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Re: I want a Science Amplifier

Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2014 8:04 am
by dase
so yeah cross posting from the amp thread. I had a chance to crank this up at practice the other night. I can't believe how good it sounds.

Image

Using the EGC neck mascis squier. The marshall cab has lorantz speakers in it, which are locally made 100 watt speakers that break up beautifully, excellent for high gain stuff. I really like that Hot Snakes / Jehu sort of guitar sound and was really considering Novak gold foils for the jazzmaster but I think this amp has made it unnecessary. The deep contour switch really helps bring in a really solid bottom end without making things muddy and preserving all the top end. It's one of those amps where if you palm mute and just chug some open strings you can really feel it thumping against your legs, it's fantastic.

I had been using a boost into my beta lead to get the sound I wanted but running into the OD channel of the mother has made that unnecessary. The gain is really smooth and doesn't go to instant feedback unlike the boosted beta (and my plexi before it) did. Running a Tym guitars dod 250 clone into it for thicker stuff really makes it sound heavy. I can't wait to get my HM2 and big box rat into it. But again the thing that strikes me about it is it's so smooth in the gain. Feels like it just keeps ramping up and never reaches a tipping point where it gets too shrill or over the top (that's what I have fuzz pedals for!).

And it's just SO LOUD. Thing has headroom for miles, I honestly feel like I haven't pushed it yet to a point where the guts fall out of it (something I hate about say modern orange amps). You just keep on winding it up and it keeps on delivering right across the band.

I'm aware that I've used a bunch of TGP buzzwords and things like 'smooth gain' would never really have appealed to me in the past but yeah...I loved my old plexi, I love HD130s and I love my beta lead, but this thing has sold me. It feels like an amp that I can just throw anything into and it's going to be able to keep up, no matter what shitty no PA crust show I play it at. So into this amp. And Alex was an absolute pleasure to work with.

Re: I want a Science Amplifier

Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2014 10:06 am
by skullservant
It's just so dreamy

Re: I want a Science Amplifier

Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2014 10:11 am
by D.o.S.
skullservant wrote:It's just so dreamy

Re: I want a Science Amplifier

Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2014 12:27 pm
by AngryGoldfish
Sounds awesome, man. Great review. My dreams will also be rather populated with mint green science-y things.

Re: I want a Science Amplifier

Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2014 2:02 pm
by odontophobia
If I get a bonus this year I'm going to make a huge mistake.

Re: I want a Science Amplifier

Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2014 4:36 pm
by theactionindex
Fuuuuck. Changed my mind on the Shiv and placed an order for a Hellhawk and matching 2x12.

Now I wait anxiously with boner in hand.

Re: I want a Science Amplifier

Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2014 5:24 pm
by Bellyheart
Wait. Egc neck?! Does it help get the aluminum sound? Demos?

Re: I want a Science Amplifier

Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2014 6:33 pm
by Phosphene Audio
I saw a guy using one of these about a month or so ago(band was U-Sco), sounded great.

Re: I want a Science Amplifier

Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2014 6:36 pm
by Holy Schnikes
theactionindex wrote:Fuuuuck. Changed my mind on the Shiv and placed an order for a Hellhawk and matching 2x12.

Now I wait anxiously with boner in hand.
50W or 100W?

I almost went with a Hellhawk for my second Science amp but decided on a Decolonizer instead. If I had my way I'd have one of every amp Alex offers.

Re: I want a Science Amplifier

Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2014 7:12 pm
by Bellyheart
That band rules.

I love that everyone is getting one of these things. It'll be what the Love Buzz would've been had they made more than ten.

Income tax awaiting.

Re: I want a Science Amplifier

Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2014 7:39 pm
by theactionindex
Holy Schnikes wrote:
theactionindex wrote:Fuuuuck. Changed my mind on the Shiv and placed an order for a Hellhawk and matching 2x12.

Now I wait anxiously with boner in hand.
50W or 100W?

I almost went with a Hellhawk for my second Science amp but decided on a Decolonizer instead. If I had my way I'd have one of every amp Alex offers.
I went with 50W. After hearing the clips of the Hellhawk I was 100% sold on it. I'm now in that same predicament of wanting one of everything he has to offer haha. He's a super pleasant dude to boot.

Re: I want a Science Amplifier

Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2014 11:16 pm
by dase
Bellyheart wrote:Wait. Egc neck?! Does it help get the aluminum sound? Demos?
to an extent yeah? I mean what's the aluminium sound you know? It does sustain like all buggery and has ridiculously high output, and is pretty much the only guitar I play now.

No demos. I recorded with it on here but it's not a good representation because we're basically trying to sound like 80s english crusty metal so it was DS1s with the treble cranked: humanruins.bandcamp.com

Re: I want a Science Amplifier

Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2014 8:50 pm
by smalltownsongs
I've absolutely loved my Shiv. Then some vintage gear popped up and I put it out on some feelers earlier today and now after playing it again I just keep loving it more. Alex, WHY MUST YOU MAKE SUCH GOOD THINGS? :idk: :mad: :lol:

Re: I want a Science Amplifier

Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2014 10:08 pm
by humandingus
i get serious separation anxiety whenever i haven't played out of my hellhawk in maybe two days at the most.

Re: I want a Science Amplifier

Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2014 3:23 pm
by transients
I've had my shiv for 2 months now and I absolutely love it. I've never been so smitten with an amp. The voicings and EQ options let me easily configure the amp to sound good with any guitar I plug in, and the power-scaling (loudness knob) lets me sound good at whatever volume level is needed (including home). AND I got an extra push-pull bright switch for the normal channel that I use a lot for those excruciatingly bright APTBS-style sounds.

I haven't touched any of my other amps since I've had it!