Scott Peterson
01-01-2005, 12:04 PM
I posted this on the Gear Page, but thought I'd add it here too.
Stole a Pittbull 45 1-12 combo from Ebay (well, about market price) and am really excited to get it.
I needed a grab and go 1-12 combo and this seems to fit the bill from reading reviews and comments across the net and from our own Matte and Splatt - how could I not try this thing?
Been churning through simpler solutions lately for putting together rigs that are lighter and easier to run than my massive pedalboard and clean amp/212 from last year. This year I have a rock covers band coming together, my funk covers band reloading with a new singer and keyboardist coming in and the country band (originals/covers) stepping up a bit. So I need solutions for each situation (country is covered, I play acoustic in that gig). I require flexibilty and great Fender/Vox cleans, low gain Marshall type of tones and higher gain Marshall tones to please what I want in my head.
I have extensively tried the modeling route lately and have got some good results from that; but in the end the Atomic Reactor/POD XTL solution was just not loud enough, too directional and compared A/B to my Rivera Rake solution (using the XTL as the complete front end into the efx loop return *OR* the XTL as an effects only situation - in lieu of the massive boutique pedalboard I ran last year) the Rake just destroyed, IMHO, the Atomic. The modeling thing gives you tons more tones to choose from. Lots of character; but the 18 watt 1-12 ported combo just didn't do it (especially on the clean headroom thing) with a full on drummer. The solution from guys running that route is to buy another Atomic; well that sorta puts the "lighter/simpler" thing in the toilet for me.
The Rake surprised me a lot by running GT-6CA7GE's from GT and biasing it down to about 30mA (ala James Peter's suggestion) and running the Rake 212 cab open backed with first generation Reverand Special Design speakers. I ran the XTL into the loop return and man - the Atomic X10 in terms of tone and punch.
Trying the Rake with the XTL as effects only vs. the XTL into the output section of the Rake; well that was a tougher thing. I like both; but the Rake sounds so good and just has more cut with the band. In context, it just works better for my ear.
What makes me feel stupid is that I have owned the Rake and dug it since 1996. If I listed all the amps I have owned, and SOLD, in the meantime between then and now.... well, nevermind. Sigh. The Rake does the job and does it great, I understand it, I like working with it and the tones -especially since I swapped those tubes, speakers and rebiased it a bit colder(!)- it just sounds fantastic.
The Rake is a lock, no matter what. I have my GDS 18watt head, but though I love the tones on it, there is no clean headroom at volume to even discuss. So I needed a back up/alternative and wanted a grab-and-go 1-12 solution. Enter the Pittbull 45.
I like that it has 4xEL84's and has some chime and grit on the cleans plus everything else I have heard about this thing.
It seems like a great solution for me and I can't wait till it hits here and I can get into it. This one is a late 1999 model and has the EL84 reverb driver, which is not good from what I have learned. But I have also learned that VHT will sell you the parts to update it to the later and preferred EF-86 circuit and have contacted VHT about it. I am also looking into a 1x12 extension cab to further open up my options for whatever stage we happen to hit.
I post stuff like this because it is good to share. It is all just a journey, there is no end and it is fun to talk about the what, why and how we all undertake it...
Stole a Pittbull 45 1-12 combo from Ebay (well, about market price) and am really excited to get it.
I needed a grab and go 1-12 combo and this seems to fit the bill from reading reviews and comments across the net and from our own Matte and Splatt - how could I not try this thing?
Been churning through simpler solutions lately for putting together rigs that are lighter and easier to run than my massive pedalboard and clean amp/212 from last year. This year I have a rock covers band coming together, my funk covers band reloading with a new singer and keyboardist coming in and the country band (originals/covers) stepping up a bit. So I need solutions for each situation (country is covered, I play acoustic in that gig). I require flexibilty and great Fender/Vox cleans, low gain Marshall type of tones and higher gain Marshall tones to please what I want in my head.
I have extensively tried the modeling route lately and have got some good results from that; but in the end the Atomic Reactor/POD XTL solution was just not loud enough, too directional and compared A/B to my Rivera Rake solution (using the XTL as the complete front end into the efx loop return *OR* the XTL as an effects only situation - in lieu of the massive boutique pedalboard I ran last year) the Rake just destroyed, IMHO, the Atomic. The modeling thing gives you tons more tones to choose from. Lots of character; but the 18 watt 1-12 ported combo just didn't do it (especially on the clean headroom thing) with a full on drummer. The solution from guys running that route is to buy another Atomic; well that sorta puts the "lighter/simpler" thing in the toilet for me.
The Rake surprised me a lot by running GT-6CA7GE's from GT and biasing it down to about 30mA (ala James Peter's suggestion) and running the Rake 212 cab open backed with first generation Reverand Special Design speakers. I ran the XTL into the loop return and man - the Atomic X10 in terms of tone and punch.
Trying the Rake with the XTL as effects only vs. the XTL into the output section of the Rake; well that was a tougher thing. I like both; but the Rake sounds so good and just has more cut with the band. In context, it just works better for my ear.
What makes me feel stupid is that I have owned the Rake and dug it since 1996. If I listed all the amps I have owned, and SOLD, in the meantime between then and now.... well, nevermind. Sigh. The Rake does the job and does it great, I understand it, I like working with it and the tones -especially since I swapped those tubes, speakers and rebiased it a bit colder(!)- it just sounds fantastic.
The Rake is a lock, no matter what. I have my GDS 18watt head, but though I love the tones on it, there is no clean headroom at volume to even discuss. So I needed a back up/alternative and wanted a grab-and-go 1-12 solution. Enter the Pittbull 45.
I like that it has 4xEL84's and has some chime and grit on the cleans plus everything else I have heard about this thing.
It seems like a great solution for me and I can't wait till it hits here and I can get into it. This one is a late 1999 model and has the EL84 reverb driver, which is not good from what I have learned. But I have also learned that VHT will sell you the parts to update it to the later and preferred EF-86 circuit and have contacted VHT about it. I am also looking into a 1x12 extension cab to further open up my options for whatever stage we happen to hit.
I post stuff like this because it is good to share. It is all just a journey, there is no end and it is fun to talk about the what, why and how we all undertake it...