Post by G'OlPeachPhan on Aug 30, 2005 8:10:22 GMT -7
There's a thread right now on thegearpage.net about defining 'swirl,' and after starting to type a response to that thread, it occured to me how I could communicate with type words, somewhat effectively anyways, a bit more about why the Ghia worked for me personally better than the KT-45... It was about headroom and overall power for sure, but I *think* the following helps to add an abstract clarity (if that's not an oxymoron I don't know what is!!!). Here goes:
Swirl or "bloom" as it's sometimes called, to me, means the tone sort of envelops you and blooms around you. Clang or "KERRANG!" as it's sometimes called, means to me that the tone is more strident/stiff and knocks you backwards a few feet or hits you in the head or chest with a sharp wake up call.
I've found most lower powered small bottle amps (EL84's and 6V6's for example) tend to swirl, and most higher powered big bottle amps tend to clang.
A good 'amp specific' example of this comparison from the Dr. Z lineup would be the Carmen Ghia, which 'SsssSWwwiRRRrLllLSsSsssss' by my definition, and the KT-45, which CLLLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNGGSSSS!!!
I think swirl is more ambient and laid back, and clang is more aggressive and your face. I personally prefer ambient swirl, but can definitely appreciate good aggressive clang.
To add a little more, both amps certainly respond brilliantly to playing dynamics and guitar control changes (as I'm sure all Dr. Z amps do), but they respond quite differently, which is what I was getting at above. It all depends on what you want, and it's awesome that there are enough choices in the Dr. Z lineup to satisfy both sides of the coin, and all points in between!
The KT-45 kind of punches back at you what you put into it like boxing against yourself in a mirror, and the Ghia is more like dancing with your shadow. If I prefer the Ghia, does that make me a lover rather than a fighter? ;D
Swirl or "bloom" as it's sometimes called, to me, means the tone sort of envelops you and blooms around you. Clang or "KERRANG!" as it's sometimes called, means to me that the tone is more strident/stiff and knocks you backwards a few feet or hits you in the head or chest with a sharp wake up call.
I've found most lower powered small bottle amps (EL84's and 6V6's for example) tend to swirl, and most higher powered big bottle amps tend to clang.
A good 'amp specific' example of this comparison from the Dr. Z lineup would be the Carmen Ghia, which 'SsssSWwwiRRRrLllLSsSsssss' by my definition, and the KT-45, which CLLLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNGGSSSS!!!
I think swirl is more ambient and laid back, and clang is more aggressive and your face. I personally prefer ambient swirl, but can definitely appreciate good aggressive clang.
To add a little more, both amps certainly respond brilliantly to playing dynamics and guitar control changes (as I'm sure all Dr. Z amps do), but they respond quite differently, which is what I was getting at above. It all depends on what you want, and it's awesome that there are enough choices in the Dr. Z lineup to satisfy both sides of the coin, and all points in between!
The KT-45 kind of punches back at you what you put into it like boxing against yourself in a mirror, and the Ghia is more like dancing with your shadow. If I prefer the Ghia, does that make me a lover rather than a fighter? ;D