Clark Beaufort vs Bruno Tweedy vs Greer Mod-1

[architect]

For those who have them or have played them care to give your impressions?
I realize the Clark is probably the closet to a vintage Deluxe but how the Greer or Bruno sound in comparison?

Also is there a difference in the oil-in-paper caps vs sozos?

 

[azwhofan]

I have not played the other 2 models, but I can tell you that to some Clark afficionado's there is a difference between the caps, but for the life of me I can't hear the difference. YMMV.

One important piece of the Clark puzzle are his custom cabs vs the Mojotone cabs he now uses on the Specials.
I've messed around with a bunch of tubes in V1 and finally settled on a Telefunken.
I don't think I'm going to be swapping speakers, I'm quite happy with the Weber Alnico that's in there now.

 

[architect]

Do you think the clark cab is superior to the mojo?
Do you have the premium?

 

[bluesjuke]

I hear it's a great cabinet but the Mojotones are too.
I have a Clark Premium but it has the first generation Clark cabinet which is a different dimension than the traditional Deluxe cabinet.
Helps to give it a bigger amp sound.

That said though my Victoria 5E3, which I believe uses the Mojotone cab, is one resonant cabinet and crys and sings with the amp.

I feel this is a very important part of the 5E3 sound charactor.

Clarks cabs from what I have seen nowadays are more like, if not the same, as a traditional cabinet.

I do know in part that the Clark version using Jenson PIO caps sounds different than the Vicky using orange drops in the same positions.

The Clark is darker than the Victoria.

 

[azwhofan]

Do you think the clark cab is superior to the mojo?
Do you have the premium?

Mine is a Special, but made during a period (2003) when he used his own wood for the cabs.

In reference to Bluesjuke: I don't know how mine differs from the 1st generation Clark's sizewise, but I have been able to compare it to a more recent Special that had the Mojo cab, and I liked the sound of mine better. More open, deeper, richer sounding.
I'm not trying to knock the Mojo cabs, they are very well built and are great cabs. I just prefer mine is all!

 

[bluesjuke]

Yes, mine is deeper and richer sounding too.
Mine is an '02 in which the cabinet is larger that an actual Tweed Deluxe cabinet and I would guess about 25% larger.

There are also 4 screws across the top and 4 screws across the bottom of the front holding the speaker baffle in as opposed to just four total as on a true Deluxe cabinet.

That and the size are major contributers to the deep sound.
Not a lesser sound at all just different.
As I have two 5E3's the difference is nice to have.

 

[architect]

Very interesting information about the Clarks.

Does anyone have any info on the Greer or the Bruno?

 

[mp815]

I definitely would like to hear from Tweedy pie owners/users and if they have compared them to other tweeds

 

[GTRJohnny]

I have a Clark with the Jensen caps. I have not heard the other ones to compare. But, if I were ordering another amp, I would ask for these caps, because they sound great. No reason for me to risk the difference for any difference in price. He makes a great sounding amp that has far exceeded what I thought it would be. If you knew how picky I am, that statement would mean a lot more...

 

[big mike]

UD Mod 1 is a bit different.
Not a straight 5E3. It's cleaner on the low end (Not flubby like a stock 5E3 can be) and a bit more modern voiced in a good way. Still that vintage tweed tone though.

I've also played a Bruno Tweedy Pie which was a very sweet amp, just a couple years apart, so I wouldn't want to try to compare.

 

[BUTTISLAND]

♦Clark Beaufort FTW! just saying that because i own the amp for the longest now. Very compressed at high volume and nice chimey sound when its on clean setting. Its the special version though it has the yellow mallory caps in it. i think mine is the 2004? it has vintage style pine cabinet.

never heard the greer or the bruno. :/

 

[CitizenCain]

Yes, mine is deeper and richer sounding too.
Mine is an '02 in which the cabinet is larger that an actual Tweed Deluxe cabinet and I would guess about 25% larger.

Sounds like it's maybe the size of a tweed Super? They're about 22x18 or so. I always thought the Super cab made a better 1x12 than it does a 2x10.

 

[MBJW]

I own a Bruno Tweedy Pie 35 twin. I once owned a Victoria tweed 35 watt with 2 10s.

I don't hear much of a similarity between the two, to be honest. The Victoria had that woody tweed sound and had great cleans at bedroom volumes.

The Bruno Tweedy Pie has none of that woody sound. It also has to get up in volume to at least 8:30 before it starts sounding decent. OD on Bruno comes on quicker and is smoother. Bruno takes peddles better. Bruno sounds great with Strat or Les Paul. Bruno is fuller in sound.

Hope that helps.