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NAD: 1987X - JiveTurkey & La Szum are to blame! 😭
- Thread starter jellodog
- Start date
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Holy shit! The 1987X + Reload II has fully exceeded my expectations!
Signal chain:
My modified HSS Cutlass / Hemmelight's Tyler Studio Elite
1987X High Treble input -> 16 Ohm speaker output
Two Notes Reload II reactive load, set to 16 Ohm
RME Fireface UCX II @ 96 kHz
Macbook Air M4 + Mainstage
IR: York Audio KW 412 M25 Mix 16 @ 96k
Valhalla Delay in "digital" mode.
GLORIOUS!!!
@hemmelight and I played the Plexi for 2 hours striaght without any breakfast and we only stopped for lunch because we were hungry.
The sounds and feel that we've been getting here today is pretty much what we've both been searching for... for YEARS.
I was super worried that I'd wasted a shit load of money on yet more gear, but that fear has instantly evaporated. The dynamics and sensitivity to guitar volume knob is everything that the Plexi circuit promises. Very satisfied.
We didn't even get around to jumping the inputs or using my pedals in the Reload's FX loop, because what we already had going on was so satisfying. I'm looking forward to doing that though.
View attachment 47284
Can confirm, this thing is ridiculous. Plexi is the truth and the light.
After we got the routing and IRs figured out we moved everything on the amp to my normal go-to settings in the Axe-Fx (as pictured.) It was basically instant love. As much as I adore the Axe-Fx, this setup very quickly became my favourite thing I've ever played through. It's got the perfect amount of compression and squish while still staying articulate and musical. If it sounds like I'm gushing (both verbally and in the crotch-region) it's because I absolutely am.
Playing a classic Plexi circuit working properly is like the guitar amp equivalent of driving an air-cooled 911 Turbo.
It's old school and analog and dynamic and sexy AF.
Hahahahaha I'd have to set a timer to know when it's appropriate to pass the guitar back or else it'd be a continuous "Come on, I've only been playing it for a minute!". Getting to enjoy a new amp with someone who understands the details is quite the gratifying experience, especially when you're both chasing down tones you know the amp is capable of. Good fuckin' times!
There's some squeaks and squawks that pop out at total random that are awesome, what I love the most about a Plexi though, is that I strongly feel they're the ultimate 'tone is in the hands' amp. You can slap gobs of distortion on one via pedal and make it a bit easier, but there's only so far you can go without before it's not sounding like a Plexi anymore.
Archelo
Newbie
- Messages
- 2
Had a blast Drew! Thank you so much for being so accommodating and a gracious host! I will admit that ive had that rig for so long that i was sad to see it go. I know its in the right hands! Enjoy the Hot Mod as well…its such a great way to get more tonal options.
I am loving the Shiva and snagged a 1x12 Bogner cab to pair it with.
Today i pulled the chassis just to check the bias and it is perfect! Cant thank you enough for allowing me the opportunity to finally scratch the Shiva itch ive had for sooo long. Cheers my friend!
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Very stoked to hear about the bias!! I was pretty confident the gent who sold it to me was on the up and up about it's service history! That cab Is perfect! It's indeed funny how we 'care' to a certain degree where these inanimate pieces of gear end up!
And welcome to the forum!
hemmelight
Roadie
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- 625
EOengineer
Rock Star
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- 2,983
You are in for so much fun and discovery. Coming from someone who grabbed my first 1959 15 years ago, this is just getting started for you.Holy shit! The 1987X + Reload II has fully exceeded my expectations!
Signal chain:
My modified HSS Cutlass / Hemmelight's Tyler Studio Elite
1987X High Treble input -> 16 Ohm speaker output
Two Notes Reload II reactive load, set to 16 Ohm
RME Fireface UCX II @ 96 kHz
Macbook Air M4 + Mainstage
IR: York Audio KW 412 M25 Mix 16 @ 96k
Valhalla Delay in "digital" mode.
GLORIOUS!!!
@hemmelight and I played the Plexi for 2 hours striaght without any breakfast and we only stopped for lunch because we were hungry.
The sounds and feel that we've been getting here today is pretty much what we've both been searching for... for YEARS.
