Anybody here actually use Krank amps?

[scottcrud]

Which model? I played a Rev1 when they first came out and was very UN-impressed. Even with the gain on 10 I still would need a od pedal for enough gain, and I play a 1989 Mesa Boogie .50Cal+. Thought the clean channel was great, only problem is I don't ever use a clean channel.

 

[TeleBlaster]

Not enough gain??? LOL - I call BS and troll

 

[scottcrud]

A troll? hmmm, would you call Killertone a troll too? He was there with me at Music Makers in Austin, in fact he was their Amp guy.

 

[TeleBlaster]

LOL
C'mon - everyone knows this board is full of Krank haters. What's the matter, slow day at work so you're trying to stir up some entertainment?

 

[rottingcorpse]

define "use"....

i "use" my krankenstein + when i want to show how much better the randall X2 is at getting dimes tone.

i "use" my krankenstein + as a loaner amp to my friends as a joke.

i "use" my krankenstein + as a door stop. (i have more, but you get my point.)

i bought it from a friend who won it in a contest, and he never played it. brand new, still had plastic on the knobs. he really needed money to go into a recording studio. got it for a steal thinking "how bad could it be?"

 

[killertone]

Scottcrud is no troll. That is funny, actually.

The first Rev1's did not sound very good, IMO, and had a very dry feeling to them. I have since heard or worked on a few Revs that sounded much better. Still don't think they are great amps though. Never heard the Rev +, it may be great, I don't know.

The Krankenstein was a failure, IMO. No idea how Dime even played that amp.

A Krank hater I am not, I just don't like amps that sound bad.

 

[TeleBlaster]

Really? not enough gain at 10, and nobody in a music store thought to check a preamp tube or call the manufacturer?
Kinda hard to believe if it's not GC.

And if it was a Rev1, we're talking what, 4-5 years ago?
So randomly start another tired "Krank sucks" thread four years later, and you're not a troll?

 

[killertone]

Man, you need to seriously chill out. I was respectful in my opinion and never said Krank sucks. I don't think Scott did either and the thread title is nowhere close to "Krank Sucks." Calm down, man.

 

[scottcrud]

I never said Krank sucks, ever, I said I was UN-impressed when I tried one out. Killertone had a Budda Superdrive 80, a JSX, a Stiletto version 1, a Framus Dragon, Cobra and a Mode 4, I tried them all that day, with high hopes for the Krank. The only amp I liked least was the Mode4. And it was probably longer than five years ago, was when they first came out. I only ask because they seem to be a great bargain used, made in America, all tube etc. Was thinking of picking one up. Wondering how easy they are to mod...

 

[bioniczero]

I had a Rev1 at one point for a couple of months. It was good for high gain rhythms with a boost (which is pretty much all I play, so I can't comment on the lead tones or anything else really). I sold it off because I needed some cash. I'd like to pick one up on the cheap to mess around at some point again.

 

[TeleBlaster]

Seriously, I play out at least three times a week. At least. Some weeks we're out for 8-10 days in a row. After every show, there's always people complementing my tone, from the sound crew, other bands at the venue, guitar players from the audience, etc.
In fact, two weeks ago in Bullhead City at a little place I had three guys want to buy my amp after the show!
No, I'm not an egomaniac who thinks more highly of my abilities than I ought to.
I'm in a great band with some very talented musicians and I know that when all the parts work together that helps the perception of the individual.
Now granted, if someone thought you sucked, they're not going to make it a point to go back stage and tell you, I get that.

But every place we go, every different sound crew, every other act, every person I've talked to, not a one has had anything negative to say about Krank amps or about my tone, the response has all been extremely positive.
Even people who heard me in different bands a few years ago, have said how much better I sound than I did with my old amp.

Real life is much different than all the lies you read about Krank amps in chat forums and sometimes it rubs you the wrong way.

