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RSA 23 has landed

Discussion in 'Amps and Cabs' started by GAT, Nov 16, 2005.

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  1. Nov 16, 2005 #1
    GAT

    GAT Gold Supporting Member

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    Fed Ex just dropped off my new RSA23 head with matching 4x12 cab! Full report tomorrow, too bad I need to work today! :dude
     
    GAT, Nov 16, 2005
    GAT, Nov 16, 2005
    #1
  2. Nov 16, 2005 #2
    MightyGuru

    MightyGuru Member

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    Awesome. What an intriguing amp. I wish there was a way I could hear/play one of these d/13 gems.
     
    MightyGuru, Nov 16, 2005
    MightyGuru, Nov 16, 2005
    #2
  3. Nov 16, 2005 #3
    Rock Fella

    Rock Fella Member

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    obligatory clips from clean to driven please TAG, we have been waiting to hear RSA23 and RSA31 material.:)
     
    Rock Fella, Nov 16, 2005
    Rock Fella, Nov 16, 2005
    #3
  4. Nov 16, 2005 #4
    CBeeper

    CBeeper Supporting Member

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    I'm waiting with baited breath!!!;)
     
    CBeeper, Nov 16, 2005
    CBeeper, Nov 16, 2005
    #4
  5. Nov 16, 2005 #5
    cr8z4life

    cr8z4life Member

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    Since recieving mine it has become my amp of choice!!!!
     
    cr8z4life, Nov 16, 2005
    cr8z4life, Nov 16, 2005
    #5
  6. Nov 16, 2005 #6
    Rock Fella

    Rock Fella Member

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    and where is YOUR clippage ?
     
    Rock Fella, Nov 16, 2005
    Rock Fella, Nov 16, 2005
    #6
  7. Nov 16, 2005 #7
    GAT

    GAT Gold Supporting Member

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    Did someone just call me TAG?!?:eek: :D
     
    GAT, Nov 16, 2005
    GAT, Nov 16, 2005
    #7
  8. Nov 16, 2005 #8
    Kinkirsi

    Kinkirsi Member

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    Simple dyslexia!:)
     
    Kinkirsi, Nov 16, 2005
    Kinkirsi, Nov 16, 2005
    #8
  9. Nov 16, 2005 #9
    Dennis E.

    Dennis E. Silver Supporting Member

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    Hi all,

    I just finished up some home recording ... demos for the band ... and I have a clip of an old CCR tune that I could email to you if you want to hear the RSA 23.

    The clip is 3 megs ... so you'll need a fast connection.

    I'm not going to get into the hosting thing, so if you want to hear this clip, please just pm me and I'll mail it to you.

    I must say that I love the amp, but am not perfectly happy with the recording. There's some splattiness (not to demean Mr. Torn), that's coming across that is more a product of my recording skills and setup than the amp.

    Anyway, the tune still somehow manages to sound alright.

    PM me if you want it.

    And I'm still mixing more tunes, so I'll have more clips soon. Hopefully, I'll be able to figure out better mic placement.


    Thanks,
    Dennis E.
     
    Dennis E., Nov 16, 2005
    Dennis E., Nov 16, 2005
    #9
  10. Nov 16, 2005 #10
    steve10358

    steve10358 Supporting Member

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    I am so convinced this is the amp I am buying after my C+ sells. How much was the matching cab? I want a matching 4x12... even though I already have 3 marshalls.
     
    steve10358, Nov 16, 2005
    steve10358, Nov 16, 2005
    #10
  11. Nov 16, 2005 #11
    Lerxst2112

    Lerxst2112 Member

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    PM sent.
     
    Lerxst2112, Nov 16, 2005
    Lerxst2112, Nov 16, 2005
    #11
  12. Nov 17, 2005 #12
    GAT

    GAT Gold Supporting Member

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    Okay, spent about an hour playing the amp and comparing it to the Connie and a Sex Amp. All ran into a 1969 Marshall 4x12 cab with 30 watters in it. I didn't have time to load the matching cab with the Celestion heritage G12H30s that I have for it. No effects.

    First the RSA23: Very good clean channel, similar to the FTR37 but with more mids, still need to cut the bass a bit but very sparkly and fat. Good Robben Ford type of clean sound with the Baker and Grosh Set Neck, though never a sterile clean. Strats sound fat and chimey. Don't miss the reverb one bit.

