Digging this tone (Quick Rod KT88 content)

[311splawndude]

Definitely have! I will be uploading a video on my KT88 supersport tomorrow where I demonstrate this as part of the playthrough. I agree, it opens up the mids and makes the sound just bigger overall. It rolls back the top end significantly but not in a muffled way. I just dial the presence up to compensate because I like a little top end sizzle

Just checked out your video demo. Great tone and playing as always

It's people like you who apologize for 'playing sloppy' that cause people like me to a.) feel anxious about posting clips and b.) strive to get better

Sorry you had to redo the audio. Oh man. Hopefully you realized that at the beginning and not after the whole session?

I think I liked the tone unboosted almost as much but I know a lot of it is the 'in room' feel. Does your other guitarist happen to have one too? You guys must really like that thing. I just got a Suhr Koko boost that I like. Can you compare your KDHx to anything?

But where was the part where the Treble was at '0'? As great of a job as you did my only complaint is that I didn't know the signal path (guitar/pups/speakers/cab/mic/ etc and I didn't know or could see the amp settings except Gain at Noon?

I've been doing the Treble on '0' thing for many years and forgot even now how I stumbled across it. I think it was by accident.

Again - great job man. I could never pull off anything like that so take what I say with a grain of salt please and keep the videos coming

:headbang:

 

[311splawndude]

I loved the tone and feel of both QRs I've owned, but had major problems with the second one. Customer service was not very good, so I wound up fixing multiple issues myself. Numerous cold solder joints caused me all kinds of problems. Also had a PI socket that was cracked in half, but that honestly could have been the result of the previous owner. Major PIA and I won't ever by a Splawn again.

Man, I respect you so much it is hard to even type this. This thread is about me digging a Splawn tone. Not a thread about Splawn Amplification Customer Service experiences. I'm sorry you had a bad experience. I know you told me it was a big blow up and well documented. I believe you, again I'm sorry. I have absolutely zero affiliation of Splawn and it is a free country and an open forum. I just ask that if you want to bitch about Splawn maybe create your own thread for it

Let's keep that ish out of Tone related threads. It seems you like to dump on the Splawn threads when given a chance. Everyone I've talked to about Splawn has nothing but the highest regards for these amps, Scott Splawn, and his excellent customer service. I bought my amp used too and he has been super helpful over the years. The warranty is not transferable as you probably know. I can't wrap my brain around how Scott could even create a cold solder joint or install a cracked socket.

Sorry. Carry on. No hard feelings. /rant

 

[311splawndude]

I really hope these vids get some traction and Scott gets a ton of orders for new amps. I think the past few years Friedman has stolen all of Splawn's thunder which I think sucks. Not bashing Friedman at all but seeing post from guys who would never pay 3500 plus for an amp that Splawn isnt even on their radar. Or guys like me who love the hotrodded Marshall sound but prefer a more aggressive raw tone. Splawn is an easy choice. Scott could really do a little better marketing as well. He has made adjustments over the years that you dont hear about unless someone on a forum tells you.

Like I've said countless times before. I don't think Scott wants that level of success. I have zero affiliation with Splawn or Scott for that matter. My belief, and this is a guess, is that Scott just likes building one amp a time, signing it, selling it, and making people happy. The only way to grow and be bigger is to relinquish some or even a lot of control. That doesn't seem like something that is in Scott's DNA. I think he even said so one time when I asked him why he doesn't participate more on forums and do advertising etc.

He doesn't strike me as someone who is doing this for the money in other words. If he was, he could charge $3,500 for these amps and outsource the build process and come out with all kinds of models and advertising.

 

[311splawndude]

I'm having a really pissy Monday morning. Can you tell?

 

[kmanick]

sounds great , I didn't know you could even get a SuperSport with KT-88's (I don't really know what the difference would be vs EL-34's)
besides that my fully loaded Super sport is a beast, first rehearsal will be this Friday , I can't wait, I run mine mostly on gear one with the gain around 10:30-11:00 and kick on a tubescreamer for leads, it's just so open sounding and "in your face" compared to my JVM.
I have tried the treble on Zero.....meh kind of cool but didn't wow me, the new/old and mid cut together is great, when I play my 7 string I switch
those over and go to gear 2 (my band is doing mostly classic hard rock not metal, so gear 1 is perfect)
Scott outsourced his soldering for a short period and it was a disaster we all know it, this conversation pops up all over the place.
I had a problem with mine when I got it (tube red plated) and I kept blowing fuses, the guy basically held my hand over the phone and we figured it out) He's a one man show and I still got my amp delivered in under 6 weeks.
It sucks a few duds went out but he's doing everything himself again and the build quality on mine is top notch.

