Post by iggs on Oct 2, 2006 20:44:56 GMT -7
Hey all,
a while ago I was looking into getting a new amp and 6545 was looking like the amp of choice, I think the forum threads are still there in the 6545 section ... however, I ended up getting a Bümbox Lead50, which is a fantastic 1987 Ali based amp and sounds great, loves pedals and works great for my setup. Price and immediate availability were a factor but the amp also sounded too good to pass on it.
However, I just couldn't rest and kept on thinking about a Dr.Z amp, still, not being able to try one for myself really prevented me from ordering one unheard ... a local store carries them but they rarely have them in stock and when they do, usually they go pretty fast ... a Delta88 was gone before I ever got chance to try it.
Anyway, finally got to try a Route66, which is what I ended up looking (read: gas-ing) for since my JMP/50W - EL34 needs were filled with the Lead50. That was past Thursday and I spent most of the weekend trying to convince myself that I "don't need it" and that "it doesn't sound that good" ... of course, that was all in vain because it's not that I needed it but that it did sound "that good" ... and then some. So I figured it's there, I might not get another chance at it (they had only one), it sounds awesome, compliments my other amp very well and it also helps having a wife that understands and supports the obsessive compulsive quest for "tone".
Boy o' boy ... does this thing have "tone" ... I always try and take people's reviews and descriptions with a grain of salt but they were not kidding when they said "milkshake thick tones"! I think that sums up Route66 tone better then anything else I've read. Thick and nicely rounded, just a right amount of compression, it just feels thick under fingers ... very round and enveloped but still piano-like with a big "klang" when you hit the strings. I play it through a VHT 4x12 with 50W Eminence speakers which are very tight, clear and efficient ... it moves some serious air! It likes to be loud!
It takes pedals very well up to the point of breakup, but anywhere past that point it becomes just a bit too compressed for my taste. I don't think that's a bad thing ... just that most of my dirt pedals are set to high-gain and it becomes too much, so it's really not a Route66 issue.
I don't really like it through my THD HotPlate ... something is just not right, can't put my finger on it because the other amp does not have an issue with the Hot Plate, but it seem like it "chokes" the RT66 a bit ...
Speaking of "chokes" how come there's no choke in RT66?
The tone stack is really different and will take some time getting used to it but I really do like the active feel of it.
The one big difference that I noticed with the RT66 is how big and open it sounds ... I love it! This is my first EF86 and KT66 amp and it's a humbling experience.
Oh, and my house # is 66 ... how perfect!
Thanks to the good Doctor for this amp!!!
Here's the bad boy:
a while ago I was looking into getting a new amp and 6545 was looking like the amp of choice, I think the forum threads are still there in the 6545 section ... however, I ended up getting a Bümbox Lead50, which is a fantastic 1987 Ali based amp and sounds great, loves pedals and works great for my setup. Price and immediate availability were a factor but the amp also sounded too good to pass on it.
However, I just couldn't rest and kept on thinking about a Dr.Z amp, still, not being able to try one for myself really prevented me from ordering one unheard ... a local store carries them but they rarely have them in stock and when they do, usually they go pretty fast ... a Delta88 was gone before I ever got chance to try it.
Anyway, finally got to try a Route66, which is what I ended up looking (read: gas-ing) for since my JMP/50W - EL34 needs were filled with the Lead50. That was past Thursday and I spent most of the weekend trying to convince myself that I "don't need it" and that "it doesn't sound that good" ... of course, that was all in vain because it's not that I needed it but that it did sound "that good" ... and then some. So I figured it's there, I might not get another chance at it (they had only one), it sounds awesome, compliments my other amp very well and it also helps having a wife that understands and supports the obsessive compulsive quest for "tone".
Boy o' boy ... does this thing have "tone" ... I always try and take people's reviews and descriptions with a grain of salt but they were not kidding when they said "milkshake thick tones"! I think that sums up Route66 tone better then anything else I've read. Thick and nicely rounded, just a right amount of compression, it just feels thick under fingers ... very round and enveloped but still piano-like with a big "klang" when you hit the strings. I play it through a VHT 4x12 with 50W Eminence speakers which are very tight, clear and efficient ... it moves some serious air! It likes to be loud!
It takes pedals very well up to the point of breakup, but anywhere past that point it becomes just a bit too compressed for my taste. I don't think that's a bad thing ... just that most of my dirt pedals are set to high-gain and it becomes too much, so it's really not a Route66 issue.
I don't really like it through my THD HotPlate ... something is just not right, can't put my finger on it because the other amp does not have an issue with the Hot Plate, but it seem like it "chokes" the RT66 a bit ...
Speaking of "chokes" how come there's no choke in RT66?
The tone stack is really different and will take some time getting used to it but I really do like the active feel of it.
The one big difference that I noticed with the RT66 is how big and open it sounds ... I love it! This is my first EF86 and KT66 amp and it's a humbling experience.
Oh, and my house # is 66 ... how perfect!
Thanks to the good Doctor for this amp!!!
Here's the bad boy: