Marshall tone showdown: Landry vs Emplexador

[MikeyG]

I brought my new Landry amp over to Destroy All Guitars yesterday. Cliff had been wanting to hear it, after many good tone reports.

Bottomline, I want to own both.

Seemed like each was directed at different eras of Marshalls.

The Emplexador was rich and fat. More pronounced midrange, less highs, and saggier. Reminiscent of an Allman's tone. Very sweet (Cliff noted that the amp, in it's current state, had an issue in the preamp ... no issue to my ears, it sounded awesome. Plenty of gain too ... just creamier.

The Landry was bolder, leaner, less compressed. More backed off in the midrange. More like a metal panel Marshall at it's base, up to a hot-rodded JCM800. Think AC/DC to Thin Lizzy to Judas Priest. The gain goes much higher, maybe like Scorpions/Ratt.

One surprising finding, the 50 watt Emplex seemed to keep up easily in the volume department. We had the volumes up over halfway, and after an hour I had major ear fatigue. We were probably just prior to the volume level where the 50 watt had no more, but the 100 had more to give. But I wasn't up for finding out! Yikes.

Fun time. I want to own them both. The Emplex doesn't get enough praise. It really doesn't.

[carbz]

I disagree the Emplexador doesn't get enough praise. Most people that have either owned or played them rave about them. Remember there are literally hundreds of boutique amps that have surfaced over the last few years so there is alway more attention to the new stuff. FWIW the Emplexador has been one of my all time favorite amps. Just flat out tonal bliss!

[MikeyG]

Well, I did a search, it gets mentioned, on an average, every 3 months or so in the title of a thread.

So at least for TGP, that's not hype.

When the Mark II first came out there were a couple over the top "WOW!!" threads, but I'd say overall, it's sorta under the radar.

[Sean French]

I've spent an afternoon with an Emplexador MKII a while back and I would one day dig having one.
Great amp that covers a few diff Marshall types and sounded killer no matter how I set it.
I give much praise to the Emplexador.
Never played a Landry.

[ROKY]

Originally Posted by MikeyG

Well, I did a search, it gets mentioned, on an average, every 3 months or so in the title of a thread.

So at least for TGP, that's to hype.

When it first came out there were a couple over the top "WOW!!" threads, but I'd say overall, it's sorta under the radar.

The Landry or the Emplexador ?

[SgtThump]

I've always wanted to try an Emplexador. I bet I'd really like that amp. Thanks for the comparison!

[riffmeister]

The Emplexador came out in 1997, I think. It has seen a continuous but relatively "low level" of "hype" around here, I'd say.

Great amp, I owned one for several years.

Never heard of the Landry.

[MikeyG]

Landry is a newcomer. It had a coming out party about 6 months ago in St Louis area, but the New York amp show got it some big exposure. Great amp, there have been a couple threads about it. Braciola raved about it, as did SgtThump. It's worthy.

[MikeyG]

Originally Posted by ROKY

The Landry or the Emplexador ?

Emplexador, sorry. Well, I was speaking of the Emplexador being underappreciated, but the Landry, being a newcomer, is also under the radar, for now...

[ROKY]

Originally Posted by MikeyG

Emplexador, sorry. Well, I was speaking of the Emplexador being underappreciated, but the Landry, being a newcomer, is also under the radar, for now...

I thought that's what you were saying, but I wanted to make sure.

I agree that the Emplexador's are underappreciated, but by now
with sooo many amps floating in the ocean of of ampdom it's hard
to stay on top.

But .. those who know . . . know .

More should know, tho ' .

I know .

[meterman]

I know!

[Braciola]

Originally Posted by MikeyG

Braciola raved about it, as did SgtThump. It's worthy.

Thanks Mike,
More than worthy, It's one of the select, very few boutique amp that really impress me.
The Landry LS-100 is just sick!

[riker4208]

New emplex owner here. Takes alot to impress me. I'm impressed.

[ROKY]

Emplexadors are incredible amps .

[Reeltarded]

My friend has an Emplexador 50.

I have a problem with walking up to everything with a gain channel and wiping it WFO then hitting the switch. It's a test to see what's there. It normally gets close to where I'll end up at some point.

Not a good idea for these amps.

Grainy overtly-mid tilted ear bashing. Horrible tonal collapse. Ice pick through glass. My take; that is the ugliest crap I have ever seen. I saw his amp trying to makie out with a drunk guy wearing a speedo. Ok, so I hang out in odd places.

The classic channel found me a few days ago, and now I can't stop dreaming about a pair of 100s. Wildy fantastic. Sustained into crying harmonics evenly for every note. Sweet.

All tones at straight up, gain wide open, master anywhere past 3, fat on or off. Best amp I have ever heard, and I wouldn't mind if the face plates were ripped off, and the boxes burned in a tragic Speedo fire.