HXDA - 30 watt vs 50 watt

[sws1]

Anyone here who can comment on the 30 watt version vs the 50 watt? I've heard tons of clips of the 50, but none of the 30watt.

I'm intrigued by the 30w 1x12 combo, primarily because of the 1x12. I don't think they make a 50w 1x12 combo, and I don't want a 4x10.

Anyone with a clip, or with experience side-by side?

Also, what did they do to drop the power? Transformer change, lower voltage, triode mode, etc

Finally, one last question: Is the Master Volume the same MV that would typically have been put in old plexi, or is there something different about this one? Does it work well?

 

[László]

I can tell you that the master volume on the 50 watt amps is fantastic.

i haven't played a 30, however.

 

[Boogie]

Calling Dirty Bob!! His 30w HXDA combo is the first I thought of.

 

[Tosca]

I have the 30 watt combo and love it. I have not played a 50 watt version, but the sound samples I have heard of them seem similar (if not identical). The comments 50 watt owners (like Les) make seem to apply to my amp as well. I even found my "sweet spot" with this amp to be almost exactly the same settings Les had posted about his. This amp covers the "middle zone" extremely well, from edge of breakup through all flavors of crunch and into classic rock lead territory. Not exceptional at pristine cleans, needs a boost/distortion pedal to get into the "metal zone". Works well with every overdrive I've thrown at it (many). Very responsive to guitar volume and tone pot changes. I find it to be a perfect match for the 408 pickups, together a super versatile combination. The crunch sounds I get from it with my RW neck SC245 w 59/09's are the best I' ever achieved from an amp at or below 50 watts (only surpassed by my Soldano Slo-100).

 

[rugerpc]

go ahead, feed my GAS for an HXDA and a 408....

 

[László]

I think the HXDA sounds great with the 408s, too.

But I haven't found a guitar it doesn't like. So no worries, Ruger, your current stable will run fine with one!

 

[sws1]

Thanks for the feedback. Getting close.

BTW - Is the HXDA a complete replica of the old plexi amps, or is it designed to sound LIKE an old plexi? i.e., other than the MV, is the circuit 100% the same as Marshall Super Bass / Lead, or is it it's own this?

 

[runr53]

From what I read Paul and Doug saying in interviews. They used the designs of those two amps as starting points, but they added changes to the circuits and components. They wanted to get the tone right, not just duplicate the circuits and hope for success.

 

[runr53]

I'm looking hard at this same amp - the 30W 1x12. The alternate that I am considering is the Mesa King Snake (a reissue of the original Boogie that Santana made famous). That has the variable power and a few other nice tweeks. I really want a single channel that gives me the smooth to crunch rock sound. Marshalls and early Mesas had that. Its neck and neck at the moment. BTW, the audible difference between 30W and 90W is only about 20%, so they both can be loud

 

[László]

I really want a single channel that gives me the smooth to crunch rock sound.

I have the 50 watt HXDA, and I can say with complete confidence that it IS the smooth to crunch rock sound - and much more. It's an amp that sounds great just about anywhere you set it up.

The Mesa is a great amp - I happen to be a fan of Mesa amps - but the HXDA is in a different league entirely.

First, just in terms of the most basic things, the HXDA is dead quiet at idle, unlike the Mesa, and unlike the early Marshalls. This very low noise floor means that notes don't have to overcome the usual "amp noise." Every detail of the plucked note jumps out, and the tail end of a note is not obscured by fading into noise, either. I believe this is often overlooked, but is one hallmark of a great amp design. It's especially wonderful for recording. If there's hum or buzz, it's coming from your pickups or your pedals or somewhere else in the system. It won't be the amp.

Whether this is the result of the HXDA's very careful hand-wiring or not, I can't say. But it is nice.

Second, there is a huge variety of tone on tap. The "HXDA gain" and the bass gain can be combined in infinite ways. The amp can be switched not just into HX or DA mode, the switches can be combined to your heart's content. I like mine mostly in DA/DA/HX, but with certain guitars, or for certain projects, I change it up as needed.

Third, it's a terrific pedal platform. If you like to use pedals to shape tone, get other sounds, etc., this is a wonderful amp.

Fourth, and most important, there are buttery tones. The harmonics in overdrive are rich and yet the sound is detailed. You hear your guitar, and you also hear the amp - this is hard to describe and probably harder to accomplish with most amps, but it's that holy grail thing where the guitar shines through AND the amp shines through, no matter how you dial it in.

As good as the Mesa is, there isn't that transparency.

Finally, the clean tones are magnificent. If you set your guitar volume to 5 or below, the amp cleans up to shimmery, clear tones, and you can use the guitar volume (or the amp of course) to get as much or as little grit as you want. This is an amp that's designed to work with the guitar's controls, though, so be aware of that. If you're a guy who simply dimes the guitar, you won't get the most out of the amp.

So as much as I appreciate the coolness of the Mesa in many ways, the HXDA is a more interesting and more beautiful amp to play through - for me, YMMV and the usual disclaimers apply.