Splawn Competition vs Quick Rod

  • Thread starter Thread starter MistaGuitah
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MistaGuitah

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I've owned both of these amps. To be honest, I always thought the Competition sounded better. I wonder, do they have identical gain circuit design or designed to sound different?
 
My uneducated theory would be since there is less shit in the circuit for the signal to go through, it sounds better.
 
That would seem like the obvious assumption but I wonder how much the gain circuits differ. As far as I could tell, the Competition sounded more open, harmonically rich which the Quick Rod was a btt more compressed.
 
SoooRad said:
My uneducated theory would be since there is less shit in the circuit for the signal to go through, it sounds better.
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There is bleed over from the clean channel on the QR so this stands to reason.
 
I liked the Pro-Stock better than the Quick Rod as well.

The KT-88 QR is killer though. The clean channel is a lot nicer with the KT-88s too.
 
I’ve had both and wish I would have kept the Competition. The Quick Rod was cool but I preferred the more bare bones approach of the Competition and the tone was stellar . Someone here on the forums ended up buying it from the person I sold it to
 
SoooRad said:
My uneducated theory would be since there is less shit in the circuit for the signal to go through, it sounds better.
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For sure. No clean channel, no extra B.S. in the circuit. I've owned 2 Quick Rods, 2 Competitions. Competition wins for me, hands down.
 
napalmdeath said:
For sure. No clean channel, no extra B.S. in the circuit. I've owned 2 Quick Rods, 2 Competitions. Competition wins for me, hands down
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I think you ended up with the Competition I had
 
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My old Competition from the early 2000s is probably still on the forum somewhere. That was a great amp and only used it for bedroom level playing but was awesome.
 
Candiria said:
I liked the Pro-Stock better than the Quick Rod as well.

The KT-88 QR is killer though. The clean channel is a lot nicer with the KT-88s too.
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Agreed, KT88s definitely rock in the QR. As for the Nitro, I actually prefer it with standard EL34s because the low end is massive.
hammered said:
I’ve had both and wish I would have kept the Competition. The Quick Rod was cool but I preferred the more bare bones approach of the Competition and the tone was stellar . Someone here on the forums ended up buying it from the person I sold it to
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Yeah, I definitely wish I would've kept my Competition. It was spec'd out with a real nice Marshall AFD kind of look.
LPMojoGL said:
I like the Comp 50 better than the Street Rod.
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The Competition is one of the few modded Marshall type amps that I prefer 50w rather than 100. Scott Splawn created an really outstanding amp with the Competition, and it's more versatile than people give credit for in my opinion.
napalmdeath said:
For sure. No clean channel, no extra B.S. in the circuit. I've owned 2 Quick Rods, 2 Competitions. Competition wins for me, hands down.
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Pretty much same here. I love the Quick Rod but there's something special about the Competition.
 
MistaGuitah said:
Yeah, I definitely wish I would've kept my Competition. It was spec'd out with a real nice Marshall AFD kind of look.
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The AFD look was what I was going after when I ordered my Splawn SS in 2012. A local tech/friend converted it to EL34s a few years ago

ALyVjp0h.jpg
 
2015 Fully Loaded Mini Comp owner. It’s an underrated amp and brand.

Had a 2014 Pro Stock a few years back and loved gigging with it. It was a bit too much for some of the smaller stages I was playing so I sold it.

Last weekend I played @LPMojoGL ’s SLO and loved it so much I nearly bought one yesterday, but I stopped myself from thr impulse buy

So I went home and played my Comp and turned it up a bit more than usual. Played with the EQ a bit and was more than happy with it. Then I ran a 10-band in the loop to tweak a bit and GAS for the moment.

I used to think an amp shouldn’t need an EQ. Splawn’s don’t, or mine doesn’t, but they can make a great amp even better.

That said, I still want an SLO but the Comp is an amazing amp at its price point and if I wanted 100w punch, I’d grab a Pro Stock.

I never play clean so I’d go PS over QR.

I wonder what trannies Splawn is using now that Classic Tone is done. Anyone know?
 
That looks a lot like the Competition I used to have. Dang, having these conversations are dangerous because it stirs up GAS. I might just replace my PT20 with one. I thought he uses Hayboer transformers. Not sure of that ever changed but his amps are some of the most punchy and responsive there are.
 
Great information from Splawn experts. I always though the QR was the way to go because it had the most options, but I’m not sure I need 100w. I steered clear of the Comp because they seemed too “basic” . . . But simple is good a lot of the time.
 
midgod07 said:
Great information from Splawn experts. I always though the QR was the way to go because it had the most options, but I’m not sure I need 100w. I steered clear of the Comp because they seemed too “basic” . . . But simple is good a lot of the time.
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I got a QR (2008 ver) because a.) I thought I needed a clean channel and b.) It was a local sale. But guess what, I never use the clean channel and I run it at 50w to save on tubes. Conversely, I don't have all the new bells and whistles available but most of the guys I talk to that do - really like the features so there's that.
 
311splawndude said:
I got a QR (2008 ver) because a.) I thought I needed a clean channel and b.) It was a local sale. But guess what, I never use the clean channel and I run it at 50w to save on tubes. Conversely, I don't have all the new bells and whistles available but most of the guys I talk to that do - really like the features so there's that.
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I’ve tried a 2018, 2012 & 2005 QR in the same room. The 2018’s extra features were nice. Could get similar sounding to both era’s, but thought the 2005 one still sounded a bit better & meaner. The best Splawn I’ve tried by far was an early Competition that this guy locally modded. He said he said he mostly just upgraded the components & tranny’s. Whatever he did, the feel, midrange voicing & growl was much better. I couldn’t convince him to sell it lol
 
I wonder if there is any difference QR vs SS 50 watt in the gain circuit as the SS does not have Gear 3. Mine is anything but "compressed" sounding.
I run a 10 band in the loop of mine as well, love this thing , my band covers a huge range of 70's 80's songs and it covers them all.
the 10 band does wonders for the clean channel too.
current rig.jpg
 
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