New amp day....soon

[Steiner]

Congrats Tully!

 

I wish Tom Dread would talk to us more. I like his avatar.

[JeffB]

Its a cool amp. Likes to be loud. Its heavier than a Mesa Road King and way heavier than my Mesa Lone Star.

Lots of good usable sounds. Dont bother demoing it at quiet volumes. Good cleans through to quite high gain. It has chime ,ching through to growl and chug covered.

I settled on sounds I wanted and liked very easily on all channels. I havnt messed around with the different wattage settings much yet. Only enough to know that 10w isnt much quieter than 100w, just a warmer and sooner with the breakup.

Not saying its the amp to end all amp desire but I think its going to be a very versatile gig amp. Some favourite stomps exiting. Redundant with this amp I think.

Have to road test it a bit before I come to any real conclusions I guess. Made in China.

 

[tulk1]

And it only took ... how long? Maybe they had it special built just for you. Fresh off the farm, so to speak.

[Guest tomdread]

Congrats Tully!

 

I wish Tom Dread would talk to us more. I like his avatar.

I think Tully was having a hard time keeping up with who he was/is. Im pretty sorted though.

 

In

Out

[Steiner]

Thanks for the foot-stomping porn Thomas!

 

It's good to see you again!

 

Oh! Congrats on the NAD!!!

[Guest tomdread]

And it only took ... how long? Maybe they had it special built just for you. Fresh off the farm, so to speak.

10 weeks from the day I ordered it. I was very patient and hardly thought about it the whole time.

Did a gig with the new band in the weekend and was actually pretty happy with the sounds I got from the LS and the pedals pictured above. I decided it was good enough, great infact, for what I needed. So I was completely over the Egnater. But doing a side by side tonight I think the Egnater is just the perfect solution. It is what it is and isnt trying to be something it isnt.

Now all I have to do is get some rock chops happening again.

[JeffB]

IT'S A VERY LOUD AMP

Even set to 10w all the best sounds seem to be about the same level as a rock drummers stick's hit the snare.

Marshall flavour right through with a hint of mesa recto with the od channels set to modern and a bit of fendery mesa on the clean channels set to modern. Ive pretty much found sounds I like just in the classic modes.

I took a bias reading and found it set to 102 mv so I bought it up to about 130mv. There was a definite improvement in the quality of the over driven sounds and a bit more body and touch responsiveness to the cleans. I initially thought that the amp was a little to scrappy sounding for my liking. Adjusting the bias seemed to smooth it out and added some depth to the sound.

This is a lot of amp but not unmanageable. It just isnt a home amp.

The cleans on this amp are nice. The strat in the 2nd and 4th positions sound great. You can set ch1 to be a big clean that doesn't break up or warm it up with the gain and bass to just breaking up. It is loud at this stage though. In the owners manual it gives a setting called JTM clean on ch 1, its a fairly accurate description and is pretty much what I was hoping for and where I will probably leave it set.

The H-150 sounds absolutely huge through this amp.On ch3 it is just a monster rock machine. Gives me a goofy grin.

It weighs 60lb and the best sounds are at levels that are inconsiderate to use at home. I would hate to own this and have no outlet for playing with others or being able to crank it. It just isn't a great sounding amp at home/bedroom levels.

Its got 4 very usable channels from great cleans to more gain than I will ever use. Its loud enough for any occasion.

Still have to experiment more with the modern/classic modes, the different power setting (10/20/25/50/100), the fx loop (parallel/series) and the contour buttons and control on each channel. But so far seems to be an easy amp to set up for the sounds I want. Funnily enough Ive set the sounds up pretty much like I had the Mesa LS set with pedal's. I guess its how I would try to set up any amp/ pedal combination. So I guess The Tourmaster does what I want it to do with out too much dicking around.

[JeffB]

BWWWWAAAAAHHHHHaahhaaahhhaahhhhhhaaaaaa ha ha ha ha ha ha ha tee hee hee.............................HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA ............ahhhhhhhhh.....ha ha. Some kinda sonic bliss.