I was super worried that I'd wasted a shit load of money on yet more gear, but that fear has instantly evaporated. The dynamics and sensitivity to guitar volume knob is everything that the Plexi circuit promises. Very satisfied.
We didn't even get around to jumping the inputs or using my pedals in the Reload's FX loop, because what we already had going on was so satisfying. I'm looking forward to doing that though.
View attachment 47284
Grab an ABY box and a treble booster or EQ pedal when you get a chance. Place the treble booster between the ABY box and the amp’s bass channel. That will give you the option to footswitch between the treble channel in all its glory, and a boosted bass channel that isn’t the just flub anymore. This is a little more controllable if you have the post phase inverter master volume, but it’s not completely necessary.
Single channel amp, my ass.
ejecta
Shredder
- Messages
- 1,240
Been saying it for years and been catching shit on forums for years as well with being called a tube snob, Fractal hater, blah , blah, blah, blah , blah.
Look modelers are an amazing tool and I’m really glad that they sound as good as they do because sometimes it is really the best tool for the gig. But I’m sorry by no stretch of the imagination is paying a modeler the same experience as nice tube amp at levels to keep up with acoustic drums. “But, but, but play a modeler through a power amp and cab and the it’s the same.” Yeah maybe but at that point the convenient part of the light weight rig just went bye bye so hard pass. I’ll just play a real head.
Honestly I don’t blame guitar players as much as I blame the modeling manufacturers selling the horseshit that “playing our modeler will give you the same experience as playing a tube amp.” Sure you could say that it’s on the player for buying into that but I can see after dropping what wouldn’t be considered chump change on a digital unit…. I think I’d also be trying to sell myself hard that “yeah it’s the same”.
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EOengineer
Rock Star
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- 2,983
There’s always been marketing literature writing checks that modeling tech couldn’t cash. For most of us, modeling was good enough for recording when you could no longer easily discern a modeled tone in a mix. IMO the live experience using a modeler has always been dicey if you’re chasing the authentic cranked tube amp experience.
Now that I’m mostly tracking tube amps via reactive load, I’m able to experiment more freely and I find myself coming around to try to reproduce as much of that live element as possible. I’m using a real cab in the room now even though I’m recording the direct signal from the reactive load. The cab moving air in the room and interacting with the guitar produces a more lively response, better sustain, and even feedback when I want it.
ejecta
Shredder
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- 1,240
I have to give credit to the guitar community that the whole modeler zealot mentality is not as bad as in the early years after high end modelers hit the market. God forbid when you got a modeler in hopes that it replaced your tube amp and then doesn’t and then get on modeling forums asking for help on why it doesn’t. You got the whole gaslighting of “you’re not dialing it in right”. No….. it just can’t sound and feel exactly like your tube amp no matter what the marketing hype or the modeler fanbois’s say. A lot guys now realize exactly what you just said and have both tools and pick and choose or combine for the gig.
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Byrdman
Shredder
- Messages
- 1,444
Congratulations @jellodog & @DrewJD82! You guys have my my dream amp that I will have one day. I have only been playing electric for a few years, but told myself once I finally get good enough to deserve a Plexi, I was going to reward myself with one for all the hard work. For now I can get closer with my Ghetto-Plexi (Modded Origin 50H), but it's definitely not the same, lol...
Byrdman
Shredder
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This is where we are our own worse enemies. When gigging with a modeler vs the real thing, no one in the audience except maybe a few players watching can tell the difference, but we can.
jellodog
Rock Star
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Ross from Two notes here - they are en-route!My cleanish Deluxe Reverb / Princeton thing has been over for at least a couple of years now.
These days, the amp models I usually use in the Axe-Fx are '59 Bassman / JTM 45 / 50w Plexi.
Still EOB and low-to-mid crunch, but significantly more gain than I used to use.
I get it now.
I blame @JiveTurkey & @la szum.
I also blame Soldano for not having a "proper" crunch channel in the X88-IR
But.
Perhaps I should thank them!
Look what you Mofos did!
View attachment 47120
A Marshall 1987X amp head. Jellodog residence 2025; 10 minutes ago.
Yeah, that's right – A fuckin' Marshall 1987X !
But I can't play it here at home. Not until Andertons receive the latest batch of Reload II reactive loads.
