Lend me your ears! Komet 60 vs. Bruno U-45 or Pony 50

[davebc]

I was getting ready to pull the trigger on a Komet 60.Based on the website clips it sounds exactly what I've been looking for.BUT, Tony's name keeps coming up,and his shop is literally 45 minutes up the road.Can you guys share your thoughts and experiences?

 

[VaughnC]

Tone is very subjective and ultimately you'll have to make the final tonal decision yourself. However, the Komet build quality is second to none and Hogy & Mike look after every Komet as if they were their children....original purchaser or not. If you end up with a Komet 60, make sure you try a good set of 6L6's (preferrably RCA blackplates) for a slightly different Komet flavor.

 

[davebc]

The Komet is killing me,and I already know Hoagy is a straight up guy who backs up his product.
I could always have Tony sprinkle a little magic dust on my old 50 watt metal face.
But,I'd love some impressions on how the K-60 differs sonically from Tony's British style amps.For some reason I can't download the clips from Brunos site.
I'm not looking for this to turn messy like these things sometimes do,just sonic impressions, subjective as they may be.

 

[direneed]

I currently own the CT45 head w/matching 2x12 loaded with Naylor speakers, and a Pony 50 w/matching 4x12 loaded with Greenbacks. I love them both, but they're totally different. The Pony is pure Marshall plexi inspiriation, but has a great clean tone that is big, fat, and punchy. It's currently my go-to amp. BTW, the 4x12 really brings out the best in this amp, and when I was using it with a 2x12 Bogner or a Z-Best, it didn't sound as good, even at low volumes.

The CT45 is smooth, smooth, and rich and smooth. Rich cleans that seamlessly move into thick lead tones with a lot more distortion than most people realize.

The one time I played a Komet, I'm pretty sure it was limited by the cab, which was an open-back 2x12 with Fanes. Didn't like that sound so much. I've heard clips and recordings that show it has many different sides, though.

Of the three, my choices are obvious since I own 2 of them, but I honestly think you're talking about 3 of the best amps ever made, bar none. You can't go wrong with any of them. I'd suggest playing them all to make your decision. If that isn't an option and you just have to purchase, you're not going to lose your butt on any of them. These 3 amps are all pretty easy to move should you need to do so.

james

 

[tonedaddy]

Originally posted by davebc
For some reason I can't download the clips from Brunos site.

When you say you can't "download" them, are you saying you can't right-click on the clip, and and successfully save them locally when you choose "Save As"?

Or are you saying you can't play the files?

The Bruno files are in Real Audio format.
If you don't have Real Audio, or don't want to install it, download/install Real Alternative here:
http://www.free-codecs.com/download/Real_Alternative.htm

Real Alternative allows you to play all Real Audio files in players that are capable of playing Real Media files, including Internet Explorer, Opera, Netscape and Mozilla.

If you can't play/download them after checking that, just contact me by email, and I'll can either email them to you or download and host them where you can access them.

 

[davebc]

Thanks bro! I'll give it another whirl.

 

[BattleAngel]

I'm sorry to say that I've never played the Komet 60 so take my input with that in mind, but I can honestly say that I've virtually never had such an instant love affair with an amp (with the possible exception of my old club royale 2x12) as I did with the Bruno Pony. If I could, I'd have two of those heads in stereo into 2 great 4x12 cabs with minimal effects and I think that would qualify as being my "rig of the gods." It just does that pure rock sound so well, with the greatest clean. I'm not a high gain lead player normally, and I don't think I've ever played a solo through the amp, so I don't know how it would sound if you wanted a Kirk Hammet style lead sound for whatever reason (doesn't at all sound like you do) but I bet it could do anything one could want with pedals greasing the front. I play a Jamison and I have a Carr Mercury, Demeter TGA-2 and Naylor Duel-drive and all of those amps cover a lot of ground for what I do so I'm not in the position where I really need any other amps. But if I could get maybe the slightest bit more of a preamp gain sound and even more harmonic feedback like my TopHat, it'd be literally the perfect amp and I'd sell everything else I had to get two ;-)

 

[Tag]

The Pony, CT45, and Komet are so different, I cant even compare them. The Komet and Bulldog 45 would be way closer. The Pony is like the best plexi you could ever hear, but with a much better clean. Nothing more, nothing less.