 

Neighbors..... what can I say........you know it sounds good, why would I apologize for that.

[FredZepp]

That sounds like an optimum gig amp... versatile and great sounding....

 

I could probably get by on two of the channels... but more is better.

 

 

It is so cool that you finally got it... and it was worth the wait.

[JeffB]

The clean channels 1 and 2 on the Egnater are really surprising me. Each channel has a modern or classic switch. I was installing a bias kit in my Mesa LS and thought I was getting some good results. While I was there I made a quick change to the bias on the Egnater. TBH the sounds I got out of it were easily on a par with the LS if not better(subjective). The Egnater is probably a bit more versatile in the way's you can tweak it than the LS. The classic/modern switch and the contour button and control arent nearly as gimmicky as I had first assumed they were. They really are useful for arranging the eq to react almost anyway you want.

I dragged my Rivera Fender out to do a quick comparison as well. If there wasnt any sentimental value attached to that amp it would be gone.

So far Im more than happy with ch's 1 and 2. Still have to really dig into the high gain ch 3&4.

My main reservation about this amp is the Groove Tubes valves they use. I had them in a Fender Pro Tube Pro Reverb and I had problems with them.

The 4 channel Egnater cost me just a little more than the OD/Dist stomps I run in front of my Mesa LS. I get pretty much the same sounds and levels of gain(more in fact) out of the Egnater as I do out of the pedals and LS. The cleans as I said before, subjective though it is, are easily in a similar class. I love my Mesa LS and most Mesa products. But right now Im seriously considering selling the Mesa....and the Fender....... and my PRS(since I got my H150 I never play it)......half my stomps and buying a 535/555 hybrid and taking Mrs Tully to New Zealand for a two or three weeks.

Ive got to give it more time yet just to see how it really pans out in terms of reliability and actual gig usefulness, but its stacking up pretty good right now. Im starting to feel good about it.

Down side other than my uncertainty about the GT's is that this just isnt a home amp. Im all ways aware that a few more clicks on the volume control is where I want it to be when forced to play at home levels.

[koula901]

Its a cool amp. Likes to be loud. Its heavier than a Mesa Road King and way heavier than my Mesa Lone Star.

Lots of good usable sounds. Dont bother demoing it at quiet volumes. Good cleans through to quite high gain. It has chime ,ching through to growl and chug covered.

I settled on sounds I wanted and liked very easily on all channels. I havnt messed around with the different wattage settings much yet. Only enough to know that 10w isnt much quieter than 100w, just a warmer and sooner with the breakup.

Not saying its the amp to end all amp desire but I think its going to be a very versatile gig amp. Some favourite stomps exiting. Redundant with this amp I think.

Have to road test it a bit before I come to any real conclusions I guess. Made in China.

 

Some stuff made in China is really not bad at all, believe it or not (though I'd rather some American worker got my cash).

I heard demos of Egnator on the Product reviews section in TGP and was really impressed.

[JeffB]

Im wary of Chinese made products. I hate even saying that. There are somethings that come out of there that really are a waste of resources and time.

I did a quick check through our household appliances. Not much isnt made in China. We havent had any fail rate with that stuff.

The Egnater though seems very well built from a structural point of view. Its finish is every bit as good as any Mesa Ive owned or Bad Cat Ive dragged home. Its fit and finish is better than most Fender Marshall and Peavey Ive owned.

Unlike the Marshall JVM series and Blackstar Series One amps, the volume, tone etc controls are solid with none of the wiggle that the others have. They are solidly mounted. The controls are lighter to turn than my Mesa but dont feel cheap and there is no play before it starts working like a Bugera or cheaper Peavey 6505 112.

Theres no unfinished seams on the tolex like a Peavey or Fender. Everything is well finished and seems well put together.

Im not one to evaluate an amp or check out things like Ive just mentioned. I pretty much just plug in and it sounds good or it doesnt.

But for some reason I have with this amp and it seems to more than measure up in those regards. The British, US and Aus manufacturers and work force could take note. Marshall and Blackstar definitely should. Even Fender.

But.... I'll reserve judgment on the things that really matter, reliability, consistency etc till its proven itself over a period of time. If it can take the beating that my Rivera Fender took for the 25yrs Ive had it then I will declare it a good thing ..................... I'll be 70 then. No way will I be lugging a 60lb head around then^_^

[JeffB]

Not only is it a loud amp but it also absolutely rocks in a band setting. Very cool amp.

Had the opportunity to try it in a jam/recruitment/rehearsal situation today and it really did sound great. I had my strat and H150, both sounded great. We played stuff from Van Morrison, Wilson Pickett, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Wild Cherry...(you know the tunes) to RHCP, Greenday, Foo Fighters, Evanescence and other....crap that I have to play while looking like I enjoy it(some of it I do).

Anyway, Bruce designed a great amp. The sounds I was getting were great. The thing that made me stop to ponder was it was very easy to get very usable mainstream sounds and tones for any genre a cover band would have to use. But there is still a lot more sounds in the amp yet that I will never touch. I dont use a pristine clean for example, but this amp is very capable of doing that to ear drum splitting levels. I dont drop tune to c# and scoop mids but that is in this amp. So the sounds I use in it are only like splashing in the shallow end of the pool.

I had my Mesa LS there today as well and to be honest, as much as I love that amp, its looking a little redundant. Its saving grace being its fluid drive channel and ease of use and good sounds at lower volumes. But even then the Egnater is only and O/D pedal away from getting close enough is good enough to the same thing I guess.

[JeffB]

Just a bump of sorts rather than starting a new thread.

I found a Slash sig Marshall head. Its pretty much a Marshall Silver Jubilee. A few players I like seem to use the SJ so I thought it might be cool to try one.

Great amp. Great Marshall sound. Cool features with a 100/50w switch and a seperate volume control for the gain channel. Also has a rhythm/lead switch. All in all a cool amp.

I had a Marshall Vintage Modern around to compare it with.

But then I plugged in my Egnater. What made me do a double take was the sounds that I had dialed into (or out of?) the Slash sig were pretty much the last sounds I had been using on ch3 of the Egnater!!! Enough to make me check which amp I was plugged into. Goes to show how I try to dial the same sounds out of every piece of gear.

Spent a few hours so far on these amps, mainly the gain channels, and I think there is nothing in the Marshalls that the Egnater cant do. Close enough. The difference being that all the comparisons that I did were only on ch3 of the Egnater. It still has 3 other channels to play around with.

But the Slash head is a great sound. The Vintage Modern got the least play time so far. Its a bit......nothing compared to the other two.

[brentrocks]

Just a bump of sorts rather than starting a new thread.

I found a Slash sig Marshall head. Its pretty much a Marshall Silver Jubilee. A few players I like seem to use the SJ so I thought it might be cool to try one.

Great amp. Great Marshall sound. Cool features with a 100/50w switch and a seperate volume control for the gain channel. Also has a rhythm/lead switch. All in all a cool amp.

I had a Marshall Vintage Modern around to compare it with.

But then I plugged in my Egnater. What made me do a double take was the sounds that I had dialed into (or out of?) the Slash sig were pretty much the last sounds I had been using on ch3 of the Egnater!!! Enough to make me check which amp I was plugged into. Goes to show how I try to dial the same sounds out of every piece of gear.

Spent a few hours so far on these amps, mainly the gain channels, and I think there is nothing in the Marshalls that the Egnater cant do. Close enough. The difference being that all the comparisons that I did were only on ch3 of the Egnater. It still has 3 other channels to play around with.

But the Slash head is a great sound. The Vintage Modern got the least play time so far. Its a bit......nothing compared to the other two.

 

 

The Egnater...is that a 4 channel? i would like that a lot!!!

 

edit...i guess my question was answered before...lol.....that Slash sounds like a nice amp too.

