Splawn or David Bray modded plexi?

[paulscape]

Hi everyone,

This is my 1st post so nice to meet you all and hope I can get some good advice. Im looking at purchasing a hot rodded amp head. Im looking at either a Splawn Pro-Mod with JJKT88 tubes or a David Bray modified plexi. Im buying a bit blind as Im living overseas and cant test these amps in the flesh. The soundclips on David Bray's site sound awesome to me...great volume roll-off, woody attack and tonal dynamics. The soundclips on the splawn page are not as dynamic in my opinion but that could just be lousy samples. Has anyone had experience with both these amps or can offer some advice?

The pro-mod is appealing because it has dedicated clean and gain channels, but the Bray plexi's just sound so lush and complex.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated as I will be ordering soon

Cheers

[JamesHealey]

Well I own the EL34 single channel Competition, and it's very dynamic I don't think a single clip on the Splawn site sounds anything like the Splawns apart from Mixolydians clips and Craig Smiths Blues clip.. but they're still a way off the mark, the Splawn is lot more marshally and dynamic in person..

The KT88 version can be a bit stale and stiff according to some, I do like the EL34 splawns they sing a bit more have a sweeter high end and more bite, The general consensus on the Splawn forum is the QR EL34 amp is the best of the lot or atleast the most popular.

[R.D.]

I had a Dave Bray 1987x that he "kitchen sink-ed" for me. It was unbelievable. The only caveat is Dave tunes everything by ear .... And he uses a very old Marshall 1980B cabinet with very old Pre-Rolla Greenbacks.

When I first got the amp I had a 2 x 12 Marshall Cabinet wtih the 70th Anniversary speakers and it sounded nothing like Dave's clips.

I switched out the speakers for some English Greenbacks and was instantly in tonal heaven.

I did have to sell the Amp, becasuse I got a gig that needed a channel switcher.

But if I could afford two amps, I'd get another one in a heartbeat !

I've heard good things about the Splawns too ! I'm not sure you could go wrong either way !

Good Luck ....

[MikeyG]

I owned a Splawn modded Plexi RI, and someone had a Bray PPI master added. That amp was incredible for low volume Marshall tones ....

[Myxolidian]

FWIW, I think my clips sound exactly like what I hear in person...for better or worse.

The difference I hear between a Splawn and a Bray is the Splawn's low end is much tighter (almost a twang to it) whereas the Bray sounds real loose and ratty. This is heard in just about every clip, no matter who or how it was recorded. Also, the Splawn seems to have a bit more clarity and the Bray a bit fuzzier.

If you like the Bray, I don't think the Splawn will do it for you and vice versa.

Just my $.02

[jpage]

I owned both and preferred the Bray by quite a bit. I sold both however because they each (standard mods) lacked a decent low gain tone. All out or nothing. Guitar volume did nothing.

[carbz]

I owned a early version quickrod for about 2 weeks do to its repuation of nailing early EVH. Though it does nail some nice 80's metal stuff I didn't really hear the Vintage Van Halen thing in it. Plus that amp is wicked loud and I had trouble dialing in a low enough volume. It seemed to go from a whisper to too loud just nudging the vol. I have heard and studied the Bray clips and I do like them to some extent. They are very toney or woody sounding but I hear too much sag or mush if you want to call it on the bottom end. I like a tighter low end like EVH had. I currently own a Naylor amp which IMO gets me a little closer to EVH then both those amps... with a pedal of course.

[HeeHaw]

I had an early quickrod and disliked it because it was a compressed MF'er.

[Hacksaw]

from your post, sounds like you enjoy the bray.. go for it!


splawn isn't everyones cup of tea.. although it is for me.

enjoy!

[bluessyndicate]

You should hear a 50 watt marshall head with the Bray I mod, using 6L6's.... he personally has/had one as well...the best compromise in terms of getting awesome cleans rolled back, and still getting great gain rolled on.

[Phil M]

Some of these comments make me wonder if Splawn has improved the Quickrod quite a bit recently. I have a brand new one (about a month old) and I have found good low volume sounds and also great medium-gain tones in 1st gear.

[HeeHaw]

I'm sure Splawn has upgraded over the last several years because every quickrod I've heard since the early one I owned sounded a lot better. Amp building is trial and error and sooner or later even the best of them make changes to their circuits that are for the better. Splawn makes a fine rock and roll amp, and don't take my earlier post as anything negative about Splawn. Slawn is nice guy and will do what it takes to make things right for you. I heard all the rave about the 5150 and how great it was. Beside my early model quickrod it floundered to my ears.

[jerseydrew]

I used to own a Splawn modded Marshall 1987x head, I wish I had it back. I vote Splawn.

[riverastoasters]

Can't say about Splawn.

But I love what Dave Bray did for me with a 1959SLP reissue. Best Marshall I've ever come across.

[SouthernShred]

played both...preferred the Bray by a mile...and it has great cleans too...