain channel is well, distinctly Marshall, lol! Really, it's nice as well, typical Marshall mid heavy crunch. Gobs of gain if need be. I just personally like the Bogner pedal voicing better than the Marshall red channel (and both over the Tweaks drive). But they're close in that dept, just different. I'll fool with it after the Red pedal jam and maybe throw another take down using it over the same tune I've already laid out. :)
Sweet! Thanks man! I'd love to hear it. As "real" as possible.
So.... maybe I should just do a couple of these "mandatory" mods to my Marshall Class 5 and keep it...
Well, if you're considering that, I'd go this route (jump to 2:50 for teh toanz):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9mOtvA7VtE
Sounds great to me. The amp is cheap and the mods are more or less idiot proof (couple of snips and adding one resistor). Only drawback I see it that amp has no loop.
You could absolutely gig with a 1-watt amp. Pair it with a 2x12 with modern speakers, 97-101dB/watt... it's loud enough to be heard over the drummer. And at any reasonable sized gig there will be a mic on that amp anyway.
I was actually going to take a look at one of the new 15 watt models. Kind of sucks that it TOO needs mods to sound good. The Class 5 can sound really pretty good, but with funky settings (bass boomy unless it's almost all the way down) and not with strats (Input resister is a STRANGE value). Couple other things they did with the Class 5 that actually have some people saying they made design choices that didn't even save money that made it much worse than it can be for a few minor parts swaps.
Hey Derek, what specifically about the mini rec clean channel with pedals was wrong? Was it too dark?
It was too mushy with pedals on the clean channel, as if the same issue I had with the lead channel was still present, just a bit compressed and murky. Not that I need it too be overly snappy and bright, but it was just too much on the wrong side of 'clarirty' for me, not open enough. Remember though, I was in GC and not running through an ideal cab for that amp, but its one of those things - you know you're gonna like something pretty quickly upon sampling it and fiddling with the dials. Right from the get go I was underwhelmed with it and didn't see how buying it and then figuring it out was gonna work for me, I already knew what I had with the Tweaker and also the DSL as reference. That said - as soon as a used Mesa Electra Dyne scoots through - I'm gonna try and be the first to go check it out, lol!
Still digging the hell outta the Bogner, Jetter pedals + the DSL. Just added an Xotic EP as well. More options still, lol! :)
Ok, that's really good info, thanks D.
Ok so here's my tale... I nabbed a Bogner Uber pedal. Now I don't have the optimal setup, so I think the cards were stacked against it from the get go, but it is going back. I can tell from my time with it that it is extremely dependent on the amp it is playing thru (like duh, right?). All I have to play it thru at the moment is the clean channel of my Engl preamp (the clean channel of the Krank is not very good at all). So the Uber sounded pretty bad until I hit the bright switch on the Engl, then the tone opened up quite a bit. But still I could never really dial in something that made me go wow. Like your clip with the red and the DSL, that made me go WOW! Yet I have heard other Uberpedal clips that I liked that I could not match here. Very disappointing but that's how it goes. I think this pedal could be great in front of the right amp, but I don't have it.
One interesting thing I found is that the Uber pedal takes other pedals in front of it very well. the down side is that it really needs to, because it does not have enough gain on its own.
Here's a lame clip I made after much ear fatigue had set it. The first half is the Uber pedal, second half is the Engl. Both have my Wylde OD in front.
Sounds pretty darn good to me. I prefer the Uber tone in your clip over the Engl fwiw. Too bad about the gain amount and not quite having enuff on its own. Others have reported this as well. Some are also needing other pedals in front of the Blue pedal for the same reason. That's the great thing about the Red pedal and my clip (for example), it's all purely the pedal into the amps clean channel for both the rhythm and lead, it has more than enough gain on tap. And it was recorded at such a low volume to boot. We're at a point now where you can really do well with a good clean amp and a few petalz to play/record heavier stuff. Maybe you'll just have to be another Ecstasy Red owner here making two of us...not quite the Rockmaster trend! :)
FWIW, I hear all three Bogner pedals stack well with others. I picked up a little Xotic EP Booster this week myself to throw in front of both my amps and/or drive pedals and found this to be true. It's awesome for a extra juice. I'm stoked about my tones/setup right now, everything is working out. I can actually make music and stop fussing with toys, lol!