 

[TeleBlaster]

I only ask because they seem to be a great bargain used, made in America, all tube etc. Was thinking of picking one up. Wondering how easy they are to mod...

You're right, they are a great deal on the used market.
My Rev1 has the Plus OT and a selectable gain mod on the Kleen channel. The Chadwick I is bone stock.

 

[D-Rock]

I played a Rev1 2x12 combo that was covered in yellow tolex about 5-6 years ago. I didn't mind it at all. I liked it's dry, clear gain. I felt I could really dig in with my pick and not have the amp get over saturated or fizzy. The sweep dial placement really determined the amps tone. If I saw one for a good price used I definitely snag it.
I didn't like the Krankenstein at all though. That was just a fizzy, cold flubby mess. But, I saw the band Terror use one live and it killed. Clear, tight and punchy....so who knows.

 

[scottcrud]

Teleblaster, What kind of music do you play? Is yours the plus? You use an od with yours? Click on my bands to get an idea of the music I play... We play bone stock old mesa boogies from the 80's,with our gain on 10, not engl's or ubershalls etc.

 

[TeleBlaster]

I'm running out the door right now to hit the bank before it closes.
I'll get back with you later.

 

[MYLILSS]

i like the krank rev+ i have. it sounds great. i dont see any reason for running an OD out front except as a clean boost for a bit more saturation. it has plenty of gain, but is a very dry sounding amp. i am torn between letting mine go and sending it to FJA for some mods. i really have no reason to get rid of it, except that i am a certified gear whore , and i always have GAS

 

[joepete77]

I only ask because they seem to be a great bargain used, made in America, all tube etc. Was thinking of picking one up. Wondering how easy they are to mod...

You're right, they are a great deal on the used market.
My Rev1 has the Plus OT and a selectable gain mod on the Kleen channel. The Chadwick I is bone stock.

I am not a metal player, after reading about the chadwick it seemed to me that it would be a cool amp in a modded 800 type brittish tone. Is my assumption correct or is this an entirely different tone then to be in the modded marshall category??

 

[TeleBlaster]

Teleblaster, What kind of music do you play? Is yours the plus? You use an od with yours? Click on my bands to get an idea of the music I play... We play bone stock old mesa boogies from the 80's,with our gain on 10, not engl's or ubershalls etc.

I'm at home now and I can't get any players to work on the links, probably because our ISP is really slow here.
Anyways, the last band was harder the an the current. Sevendust, Disturbed, Killswitch, that kinda pop metal stuff. I ran the gain down at about 4.5 for rhythm and used a TS pedal for leads, vol at 10 gain at 2 and tone at noon on the pedal.
The current band is modern ska punk reggae but we rock the songs out pretty good. Goldfinger, Pepper, 311, Incubus -ish.
So a lot of cleans, but I turn the gain up to about 5.5 and roll of the volumes for the dirt rhythm parts and guitar vol full up for the leads. That's enough gain for harmonic feedback, pick squeals, tapping parts.

I am not a metal player, after reading about the chadwick it seemed to me that it would be a cool amp in a modded 800 type brittish tone. Is my assumption correct or is this an entirely different tone then to be in the modded marshall category??

If you can find a Chadwick, yeah they are very classic sounding. They are not EL34 though, 5881(6L6).
Personally I think the single channels sound a little better if you can live without a switcher. You can dial in great cleans all the way up to a real roaring hard rock tone short of metal.

The Nineteen80 replaces the Chadwick in the lineup. These are awesome! Definitely not modern sounding like the Rev or 'stein, but they can get real mean.
That will probably be my next head.

Revolution Series One

Chadwick I

 

[CaseyCor]

I had the chance to spend about 20 minutes with a Chadwick, and really enjoyed it. I really liked that amp. Some great clean/low gain sounds.

 

[shredi knight]

Seriously, I play out at least three times a week. At least. Some weeks we're out for 8-10 days in a row.

Well I think you must be trolling about how many days a week you actually play.