 

[311splawndude]

^ I didn't know he outsourced the board build process for a while so that is good to know. Do you know what year(s) that was?

It is my understanding that KT88s will give you more low end - probably somewhere in between EL34s and 6L6s but everything I've read is that they are punchier and 'bigger' sounding. Also, not sure about the SuperSport but for the Quick Rod it requires a 1K resistor piggyback on VR1? Maybe someone else knows more about that. Yeah, the Treble on '0' thing is kind of subtle. I've tried other Treble settings and I just keep dialing back down to '0'.

I'm a half power / Gear 2 / OD2 / Gain at 2 / boosted QR / drop C metal head kind of guy.

 

[fek]

Scott outsourced his soldering for a short period and it was a disaster we all know it, this conversation pops up all over the place.

About what time frame were the soldering issue amps produced? Mine is fine but some info on what serial number ranges might be involved would be nice just to double check mine.

 

[311splawndude]

Also, what would I search on within the Splawnfans ProBoards forum to find info on this?

When I search on 'cold solder joints' there - not much turns up.

 

[Bad.Seed]

I think I liked the tone unboosted almost as much but I know a lot of it is the 'in room' feel. Does your other guitarist happen to have one too? You guys must really like that thing. I just got a Suhr Koko boost that I like. Can you compare your KDHx to anything?

But where was the part where the Treble was at '0'? As great of a job as you did my only complaint is that I didn't know the signal path (guitar/pups/speakers/cab/mic/ etc and I didn't know or could see the amp settings except Gain at Noon?

I've been doing the Treble on '0' thing for many years and forgot even now how I stumbled across it. I think it was by accident.


:headbang:

I'm just now realizing that I forgot to do the 0 Treble setting on the reshoot. DAMNIT. I'm going to highlight my other Splawns in demos in the near future so I'll make sure to do it then.

As far as the KHDK, it's like a TS9, but keeps the lows in tact and is MUCH clearer. Really clean drive, doesn't impart a lot of clipping like other drives do even on 0 (My MXR M77 for Example)

I really dig the KHDK and it's my go to boost for most things these days.

 

[MetalHeadMike]

Man, I respect you so much it is hard to even type this. This thread is about me digging a Splawn tone. Not a thread about Splawn Amplification Customer Service experiences.
Let's keep that ish out of Tone related threads.
Sorry. Carry on. No hard feelings. /rant

Sure thing.

 

[headlessdeadguy]

I have a Blue Voodoo V30 4x12 that I use with my KT88 Nitro. Something about that cab with that amp. It sounds much better than my OS Mesa or my VHT Fat Bottom.

 

[kmanick]

Sadly I don't know what the period is but I'd guess between 2009 and 2014 as I know people who have quickrods and Supersports
that are earlier and later than those dates and have never had any issue, but that's just a wild guess on my part.
I asked this over on the gear page but I'll ask it here too (especially 50 watt "Splawners" ) you guys find a sweet spot with the volume level on the front of the head where it just feels and sounds the best? I've been running mine at 11:00 and using the loop master to keep the volume down while at home, can't wait to see how it dominates my other guitarists Suhr PT-15 at next rehearsal
I know with some amps once you get to a certain level the amp doesn't get any louder it just saturate, any one find that spot with their Splawn ?

 

[311splawndude]

I'm just now realizing that I forgot to do the 0 Treble setting on the reshoot. DAMNIT. I'm going to highlight my other Splawns in demos in the near future so I'll make sure to do it then.

As far as the KHDK, it's like a TS9, but keeps the lows in tact and is MUCH clearer. Really clean drive, doesn't impart a lot of clipping like other drives do even on 0 (My MXR M77 for Example)

I really dig the KHDK and it's my go to boost for most things these days.

