échange avec Chad Mangrum de Two Rock
Moi
Just need clarification as to the main differences between the Studio Pro 22 (6v6), my actual amp, and the crystal 20 (6v6)
Can you shed some light on the differences which will lead to me buying the crystal =)
Is there a tube rectified in the crystal ? what is the circuit differences (crystal is based on the JM signature, what about the SP ?)
What kind of reverb is used ? Is is the same ?
What justifies this price range difference ?
CHAd
To start with the 22 watt does have a single rectifier. It doesn't have the half buffered effects loop. This is a pretty big one. The loop in itself will add some compression to signal. It also changes the dynamics of the amp because of the added tube. When we first designed the S.Pro we used the current design parameters, parts, and build techniques. It has since been almost 5 years since we came out with that product we have been designing and experimenting constantly. The Crystal, just to be clear is the same exact circuit that we used in the J.Mayer Sig amps. It does incorporate new parts, and values that have improved upon the articulation of the signal.
Now the big question, isn't this the same as the S.Pro? And the answer is no. The front end/EQ are very similar but after that the reverb, mixing stage, and power section are completely different. Taking the effects loop out of the circuit gives us an added stage for reverb and how it integrates back into the amp. All in all the depth, clarity and fullness is a bit more defined in the reverb section of the Crystal. Don't get me wrong both are amazing circuits and we are talking about nuances on a fine line. But these are still very evident once you grasp the whole system.
The next big thing is in the actual construction of the amp. Like I said before we have building constantly. I can't really explain what is different but let me explain what you can hear. The amps EQ scope is just broader. There is a clarity in the overall landscape of Low, Mid, and Highs and how the interact with each other. When you hit a chord the definition is awesome. The notes don't compete for anything, they just expand out. The reaction time on the fretboard is even greater then the S.pro. There is an added depth to the overall harmonics. This amp is really closer the the Classic reverb the anything else in our current line up. That is another amp that has no effects loop and shares a lot with how the Crystal behaves.
The gain structure in the amp is also broader then the S.Pro. The amp can be pushed into some very raw saturated preamp gain. I'm not talking high gain, but more like vintage gain drive. This also gives a bit more room to work with the guitar volume to clean up or stay saturated.
I could probably go on and on. Don't get me wrong the S.pro is an amazing amp and some people might play these two amps side by side and like the S.Pro better. But they are different enough, and I think it will take a certain type of player to really understand that the Crystal just has more to offer.
Another thing that is a bit out of the scope of sound is the chassis construction. Bill and I wanted to come out with a amp that had somewhat of a Hi-Fi look to it. I spent time designing chassis and chassis parts and what we ended up with is this. The face plates is a fully machined, bead blasted, anodized chunk of aluminum. The knobs are the same, fully machined with the same finish, these sit back into the faceplate and have a decorative bevel around them. We wanted these big knobs, something that we had never seen on an amp before. At first its a bit weird to look at it. But once you sit with the amp and feel the knobs and the play the amp, It really makes sense. It feels like your playing a Hi-Fi guitar amp.
I hope that answered your questions.
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