wrote
>I sent for some literature on the AMP 11 and was lookin thru it. The claims
>are interesting. The price is absurb considering the costs of construction.
>($2000).
>
>I am assuming that Eric Pritchard is the guy that has been discussed as
>having formerly worked for Carvin on the X series amps. Has anyone played
>any of the modules?
Yes, I demoed the Amp 11 at the Washington Guitar Show last October.
Pritchard had a sound booth set up, so it was possible to open the amp
up to small-mid club volume.
The amp was set up with the 1)hi-gain module (which he described as
Boogie-overdrive-like), 2) a Marshall-like module, 3) and a Bassman-like
module.
Module 1 delivered the kind of high-gain I like;
peel-the-paint-and-knock-down-the-walls. Translation: It delivered a
high end that was rich in juicy harmonics and sustain, while providing a
ballsy low end that's missing on some tube amps when they're doing the
high gain thing. Very convincing and very satisfying to play. I was
doing the Purple Haze thing, which drew the curious, the bedazzled,
the drunk, and the lonely. (Comment overheard: "Gee, that almost sounds
like the guy playing the SOVTEKs(tm) over at Chuck's. . . . . . . .
It's him! It's him! Quick! Let's get outta here before he makes us
listen to his rehashed old-timer stories!")
Module 2 was a classic British sound. . . very chunka-chunka on the rhythm
sounds; lots of meat too. Personally, I liked it for blues.
Module 3, I guess, was a Bassman. I'm not a Fender amp afficionado so I
can't compare this module to a standard. But, I will say that it had a
nice clean sound with lots of bottom, "spank", and personality. You could
also get a decent grind if you cranked up the gain. Nice sound; good
for blues when cranked.
Bottom line:
------------
I DO like this amp, and as a tube amp enthusiast, I am VERY satisfied
with it's tube-like response. Would I buy this amp? Yes and no.
Yes, because I feel that someone has finally put the right combination of
voodoo together to get a GOOD tube sound using solid-state (and whatever
else) technology. I like it. I like it. I like it. (Have I blasphemed?
Yes, I have blasphemed, and I have only myself to blame if I find ICs
in my Rice Crispies tomorrow morning.)
No, this amp is priced too high. Unfortunately, low production volume,
overhead, and patent costs are probably keeping the price as high as it
is. Maybe in a few years, the price can be worked down. If it comes
down to a price more in line with the costs of other solid-state gear,
then maybe I'll express my favorable opinion with cash.
Cheers,
Dario
--
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Dario Capriotti
iguan--(at)--wis2.circ.gwu.edu
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