Badonkey Kong
Roadie
- Messages
- 256
So i got to try out my Amped 1 this morning. Only at lower volumes though.
Here's my use case - I currently have a 5150 III 50W 6L6 through a Mesa 2x12 vertical. I use a Helix with it in 4CM. Just before Christmas I got a SYN1, SYN2 and BE/BE, IICP, and Deliverance modules, have those in the loops of my Helix. Everything sounds frigging glorious. At home I have to use an attenuator - THD Hot Plate set at -4 dB. Still sounds great.
So that is a lot to truck out to a rehearsal or gig... Not that I am having rehearsals or gigs right now, but that's another story... But the goal is the SYN 2 with a good sounding power amp and the Helix. and of course the cab (thank God for casters). Bad back and knees, I need to save them for trying to move around a bit and having fun while playing.
I have a SD Powerstage 200. It's not terrible, but compared to the 5153 power section it's, well, a bit flat...
Enter the Amped 1. Lots of cool features, different power amp modes and wattages, etc.
Well, first thing I noticed, it's a bit noisy. Kind of surprising, but maybe not too bad. Have to see when I can really turn it up.
So I try it on flat. Yep that's flat. LOL. Ok, I'm trying to replace my 6L6 power section in the 5153, so lets try the 6L6 mode. Yow! It is so much frigging brighter than the 5153. Very hyped highs, maybe slightly hyped lows. Kind of like when I turn the presence up to 8 on the 5153. Which i never do, lol... Way too bright with the way i have my modules dialed. So I tried the other modes. All kind of interesting, and in the ballpark of what you would expect. Ok so i dialed back some of the high end and eventually got where things sound decent.
Played for a good 90 minutes, tweaking things as I went. Definitely has more bounce/oomph than the Powerstage - part of that elusive feel thing. I seem to have some ear fatigue, which is bothersome, and unusual. One thing I thought of is that I have been playing through the Hot Plate here at home for a couple of years, and those are known for rounding off the highs and lows. I had everything dialed with that in the chain, but not using it with the Amped 1 of course. Maybe that's part of the difference.
Too early to tell, but I'm on the fence for now.
Here's my use case - I currently have a 5150 III 50W 6L6 through a Mesa 2x12 vertical. I use a Helix with it in 4CM. Just before Christmas I got a SYN1, SYN2 and BE/BE, IICP, and Deliverance modules, have those in the loops of my Helix. Everything sounds frigging glorious. At home I have to use an attenuator - THD Hot Plate set at -4 dB. Still sounds great.
So that is a lot to truck out to a rehearsal or gig... Not that I am having rehearsals or gigs right now, but that's another story... But the goal is the SYN 2 with a good sounding power amp and the Helix. and of course the cab (thank God for casters). Bad back and knees, I need to save them for trying to move around a bit and having fun while playing.
I have a SD Powerstage 200. It's not terrible, but compared to the 5153 power section it's, well, a bit flat...
Enter the Amped 1. Lots of cool features, different power amp modes and wattages, etc.
Well, first thing I noticed, it's a bit noisy. Kind of surprising, but maybe not too bad. Have to see when I can really turn it up.
So I try it on flat. Yep that's flat. LOL. Ok, I'm trying to replace my 6L6 power section in the 5153, so lets try the 6L6 mode. Yow! It is so much frigging brighter than the 5153. Very hyped highs, maybe slightly hyped lows. Kind of like when I turn the presence up to 8 on the 5153. Which i never do, lol... Way too bright with the way i have my modules dialed. So I tried the other modes. All kind of interesting, and in the ballpark of what you would expect. Ok so i dialed back some of the high end and eventually got where things sound decent.
Played for a good 90 minutes, tweaking things as I went. Definitely has more bounce/oomph than the Powerstage - part of that elusive feel thing. I seem to have some ear fatigue, which is bothersome, and unusual. One thing I thought of is that I have been playing through the Hot Plate here at home for a couple of years, and those are known for rounding off the highs and lows. I had everything dialed with that in the chain, but not using it with the Amped 1 of course. Maybe that's part of the difference.
Too early to tell, but I'm on the fence for now.