[JeffB]

The Egnater...is that a 4 channel? i would like that a lot!!!

 

edit...i guess my question was answered before...lol.....that Slash sounds like a nice amp too.

Slash sig Silver jubilee

Its a great sounding amp. Would like to keep it.

The H150 sounds very good through it. Tight and percussive rhythms and warm fat neck p/up leads.

Once dialed in you have that moment of, "oh.... thats that sound". If you are in to collecting guitar tones through the era's, it is one of them you should have.

Hand wired which can be good or bad depending on how you look at it.

The high/low power switch does something. 100w gives you the big full chunk and ching and the 50w at the same volume is a bit more creamier.

Having it here next to the Egnater was a good reality check. The Egnater stacks up well against it no two ways about it.

Also explains why the other guitarists eyes lit up when he played through the Egnater. His favourite amps have all been 80s -90s Marshalls.

[FredZepp]

Whew... that's a serious group of amps.

 

It's obvious that you get a kick out of searching for that next amp tone. I'd stop and be content with pretty much any of those....

 

(although there was this purple Marshall clone that really was threatening to give me AAS, but I am well covered for what I do with what I have. AAS avoided..... )

[FredZepp]

[Guest HRB853370]

To hell with Ignator, Ignition, or whatever they call it. I like my new Gibson G40. Cant be beat.

[brentrocks]

 

 

LMAO

 

Where do you find these pics????

[JeffB]

Whew... that's a serious group of amps.

 

It's obvious that you get a kick out of searching for that next amp tone. I'd stop and be content with pretty much any of those....

 

(although there was this purple Marshall clone that really was threatening to give me AAS, but I am well covered for what I do with what I have. AAS avoided..... )

Not all my amps. The Vintage Modern belongs to a friend and the Slash sig is going back in a few weeks.

I do enjoy amps more than guitars. Theyre not as visually appealing I suppose, though a BF Fender combo is quite a handsome looking box and a Marshall JTM head and 412 cab has a classic kind of appeal.

I can think of at least 10 amps that I would like and only 3-4 guitars I would like and I already have 2 of those guitars.

I just find any LP spec guitar sounds pretty much like any LP spec guitar give or take a few subtle nuance's but those same guitars take on different attitudes and personalities through different amps. Im not going for one sound as the definitive be all and end all sound.

But tbh, being an acoustic hack more than electric hack I find myself kind of wondering about myself and my obsession with most of the above. I play acoustic 98% of the time and mainly rhythm. I like that there really is nothing much to tweak other than my own technique. I also dont seem to care whether I play a cheap or an expensive acoustic. I just seem to settle on what that guitar sounds like.

[JeffB]

To hell with Ignator, Ignition, or whatever they call it.

"Egnater". Bruce Egnater is the designer. I cant see why you would want to condemn this amp to hell! What did it ever do to you to draw such a hostile remark. Sure the 1st edition had a flabby bottom end, but they rectified that and now its fine...... and yes, they use groove tubes that make it a bit buzzy and fizzy for my liking. But I was able to replace them with better tubes and it wasnt such a burden to do that. Have you had a bad experience with an Egnater product that left such a vile taste in your mouth that you would want to condemn current and future generations of Egnater products to amp hell? Im not following what you are trying to say.

I like my new Gibson G40. Cant be beat.

Glad you are liking it....

[fxdx99]

... but those same guitars take on different attitudes and personalities through different amps. Im not going for one sound as the definitive be all and end all sound.

 

Yuppers - true words (er... that is, I agree with ya). I've a few amps now and almost have the bases that I want covered. Not all - don't have a good Marshall sounding amp as I haven't found one that meets my 'other' specs (sub 40 lbs in a 1x12 combo). But more of a Fender sound guy anyway liking 'tweed and blackface' sounds.

 

Tully, you should just get w/that Tomdread guy and borrow his amps. He sounds like a real electric guitar nut. That way you can focus on your acoustic and let TomD handle all the electric stuff...