OK. Cool. I'll look for that in the future.

I got a Digitech Bad Monkey OD (TS clone) and actually really dig what it does for $50. Slightly 'cleaner' then a OG Tubescreamer with the added benefit of a real tone control. This Koko Boost is on another level. Like 2 OD's in 1. But even just on the 'clean' boost side it adds a 3D like thang and swirl and sustain which is interesting. It also could very well be that it is my new EL34 II's doing that with the bias running higher than normal for me.

 

[311splawndude]

Sure thing.

Sadly I don't know what the period is but I'd guess between 2009 and 2014 as I know people who have quickrods and Supersports
that are earlier and later than those dates and have never had any issue, but that's just a wild guess on my part.
I asked this over on the gear page but I'll ask it here too (especially 50 watt "Splawners" ) you guys find a sweet spot with the volume level on the front of the head where it just feels and sounds the best? I've been running mine at 11:00 and using the loop master to keep the volume down while at home, can't wait to see how it dominates my other guitarists Suhr PT-15 at next rehearsal
I know with some amps once you get to a certain level the amp doesn't get any louder it just saturate, any one find that spot with their Splawn ?

2009 - 2014? I would think that would be all over the Splawn forum so I'll keep looking for it. Again, not saying it didn't happen I'd just like to read up on it because I need to be informed.

As far as 1/2 power I run my QR at half power. So, 2 EL34s, half power switch, ohms cut, etc. And yeah, 11 o'clock seems to be about the right spot. 12pm and beyond doesn't really add that much and 10am is a bit weak. The for the loop I run either full blast or sometimes tame it down to 9/10 or 8/10.

Bad.Seed your other guitarist showed his setting with Volume almost off. Do you think that was just a post demo shot or something. No way it could sound that good with the volume that low right?

 

[ErikT]

That sounds awesome! Loved the super sport KT88 clip too. Quickrod is the Splawn I would get I think. Got more of that Marshall grind.

I ordered one used a few years back from GC and had it shipped to a store. Two of the KT88 tubes were broken because of dumb packaging and when I played it in half power mode it sounded weird. I was sketched at that point and returned it on the spot. Le sigh.

 

[kmanick]

2009 - 2014? I would think that would be all over the Splawn forum so I'll keep looking for it. Again, not saying it didn't happen I'd just like to read up on it because I need to be informed.

As far as 1/2 power I run my QR at half power. So, 2 EL34s, half power switch, ohms cut, etc. And yeah, 11 o'clock seems to be about the right spot. 12pm and beyond doesn't really add that much and 10am is a bit weak. The for the loop I run either full blast or sometimes tame it down to 9/10 or 8/10.

Bad.Seed your other guitarist showed his setting with Volume almost off. Do you think that was just a post demo shot or something. No way it could sound that good with the volume that low right?

Like I said wild guess but it may have just been an issue with a few select pieces that went out (maybe one guy in particular sucked at soldering?))

 

[skullfxr]

here is a quick clip thing i did with the QR and PM on YT. i didnt spend much time on it, and honestly didn't get the results i hoped for, but see what you think anyways.

 

[kmanick]

here is a quick clip thing i did with the QR and PM on YT. i didnt spend much time on it, and honestly didn't get the results i hoped for, but see what you think anyways.

cool what gear od ? etc you running here and any boost?

 

[SFW]

I've had my 2005 Splawn QuickRod (it started its life as a Pro Mod) for about five years now. There are things I love about it, and things that I don't love about it. I mainly run my amp in 3rd gear. I have to do this in order to have any sort of cleans on the "clean" channel. Any time I move the gain on the lead channel past noon, the cleans are just gone. So I mainly run Gear 3 OD1 at noon. I mainly play more hard rock, with a bit less metal...lol. I do wish the mids were voiced closer to a JCM800. Or just warmer in general. But I do love gigging with this amp. It sounds huge in the mix.

 

[skullfxr]

cool what gear od ? etc you running here and any boost?

3rd gear OD2, no BOOST on both. I usually boost but I wanted a straight forward comparison. I use a BB Pre for a boost when I do.

I will find a way to get better clips up in the next few days.