Suhr PT100 vs CAA PT100 and OD100SE+

[hopkinWFG]

Well has anybody wanna comment on any of the diff between these amps ?

I know these has been a most talked about topic 5 to 7 years back.... but i been a VHT/Fryette guy..

I recently hear the mark day clips and found the PT100 by CAA was a beast than the OD100SE+... but clips are not true representation.

So any difference between the CAA PT100 to a Suhr PT100 ?

 

[technomancer]

I owned both versions of the PT100, the CAA is more modern sounding than the Suhr. Both are hot rodded Marshall tones with great clean channels. The Suhr has more of a Plexi vibe to it partially due IIRC to a transformer change between the two models. The built in boost is different as well, the Suhr uses Mosfet boost. Both great amps, just depends on which flavor you want.

Never owned the OD so can't comment on that one.

 

[hopkinWFG]

Hi Technomamcer... thanks alot... i guess the CAA PT100 is more of an amp for 80s heavy rock and shred kinda tones...guess its a natural organic kinda tone machine emphasis on the EL34 tube huh?

How does the volume and tranny works in a bedroom volume ? Or it has to be cranked to get least of the sweet spot? Sorry my VHT/Fryette has a master volume knob and it works well...

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

I like it he CAA PT100 the best. I’ve owned/played all 3. The CAA PT100 has more gain and is more metal/shred capable. The Suhr version is more rock to hard rock oriented. The OD100SE+ is cool too... but less “Marshall” voiced on the dirty side... more low-mids, less high end bite, a little darker. All versions sound great at any volume.

 

[technomancer]

Both the PT100s have a lot of gain, especially with the built in boost engaged. The CAA has a more modern edge to it though either would be more then adequate for 80s rock / metal tones. The Suhr has a bit more of a rounder more vintage vibe but still has plenty of gain. Both sounded fine at low volumes.

 

[hopkinWFG]

Cool !! I guess i can yield early mercyful fate tones off from the CAA version huh.. wonder if the CAA PT100 has interchangeable main taps ? Cause am from asia.. and uses british mains

 

[hopkinWFG]

Both the PT100s have a lot of gain, especially with the built in boost engaged. The CAA has a more modern edge to it though either would be more then adequate for 80s rock / metal tones. The Suhr has a bit more of a rounder more vintage vibe but still has plenty of gain. Both sounded fine at low volumes.

Thanks alot Technomancer ! Just as i thought the love for CAA PT100 is gone as.... but in anyway is the CAA PT100 also dynamic response ? How marshally and organic can the CAA gets compared to a Friedman smallbox ?

 

[JerEvil]

Both the PT100s have a lot of gain, especially with the built in boost engaged. The CAA has a more modern edge to it though either would be more then adequate for 80s rock / metal tones. The Suhr has a bit more of a rounder more vintage vibe but still has plenty of gain. Both sounded fine at low volumes.

Thanks alot Technomancer ! Just as i thought the love for CAA PT100 is gone as.... but in anyway is the CAA PT100 also dynamic response ? How marshally and organic can the CAA gets compared to a Friedman smallbox ?

Do you currently own the Smallpox? I'd think that would be perfect for most Merciful Fate type tones.

 

[hopkinWFG]

Both the PT100s have a lot of gain, especially with the built in boost engaged. The CAA has a more modern edge to it though either would be more then adequate for 80s rock / metal tones. The Suhr has a bit more of a rounder more vintage vibe but still has plenty of gain. Both sounded fine at low volumes.

Thanks alot Technomancer ! Just as i thought the love for CAA PT100 is gone as.... but in anyway is the CAA PT100 also dynamic response ? How marshally and organic can the CAA gets compared to a Friedman smallbox ?

Do you currently own the Smallpox? I'd think that would be perfect for most Merciful Fate type tones.

Nope... all my amp cravings are all on VHT Fryette pittbull... i wanna try a different amps that is different from VHT... i mean when i heard the CAA PT100 its just different tightness from my VHT pittbull.... maybe hard for me to describe in words so lets just put it in a different catergory... i could be wrong thou cause i merely hear clips and have no real experiences on the CAA...

I always wanna getta organic "non process" marshally type tones...

 

[JerEvil]

Both the PT100s have a lot of gain, especially with the built in boost engaged. The CAA has a more modern edge to it though either would be more then adequate for 80s rock / metal tones. The Suhr has a bit more of a rounder more vintage vibe but still has plenty of gain. Both sounded fine at low volumes.

Thanks alot Technomancer ! Just as i thought the love for CAA PT100 is gone as.... but in anyway is the CAA PT100 also dynamic response ? How marshally and organic can the CAA gets compared to a Friedman smallbox ?

Do you currently own the Smallpox? I'd think that would be perfect for most Merciful Fate type tones.