The Komet is like a hot rodded 70s Marshall. I could not get a decent clean out of it, and it was just way to bright for me.

The Bulldog 45 (Not Cowtipper 45, thats pure Fender) with reverb is jaw dropping. GREAT cleans, GREAT reverb, and singing, great early 70s type Marshall overdrive when turned up. Not a harsh tone anywhere. Pure Bruno genius. Get to Tonys and try them for yourself! Brunos are the best amps I have ever played.

 

[davebc]

Originally posted by Tag
The Pony, CT45, and Komet are so different, I cant even compare them. The Komet and Bulldog 45 would be way closer. The Pony is like the best plexi you could ever hear, but with a much better clean. Nothing more, nothing less.

The Komet is like a hot rodded 70s Marshall. I could not get a decent clean out of it, and it was just way to bright for me.

The Bulldog 45 (Not Cowtipper 45, thats pure Fender) with reverb is jaw dropping. GREAT cleans, GREAT reverb, and singing, great early 70s type Marshall overdrive when turned up. Not a harsh tone anywhere. Pure Bruno genius. Get to Tonys and try them for yourself! Brunos are the best amps I have ever played.

Thanks Tag,I'm definitely going to manke an appointment with Tony to see and hear his entire line.When I mentioned the Komet,the sales rep at GC told me that the Pony 50 and the U45 were Tony's Marshallesq models to compare to the Komet.Hence the thread.He was obviously mistaken.

 

[GM1]

Originally posted by Tag
The Pony, CT45, and Komet are so different, I cant even compare them. The Komet and Bulldog 45 would be way closer. The Pony is like the best plexi you could ever hear, but with a much better clean. Nothing more, nothing less.

The Komet is like a hot rodded 70s Marshall. I could not get a decent clean out of it, and it was just way to bright for me.

The Bulldog 45 (Not Cowtipper 45, thats pure Fender) with reverb is jaw dropping. GREAT cleans, GREAT reverb, and singing, great early 70s type Marshall overdrive when turned up. Not a harsh tone anywhere. Pure Bruno genius. Get to Tonys and try them for yourself! Brunos are the best amps I have ever played.

I have played all three and the two Brunos you mention are way different than the Komet 60. All three are great amps but as Tag states The UG/ Bulldog 45 is about the best Marshall sounding amp with a cleans and reverb. It has a tighter bottom end than the Pony it also has a Fender front end pre amp section. It is really Tony's own design, and remember there are two versions of the Bulldog 45. The other version is more like Komet. It gains out pretty fast and has the Trainwreck vibe happening, very different from the first version I mentioned above.

The Pony with Greenbacks is all you will ever need if you want a Plexi Marshall vibe. No guess work or looking for that special Marshall just get one of these and you will have your Plexi tone.

The Komet has a fast/gradual mode that really makes a difference in the way the amp sounds. It has a very strident tone that is tight and responsive.

 

[pureoldsound]

I was wondering about the Bruno, I received an email last year about the Bulldog saying that one had more gain than the other...I guess the Non-reverb is the one with lots of gain and the one closed to the Trainwreck sound and the Reverb is the medium gained one....Of all the people that have tried that amp almost all of them say they preferred the Reverb one....are there any clips of the reverb model?

 

[Dennis Rayburn]

I tried the Komet and the Bulldog 45 (well, the version that's based on the Komet anyway) at Ultrasound a few years back. I loved them both and I ended up buying the Bruno.

The Bruno was a little more manageable volume-wise plus it had reverb. I liked the amps equally for cleans, which is how I was running my amps back then (clean from the amp, pedals for OD/Dist) and the Bruno was considerably cheaper so I went wtih it.

I did prefer the distorted tones from the Komet, the Bruno's aren't that great to my ear.

One interesting thing is that Tony didn't have any Bulldog 45 faceplates, so mine says Cowtipper 45 on the front, and it's signed on the back by Tony with the legend "custom special" or something to that effect. I'm still very happy with the fat clean tone I get out of my Bulldog 45.

