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Post by detuned on Sept 30, 2014 11:09:32 GMT -7
So I'm a sucker for "Marshall in a box" pedals; I just love the idea of mixing a Marshall-y dirt sound with a Fender or Vox inspired clean sound. So I've had a lot of them.
Yesterday I took delivery on the new Keeley Stahlhammer, & plugged it into the front end of my '66 Fender Showman. Signal chain: Strat -> Stahlhammer -> Fender.
So, its pretty cool to start. Aside form the usual drive & level controls, there's a 3 band TMB EQ & a switch on the side that selects between "crunch", & "lead".
Crunch mode is very amp-y, for lack of a better description, & feels a lot like driving a real amp, rather than playing through a pedal, if that makes any sense. There's an LED (in a radical departure form Keeley tradition, its pretty subtle, & not that bright) that lights up depending on how hard you hit the input of the pedal - pretty cool. Nice, tight distortion.
Lead mode is more compressed, more fluid, has more distortion, & feels a bit more like driving a dirt box into an amp. Still a lot of fun, but not quite as natural as crunch mode.
the EQ is pretty versatile, certainly more range than an actual Marshall (which is to say: none!), & you can dial in a variety of tones from scooped to vintage Marshall to high-gain lead.
Like all Keeley pedals, this is built like a tank, & sounds great. I had a blast dialing in sounds ranging from Malcolm Young to Eric Johnson, & quickly lost an hour just twisting dials & flipping the switch up & down. There's an endorsement right there!
I didn't try any of my other guitars or amps, but will in the future. In the meantime, I'll be trying to find some more time to plug in & blast!
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Post by mpa93 on Sept 30, 2014 11:17:09 GMT -7
Thanks for the review...I just ordered one a few days ago from my local dealer. Sounds like a nice pedal.
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Post by detuned on Oct 8, 2014 7:46:35 GMT -7
Took the Stahlhammer out for a run at rehearsal last night with very favorable results!
There's a clarity (for lack of a better word) to this pedal I haven't heard in other "Marshall in a Box" devices I've tried. A lot of times when you turn the gain up, things eventually get a bit fizzy. Not so with the Stahlhammer. String to string definition is super clear, & the versatility of the TMB EQ makes it easy to dial the pedal in for just about any guitar into just about any amp.
Also, I noticed the other day that Keeley is blowing out a bunch of blems at "fire sale prices" (his words), including a couple of Stahlhammers.
Do with that what you will...
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Post by doctorice on Oct 8, 2014 8:35:34 GMT -7
Just ordered one with a blue finish. It will be fun to compare this with Xotic's SL.
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Post by pcns on Oct 9, 2014 9:27:04 GMT -7
Ughhh, why do I read these posts . . . ? Todd
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Post by detuned on Oct 10, 2014 6:25:20 GMT -7
Ughhh, why do I read these posts . . . ? Todd You're telling *ME*?!? I'm thinking about getting another one & using the Crunch mode as my rhythm sound...
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Post by jammergreg on Oct 10, 2014 8:18:21 GMT -7
Just ordered one with a blue finish. It will be fun to compare this with Xotic's SL. Doc, Let me or us know, how it compares to the SL? Thanks
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Post by doctorice on Oct 15, 2014 10:19:13 GMT -7
Spent about an hour running the pedal through some paces. Tele into MAZ 8. Would you believe you can make the MAZ 8, with a Blue no less, sound like a Mesa Triple Rec? Well, close enough for me anyway. I'll echo detuned's comments: seems very clear, TMB is good for both dialing in guitar to amp and for altering character of the pedal and both modes are very useable. I was able to roll the guitar volume off quite a bit and still get solid OD/Dist tones due to the high output that's available. It was nice to then switch off the pedal, roll GV up and get classic MAZ tone at the same overall output volume. Drawbacks: on the Blue Angel version the knobs offer almost no contrast to the indicator line. These aging eyes have to pick up the pedal to change settings Also, the mode switch is a recessed slider, not a toggle. Very tough to change on the fly.
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Post by jammergreg on Oct 19, 2014 0:32:28 GMT -7
Spent about an hour running the pedal through some paces. Tele into MAZ 8. Would you believe you can make the MAZ 8, with a Blue no less, sound like a Mesa Triple Rec? Well, close enough for me anyway. I'll echo detuned's comments: seems very clear, TMB is good for both dialing in guitar to amp and for altering character of the pedal and both modes are very useable. I was able to roll the guitar volume off quite a bit and still get solid OD/Dist tones due to the high output that's available. It was nice to then switch off the pedal, roll GV up and get classic MAZ tone at the same overall output volume. Drawbacks: on the Blue Angel version the knobs offer almost no contrast to the indicator line. These aging eyes have to pick up the pedal to change settings Also, the mode switch is a recessed slider, not a toggle. Very tough to change on the fly. So, how does it compare to the SL ?
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Post by Mark (Basement Enthusiast) on Oct 19, 2014 6:47:41 GMT -7
Drawbacks: on the Blue Angel version the knobs offer almost no contrast to the indicator line. These aging eyes have to pick up the pedal to change settings Also, the mode switch is a recessed slider, not a toggle. Very tough to change on the fly. I don't think it's your aging eyes... those knobs look impossible to read, even in the high-res web image. I'd be changing those things out for some better knobs right away.
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Post by doctorice on Oct 19, 2014 7:55:38 GMT -7
^^^
Greg: Haven't had time as I was prepping for a gig. Good project for this week.
Mark: I wrote to Keeley about this. They offered to send new knobs. Good customer service!
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Post by jammergreg on Oct 19, 2014 21:59:17 GMT -7
^^^ Greg: Haven't had time as I was prepping for a gig. Good project for this week. Mark: I wrote to Keeley about this. They offered to send new knobs. Good customer service!
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Post by jammergreg on Oct 19, 2014 22:01:20 GMT -7
I agree great outstanding customer service. Hey doctorice, let me know how it compares to the S L Drive.
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