Morgan RCA35 owners come in...

[Random Hero]

Tell me about the clean headroom? How does it take pedals? Does it keep up with a drummer and stay clean? 99% of the time I'm mic'd but it's nice to know there is power there if need be.

How does it compare to something like an FTR 37?

 

[MartinLove]

I just got my RV35. Sounds good. A bit bright, but I'm used to the Mesa clean sound (lots of low end, a bit sterile in the highs, etc.). So far I'm liking the amp, just difficult to dial out the highs. I'm sure it cuts nicely though in the mix.

 

[billyjett]

Tell me about the clean headroom? How does it take pedals? Does it keep up with a drummer and stay clean? 99% of the time I'm mic'd but it's nice to know there is power there if need be.

How does it compare to something like an FTR 37?

There is definitely power on tap if you need it! I play a lot of gigs with it un- mic'd, and I've never been in want of more wattage.As far as clean headroom, there's quite a bit depending on what tubes you decide to use. On Joe's advice, I use Tungsol 5881's, and for me, that's probably what I'll stick with. I tried KT-66's and didn't care for them, but that's me. It's probably the best pedal platform amp that I've ever had.Everything seams to sound good through it. Pedals I currently use with it at least for dirt or overdrive, with good results are, TS-9, KOT, BD-2,DS-1, Honey Bee,Crunch Box,Compact Direct Drive,Wampler Pinnacle,Barber Burn Unit, Fuchs Plush drive.I'm dying to try a Zendrive through it, I think it would sound sweet!

 

[Random Hero]

Interesting guys, thanks. Does it want to stay clean or crunch up? I'm looking for a great pedal platform that has unbelievable cleans and this seems a decent option so far.

 

[kracdown]

I just got an RV-35, and it could 100% keep up with a drummer... I mean, it's not like its a low wattage amp. So much clean headroom. It has such awesome clean tones at loud volumes, not too bright at all to my ears. So much tonal variation. Takes pedals like a champ.

 

[guitar21]

If your looking into Morgan's also Look into the sw22/50 as well. I had the sw50 and that thing was total clean headroom. But too loud for my needs since I'm mainly mic'd which Is why I mentioned the 22 as well.

 

[Random Hero]

Does the RCA35 take higher gain pedals well too if I wanna get rocky?

Is it designed to stay clean or does it want to crunch?

 

[deluxe83]

It wants to stay clean, but has some similarities to a tremolux married to a vox. Here's a pretty good clean clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTI0_12TJ80

and with pedals:
http://youtu.be/Lr2En_9ysDE?t=2m39s

 

[bpdeem]

If you want an amp that is almost totally clean from joe, it's the SW.

 

[Random Hero]

bpdeem, you saying that the RCA35 isn't totally clean?

 

[deluxe83]

The RCA35 has lots of clean on tap, but in a vox kind of way, even the true cleans have a little edge to them. Have you listened to the Brian Wooten clips on morganamps.com? Pretty good representation of the cleans. Its a loud, class A style amp with no negative feedback.

That said the SW series sounds nice too.

 

[MartinLove]

The Morgan always has a little grit on it with the bridge pup engaged. It's the nature of a cranked class-a amplifier.

Sounds great though. A bit bright for my tastes, but very chimey.

 

[pdxslinger]

I just got a RV-35 1X12 combo and it's got a lot of headroom. Seems like a great pedal platform (although I don't really use them). I think the master is one of the most useable masters I've heard. I honestly don't think it's too bright, it's got a ton of low end. I think it's really Fendery with a touch of Vox chime. I really like the amp a lot.