 

[GM1]

Originally posted by pureoldsound
I was wondering about the Bruno, I received an email last year about the Bulldog saying that one had more gain than the other...I guess the Non-reverb is the one with lots of gain and the one closed to the Trainwreck sound and the Reverb is the medium gained one....Of all the people that have tried that amp almost all of them say they preferred the Reverb one....are there any clips of the reverb model?

Yes the non reverb version has lots of gain like a TrainWreck. I don't know of any clips. I like the reverb version much more than the non reverb version. But I'm more of a Fender guy than a TrainWreck guy. I think the Bulldog 45 would be a great pop/roots rock type amp. A little chime and some EL34 grind to go with.

 

[DerekMinnich]

It's not hard to get a fantastic clean tone out of the Komet, especially with 6L6's or KT-66's. It's a very versatile amplifier...you just want to match the speakers, cabinet, and tubes to your taste. A 12AT7 in the phase inverter drops the gain a little bit and sounds excellent. Using your volume knob on the guitar is another way to control gain, but in fast mode, there are great cleans at 9 o'clock-10 o clock with your volume knob on the guitar at 10.

You can't go wrong with the Komet, I can't comment on the Bruno amps.

 

[Tag]

Originally posted by Dennis Rayburn
I tried the Komet and the Bulldog 45 (well, the version that's based on the Komet anyway) at Ultrasound a few years back. I loved them both and I ended up buying the Bruno.

The Bruno was a little more manageable volume-wise plus it had reverb. I liked the amps equally for cleans, which is how I was running my amps back then (clean from the amp, pedals for OD/Dist) and the Bruno was considerably cheaper so I went wtih it.

I did prefer the distorted tones from the Komet, the Bruno's aren't that great to my ear.

One interesting thing is that Tony didn't have any Bulldog 45 faceplates, so mine says Cowtipper 45 on the front, and it's signed on the back by Tony with the legend "custom special" or something to that effect. I'm still very happy with the fat clean tone I get out of my Bulldog 45.

I think they have changed quite a bit, but I am not sure. The Bulldog 45 with reverb I played had as much gain as the Komet for sure. It had the singing, violin type of sustain when turned up. The non reverb Bulldog had TONS of overdrive. No real cleans to speak of, and was much more similar to the Komet. The one with reverb Gene did not even want me to plug into. I had to pretty much beg him. He said it was a work in progress, and Tony was not happy with it. I plugged in and almost dropped to my knees from tone! Lol! I have no idea what these have developed into, or where they came from. Chances are though that yours and the one I played are quite different. I believe Greg played the same two I did, but he was there several months after me I think. Just not sure on any of it.

 

[GM1]

Originally posted by Tag
I think they have changed quite a bit, but I am not sure. The Bulldog 45 with reverb I played had as much gain as the Komet for sure. It had the singing, violin type of sustain when turned up. The non reverb Bulldog had TONS of overdrive. No real cleans to speak of, and was much more similar to the Komet. The one with reverb Gene did not even want me to plug into. I had to pretty much beg him. He said it was a work in progress, and Tony was not happy with it. I plugged in and almost dropped to my knees from tone! Lol! I have no idea what these have developed into, or where they came from. Chances are though that yours and the one I played are quite different. I believe Greg played the same two I did, but he was there several months after me I think. Just not sure on any of it.

I was just there last month. Talked with Gene for a long time about the UG/Bulldog45. He explained both versions of the amp are avliable. The non reverb version is a hot Marshall/Trainwreck style amp. Almost no cleans cool for power chord crunch.

The reverb version has some clean head room sounds better with Greenbacks than G12h30s and has the sweet reverb. It is a blend of a Fender front end and a Marshall EL34 power section. I used a couple od pedals with it and they worked great. It has some chime mixed with a tight EL34 grind. Uses a solid state recto to get the tight bottom end. BTW the Komet is a lot more money than the Brunos......just from a price standpoint.

 

[Typhon]

To me the Fischer sounds more like a clarinet and the Bruno sounds more like an oboe. The Bruno is also much more compressed. I have been trying to decide between the two for some time but now I am considering a Cornford.