Most disappointing amp

  • Thread starter Thread starter Smash
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Worst and most disappointing amp I've ever owned was a Hovercraft Falcon 50. What a piece of shit. The guy marketed it as a small Matamp clone. He'd even post these clips (post EQ'd i'm sure of it now) that would showcase him getting a decent Dopesmoker tone with it. When the amp came in I realized what it was, a modded Jet City amp. He literally glued his own Hovercraft logo over the Jet City one, then used a *sharpie* to black out other things on the faceplate. It sounded like pure static. I had my amp tech friend look inside and he said it was the worst thing he'd ever seen. Like someone had a seizure while holding a hot glue gun.
 
Soundstorm said:
Worst and most disappointing amp I've ever owned was a Hovercraft Falcon 50. What a piece of shit. The guy marketed it as a small Matamp clone. He'd even post these clips (post EQ'd i'm sure of it now) that would showcase him getting a decent Dopesmoker tone with it. When the amp came in I realized what it was, a modded Jet City amp. He literally glued his own Hovercraft logo over the Jet City one, then used a *sharpie* to black out other things on the faceplate. It sounded like pure static. I had my amp tech friend look inside and he said it was the worst thing he'd ever seen. Like someone had a seizure while holding a hot glue gun.
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Glad I never bought anything from them now. Back in the early 2010s I remember messaging them to try and commission a particular build, and they didn't seem keen. Good thing I dodged that bullet.
 
I am also confused on the Uberschall fizz or Bogners being dark in general, or the SLO being even remotely disappointing.

Here is a recent comparison of my SLO, Hellrazor, and Uberschall Rev Green and they all kick ass.


It's so interesting to see everyone's tastes and also find a VH4 or 101b disappointing. Those are two of my personal favorites.

Here is a comparison I made of those 2.
 
Bxlxaxkxe said:
Reminder: it’s 100% ok for someone to dislike an amp that you love.

Not sure why we need any external validation
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I find it fascinating on folks being on all different places. My best guess to the reason is what type of music we grew up with in highschool. For me I was 99-03 so I am all about Grunge, NuMetal, alternative rock, Metalcore as the sound in my head. Which to me is Rectifier, Diezel, Bogner, Soldano (specifically for Killswitch Engage). I don't gravitate to any Marshall tones as they are just too thin for me as I like a mass mountain style tone.
 
I find it really interesting that people dislike Amos that others rave about. It just goes to show how much is personal preference.

My least favourite amp I’ve owned was the TSL100. It could be made to sound ok but the gap in channel switching was a deal breaker. I’ve also owned better sounding amps since then.
 
Yeah. Also user error. I have a bud that is getting into high gain. He is falling into the same traps everyone of us did where he wants to play metal, but is listening to rock guys about high gain...I am being patient with him, because it is his money he will waste. But he is telling me his amp won't chugg, and I am just like..."bring it over, and I will show you, lmao"
 
Bxlxaxkxe said:
Reminder: it’s 100% ok for someone to dislike an amp that you love.

Not sure why we need any external validation
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I have seen people get legit mad because someone said they don't like an amp they have...and the more expensive and special they consider it, the more the anger rises. It's pretty funny if you think about it. "You not liking these wires, parts and tubes that I think are the best offends me! My amp defines me as a human being, how dare you!"
 
Smash said:
Yeah. Also user error. I have a bud that is getting into high gain. He is falling into the same traps everyone of us did where he wants to play metal, but is listening to rock guys about high gain...I am being patient with him, because it is his money he will waste. But he is telling me his amp won't chugg, and I am just like..."bring it over, and I will show you, lmao"
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There is also the mistake of driving gain too high which makes any recording muddy, especially when double tracking. Hitting just at the point saturation begins will be so much punchier but is also harder to play so have to hit the strings harder. How you attack the strings makes a bigger difference than any amp in reality.
 
MrWoodchuck said:
I am also confused on the Uberschall fizz or Bogners being dark in general, or the SLO being even remotely disappointing.

Here is a recent comparison of my SLO, Hellrazor, and Uberschall Rev Green and they all kick ass.


