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NAD: Heritage Patriot


MartyGrass

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I got this from H525 over a week ago but hadn't been able to use it until the last couple of days. This specimen has a couple of 12" speakers and weighs 68 lbs.

 

Many years ago a Twin Reverb was my usual gigging amp. I also used other heavy amps back in the day, but the Twin had the most miles on it. Recently I succumbed to the temptation of the Patriot largely due to a craving for that wall of big speaker sound, relatively big anyway compared to what I recently have been using. Since I won't be toting it, the weight doesn't matter.

 

I'm generally not 100% fond of tube amps because of their fussiness and maintenance needs. I play clean and don't need the breakup a tube delivers. Plus tubes tend to hiss. Nonetheless I took the plunge.

 

H525 packed this baby very, very well. And it turns out that 68 lbs. doesn't feel all that heavy when you like what you're carrying.

 

When I fired it up, the pre-amp tubes needed reseating to get rid of a wind-like sound. After that, it was all pleasure.

 

I'm surprised at how quite it is. There's really a minimal difference between it and my solid state amps.

 

The reverb is luscious, couldn't be better. And it can go deep, deep.

 

The volume knob is about as close to linear as I've seen, which is nice.

 

The EQ pots are just right. I can dial in anything I've imagined so far. They are logical and quick to learn.

 

The mood control is hard to explain. It may either compress or have some notching effect. I need more experience to tell. But it does have a major tone effect.

 

The amp can be really loud but doesn't need to be to have a full tonal range. There is a lot of headroom.

 

In comparison to my old Twin Reverb, I like it better. It seems to have greater warmth. I believe that Wes Montgomery would have been happy with it. I also live the reverb better and don't miss the second channel and tremolo.

 

 

 

image_zps3b6531b3.jpg

 

 

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Your comments are pretty much spot on, MG. The Patriot reminds me a lot of the Twin.

 

As for the mood control, I find that running it down gives it a little bit of "flab" on the bottom end, just slightly loose with a little rolled off top. I guess that's supposed to be the "tweed" sound. Going the other way, tightens everything up and gives it a slight scoop to the midrange, ala blackface Fenders. This shows up better when you get up in volume up a bit. Its never going to go "Marshall" OD .. well maybe if you crank it up to 3:00 or so on the volume. I don't know, and I don't plan to do that, as I want to preserve what hearing I have left!

 

Make sure you check the bias on occasion. It should keep the power tubes running longer. Right now, mine has Ruby 6L6s. There is a pair of EL34s in the basement that I was going to try but they're still sitting there after a year! The 6L6s sound so good. Maybe someday we'll go down that other road.

 

Enjoy it!

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This is such a cool amp. Nice review, too. Congrats on the pick up. It sounds like you're really liking it!

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