Gone Fission wrote:Dandolin wrote:
and i get that Synergy has offered up a full line - my run-down was less a criticism of the implementation than an acknowledgement that it doesn't fit blackened's particular use case. as for JTM-45 cleans - you can probs get those from Salvation or Jaded Faith, no? while i personally would prefer that such a system feature more oddball and unobtainium lower gain offerings, i get why the company sees it's bread and butter in the high gain world (hell.it's not like the 8Ts preamps that feed the concept catered to my preferred odd duck sounds at all - they were shred machines).
and, anyway, my desire to have a way to collect interchangeable octal or EF86 based preamps is just as narcissistic as that of the high-gainers that are loving the system (and much harder (read: impossible) to accommodate in an AX7 ecosystem obvi
). ultimately, the Synergy way still makes more sense to me than cobbling together a preamp the Kingsley way with separate clean preamp, second channel/boost, and p.i. phases in a chain of pedals that could easily add up to quite a bit more than a Syn-1 and a preamp module of your choice....
and i agree - the GPDI/IR that's coming is, despite a more "closed" architecture, more interesting to me - finding it hard to get decent scutttle on when that one's going to finally pop - you heard anything?
also, how do you handle stereo effects with the GPDI? i can see the stereo outs on the Syn-2, but the Fryette's multiple outs don't seem to align with a pure stereo concept?
For JTM and early pre-“Lead” Marshall Super sounds, the BMan should be fine. But the EQ shifted on the Leads, even apart from some brightening tricks in the circuit. Different flavor.
So many people ask for EF-86 modules without understanding that there’s always gonna be a 12AX7 first. Yep, it’s a closed system in a way that accommodates most of the normie preamp world fine. And vs rigging a Voodoo Lab GCX or something as a preamp switcher, it is a bit easier to deal with. If you can get a preamp made with a channel or two of oddball, the channel-extension thing can add to that, at least.
Re: GPDI, it’s supposed to be the next priority at a 5 person shop that doesn’t like to do “good enough.” Maybe this summer, probably this year. For stereo, there is an effects return for the headphone amp with the basic intent of giving the player a little something to track with; the new version’s headphone amp is supposed to be loud enough to push speakers enough for low-ish volume use, so maybe enough for home use stereo fun. But I intend to just use one as a mono source to feed a rack that goes stereo, listening on headphones or monitors. (Or dual mono source—I’m intrigued by the idea of using the built in IRs in the new version in parallel with the analog cab sim.) I’m just setting on mono in front of the amp and all stereo behind because stereo input guitar amps are rare and when they happen have their own compromises. If I were gigging, I might get fussed about wanting FRFR or tube power amps into guitar cabs, but I’m not so I don’t. I just want a capture of a good, responsive whole-amp sound to feed effects like if I was working in the control room of a studio with the mics in the live room.
good thoughts, thanks for the skinny
i can wait on Fryette - probs not anything i should be chasing anyway - i have a few amps i like and a Power Station, so i can always just use them for my similarly non-gigging ways. always scheming ways to make things easier tho, if i can do it without giving up too much tone/feel....
i'm hep to the bassman/JTM lineage, btw, i just meant Salvation Audio and Jaded Faith make low gain JTM-45-type modules that have the the high-mid push to get you more into Marshall land while still giving shade of lower gain and cleans. personally, i like that sound well enough, but i prefer a blonde or tweed bassman
and i've been well down the EF86 rabbit-hole, but my interest isn't in Vox derivatives - i'm coming from a modded radio amp angle on the EF86, and even then, i have much more interest in the 6S*7 family and the circuits that use it. i have no illusions that Synergy or anybody else that wants to market a preamp-swap unit is gonna have time/energy/market for that
anyway, an EF86 isn't in itself a signifier of any particular tone to me - it's a sign of design intent that might turn out to be interesting pending an actual listening experience, so the presence of a 12a*7 either before or after the EF doesn't chap my hide or deter me from giving the thing a listen
even given all that tho, and my general disinterest in higher-gain tones as a steady diet, i have had a few occasions now where i've run into a high gain circuit, whether preamp or pedal, that can deliver some surprisingly interesting lower gain results that actually fit in well in a continuum of the other tones i'm prone to...hence the eye on Synergy
and i note the cleans on that iicp module are pretty nice
"In a moment of unparalleled genius, Noel Parachute headed off this potential disaster by unplugging the microphone."