    Click channel: Had some squealing with the Baker for some reason but not the other guitars. The Baker has a Goodwood bridge pickup. I think the amp has a lot of energy and is very sensitive on the click channel. Very fat lead tone with a nice bite, although I wish I could dial out a bit of the bite since I go for a more flutey type of lead tone, but it is an excellent rock and roll tone.

    Compared to the Connie, they are virtually the same volume, the Connie is a bit less "rock and roll" sounding, more polished and smooth. The RSA is a bit more British and in your face with a high end chime always present. The Connie cleans up better, though the RSA is pretty good at it. They both have excellent sustain and feedback very musically.

    The Sex Amp has a more spanky clean sound, tweedy with a Marshall-type of thick lead sound, though extreme volumes can over saturate a bit. It is the loudest of the three but not by much.

    I find that I like the Connie for the Grosh strats, more of a Bramhall II/Bonamassa type of sound, thick with a bit of chime.

    I really like the RSA23 for the humbucker/P90 guitars. Preset channel one for cleaner things and switch to the click channel for lead tones.

    Tomorrow I'll try it out with my pedal board and some od pedals, a Landgraff, Klon, Zen Drive and a new Fulldrive Mosfet.

    Overall, I like it better than the FTR37 I had, more stout mids which makes the tone fatter. I really like the amp, although I probably like the Connies a bit better for my style but I haven't spent enough time with the RSA yet to really make the call. They are both incredible amps at a volume that is perfect for most clubs. I have a Komet airbrake and an Ultimate attenuator that I'll plug into to check how they work with the RSA.
     
    GAT, Nov 17, 2005
    GAT, Nov 17, 2005
    #12
  13. Nov 17, 2005 #13
    Kinkirsi

    Kinkirsi Member

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    Great review, thanks.
     
    Kinkirsi, Nov 17, 2005
    Kinkirsi, Nov 17, 2005
    #13
  14. Nov 17, 2005 #14
    shallbe

    shallbe Deputy Plankspanker Gold Supporting Member

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    Gilbert, thanks for the review. One day I'll play one of Fred's amps. :(
     
    shallbe, Nov 17, 2005
    shallbe, Nov 17, 2005
    #14
  15. Nov 17, 2005 #15
    cr8z4life

    cr8z4life Member

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    Try the lower gain input on the click channel- I think you might liike that cranked up a bit....I think it will give you more of the fluty gain your looking for.....let me know what you thnk.
     
    cr8z4life, Nov 17, 2005
    cr8z4life, Nov 17, 2005
    #15
  16. Nov 17, 2005 #16
    MightyGuru

    MightyGuru Member

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    Thanks for the clip Dennis. The tone was really fat and greasy. Reminded me of some classic overdriven Billy G tones. Complex and harmonic overtones poppin' all over the place yet still very focused and dynamic. The chords are so fat....jeez. What a cool sounding amp.
     
    MightyGuru, Nov 17, 2005
    MightyGuru, Nov 17, 2005
    #16
  17. Nov 17, 2005 #17
    Tag

    Tag Gold Supporting Member

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    I am NOT GAT. :mad:

    (Nothing personal GAT) :)
     
    Tag, Nov 17, 2005
    Tag, Nov 17, 2005
    #17
  18. Nov 17, 2005 #18
    Dennis E.

    Dennis E. Silver Supporting Member

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    You're welcome.

    You described the tone of the 23 better than I!

    The main thing for me is that it's a FUN amp to play ... one of those amps where you actually turn around during a gig, smile and think, "Do I really sound like that?"

    Dang!

    Have fun,
    Dennis E.
     
    Dennis E., Nov 17, 2005
    Dennis E., Nov 17, 2005
    #18
  19. Nov 17, 2005 #19
    GAT

    GAT Gold Supporting Member

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    Yeah, the low gain input on the click channel is much fatter, I like it much better for humbuckers.
     
    GAT, Nov 17, 2005
    GAT, Nov 17, 2005
    #19
  20. Nov 17, 2005 #20
    Dennis E.

    Dennis E. Silver Supporting Member

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    Hi GAT,

    I had a tough time with the 23 when I first got it ... especially the Click channel. It was sooo agressive. I thought maybe it had too much gain, and I was looking for ways to tame it some.

    But after about 3-4 weeks, the amp settled in. Over that time it really warmed up a bit.

    Now I can all of my guitars with the 23, and I enjoy them equally well.

    Anyway, my point is that my 23 changed over the first month ... and in a very good way.

    Have fun,
    Dennis E.
     
    Dennis E., Nov 17, 2005
    Dennis E., Nov 17, 2005
    #20
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