Aiken Appreciation Thread

[Jarrett]

I just sent this email to Aiken and figured y'all might have some answers on this as well:

I have a Mark II Invader 18watt combo and a newly purchsed Tomcat head
and I really dig both amps a lot. Recently, I stumbled on to running
them in a Y config with the Invader going into its English
Greenback'ed open back combo and the Tomcat running into a sealed
Bogner cube 1x12 cab running a Vintage 30. I dig the sound of the
Invader through its combo for sure, and the Tomcat/Bogner setup is
alright but I can see how another setup might sound better.

So based on this I am thinking about going to a head and 2x12 cab type
of setup. So there are a couple of things I need to get for that to
work. One thing is turning the Invader combo into a head format. One
option is selling the combo outright and buying a new or used 18 watt
Invader head. This is doable, but like most folks I think my personal
Invader is special and better sounding than others, so I am worried
I'll sell mine and get a head I don't like the sound of as much. So
based on this, I wanted to check with you to see if it would be
possible to convert my combo to a head? If so, how much/how long?

My next question is about the cab. For this to work, I guess I need a
2x12 cab that is can be run in stereo, ie one head to 1x12 and the
other head run to the other 1x12. Preferably, I'd like it to be able
to run mono as well so if I wanted I could just grab one head for a
gig and the cab and still be able to use both speakers. So, is it
possible to get an Aiken 2x12 cab wired like this?

If so, then the third question is what combination of speakers should
I use for this purpose in an Aiken 2x12 cab? If you can, do the combo
to head conversion, I guess I could use the Greenback from that combo
as part of the 2x12, or maybe you recommend your speaker instead? I
guess that speaker could be used with the Invader head. As for the
Tomcat, do you recommend using the same speaker or a different one for
best sound?

Last question is, are you aware of a single foot pedal with two
buttons that could control the reverb on the Invader and the gain
boost on the Tomcat?

[mattmccloskey]

jarret, I condidered converting my 1x12 invader into a head at one point a couple years ago. Randall said it was possible but sort of discouraged it, because the chassis is different. The tubes hang down versus sitting upright, so the head cab has to be a custom order. I don't know if his current cab maker will do it or not, and what the cost would be. Also, he mentioned a possible less than ideal ventilation issue, but I don't know if it was real significant. That said, it could be done, it just wasn't as easy as swapping for a head cab. You would likely be better off just finding a head, and selling your combo. I bet the tone would be consistent. You could even set the bias identical and use your current tubes if you were really worried about a tone difference. Or just be happy with your 1x12 combo!

[tuna]

Jarrett, I had never owned a head and cab until I purchased my Invaderhead and 1-12 cab, always combos. I have to say that I am very happy with this set up and can see the versitility of a head and cab. Little more bulky than the combo, but I can see getting another cab down the road. Good luck.

[Jarrett]

Thanks, Matt. I guess I should look into the cab first to see if its feasible.

[haslar]

Originally posted by Jarrett
Can you give instructions on how to sign up for that Yahoo deal?

Sure: click here !!

[Jarrett]

Thanks Haslar!

I just thought of something. Is it possible to run a single head into two inputs on a stereo cab? Meaning, if you have a single 2x12 cab that is wired like two individual 1x12 cabs, can you run two inputs from the head into the two inputs in the cab? I don't see why this would be different from running a head into two single cabs. Does anyone see a problem? Thanks.

[haslar]

I don't see any reason why you could not do that.
That means you need to do a bit of custom wiring, i.e. installing 2 input jacks on the cab, but it's dead simple to do.

Also, a good thing would be to install a two-way switch that allows you to reconfigure the speakers wiring:
- position A --> both speakers together, as in any normal 2x12" cab. This would inactivate jack input #2.
- position B: each speaker is independent, jack input #1 leads to speaker #1 and jack input #2 leads to speaker #2.

It would be a simple circuit, and would give you a lot of flexibility.

Then, if you get an A/B/Y box between your guitars and your two heads, you can switch between amps for clean and crunch, or play both at the same time.

[Jarrett]

I asked Mojo about that and they said they would have to do two individual speaker jacks for some reason. But as long as I can connect the two outputs from my Aiken heads into the two inputs, its no biggie.

[CBeeper]

It needs to have 2 seperate jacks or a plastic jack plate so there isn't a common ground between the two heads.

[Jarrett]

Just a quick bump to say it dawned on me today that I've had my Invader for like 4.5 months now. That's close to a record for me lately Still running the Tomcat and Invader in a Y config and still loving the amps. I guess I'm an Aiken junkie now.

[haslar]

Jarrett,

has Randall replied to your email yet?
I wrote him a message a few days before yours, and still have had no news from him?!

I needed some Aiken buying advice from him, and am suprised he has not got back in touch with me yet.

[Jarrett]

Yeah, it took a bit, but I got a response.

[reaiken]

Originally posted by haslar

I needed some Aiken buying advice from him, and am suprised he has not got back in touch with me yet.

Don't be too surprised, I've been traveling back and forth between Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina every week for a while now, and am completely swamped with a huge backlog of email.

Then again, I am *always* swamped with a huge backlog of email (mostly people wanting detailed technical advice or help with their homebrew amps), and I usually fall into the trap of answering the top few messages and the others keep getting pushed down the stack.

Anyway, I apologize for the delay in responding, I've sent you a reply today.

Thanks,

Randall Aiken

[trisonic]

I was talking to a mate of mine in the UK yesterday who actually read all this thread (he's a "lurker), I haven't, so bear with me.

His question is this.

What is the tonal and gain difference between the:

Tomcat
18watt Invader
18watt Intruder?

If someone has actually played all three, he would be grateful.

Thanks, Pete.

[Leonc]

I've played all 3 but not back to back. The Tomcat has the most gain on tap, due to its boost. While none are high gain amps, the other two are definitely less mid-gain than the Tomcat. The Intruder and Invader seemed quite similar to me in the gain dept.