Splawn: A better Marshall?

[Mesa/Kramer]

Looking at picking up a new amp possibly.

Have always had an interest in the Splawn's, but have never played one.

I like the Marshall voiced sound.
Is the Splawn simply a Better Marshall, or just different?

For those that have played through or owned one:

Gear 1 says it is a "Hot Rodded Plexi"
How close does it get to that claim?

Gear 2 says that is is a "Hot rodded 800"
How close does it get to this?


Does a Quick Rod sound noticibly better than a DSL?

[NaturalBornBoy]

Good questions. I'd like to know too.

[Jp77]

I remember yrs ago I sent an amp out to be modded as the descriptions of the different channels and options sounded awesome of having a plexi/hotrodded 800/hot lead +boost on one amp.While it was pretty cool what they were able to turn this plexi head into , I didn't care much at all for it. It was what became the pro mod amp and had mercury trannies and kt88 tubes. I had had other modded Marshall's before that were hotrodded but still sounded very much Marshall, the splawn mod had a hint of Marshall but a ton of gain on tap at a almost un useable level and the amp was very stiff. I have played other models such as the nitro and didn't care for that much either. I think the quick rod would be a better amp for my tastes. I am sure that his own line of amps may be quieter and better sounding then the rebuilds from yrs ago so take my post with that in mind.

[NaturalBornBoy]

No love for Splawn huh........

[thefyn]

Splawns are awesome. I loved mine but had to get rid of it because the sweet spot was too loud.

There are some tricks, like eq in the loop etc but there is always a tradeoff. It is also an unforgiving amp and it makes you a better player.

I love the solo tone...Check this clip out (its all my old QR)

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHNhE6QcrcQ[/video]

[Norton666]

I have only played 2 Splawns , both Quickrods , so I am far from an expert , but I didnt think they were a "better" Marshall at all. I thought they sounded like a brighter , higher gain , thin sounding Marshall. I personally didnt playing through them on either occasion. The first time , I played through the Quickrod and then plugged into a JVM 210 and it sounded 100x better. Fuller , more sustain and way more options. Just my opinion of course

[thefyn]

I have only played 2 Splawns , both Quickrods , so I am far from an expert , but I didnt think they were a "better" Marshall at all. I thought they sounded like a brighter , higher gain , thin sounding Marshall. I personally didnt playing through them on either occasion. The first time , I played through the Quickrod and then plugged into a JVM 210 and it sounded 100x better. Fuller , more sustain and way more options. Just my opinion of course

Did you crank the shite out of it? Because that brightness turns to meat.

Low levels (even band playign levels) it can sound pretty spikey.

[sleewell]

a marshall is a better marshall. if that is the sound you want get one, people make them sound really good. i get cloning an amp that isnt being made anymore or is impossible to find but you can get a sweet marshall very easily these days.

i am also shocked to find a friedman reference from dan, this is truly a first.

[magh8]

Nope

[MacaroniSalad]

a marshall is a better marshall. if that is the sound you want get one, people make them sound really good. i get cloning an amp that isnt being made anymore or is impossible to find but you can get a sweet marshall very easily these days.

i am also shocked to find a friedman reference from dan, this is truly a first.

+1

I don't get why people spend WAY more money on clones of Marshalls than on actual. Marshalls.

Rather than covering the magic of the real thing in mountains of modding, crank the bastard haha.

I'd rather have a 2204 JMP and a Tubescreamer or Badmonkey than a Friedman. Even if I could get them at the same cost.

The Friedman doesnt have the Character of what it is trying to copy, IMHO


That being said, I think Splawns are cool as hell, but not because they sound like Marshalls. They have that familiar voicing, but are a different animal

[phrophus]

a marshall is a better marshall. if that is the sound you want get one, people make them sound really good. i get cloning an amp that isnt being made anymore or is impossible to find but you can get a sweet marshall very easily these days.

i am also shocked to find a friedman reference from dan, this is truly a first.

+1

I don't get why people spend WAY more money on clones of Marshalls than on actual. Marshalls.