 

[Cgfarm]

I have an RCA35, had the same needs in mind when i was looking for an new amp last year...Couldn't be happier with the RCA. I turn the gain knob to about 5/6 and dime the volume to get a full bodied "just on the edge of break up" sound- lowering the gain to about 4 is clean all the way and still loud enough to keep up with a heavy handed drummer in a medium sized room. I use a TS 808, JHS klone, Cornish SS-3 for variations of dirt and all sound GREAT...this amp takes all pedals VERY well, never ventured into extreme metal territory but if thats what you're going for i expect a morgan probably isn't your cup of tea. I play a ES-335 (mostly on the bridge pup) and find that when i set my RCA full on dirty (gain at 7+) i have to adjust the bass EQ- seems to get muddy with my 335 so have to cut the bass down to about 2...sounds fine with my tele all the way through. All in all a great amp, for what i need- its the perfect balance of clean headroom and usable dirt. I couldn't be happier.

 

[MartinLove]

I just got a RV-35 1X12 combo and it's got a lot of headroom. Seems like a great pedal platform (although I don't really use them). I think the master is one of the most useable masters I've heard. I honestly don't think it's too bright, it's got a ton of low end. I think it's really Fendery with a touch of Vox chime. I really like the amp a lot.

Mine only seems like it has a ton of low end at low volumes. Set the gain to noon and use the volume at around 2:00 and you'll find that the amp does not have too much low end. You'll also find that it is a touch bright as well.

 

[pdxslinger]

Mine only seems like it has a ton of low end at low volumes. Set the gain to noon and use the volume at around 2:00 and you'll find that the amp does not have too much low end. You'll also find that it is a touch bright as well.

That's really weird. I took mine out to a gig tonight. I played it with the gain set about 3/4 of the way up. I barely had the bass on, maybe on like 2, and I had the treble and mids well past noon. I was using an ES 335 with Shaw P/U's straight in. At least with mine, the more you bring in the gain the more low end you get. I probably wouldn't set it like this with a Tele, in fact with my Tele it barely breaks up even with the gain all the way up.....at least with 6L6 tubes. Maybe it's different with different tubes or speaker combos? Basically, I have yet to find a guitar I can't dial in the tone I like on this amp and really at any volume.

I've owned a couple AC30s and I don't think this amp is near as bright as a top boost. I'm not even sure it's as bright as my Swart. I've had a couple Tone Kings too, now those are bight amps!

I'd say pull the trigger if you're interested in a RCA 35 or an RV35. The guy I got the RV35 from was selling it to pay for the RCA35 he had just taken delivery of so I got to play them both side by side. They're both really amazing and versatile amps. For me, reverb is a must, it's really the only effect I use. Or else I probably would have gotten an RCA35.

 

[MartinLove]

That's really weird. I took mine out to a gig tonight. I played it with the gain set about 3/4 of the way up. I barely had the bass on, maybe on like 2, and I had the treble and mids well past noon. I was using an ES 335 with Shaw P/U's straight in. At least with mine, the more you bring in the gain the more low end you get. I probably wouldn't set it like this with a Tele, in fact with my Tele it barely breaks up even with the gain all the way up.....at least with 6L6 tubes. Maybe it's different with different tubes or speaker combos? Basically, I have yet to find a guitar I can't dial in the tone I like on this amp and really at any volume.

I've owned a couple AC30s and I don't think this amp is near as bright as a top boost. I'm not even sure it's as bright as my Swart. I've had a couple Tone Kings too, now those are bight amps!

I'd say pull the trigger if you're interested in a RCA 35 or an RV35. The guy I got the RV35 from was selling it to pay for the RCA35 he had just taken delivery of so I got to play them both side by side. They're both really amazing and versatile amps. For me, reverb is a must, it's really the only effect I use. Or else I probably would have gotten an RCA35.

I would've been weirded out to buy a RV35 off of someone if they had just received a RCA35. Aside from the RV35 having a touch less gain on tap, the RV35 and RCA35 are the same exact amp circuit.

 

[pdxslinger]

I would've been weirded out to buy a RV35 off of someone if they had just received a RCA35. Aside from the RV35 having a touch less gain on tap, the RV35 and RCA35 are the same exact amp circuit.

I get that , but it was all on the up and up. He just wanted a head/cab instead of a combo and he had a verb pedal he liked so he went with the RCA instead.