RackAddict
Previous handle "Djenter"
This is a request dedicated solid state amp block containing models such as the preamps in amps like the Randall RH series, RG series, Marshall Valvestate, Randall X3 Warhead, or even the Sansamp PSA-1 rack, Peavey Transtube rack or any transtube preamp from back in the day.
But I want to start by saying that I have noticed in general that many of the same people who like to bash solid state amps are the same ones using overdrive pedals in front of their tube amps. Do they not realize that doing this is using a solid state op-amp circuit as their first gain stage?
In addition, some of those same people for some reason have some myth stuck in their mind that seems to make them believe that solid state is some sort of digital fizz. I like to inform such people that a solid state circuit is an analog circuit.
Perhaps they got that perception from some cheap circuit they may have plugged into like an entry level Crate combo. But the quality of the solid state circuit's sound is determined by many factors. And there has been some very good ones and also not so good ones out there.
Also, when Fractal is providing alot of the overdrive pedal models of op-amp based solid state pedals that most players like to use in front of tube amp models... well since thats a solid state stage why not just make an amp model too! As there have been some very prominent solid state amp models used by virtuoso type lead players because they find solid state sound to be very quick in a very articulate way for very accurate speed playing which often times comes across as more focused than the same lead run played and run through a bunch of tubes (assuming they can actually play it cleanly which very few people can do. But among some players are Jason Becker who used a peavey rockmaster rack, Dimebag Darrel who used various randall solid state circuits, Paul Gilbert on the JCM900's preamp which is solid state, Chuck Schulinder, and James Murphy on the Marshall valvestate series. But even when it comes to lead time for the average bonehead, in comes the seeming need to kick in that overdrive pedal in front of the amp! And then at that point they are in some solid state land + their tube amp. Which is also a great mix.
Or even the hallmark death metal sound from back in the day for leads - the tube screamer 808 Keeley mod in front of the Marshall Valvestate 8100. Just an unbelievable epic sound. We have that in it's full glory from Chuck Schulinder's exact use of that spec. Try listening to Chuck's leads on the Death albums or even James Murphy's Convergence or Feeding the Machine solo virtuoso albums. Although why they call these things "Tube screamer" and "Valvestate"? i could not tell you. Complete misnomers if you ask me. You will also hear that exact configuration on all of James' solos on the Obituary Cause of death album too (while the grungy slothy Rhythm guitar grooves were recorded with tube amps driven by modified pro co rat pedals (also solid state). But regarding leads, ive never heard anything more surreal and lush than that Obituary album with Murphy (with processing of course).
That is certainly the one circuit that is certainly needed with that contour knob and the Gain 1 mode and Gain 2 mode in the same gain channel; which originally appeared in the Marshall Valvestate line and then there was a higher gain version that was released in a bunch of Randall amps, combos and heads in their RH line. (There is also the Dimebag RG ones which have been requested many times on these wishlists, but thats a different circuit. He used the Century series on Far Beyond Driven and the RG series on other albums.
And also the X2 Warhead head version was the my favourite sounding solid state one of them all as heard on the final Pantera record Reinventing the steel. Such a fine sound.
But for this request I am referring to the circuits which have that contour knob for this very interesting shaping of mids. A Chinese factory basically built that circuit for both Marshall and Randall, and a few other lesser known brands that rebranded that same circuit like the SGH Skorpion and i think one of the Fame heads.
And then Marshall had pulled a very funny move and had a very cheap version of the circuit which went into their MG line, but the better circuit kept getting made with the same contour knob for Randall in the RH line and also a few companies who rebranded a similar circuit also with the Same array, Gain 1 and gain 2 on the same OD channel, contour, EQ etc.
That was simply an awesome sounding circuit, especially for leads. It sounded like higher gain versions of the exact same Valvestate series.
It appears some version of this circuit also appears in the Behringer VT100FX with the added effects. I have never tried that one so I can't say for certain if they cheaped out like the MG did on the same circuit.
Pictured are some examples. i have had them all except for the Behringer. Its the two OD modes on the overdrive channel (gain 1 and 2), and the clean channel. (Just reversed left right on the Randall and SGH. (amazing cleans too btw).
