
Easto
New member
So I drove myself out to Santa Ana (Beautiful Santa Ana) and tried out a couple of amps (vintage series). I tried both the Nomad and Belair. I've been reading all sorts of fantastic reviews about these amps. It also appears that you get virtually the same setup as a Fender but for about 1/3rd less. Just so that you know... the in-store prices for these amps was about $50 less than advertised.
I took my G&L Legacy with the "silent" Kinman pickups installed knowing that anything I hear would be "amp" related. I was not impressed with the Nomad. That's not to say there's anything wrong with it, and it's well worth the price except I wouldn't rave about it. Maybe it's just that I'm spoiled having my 1962 Princeton but when someone tells me this is their "Vintage" line and if "You're looking for a Vintage sound" well, I damn well know what a vintage tube amp should like because I have one. Then we moved onto the Belair. At first I was sitting way too close to it and started thinking to myself "What's all the fuss about these amps"? I then found a 20 foot cord laying around and backed away from the amp. It was like day and night! I have to say that I really liked this amp. I was mostly using the "Clean" channel and worked at dialing in what I was looking for. I have to say that I was quite tempted to walk out with that amp seeing as how the price is just too good to be true except... no matter how hard I tried I just couldn't get that clean, sparkly sound out of it. It did get close to it at a couple of settings that I chose but still... just not the clarity I'm looking for. But in all fairness I will be going back with another guitar later this week and give it another try. Even though it might not be my "perfect" amp, for the price it's close enough.
I took my G&L Legacy with the "silent" Kinman pickups installed knowing that anything I hear would be "amp" related. I was not impressed with the Nomad. That's not to say there's anything wrong with it, and it's well worth the price except I wouldn't rave about it. Maybe it's just that I'm spoiled having my 1962 Princeton but when someone tells me this is their "Vintage" line and if "You're looking for a Vintage sound" well, I damn well know what a vintage tube amp should like because I have one. Then we moved onto the Belair. At first I was sitting way too close to it and started thinking to myself "What's all the fuss about these amps"? I then found a 20 foot cord laying around and backed away from the amp. It was like day and night! I have to say that I really liked this amp. I was mostly using the "Clean" channel and worked at dialing in what I was looking for. I have to say that I was quite tempted to walk out with that amp seeing as how the price is just too good to be true except... no matter how hard I tried I just couldn't get that clean, sparkly sound out of it. It did get close to it at a couple of settings that I chose but still... just not the clarity I'm looking for. But in all fairness I will be going back with another guitar later this week and give it another try. Even though it might not be my "perfect" amp, for the price it's close enough.