The Watering Hole

Since it's kinda quiet around here, figured I'd start a new thread for folks to have something new to read :)

This amp has a different tone than anything I've played through before. Now that I've become used to it, I think I can better describe my earlier descriptions of the highs being 'harsh', to the highs being more 'grainy' than I'm used to. And I've figured out that sweet spot in tweeking the highs and mids so that there is just enough of both to keep the tone rich and grainy, but without sounding harsh.

I came to this while tweeking a good, lower gain ACDC patch. The Ultra setting on this amp is by and far the most versatile of the 4 settings. It has better mids and more low end than the other 3 settings. With the gain around 2, I am in solid ACDC rythm territory. Gain at 4 with some delay, perfect ACDC solo tone. With the way I have it EQ'd now, these 2 patches sound just killer.

That is where I am tonight.  I will take these settings and start moving forward, in increments, to higher gain tones. Most of you know I'm an 80's Hair fanatic. Hopefully in a week or so, I will have that dialed in (disregard my previous posts....as I have started from scratch now that I get this beast).

More good stuff to come. The tone I'm getting is very rich and creamy. I know that sounds Porno-like.....but it's the closest description I have. Does Gear Porn exist???

Interesting read amigo. Keep on posting about that amp. It sounds like a winner for your purpose.......

Got the JJ's installed today.  Like Charger said, not a big change.  But a few things I noticed:

1) Did add to the highs a bit. But in a good way. After bringing the high EQ down a tad, the highs are now better.....smoother.
2) After redoing the EQ on the lower gain U2 type patches, am getting chimier-yet-more-creamy-tone.  The highs are a tad richer, and my 'Pride' patch now kills it. Just kills it. Very AC30TB-like. Just kills it. Unbelievable.
3) The characteristics that I love about this amp did not change. Mainly, the super tight notes, no matter the gain setting. I've shown the Thomas Blug video with this amp several times, but the one part of this video I relate to most now that I have it starts at 1:33.   Listening to that part is one thing (kinda cool). But knowing how it feels while playing a part like that, at a lower gain setting, on this amp,  is incredible. It's just crisp, and you don't have to rely on gain or compression to get it.  That's the only way I know how to explain it. Copy and paste the link below in your browser for your convenient listening pleasure of that part.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYmZYHrqnjE

4) Love this amp. More.

I liked the tone on that video, absolutely a stellar type of response, a little bright for my old ears but I see why you are liking your amp.

Had a chance to push the tubes last night on this thing.  There's always someone home by the time I get home, so most of my noodling has been at low to medium (practice with the band) volume. But last night I got to open it up and play at, well, a volume only needed for very large venues.  Being 100 tube watts, this was still only at 5 on the master volume. But good God it was LOUD. But more importantly, the tone and feel was a definite step up from the lower volumes I've been playing at. Like any pure tube amp, it just gets better when the tubes are driven harder.

To be honest, I was a bit surprised. The 3120 had ridiculous gain and compression at low to medium volume.  But when I really cranked it up, I lost a LOT of compression. That's not the case with the Switchblade. I did lose just a bit, but it made up for that in the tone I got.  I may need to get some sort of power soak for this thing. That tone and feel is addictive, but not enough to run my family out of the house and go deaf at the same time.

Cool, also at the higher volumes the pushing air factor comes into play. Once those sound vibes get a crankin, the interaction between the pups and the sound vibes add something very nice......