Marshall SV20c - 20 Watt Plexi:
Not long after that my trusty Pro Junior shat itself. Cooked OT, possibly more. Fixable, but will have to import an OT at the very least. So I needed an amp soon and so rather than waiting for a used one I just messaged Dave and ordered one.rickenbackerkid wrote: ↑Fri Jun 25, 2021 8:11 pm Oh dude. I just found that there is a 20 watt plexi 1x10 combo too . . . .
Short review is that it is brilliant. Genuine Marshall break up at a controllable-ish volume, compact size and weight.
I've tried a bunch of amps that try to be a small or light or low watt version of something else, and fall somewhat short, but to me the SV20c is not a copy or attempt - it really is a Plexi.
It's also taylor made for a gigging musician - 5watt for rehearsals, 20 for gigs. FX loop, in case you need it, but even that can be completely bypassed out of the circuit.
Cons? Yes. For a start it has no quiet mode. Overdrive in 5 watt mode is LOUD. Overdrive at 20 watt mode sounds massive. The EQ is very weird and is extremely interactive. The bright channel is like an ice pick through the ear. So basically, it has the same issues that a big Plexi has - because as I've already said, I think this deserves to be called a Plexi. It's fantastic. Here it is in the flightcase, all ready to go make an unholy noise.
Maton MS500/12HC
I play 3 songs on the 12 string for our show and was battling my Eastwood. Tuning was tough and it had a wide neck that I personally found quite uncomfortable. So when I saw a Maton on TM I figured this would be a professional grade instrument with a comfortable neck for a reasonable price, and also it was my birthday, so I bid and got it.
I have been winning on purchases. This is very comfortable, small, narrow neck, and a compact feel, you never feel like you have to reach around it. Cons? 6 saddle bridge means intonation could be better. Needs a new nut, but apart from that, high quality, comfortable guitar with fabulous pickups. People talk about Danelectro's as being the best non-Rickenbacker 12 string, but this Maton deserves some credit.
Strymon Deco
I use only very basic sounds for The Boss so I went an analog pedalboard for the few sounds I need. However as my trust DMM is playing up I needed a delay that can do great slap echo along with the odd longer echo for a couple of moments. Strymon Deco is a bit marvellous, best slap I have ever heard, crazy good chorus and flanger and just in case that's not enough, it has a preamp/saturation/distortion type thing. To be fair I wasn't expecting much from the drive and didn't try it for weeks, only to find its also excellent. If I could have just one pedal, I think it would have to be the Deco. I want a Deco Pro with more presets.
Seymour Duncan Wavelength Duo
Our sound guy doesn't like my LR Baggs Lyric. He wants more bass that it can provide and it is more trouble than he'd like with a tendency to feedback with loud monitors. So I did a shitload of reading and had a stab at this Seymour Duncan. It's a piezo pickup and a mic that you can blend in. The mic has a massive low cut, so it doesn't tend to feedback and the mic adds some air.
Best thing about it is that it has an 18volt preamp, you can spank the shit out of it with a fraction of the splatty piezo sounds that I've heard, all in all it's really good and a practical solution. I really like it, but also I liked the old system so there's that.
It's been an enjoyable round of shopping (also an ebow, spare tuner, strings and a wireless pack). No more gear this year.