Absolutely Key for the AFX3 amp block.
But I want to start by saying that I have noticed in general that many of the same people who like to bash solid state amps are the same ones using overdrive pedals in front of their tube amps. Do they not realize that doing this is using a solid state op-amp circuit as their first gain stage?
In addition, some of those same people for some reason have some myth stuck in their mind that seems to make them believe that solid state is some sort of digital fizz. I like to inform such people that a solid state circuit is an analog circuit.
Perhaps they got that perception from some cheap circuit they may have plugged into like an entry level Crate combo. But the quality of the solid state circuit's sound is determined by many factors. And there has been some very good ones and also not so good ones out there.
Also, when Fractal is providing alot of the overdrive pedal models of op-amp based solid state pedals that most players like to use in front of tube amp models... well since thats a solid state stage why not just make an amp model too! As there have been some very prominent solid state amp models used by virtuoso type lead players because they find solid state sound to be very quick in a very articulate way for very accurate speed playing which often times comes across as more focused than the same lead run played and run through a bunch of tubes (assuming they can actually play it cleanly which very few people can do. But among some players are Jason Becker who used a peavey rockmaster rack, Dimebag Darrel who used various randall solid state circuits, Paul Gilbert on the JCM900's preamp which is solid state, Chuck Schulinder, and James Murphy on the Marshall valvestate series. But even when it comes to lead time for the average bonehead, in comes the seeming need to kick in that overdrive pedal in front of the amp! And then at that point they are in some solid state land + their tube amp. Which is also a great mix.
Or even the hallmark death metal sound from back in the day for leads - the tube screamer 808 Keeley mod in front of the Marshall Valvestate 8100. Just an unbelievable epic sound. We have that in it's full glory from Chuck Schulinder's exact use of that spec. Try listening to Chuck's leads on the Death albums or even James Murphy's Convergence or Feeding the Machine solo virtuoso albums. Although why they call these things "Tube screamer" and "Valvestate"? i could not tell you. Complete misnomers if you ask me. You will also hear that exact configuration on all of James' solos on the Obituary Cause of death album too (while the grungy slothy Rhythm guitar grooves were recorded with tube amps driven by modified pro co rat pedals (also solid state). But regarding leads, ive never heard anything more surreal and lush than that Obituary album with Murphy (with processing of course).
That is certainly the one circuit that is certainly needed with that contour knob and the Gain 1 mode and Gain 2 mode in the same gain channel; which originally appeared in the Marshall Valvestate line and then there was a higher gain version that was released in a bunch of Randall amps, combos and heads in their RH line. (There is also the Dimebag RG ones which have been requested many times on these wishlists, but thats a different circuit. He used the Century series on Far Beyond Driven and the RG series on other albums.
And also the X2 Warhead head version was the my favourite sounding solid state one of them all as heard on the final Pantera record Reinventing the steel. Such a fine sound.
But for this request I am referring to the circuits which have that contour knob for this very interesting shaping of mids. A Chinese factory basically built that circuit for both Marshall and Randall, and a few other lesser known brands that rebranded that same circuit like the SGH Skorpion and i think one of the Fame heads.
And then Marshall had pulled a very funny move and had a very cheap version of the circuit which went into their MG line, but the better circuit kept getting made with the same contour knob for Randall in the RH line and also a few companies who rebranded a similar circuit also with the Same array, Gain 1 and gain 2 on the same OD channel, contour, EQ etc.
That was simply an awesome sounding circuit, especially for leads. It sounded like higher gain versions of the exact same Valvestate series.
It appears some version of this circuit also appears in the Behringer VT100FX with the added effects. I have never tried that one so I can't say for certain if they cheaped out like the MG did on the same circuit.
Pictured are some examples. i have had them all except for the Behringer. Its the two OD modes on the overdrive channel (gain 1 and 2), and the clean channel. (Just reversed left right on the Randall and SGH. (amazing cleans too btw).
Absolutely Key for the AFX3 amp block.
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