Nothing happens over night.
Shangri-La wasn't built in a day!
"You realize Shangri-La is a fictional place, right?"
"I figure it took James Hilton a little while to write Lost Horizon."
"What's a Utopia got to do with guitar amps?"
"Everything."
Nothing happens over night.
No question, it’s tough. Part of the pure magic with the SuperD is that dynamic expressiveness that only comes at full tilt with the MkIII. Auditioning numerous amps, including the Anniversary (father to the HXDA), I knew what Doug’s designs were capable of, so I felt better about buying sight-unseen. What surprised me was how stunning the effect would be. The difference between a hand built and tweaked amp and the others can be sublime. It certainly was for me. Of course, it also took months of research and testing of pedals to complete the rig. Nothing happens over night.
Well, as it's no secret that I've always wanted an HX/DA, I'll add that thanks mainly to you, I've always watched out for a Super Dallas as well.
I'm in love with the Archon though, and close to the same with the ATMA. My only grip with the ATMA, is that Bogner wanted to prove he could make EL84s sound big, so he put (IMO, and the O of many others) too much bottom end in the voicing. I was in 70s mode last night trying this very thing you're talking about in these last posts, and had the bass control at around 7:30 - 8:00. At one point all the way down. Just trying to tame the bottom end. The Zbest is sideways on the floor so it has a lot of bottom end itself, which doesn't help matters, but it sounds SO good that it's what I normally use. Zbest has ET65 and V30, but I have a ET90 now that will replace the V30 soon.
All good info, but yes, well aware. In my circumstances, the only thing I could do (and should have before now) is try the Gramma. My cabs are all a about a foot from the wall and center of the wall (none in corners) but it's a 12x12 room so my options are limited.You've probably already thought of this, but if not...Placement of a cab is a big deal due to Boundary Effect.
All good info, but yes, well aware. In my circumstances, the only thing I could do (and should have before now) is try the Gramma. My cabs are all a about a foot from the wall and center of the wall (none in corners) but it's a 12x12 room so my options are limited.
I have my Thiele up off the floor (on top of a 1x12 Avatar) and it really helped get rid of the boom. And, the Zbest is basically a 2x Thiele cab. It helps just to stand it up, but currently it's on it's side as it has the PRS 2x12 on top of it. So it has a LOT of bottom end now.
where do you have the channel master set for this?I’ve had an Archon 100 since it’s release. It’s an outstanding amp that responds fantastic to where the guitar volume and tone controls are at. Lately, at home, I’ve been loving my bridge pickup volume at 5-6 with the gain around 11:00. It’s super responsive to how hard I’m picking. Roll the volume all the way up for the roar. It’s truly a pleasure.
I’ve had an Archon 100 since it’s release. It’s an outstanding amp that responds fantastic to where the guitar volume and tone controls are at. Lately, at home, I’ve been loving my bridge pickup volume at 5-6 with the gain around 11:00. It’s super responsive to how hard I’m picking. Roll the volume all the way up for the roar. It’s truly a pleasure.
You've probably already thought of this, but if not...Placement of a cab is a big deal due to Boundary Effect. Against a boundary, such as floor, ceiling, walls and corners, the omnidirectional nature of bass frequencie cause reflection from adjacent surfaces and results in an INCREASE in bass.
If it's on the floor, and away from the wall:
You have what's called Half Space Boundary Interference, which raises the bass by +3db. If you remember that it takes twice the amp power to raise the volume 3 dB, then you know 3 dB can be a big deal.
If it's on the floor and against or very near a wall:
You have Quarter Space Boundary Interference, which raises the bass by +6 dB. That's a very big deal.
If it's on the floor and near two walls (i.e., a corner):
Boom! You have Eighth Space Boundary Interference, and you have have increased the bass level by +9 dB.
If the cab is far enough away from the walls AND it's raised off the floor:
You have a Whole Space and considerably less boundary effect bass reinforcement.
s.
At home, not very high. Say 7:00 is off, maybe 8:00 or less. It’s louder than quiet tv volume but not super disturbing loud at home. We have an open floor plan tri level house, no doors between the 3 levels. Amp is in the lower level man cave living room. Slightly annoying to the lady, watching tv in the middle level. Again, no doors separating anything. I’ll try to take a pic this weekend. Or maybe a video.where do you have the channel master set for this?
Thanks Les! Now I know I'm not crazy moving around my 1x12 extension cabinet around the room trying to get a stronger bottom end. Plus you explained that there were some guidelines to the madness!
I run a Archon 25w combo w/ a 1x12 stealth ext. cab.....and a really long ( maybe 25 ft) speaker cable that lets me place the 1x12 ext. cab on a different side of the room. I have a 75w creamback in the amp, and a Redback in the 1x12.
This is my all around basic practice/writing rig for all my guitars...and the Archon just shines with every guitar in every style of tone.
At home, not very high. Say 7:00 is off, maybe 8:00 or less. It’s louder than quiet tv volume but not super disturbing loud at home. We have an open floor plan tri level house, no doors between the 3 levels. Amp is in the lower level man cave living room. Slightly annoying to the lady, watching tv in the middle level. Again, no doors separating anything. I’ll try to take a pic this weekend. Or maybe a video.
This is with stock tubes from PRS - EL-34 and an uncovered \m/ bridge pickup. Also been running my mids up higher around 2:00.
Very interesting. I run the gain around 11:00 often. Master at my house, usually a "verge of ticking off roomy" 9:30-10:00. But I have a closed door, and she's 3 rooms away. I also run bright switch on 99% of the time.
I was thinking you were running your master higher for this guitar volume control, so this is really interesting. With the volume up where I run it, it will be barking quickly if you bump that volume up some. And I have several sets of hotter pickups, but no \M/ 's yet... but that's a lot of mids. My mids knob rarely touches noon, so that's a factor as well. Will give it a try.
I have in the past transformed the Archon into a completely different thing, but switching to 25 watt mode (which does something different on the 50 than the 100, but switching the amp to triode mode which is softer/smoother) and plugging it into the 1x12 open back cab with Red Fang Alnico. The fire breather because a big fat singing tone instead of the aggressive monster I often have it dialed too. I'm thinking those type adjustments would work well with the guitar volume knobs.
I have to try those master settings. Those are very low!