Nope... all my amp cravings are all on VHT Fryette pittbull... i wanna try a different amps that is different from VHT... i mean when i heard the CAA PT100 its just different tightness from my VHT pittbull.... maybe hard for me to describe in words so lets just put it in a different catergory... i could be wrong thou cause i merely hear clips and have no real experiences on the CAA...

I always wanna getta organic "non process" marshally type tones...

Gotcha. I have the Dirty Shirley 40 which is great for "that sound". I tried the CAA PT100 years ago and remember liking it but for the life of me don't actually remember the actual amp tone, if that makes sense. I have owned a few Fryette's (D60, D120 and 2 Sig: X's). Still own the Sig.

Is CAA still building these? I think for the MF stuff and to steer more towards the hot rodded Marshall flavor, I'd go Suhr. Also, don;t rule out a good Splawn Quick Rod with the Low B+ option.

 

[mooncobra]

clean channel on the pt100 is amazing

 

[psychodave]

I’ve played the PT100 a few times and it has cool tone, but feels terrible. Some of the worst touch sensitivity.

 

[fearhk213]

I never played the PT100, but I had an OD100SE+ for a while. While not "my tone", it was still a cool sounding amp that was pretty big sounding, punchy, & gainy. To me it nailed that radio hard rock tone. My biggest issue with it was that I felt the low end just didn't track well once you picked up the pace. It tracked fine for leads (actually I felt it excelled at those), but it just didn't track fast metal riffing well imo. Only reason I bring that up is because you're coming from the VHT/Fryette stuff, so you're used to something that tracks the lows really well.

 

[Nitrobattery]

Both the PT100s have a lot of gain, especially with the built in boost engaged. The CAA has a more modern edge to it though either would be more then adequate for 80s rock / metal tones. The Suhr has a bit more of a rounder more vintage vibe but still has plenty of gain. Both sounded fine at low volumes.

Would channel 3 of the Suhr version with an overdrive in front get close to the CAA version?

 

[hopkinWFG]

I’ve played the PT100 a few times and it has cool tone, but feels terrible. Some of the worst touch sensitivity.

It didnt react to your picking intensity ?

 

[Snave]

Is CAA still building these? I think for the MF stuff and to steer more towards the hot rodded Marshall flavor, I'd go Suhr.

CAA doesn't really exist as a company. John Suhr kept the rights to manufacture all the amp stuff besides the 3+ preamp, and I'm pretty sure all of the CAA amps are discontinued in favor of the current Suhr amp line. He's said for sure that the SE100 head is the only way to get an OD100 overdrive channel these days.

To OP: Never played a PT100, but Suhr amps in general have an odd fizzy high end and kind of flubby lows (from my experience with the CAE 3+ and OD100 Standard). The OD amps are John's kind of take on a Soldano tone whereas the PT series are more Marshall inspired. Be aware that all his 100 watt amps are very heavy (55 lbs/25 kg).

 

[gbsmusic]

Ive had the CAA PT100 I didnt care for it a little nasal on the gain but Jdub had an OD100 with Deyoung trans and it was one of the most incredible amps Ive heard maybe he can chime in on this.

 

[Dave L]

Is CAA still building these? I think for the MF stuff and to steer more towards the hot rodded Marshall flavor, I'd go Suhr.

CAA doesn't really exist as a company. John Suhr kept the rights to manufacture all the amp stuff besides the 3+ preamp, and I'm pretty sure all of the CAA amps are discontinued in favor of the current Suhr amp line. He's said for sure that the SE100 head is the only way to get an OD100 overdrive channel these days.

To OP: Never played a PT100, but Suhr amps in general have an odd fizzy high end and kind of flubby lows (from my experience with the CAE 3+ and OD100 Standard). The OD amps are John's kind of take on a Soldano tone whereas the PT series are more Marshall inspired. Be aware that all his 100 watt amps are very heavy (55 lbs/25 kg).

As far as I understand it´s the SE+ that is discontinued, mostly due to a shortage of specific parts. I think the other OD100 models are still available, and the SE channel is only available on the hand-wired stuff.

 

[guitarnerdswe]

I've owned a OD100SE and a CAE3+SE (also a very early regular 3+ preamp). The third channel on the 3+SE and the second channel on the OD100SE (which was based on the third channel of the 3+SE) was never anything other than a lead channel in my book, it was too compressed, soft in the low end and lacked string definitions for rhythms. I always used channel 2 of the preamp and the clean channel of the head with a pedal for rhythms.

 

[lester]

I have the OD100 SE+ and there are a whole bunch of parts in there for sure. Maybe it's being discontinued more for cost, production-wise, than availability of parts. Beast of an amp though. Mine has the DeYoung power transformer and the "plexi" Heyboer OT.

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