barrymclark Posted February 21, 2012 Posted February 21, 2012 How do I feel about it after several weeks and lot of playing? The newness has worn off. Even so, it is a very good amp. Much better than its price suggests. It gets VERY close to what I want an amp to sound like. The things I wish it did... well, you just aren't going to get that in a $250 amp. It would be cap, iron and tube upgrades at a minimum. That would drive the price up quite dramatically. Can it be done? Yes. These are built to be modified. Do I want to? That is the question. On the one hand... it sounds like a good idea. However, by the time I have done that, I could be nearing the $1000 total for the amp including what I paid for it. I am definitely not getting rid of the amp. It is too good and, for what I can afford right now, I can't ask for any better realistically. So, when money is good again, I can't say I will be selling this amp as it may serve as a nice little back up just in case. But.... I will be looking at other things. One of them will be the Carvin Vai Legacy III.
DetroitBlues Posted February 21, 2012 Posted February 21, 2012 The Iron on that amp is better than most sub $2,000 amps today.... What I would rather see is a clean channel that stays clean at higher volume and an effects loop. But they introduced a newer model with all that.
barrymclark Posted February 21, 2012 Author Posted February 21, 2012 The Iron on that amp is better than most sub $2,000 amps today.... What I would rather see is a clean channel that stays clean at higher volume and an effects loop. But they introduced a newer model with all that. I agree on the clean. What I want to see it do is have more string/note definition at higher gain. When I get it to where I like the high gain tone, it mushes. The Cube keeps the definition, but there isn't enough mush. It is very grainy feeling... if you follow. I was getting more that it would be a change in the internals and not a swipe at what is in there. This is as Soldano designed it and it sounds very good. Just not quite where i want it.
Guest HRB853370 Posted February 21, 2012 Posted February 21, 2012 How do I feel about it after several weeks and lot of playing? The newness has worn off. Even so, it is a very good amp. Much better than its price suggests. It gets VERY close to what I want an amp to sound like. The things I wish it did... well, you just aren't going to get that in a $250 amp. It would be cap, iron and tube upgrades at a minimum. That would drive the price up quite dramatically. Can it be done? Yes. These are built to be modified. Do I want to? That is the question. On the one hand... it sounds like a good idea. However, by the time I have done that, I could be nearing the $1000 total for the amp including what I paid for it. I am definitely not getting rid of the amp. It is too good and, for what I can afford right now, I can't ask for any better realistically. So, when money is good again, I can't say I will be selling this amp as it may serve as a nice little back up just in case. But.... I will be looking at other things. One of them will be the Carvin Vai Legacy III. How about a KBP810 custom order. I can even think of a cool name, lets see, ummm, how about Starlite!
barrymclark Posted February 21, 2012 Author Posted February 21, 2012 How about a KBP810 custom order. I can even think of a cool name, lets see, ummm, how about Starlite! Well, he's taking a well deserved break once he gets done with his current order list so that may not be an option and, really, until I have cash in hand and he says he is still building or is starting again, I don't want to hang my hat on that. If that is an option, then yes. I wil be talking to him first.
Guest HRB853370 Posted February 21, 2012 Posted February 21, 2012 Well, he's taking a well deserved break once he gets done with his current order list so that may not be an option and, really, until I have cash in hand and he says he is still building or is starting again, I don't want to hang my hat on that. If that is an option, then yes. I wil be talking to him first. Oh no he's not, I got an order I am placing with him this week, with an April 1 delivery date. Nice try tho bro!
barrymclark Posted February 21, 2012 Author Posted February 21, 2012 Oh no he's not, I got an order I am placing with him this week, with an April 1 delivery date. Nice try tho bro! Ah, well, that is what I last heard. And.. unless I have money in hand... it doesn't matter anyways.
Guest HRB853370 Posted February 21, 2012 Posted February 21, 2012 Ah, well, that is what I last heard. And.. unless I have money in hand... it doesn't matter anyways. Ah, just pulling yer leg. I dunno, he has been awful busy eh? Never even see him post here anymore.
barrymclark Posted February 21, 2012 Author Posted February 21, 2012 Ah, just pulling yer leg. I dunno, he has been awful busy eh? Never even see him post here anymore. Yeah. He definitely got a lot of orders!
DetroitBlues Posted February 21, 2012 Posted February 21, 2012 Oh no he's not, I got an order I am placing with him this week, with an April 1 delivery date. Nice try tho bro! Awesome! What did you order from him?
212Mavguy Posted February 22, 2012 Posted February 22, 2012 Barry, Hear ya on the money thang. When I started collecting my tubes, I got them one at a time on the "bay. What brand and type of preamp tubes does your JC have now?
barrymclark Posted February 22, 2012 Author Posted February 22, 2012 Barry, Hear ya on the money thang. When I started collecting my tubes, I got them one at a time on the "bay. What brand and type of preamp tubes does your JC have now? No identifying label that I can see on there. Only says MADE IN CHINA. They would appear to be the originals to the amp. They are a bit farty. Not horribly so... but it is there. I am very curious about the RetroValves.
DetroitBlues Posted February 22, 2012 Posted February 22, 2012 Find yourself a 12AY7 tube and replace the 2nd preamp tube with it... Should give you some higher clean volume.
barrymclark Posted February 22, 2012 Author Posted February 22, 2012 Find yourself a 12AY7 tube and replace the 2nd preamp tube with it... Should give you some higher clean volume. Yeah. I have a few things I want to try. The caps will by far the cheapest thing I could do. To get to the volume I want at the tone I want it will likely have to stay cleaner longer. It gets WAY fuzzy quick. Sounds DAMN good. I want to get it where the gain being wound out it is right at the verge of feedback. Ideally, I'd like an old Fender Blackface type tone but with a darker british edge on it. Very sensitive. I don't know if this amp's architecture has it in 'er, but I will see. Worse comes to worse, I can always try and save a bit over a bill and get th KBP ODS. Who knows when the hell that will be. haha.
DetroitBlues Posted February 22, 2012 Posted February 22, 2012 If you are going to mod it, try this: http://www.bitmomodkits.com/servlet/the-108/BITMO-SUFRA-JET-CITY/Detail
barrymclark Posted February 22, 2012 Author Posted February 22, 2012 If you are going to mod it, try this: http://www.bitmomodk...JET-CITY/Detail Cool. I will have to check that out.
knopfler74 Posted February 22, 2012 Posted February 22, 2012 I agree on the clean. What I want to see it do is have more string/note definition at higher gain. When I get it to where I like the high gain tone, it mushes. The Cube keeps the definition, but there isn't enough mush. It is very grainy feeling... if you follow. I was getting more that it would be a change in the internals and not a swipe at what is in there. This is as Soldano designed it and it sounds very good. Just not quite where i want it. Ben Verellen (spelling) already offers a modded version of this amp on the Jet City web site. It costs a little more, but is still under $500. I'd check out the site and see if they can retrofit your amp. Should keep your costs down and give you the clean headroom you want. Good luck!
DetroitBlues Posted February 22, 2012 Posted February 22, 2012 The bitmo kit is only $30.... I did use their advice and used a 12AT7 on it and it worked. That cost me $5.
barrymclark Posted February 22, 2012 Author Posted February 22, 2012 The bitmo kit is only $30.... I did use their advice and used a 12AT7 on it and it worked. That cost me $5. I will give it a look! Have you seen the RetroValve stuff? Looks interesting. Really only 12ax7 stuff. But still...
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