Who just got a THD BiValve amplifier? I did!!!!! :P

[Outlaws]

This thing is built like a rock. In 5000 years the only thing left will be the pyramids and this thing...and cockroaches.

I will post a further review tomorrow after I get a chance to get it play it a bit more.

First impressions? OMFG *Drool*

 

[Enzo Polotso]

The THD Uni/Bivalve amps are by far my favorite guitar amps. I haven't played through a Flexi myself, but from what I hear it's rediculous. THD is a great company.

 

[Outlaws]

Okay...so far....

Ruby tubes 6L6's are good sounding tubes. Sure there are probably better tubes out there, but they don't sound bad by any stretch of the imagination.

Later today, it will be Tesla EL34's and I will drop in my GrooveTubes 12ax7 Mullard replica. I hear it is a very good copy.


I honestly wasn't ready for how much gain this thing has. It can't go much higher than 11 o'clock on the volume before its saturated. Granted that is a LP through the first input.

My ears love me though. The HotPlate works like a charm.

 

[Thatupstateguy]

Got some other tubes you should try in that beauty,...
That's the one that you can use just about anything in for power, or preamp tubes ... isn't it,..??

Email me....


Steve

 

[Outlaws]

Got some other tubes you should try in that beauty,...
That's the one that you can use just about anything in for power, or preamp tubes ... isn't it,..??

Email me....


Steve

Almost anything with an ocatal base. ya, thats a lot of choices. Plus I an mix and match. Its auto bias so no problems there either. Don't even need matched pairs. That alone will save a bundle of cash in the NOS market.

I gotta get a get a YellowJack at some point because I heard that the EL34 goes great with an EL84. But then a KT88 or a 6550 with a EL34 might be a nice combo too.


I dropped in the two EL34s and they sound great in it. The GT 12ax7m is night and day though. Its in the Input position (I think that is their name for Phase Inverter) but it did wonders over the stock unmarked chinese one. I need to track down another of these GT Mullards for my driver spot.

 

[Thatupstateguy]

Email me, and I will send you some NOS preamp tubes to try,... and a few others for the other slots,... just one request,...


you have to come to the Jamfest to return them,... and bring that lil beauty with you,... I want to try it out,....


Steve

 

[Outlaws]

Email me, and I will send you some NOS preamp tubes to try,... and a few others for the other slots,... just one request,...


you have to come to the Jamfest to return them,... and bring that lil beauty with you,... I want to try it out,....


Steve

Thanks for the offer. lol I don't know where Jamfest is this year, but if I recall, the last two were way to far away for me. I am in Phoenix.

 

[Thatupstateguy]

and your point is...????


hook up with Harvey in Texas, he is driving out in a motor home,.... whats the problem.....????



Steve

 

[Easto]

Outlaws...

Thanks for the reviews and keep them coming. Have you tried any lower gain Preamp tubes i.e. 12AU7 / 12AY7 etc? How does it sound at low volumes?

 

[Outlaws]

How does it sound at low volumes?

Midnight bedroom volumes? Well......Lets just say its usable.

Middle of the day bedroom/apartment volume? Really good. The attenuator helps a lot cause I can get full powertube distortion. The only reason its only so-so at night is because the speaker still needs a little something to work with, and I don't think there is an amp in the world (and that includes those 1/2 watt micro jokes with the kidney bean sized tubes) that would sound good at that volume. Hell, even solid state sounds worse than normal at middle of the night volume.

For middle of the day household volume? The less attenuation the better, but really, really good.

No attenuation and cranked? Haven't done it yet, but like I said earlier, I currently only have until about 11 o'clock before it starts to really breakup with the LP in the high input. But even at 9 o'clock it was sounding fantastic and clean (well, a shimmer clean...if that is still called clean).

 

[ibanezrocks]

How much did it cost? and if you're afraid to scare me... then dont worry about telling the price.

 

[Outlaws]

How much did it cost? and if you're afraid to scare me... then dont worry about telling the price.

$1275-ish new online.

I got mine off eBay in damn near new condition for $900.

The UniValve is basically the same thing but with only one powertube and is 15 watts instead of 30. That is $850 I think new, but they sell used on eBay for about $550-600+/-. That seems to be a consistent number too.

 

[Outlaws]

Minor update.

About not having enough headroom...

Just plugged into the low input. Wow. My SuperReverb never cleaned up like that. At least not that I ever recall.

I am using EL34's at the moment still.
Talk about clean. The LP at max volume is breaking up good, but the Tele on the neck pickup (52 RI...so a stock RI vintage pickup) is just clean to the bone. Now I have the attenuator on and its a little late to just let it go, but the power section is working at full right now and it is clean. The bridge is a different story. I have a Texas Special in it and it is (depending on how the attitide (variation on a presence control) is set, I am getting anything from a nice clean to a tweed breakup.


This is one hell of a homerecorders dream IMO. Or just for tone nuts. It still has its own sound, but it just has so many variations that it works wonders.

Back to playing. later.

 

[Outlaws]

Okay...the final update. ...I think.

Just played the thing wide open with a Tele in both the low and high inputs.

(through one 10" from my ProJunior cab)

Wow. The Low input is clean. Not loud enough for a heavy handed drummer, but loud enough that if they can calm themselves for the clean parts. But it isn't footswitchable anyways, so its a mute point. Very nice clean. breaks up well too with the LesPaul or hotter bridge pickups.

The High input is just Marshall. Pure Marshall. Not preamp gain Marshall, but old school non-master volume Marshall. IMO there is plenty of sustain and preamp harmonics to keep me happy as the volume (which is MUCH louder in this input) doesn't really increase after about 12 o'clock. It just gets more saturated. Definately not a NuMetal Mesa sound, but plenty modern that I don't feel stuck in the 70's or, worse yet, in some modern band that thinks they are stuck in the 70's. I guess the best way to put it is, Modern distortion for the 'anti-Mesa Triple crowd'. But at lower volumes a subtle to Plexi breakup to the JCM800 with dose of boutique smeared over everything like icing. I should be a writer.

But even when not cranked, then thing sound beautiful. The perfect recording amp. Too bad I don't have much recording equipment anymore lol.

I got my moneys worth.