Ach well; it's not like I don't have other toys to be playing with in the meantime.
Killer combo right there! Glad to hear you are up and running with the Reload II and a killer amp for sure right there!Holy shit! The 1987X + Reload II has fully exceeded my expectations!
Signal chain:
My modified HSS Cutlass / Hemmelight's Tyler Studio Elite
1987X High Treble input -> 16 Ohm speaker output
Two Notes Reload II reactive load, set to 16 Ohm
RME Fireface UCX II @ 96 kHz
Macbook Air M4 + Mainstage
IR: York Audio KW 412 M25 Mix 16 @ 96k
Valhalla Delay in "digital" mode.
GLORIOUS!!!
@hemmelight and I played the Plexi for 2 hours striaght without any breakfast and we only stopped for lunch because we were hungry.
The sounds and feel that we've been getting here today is pretty much what we've both been searching for... for YEARS.
I was super worried that I'd wasted a shit load of money on yet more gear, but that fear has instantly evaporated. The dynamics and sensitivity to guitar volume knob is everything that the Plexi circuit promises. Very satisfied.
We didn't even get around to jumping the inputs or using my pedals in the Reload's FX loop, because what we already had going on was so satisfying. I'm looking forward to doing that though.
View attachment 47284
- Messages
- 11,322
I still need to work my way up to a full-on, non-modded ‘59 SPL, but I already know this one is going to change the way I play and it’ll most certainly change the way I dial in tones on any amp from here on out, like a reset switch for my playing and tone chasing. There’s something so pure about the amp that I want to adapt my playing to, while also being like a souped-up muscle car with no power steering and a touchy gas pedal. I can tell there’s a confidence that’ll come as a result of wrangling that amp that’ll only do me for the better when showing up somewhere and plugging into any amp.
tl;dr- Don’t wait, get one whenever it’s financially possible to do because you’re going to learn/grow as a player as a result of the way that amp works.
Byrdman
Shredder
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- 1,444
That's the truth, Fo Sho! My playing has gotten a lot better/less sloppy since I picked up my SC20H.
Going to be hard to do if the wifey kills me first for bringing home another "Rescue" Marshall Amp
BTW, I have already been all over the Ceriatone website window shopping. Now I'm even more intrigued with all the different year-based options. Probably take a few months of research to figure out which one. Thanks for the GAS
TSJMajesty
Rock Star
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- 7,303
I can relate to that, but from just playing high-gain in general, even through the Axe. Because of the compression, the notes have such a rich harmonic content, that you have to adopt a very accurate technique, or you'll get unwanted noise from something so slight as just brushing a knuckle against an open string. Leave a string uncovered, and it can generate a sympathetic harmonic from the note you're playing, even if for a millisecond.
Notes sound so effortlessly that it's also very easy to hear 2 at the same time, if you don't develop enough accuracy to only play one at a time, mostly when changing strings.
All that has really made my playing much cleaner as a result. It's the first thing I work on when learning something new, before I worry about the tempo.
This is why, when someone asks what type of tone they should use for practice (if it's something distorted), and someone says 'clean', I always disagree. A clean tone won't show you where your notes are overlapping, but a high-gain one will.
This isn't specific to any one amp of course, but the idea is the same as what you're saying.
JiveTurkey
Goatlord
- Messages
- 20,091
"They paid ME to buy it! I couldn't resist!"That's the truth, Fo Sho! My playing has gotten a lot better/less sloppy since I picked up my SC20H.
Going to be hard to do if the wifey kills me first for bringing home another "Rescue" Marshall Amp
BTW, I have already been all over the Ceriatone website window shopping. Now I'm even more intrigued with all the different year-based options. Probably take a few months of research to figure out which one. Thanks for the GAS
Byrdman
Shredder
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- 1,444
ejecta
Shredder
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- 1,240
I think the audience can tell in that if the player can tell that may result in not playing to their full potential if they fight their gear. Honestly all gear is capable of giving you a bad gig which also means I think it’s BS that modelers are more consistent than other pieces of gear. Depends…. if you go all in with in ears yeah that’s super consistent but that’s not propagated by some and not true if you’re off ears. Modelers through a "FRFR" is totally dependent on the room just like a traditional rig.
Anyway back in topic that Plexi amps are awesome!