Rather than covering the magic of the real thing in mountains of modding, crank the bastard haha.

I'd rather have a 2204 JMP and a Tubescreamer or Badmonkey than a Friedman. Even if I could get them at the same cost.

The Friedman doesnt have the Character of what it is trying to copy, IMHO


That being said, I think Splawns are cool as hell, but not because they sound like Marshalls. They have that familiar voicing, but are a different animal

Better not talk shit about Friedman. Dan is gonna shake-raep you. Forcible handshakes are the worst.

[thefyn]

a marshall is a better marshall. if that is the sound you want get one, people make them sound really good. i get cloning an amp that isnt being made anymore or is impossible to find but you can get a sweet marshall very easily these days.

i am also shocked to find a friedman reference from dan, this is truly a first.

+1

I don't get why people spend WAY more money on clones of Marshalls than on actual. Marshalls.

Splawns build quality is far superior. The QR is like a modded Marshall with better components but it does lack some mojo of the classics.

A lot of people want brand spanking new amps and Splawns shit all over JCM800 reissues, Kerry King etc etc.

I did love the AFD but they had so many DOA's it was farcical.

[GuitarBilly]

Splawns are cool amps but they have their own tone. If you want Marshall tone get a Marshall amp.

[cibyl]

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7T9uzDasXag[/video]

If u want Marshall toan without a Marshall this is it, but it will cost you.

Meh,...they should good, but I've heard stock Marshall's that sound just as good.

[thefyn]

My dream Marshall:

81 JCM800 vert input 100 watt
Merren Transformer
Langner modded

[Rampage]

If you are going after that really middy, harmonic rich 1980s Marshall tone, you don't really need to invest in a modified Marshall or boutique amp. I was very comfortable with my stock JMP 2203 and a boost. A bone stock Marshall will breathe fire if you give it almost any boost and some volume through a set of nice speakers.

[NaturalBornBoy]

3.5k for the Friedman BE-100! Holy shit that's pricey!!!!!

[thefyn]

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hgk378ONphM[/video]

Some of Reinhold's early work ...

I know that arm/voice...I met him a few weeks ago in NAMM. He is funny as shit. We got tore up watching Exodus.

[MacaroniSalad]

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hgk378ONphM[/video]

Some of Reinhold's early work ...

Pretty underwhelming, IMHO. The clean was nice, but the dirt lost its feel

[thefyn]

Meet my Marsha with one gold tooth:



Here is a track:

[video]http://youtu.be/Ig-TblF7V70[/video]

[thefyn]

niiice:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/190792923592?ss ... 1555.l2649

[NaturalBornBoy]

Man I'd love a SLP with a good master volume!

[Tommy Eisen]

No, just no. Mesa Mark IIIs sound closer to Marshalls. Quickrods sound like perfected 5150s. They are meant to have EVHs brown sound, and have the cold cathode stage in the preamp. If you consider 5150s to have the perfected Marshall sound sure, if not no, he'll no. The mids are way fucking different.

[JerEvil]

Splwans, IMHO are geared to folks wanting a certain sound. I think anyone at Splawn will tell you they are not trying to make a better Marshall but are really trying to capture the feel and tone of a particular era's guitar sound and I think they do it incredibly well.

I think folks buying a Splawn hoping it will sound like a boosted 800 will be disappointed. With that said, I have yet to hear a well recorded clip/vid of a Splawn product that didn't sound damn good. Their customer service is top notch and Scott and the crew go out of their way to give you a great buying experience. Their build quality is awesome as well. You are also paying less than you would for a new Marshall. Not sure where the above comment about paying higher than Marshall pricing comes from.

A 2 channel QR costs about the same as a JVM210 and $500 less than the 410. I think the Quickrod is just as versatile with the 3 OD/3 Gear options. Better QC as well.

IMHO.

[thefyn]

No, just no. Mesa Mark IIIs sound closer to Marshalls.

I've owned both (a purple stripe)

MKIII tone is unique and nothing like a Marshall.