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Archive through May 18, 2005lbpesq30 5-18-05  9:57 am
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alanbass1
Member
Username: alanbass1

Post Number: 63
Registered: 4-2005
Posted on Wednesday, May 18, 2005 - 10:35 am:   Edit Post

Oh yeah, the only thing about the MkIII Simul Class is that it is not feasible how something so small weigh's so much (especially with the EV speaker as I had). But they are probably the most versatile amp with that 'special' tone. One thing though, I found the the Class A setting almost as loud as the A/B setting despite the reputed difference in wattage; and sounded sweeter. You can also use either 6L6's or EL34's for more tone variation and, if you get the switcheable graphic eq, you can get three channels and set a great lead boost tone for all these by switching in the eq.

If you are seriously looking at a Mk4 I would think again and track one of these down.
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 460
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Wednesday, May 18, 2005 - 11:41 am:   Edit Post

Alan:

Did you have the Hardwood cabinet? Talk about HEAVY! Can you say "handtruck required"? As heavy as it is, though, I have NO COMPLAINTS. It is well worth it for the sound I get (and the fact that it fits in my Nissan 300ZX). And the beautiful cabinet loves to hang out next to my Alembic. They are truly a lovely looking couple. I use mine with the Theile bottom - great low end projection! The EQ can be set three differnt ways: OFF at all times; ON when the amp is in lead channel mode only; or ON at all times. Very versatile indeed. I also find the simul class settings to have more tonal than volume differences, at least at lower volumes. The "A" 15 watt setting has a sweeter tone at lower volume, but the "AB" 75 watt setting sounds great at higher volume when used for the back line at a gig. Even then, though, I rarely set the master volume past "3"!

Bill, tgo
alanbass1
Member
Username: alanbass1

Post Number: 64
Registered: 4-2005
Posted on Wednesday, May 18, 2005 - 12:53 pm:   Edit Post

Yep, mine was a really nice flamed Koa with the wicker front. This was the only amp I wish I hadn't sold as the Simul Class/Graphic/Reverb/EV/Hardwood versions are as rare as hens teeth and it had a special sound. I got a real good offer which I took but.....

Still, of all the amps I have ever played/owned the Bad Cat Cub II is the best sounding, but it's only a 15 watter (but incredibly loud like the Simul Class low setting). However, it's a single channel amp so the sacrifice for that 'little extra' sound quality over the MkIII is a whole lot less versatility. Forgot to mention that the graphic and reverb, as well as the three channels are all foot switchable with the three diiferent boxes so you can lay them out however you like and mix into a pedal board layout. How cool was that.
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 461
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Wednesday, May 18, 2005 - 4:06 pm:   Edit Post

Alan:

I never heard of Bad Cat so I googled 'em. Wow, $2500 for a 15 watt combo! It better sound good.

Bill, tgo
alanbass1
Member
Username: alanbass1

Post Number: 65
Registered: 4-2005
Posted on Wednesday, May 18, 2005 - 11:12 pm:   Edit Post

Bill
Hunt one out and try it, but beware; you just might start to want one.
kmh364
Senior Member
Username: kmh364

Post Number: 867
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Thursday, May 19, 2005 - 10:35 am:   Edit Post

Just my $0.02:

You don't have to find a wood cab Boogie to have one...buy a tolex covered one, save the dosh and have Sultone make you a new wood cab. You pick the size, wood, grille cloth, hardware, and driver(s). You may even get one that looks and sounds better than the original wood cabbed Boogie.
exploiterplayer
Member
Username: exploiterplayer

Post Number: 69
Registered: 12-2002
Posted on Thursday, May 19, 2005 - 11:02 am:   Edit Post

My 2 1/2 cents......
A Roland Jazz-Chorus amp with a few good analog pedals will get all the good Jerry tones.... and you dont need a forklift to get it to the gig. ;~]
andrewknight
Member
Username: andrewknight

Post Number: 70
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Sunday, June 26, 2005 - 10:42 am:   Edit Post

I haven't checked in in this thread for awhile. I guess the answer to my original question is simply: buy what you like the sound of after trying a whole bunch of things.
kmh364
Senior Member
Username: kmh364

Post Number: 899
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Thursday, July 07, 2005 - 6:47 am:   Edit Post

Andrew:

Let us know how you made out. I for one am interested in what you ultimately settle on. Good luck in your quest. There is no right answer, only what you prefer and what makes you happy. Enjoy!
gtrguy
Junior
Username: gtrguy

Post Number: 16
Registered: 9-2004
Posted on Friday, July 08, 2005 - 10:43 am:   Edit Post

And my .02 cents worth: I have a MKIII simul class blue stripe and a MKIV combo and have played Fenders for decades. I love the MKIV combo most of all. It's open back design give you a good stage referance and the footswitch gets you 3 great sounding channels. I also put in 4 6V6 tubes. It sounds great for rock and blues. They also sound good when turned down, unlike my friends Marshall. They are back killers, though. I'd get a normal one just to save weight.
charley
New
Username: charley

Post Number: 6
Registered: 8-2005
Posted on Saturday, September 24, 2005 - 8:28 pm:   Edit Post

I second the Two-Rock motion. Give em a look. I have a Custom Reverb and it is just awesome. Kimock has been using one for a few years, and he can really nail that Garcia tone. Also, the guitarist is Weir's band is using one. Don't be intimidated by the price, you can usually piuck one up used for around $2000. It's a lot of dough, but well worth it. Try one, and you'll know what I mean. Aftr all, your playing an alembic guitar, don't let the flaws of an inferior amplifier prevent you from getting the tone you want.
charley
New
Username: charley

Post Number: 7
Registered: 8-2005
Posted on Saturday, September 24, 2005 - 8:31 pm:   Edit Post

Just to follow up the above post.....

