Valvetech Hayseed: keeper or not?

[MVrider]

Thinking about a Valvetech Hayseed for that "singing" sound.

So for all of you who own or have owned a Hayseed, here's a question:

If you sold it, how long did you keep it, why did you sell it and what did you replace it with?

If you still have yours, how long have you owned it?

[bscepter]

I've had mine since early December '05. I've played five or six shows on it and countless practices. As for keeping it, well... I'll give up my Hayseed when they pry it from my cold, dead fingers!

[AshlandBump]

MV:
I've had my Hayseed since July 2005. It replaced my Vox AC-30HW, which replaced my AC-30TBX. The only option I have is the ef-86/12AX7 selector on the "Normal"/Non-TB channel. The Top Boost channel does a great imitation of a chimey, jangley Vox tone, much like my old AC-30TBX. The Normal channel, with the ef-86 selected and a rangemaster clone plugged in, growls and grinds like no other amp I've ever heard. For me, this amp is a keeper.

[MVrider]

WHOA! I thought there were a lot more Hayseed owners out there.

[wordsonyou]

I had mine for several months. It replaced a tbx. I had a JMI ac30 at the time which I kept for a good long while after. I replaced the Hayseed with a Vox Ac30CC which sounded closer to my JMI. The CC also eventually made me sell my ac30HW Head and JMI because it sounded more to my liking and was pretty darn close to the JMI. I eventually found an AC30HW Combo which sounded more to my tastes than the CC and somehow had more definition than my old HW head, though it was not necessarily better than either and I have since sold the CC. For JMI type tones you couldn't beat the JMI or the CC. For brighter Vox tones the TBX and the Hayseed were on a par. For smokier Vox tones that have just enough brightness I prefer the HW combo setup.

All tempered by the fact that the new Hayseeds have a "JMI" mod which is supposed to bring them closer to JMI spec, whereas my Hayseed was an earlier one. Also tempered by the fact that I am a Vox slut

[gitt]

Got mine a month ago, no way I'll part from it.

[bluesbreaker59]

I had mine from July 05, til about Sept or October 05. I went through a divorce, otherwise I'd still have mine. I loved that amp, and waited 3 months to get it. I never replaced it, just use my Victoria more.

I really want to get another, but the WAITING, is just too much for me. But frankly I think that its the only other amp to satisfy me right now. I've got a Bluesbreaker RI as my 2nd amp now, and I'm definitely NOT in love with it, it just sounds very "average", after hearing my Vicky and owning Badcats, vintage Fenders, and the Hayseed 30.

[bscepter]

I guess the question is, do you like the sound of the Vox AC30 -- especially the JMI version. If so, you'll probably go gaga over the Hayseed (depending on the "JMI mod," which OT you select and which speakers you run it through).

I went all the way with mine to get the JMI thing going, having Rob install a Mercury Magnetics Woden OT and choke, and running it through a semi-open-backed 2x12 loaded with a pair of Celestion Blues. After everything was added up, the whole rig still only cost about $1,750, which seems like a bargain to me.

[wilder]

I've still got mine but, I've only had it since January. I don't see any reason to part with it. I've been getting some of my best recorded tones ever out of it.

Chris

[sundaypunch]

Originally Posted by bscepter

I guess the question is, do you like the sound of the Vox AC30 -- especially the JMI version. If so, you'll probably go gaga over the Hayseed.

I would agree with this. Any doubt I might have had about the Hayseed was erased this weekend when I visited a friend that has a late 90's AC30 reissue w/ blues. My Hayseed w/ blues DESTROYED the Vox. They weren't even in the same league. As with most of the Vox reissues the Normal and Trem. channels are pretty much useless. That left his Brilliant channel which sounded thin and boxy compared to the Hayseed. Maybe he just had a bad one? I will concede that I'm using good NOS tubes and he had JJ's. When you factor in that I also have an amazing EF86 Normal channel it wasn't even close.

[AshlandBump]

Originally Posted by wordsonyou

For JMI type tones you couldn't beat the JMI or the CC. For brighter Vox tones the TBX and the Hayseed were on a par. For smokier Vox tones that have just enough brightness I prefer the HW combo setup.

Words -- did your Hayseed have the ef-86 option on it? I'm wondering how the Hayseed's ef86 channel compares to your JMI.

[wordsonyou]

Originally Posted by mainstreetexile

Words -- did your Hayseed have the ef-86 option on it? I'm wondering how the Hayseed's ef86 channel compares to your JMI.

Since mine was an early one it did not have the ef86 - but neither did my JMI. The only JMI you could fairly compare the ef86 channel to would be an ac30/4 - a rare amp indeed.

[* velcro-fly *]

Originally Posted by wordsonyou

Since mine was an early one it did not have the ef86 - but neither did my JMI. The only JMI you could fairly compare the ef86 channel to would be an ac30/4 - a rare amp indeed.

Well, I've got Words old one now...it had some mods done to it that were reversed by Rob (except for the bright switch). The entire amp was brought up to current standards including the cut knob rework, and the chassis was loaded into a new headshell , converted from a combo. No verb, trem or tube mods.

It sounded pretty darn good running it through my Bogner OS 2x12 with Greenbacks....Got a Swanson 2x12 and loaded it with Weber alnico 's (Blue Dog & Silver Bell), took the back off the cab, and now the thing sounds like freaking angels singing. I don't run it wound all the way up, but the dead clean to edge of breakup tones are out of this world.

This amp is awesome.

Steve E

[v-verb]

Originally Posted by * velcro-fly *

Well, I've got Words old one now...it had some mods done to it that were reversed by Rob (except for the bright switch). The entire amp was brought up to current standards including the cut knob rework, and the chassis was loaded into a new headshell , converted from a combo. No verb, trem or tube mods.

It sounded pretty darn good running it through my Bogner OS 2x12 with Greenbacks....Got a Swanson 2x12 and loaded it with Weber alnico 's (Blue Dog & Silver Bell), took the back off the cab, and now the thing sounds like freaking angels singing. I don't run it wound all the way up, but the dead clean to edge of breakup tones are out of this world.

This amp is awesome.

Steve E

Coolness!!:BEER

[* velcro-fly *]

Originally Posted by v-verb

Coolness!!:BEER

Yeah, and a big thanks goes out to you too

Steve E