It's so interesting to see everyone's tastes and also find a VH4 or 101b disappointing. Those are two of my personal favorites.

Here is a comparison I made of those 2.
Click to expand...


Interesting how close in your first clip the SLO and Wizard sound. Never owned a Wizard so I wouldn't know but maybe I'll like one now that I've heard that. The Ubershall is comically mid-scooped compared to the other two.
 
japetus said:
I have seen people get legit mad because someone said they don't like an amp they have...and the more expensive and special they consider it, the more the anger rises. It's pretty funny if you think about it. "You not liking these wires, parts and tubes that I think are the best offends me! My amp defines me as a human being, how dare you!"
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They just mad they feel stupid for spending so much $$ on something they dont like.

I get the same feeling when I try a new meal at a restaurant that tastes like crap, lol.
 
Jack Luminous said:
Interesting how close in your first clip the SLO and Wizard sound. Never owned a Wizard so I wouldn't know but maybe I'll like one now that I've heard that. The Ubershall is comically mid-scooped compared to the other two.
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Yeah the rev green Uberschall is a mid scooped amp similar to a Rectifier. Though I could have pushed the mids a bit more with the presence control. The Hellrazor I find more versatile than most typically think. If you don't pull all the boosts you can get a thick and tight mid range tone. If you pull all the boosts you will get the Meshuggah tight clank tones.
 
Just to be clear I think all these amps sound like shit. Every amp you ever owned. Including the one your thinking of buying.

Interesting no one has mentioned the amps I use most. Probably not a big enough demographic.
 
Soundstorm said:
Worst and most disappointing amp I've ever owned was a Hovercraft Falcon 50. What a piece of shit. The guy marketed it as a small Matamp clone. He'd even post these clips (post EQ'd i'm sure of it now) that would showcase him getting a decent Dopesmoker tone with it. When the amp came in I realized what it was, a modded Jet City amp. He literally glued his own Hovercraft logo over the Jet City one, then used a *sharpie* to black out other things on the faceplate. It sounded like pure static. I had my amp tech friend look inside and he said it was the worst thing he'd ever seen. Like someone had a seizure while holding a hot glue gun.
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Oh man, a month or so ago I was looking for one of these, thinking the clips were what I was looking for. The Dwarvenaut was a possibility too. Glad to hear this. It will save me the bother. (I already knew they were modified Jet City’s but the other things you mentioned....sheesh)
 
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MrWoodchuck said:
I am also confused on the Uberschall fizz or Bogners being dark in general, or the SLO being even remotely disappointing.

Here is a recent comparison of my SLO, Hellrazor, and Uberschall Rev Green and they all kick ass.


It's so interesting to see everyone's tastes and also find a VH4 or 101b disappointing. Those are two of my personal favorites.

Here is a comparison I made of those 2.
Click to expand...

Interesting the SLO is Gain on 4..
I could never gel with my JCA 50 because it had so much gain..
If only he fine tuned it to have more usable gain.
I think the SLO has the most character although I'd prefer it a touch brighter..
The others are approaching fizz territory.
 
midnightlaundry said:
Interesting the SLO is Gain on 4..
I could never gel with my JCA 50 because it had so much gain..
If only he fine tuned it to have more usable gain.
I think the SLO has the most character although I'd prefer it a touch brighter..
The others are approaching fizz territory.
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Yeah the Uber has a lot of treble there but I also had it where I would track it since it cuts a lot. I ended up using those settings on this mix

 
midnightlaundry said:
Interesting the SLO is Gain on 4..
I could never gel with my JCA 50 because it had so much gain..
If only he fine tuned it to have more usable gain.
I think the SLO has the most character although I'd prefer it a touch brighter..
The others are approaching fizz territory.
Click to expand...
Wow, I have to say I didn’t care for any one of those amp clips. Gonna be honest with my thoughts here and wonder how well the clip was played with right hand attack etc. if it was re-amped (sounded like it), one, possibly bad take, just got repeated on every amp.
From the second video of the one tune, dude can obviously play.
 
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