New Amp day: Soultone 1986ps

[MDD]

My new amp arrived. It's a Soultone 1986ps. Based on the Marshall 1986 50 watt amp. I ordered it for several reasons; I love Duane Allman's tone, I don't have a plexi type amp, it has rear bias adjustments, can take different tubes, has a tube driven effects loop that can be activated via a foot switch, i can jump the effects loop and use it as an extra gain stage by adding the fourth preamp tube and it has a power scaling feature.


Amp sounds great, sorry no recording ability so you'll just have to imagine. The power scaling is fantastic. I can run the amp wide open at 8-10 with the power scaling set around 4 with no problem. Power scale set on 5-6 is about as loud as I can take it. Turn it down to 2 when my wife is around. The sound is very transparent all the way down to whisper levels with great tube distortion. The power scaling works a lot better than my ultimate attenuator. The amp was a little pricey but well worth it. The build quality is incredible. Check out the website just look for soultone amps.

[surfnorthwest]

That is a nice amp. Did you get the power scaling with it? It is based off a 1987, but they call it the 1986. Should be a nice option with your VM. Post some clips later if you can.

[youtube][/youtube]

[MDD]

The builder has four Marshall type amps he builds all with power scaling: jtm45, 1987, 1986 and 2204. The 1986 marshall is the bass head version of the 1987 marshall. Don't know the details but it's slightly different (not as bright or harsh as the 1987). I went with the 1986 instead of the 1987 because i'm a huge fan of Duane Allman's tone and that was his amp choice and I favor a smoother distortion like the VM offers. Still plays zeppelin great, ZZ top sounds mean on it as well. Played it for about 3 hrs today. Very touch responsive like the VM and works great using the guitar to clean it up. I'm strictly a home player so the power scaling option was essential. I turned it up to 7 without the power scaling and man was it LOUD. But I can get the same crunch at very manageable levels by engaging the PS feature. You can turn it up to 10 with no problem and scale it back to around 4 or 5 on the PS feature and it sounds fantastic. I'm sure Marshall will roll out more amps with this same tech. I'll try to figure out how to get some clips up. There really aren't that many on youtube, especially with a Les Paul or 335.

[surfnorthwest]

I see, the superbass circut I like better also. Speaking of Duane, I recently purchased a 2006 Les Paul Historic 58 RI that came loaded with WCR Fillmore pickups. They say these are the closest to Duanes tone. I pulled the bridge pickup out to replace it with a Bare Knuckle Mule so I have this pickup if you are interested in it, make an offer I will let it go cheap.

http://www.wcrguitar.com/fillmore.html

[slowpokerhino]

Cograts MDD!
Soultone is right here in Arizona. I would love to buy one of their amps, and would probably get the 1986 as well. Why couldn't I have been born rich instead of beautiful?

[Vinny]

Why couldn't I have been born rich instead of beautiful?

That's what I'm wondering all the time too!