The Boogie stuff is great, and so are most of the boutique amps out there. When I say inferior, I'm talking about some of the newer, cheaply made amps.
Just wanted to clarify so I don't get flamed.
kmh364
Senior Member
Username: kmh364

Post Number: 1066
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Sunday, September 25, 2005 - 6:36 am:   Edit Post

Andrew:

Just a crazy thought...have you looked into any of those clean-only "jazz" amps out there? Taking the Jerry Garcia and/or David Gilmour approach of using a clean amp and then adding color via efffects (stompboxes) could likely yield great, great tone! Here's a couple of very different choices from what's been discussed here just for sh*ts and giggles:

Kendrick makes a real, real nice real-wood cabbed all-tube, hand-wired (by designer Gerald Weber) combo designed for huge clean headroom and pure tone (althought it is VERY pricy):

http://www.jhalemusic.com/pages/kendrick.html

The favored "jazz" combo these days appears to be an Acoustic Image head combined with a Raezor's Edge cab (much more reasonable than the above):

http://www.jhalemusic.com/pages/acousticImage.html

http://www.jhalemusic.com/pages/raezersEdge.html

Heritage (nee Gibson's old Kalamazoo MI factory run by ex-Gibson employees) just came out with a line of all-tube, hand-wired amps as well...the Kenny Burrell model looks particularly interesting:

http://www.jhalemusic.com/pages/heritageAmps.html

Just some food for thought...variety is the spice of life, right? LOL!

Good Amp Hunting!

Cheers,

Kevin

(Message edited by kmh364 on September 25, 2005)
kmh364
Senior Member
Username: kmh364

Post Number: 1067
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Sunday, September 25, 2005 - 7:01 am:   Edit Post

Oh, and one other thing:

Reeves Amplification is selling all-tube, hand-wired, all discrete made in Britain Dave Reeves-designed "Sound City"-era Hiwatt-clone amps that are just like the originals. They sell direct (S&H included, exc. speaker cabs!), and the prices are better than the Fernandes's Corp. Hiwatt oferings...cosmetics (exc. the nameplate) are identical:


http://www.reevesamps.com/reeves_amplification-6-6_001.htm

Particularly interesting is the signature 100W head that encorporates David Gilmour's personal preferred mods...even though they can't use DG's name due to Hiwatt's licensing agreement with DG:

http://images.andale.com/f2/121/111/10123725/1050174480362_Reeves100wtop.jpg

Thanks go to Dr. Jonathan Levine (jalevinemd) for turning me on to these!
charley
New
Username: charley

Post Number: 8
Registered: 8-2005
Posted on Sunday, September 25, 2005 - 11:11 am:   Edit Post

I've hard great things about the Raezer's edge cabs too, but you might have some trouble getting one. Apparently, a couple of weeks ago, the guy who makes them was murdered. A very sad story.
dnburgess
Senior Member
Username: dnburgess

Post Number: 441
Registered: 1-2003
Posted on Sunday, September 25, 2005 - 2:23 pm:   Edit Post

The Acoustic Image / Raezer's Edge combination is very nice. Customers with that set up tend to be jazzers. The RE cabinets come in some interesting configurations like 1 x 8, 2 x 6, 2 x 8, etc.

Also makes for a very portable rig - the AI heads weigh between 3 and 7 lbs. The REs are between 20 and 30 lbs.

I haven't heard it in a rock setting with stacks of effects.

And, yes, Rich Raezer did pass away a few months ago - but there is still some stock available in the dealer channel.

David B.
kmh364
Senior Member
Username: kmh364

Post Number: 1068
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Sunday, September 25, 2005 - 6:40 pm:   Edit Post

Sorry, duplicate post.

(Message edited by kmh364 on September 25, 2005)
kmh364
Senior Member
Username: kmh364

Post Number: 1069
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Sunday, September 25, 2005 - 6:41 pm:   Edit Post

According to the above link (i.e., J. Hale Music), Raezer's Edge has resumed production.

Apparently, Rich Raezer was allegedly murdered by his own son, ghastly as that may sound.
dnburgess
Senior Member
Username: dnburgess

Post Number: 442
Registered: 1-2003
Posted on Sunday, September 25, 2005 - 8:01 pm:   Edit Post

From the RE site:

"Arrangements have been made to resume production of Raezer's Edge Cabinets. All models will be manufactured using the same materials, specifications and workmanship standards used by Rich Raezer.

Production will resume shortly, so keep watching for updates!"
kmh364
Senior Member
Username: kmh364

Post Number: 1074
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Wednesday, September 28, 2005 - 5:18 am:   Edit Post

Ah David,

I didn't realize you were an Acoustic Image and Raezor's Edge dealer. What do you think of them personally?

For now, I'm using my old silverface Fender Twin as my "jazz" amp for my Heritage Golden Eagle archtop jazzbox, but I'm always looking to spend some more hard-earned disposable income on my toys, LOL!

I have to admit I'm a bit sceptical about a S/S guitar amp as I am a "tube" (valve) guy, but the prospect of not having to haul that heavy-*ss Twin around with my bad back and knee(s) has peaked my interest.

Cheers,

Kevin

(Message edited by kmh364 on September 28, 2005)

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