Cleantone
TDPRI Member
TLDR - I really like it. Classic tones at bedroom volume. It is very bright. The dual channel mode is my favorite feature.
I got the BC Artist 1x12 a week ago (used, off Reverb). The comments below are related to the stock amp, no tone capsule. I have ordered an Ultimate Blues and NY Blues but don't have them yet. I'll post comments specific to the capsules when I've played them.
Why I bought it:
I saw the Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio recently and Jimmy James used a single 12" or 15" (Peavey Delta Blues?) with no pedals. When he needed gain he walked over and turned it up. I was inspired to stick to basics and stop screwing around with stuff that doesn't make me better. I want one amp that can do the styles I like (e.g., R&B, soul, funk, blues, not too heavy rock). Not intending to replicate specific players, just fit the genres. I want to stop wasting time on the endless options in my amp & effects modeler. I'm currently a basement hack, but one day I may make it onto the neighborhood garage and backyard circuit, so I want to have a respectable and capable tool for that level of achievement.
EQ controls:
The first impression upon plugging in is the amp is very bright and also very bassy. I am working with the treble and presence as it can be piercing. The bass is powerful in this one. 9:00 or below is all that is needed. It can do a good scooped mid or warmer/fuller tweedy sound.
I'm not finding sweet spots in the tone controls where you notice a jump or a point after which the change is minimal. The pots seem very linear like in my digital modeler. Not sure yet this is a real thing based on being solid state or if I'm just not feeling it right.
Clean and crunch channels:
I really like the basic sounds in both. There is a change in EQ from clean to crunch. Given there is only one set of EQ controls I thought it would be more of an even gain boost from one channel to the next. I think it is small enough it could be equalized with an EQ pedal, but I'm not bothered enough to do that work. I'd like the channels to have their own EQ like the BC Tour, but oh well. Maybe the crunch is intended to cut through a band mix more than clean, so perhaps there is a rationale to the difference. So far, I set the EQ to my liking on the clean channel and deal with it.
I like the dual mode better than crunch alone as it is fuller and more articulate. I think it sounds great. This could be something that isn't noticeable in a live performance but sounds great at home and presumably in recording. I wish there was a blend control for the dual mode. As is, the blend is by adjusting the channel volumes so there can be a big volume drop from one to the other.
As expected, this is not a high gain amp and that isn't my scene anyway. That said, I have not liked the sound with the gain much past 12:00. The brightness takes over, especially on a bridge pickup. Very sharp, Albert Collins like, but too much. Rolling down the guitar tone helps smooth it out. This is an area I need to spend more time with.
As noted in many online reviews, the clean channel has low headroom, especially with humbuckers. For example, going for a warm jazzy sound I like the neck pickup volume high without pushing the amp into breakup. I really have to knock the channel vol down and master vol up. Not a big deal if I'm just playing that sound, but in a performance it could be a hassle to readjust controls when switching guitars or styles.
Effects:
The onboard tremolo and reverb are fine to me. Not something I've ever gone deep into though I know some people do. They simplify and cover the bases.
Going into the clean channel pedals work pretty well. I'm struggling to dial in a unity volume with an increase in gain and good tone from the Nobles ODR. It has little effect without the level being quite high. Then it gets dark/muddy but cranking the tone knob it gets harsh. The best application I have found for it is on a Strat or Tele bridge pickup, but nowhere else. I have previously used is as a coloring boost but here the low end is too much. I'd welcome comments on best use of the ODR as I have liked it before but know it can be heavy on the bottom end, and this may not be a good amp style to apply it to.
Using a TC Spark boost is very nice. It balances the level of single coil and humbucking guitars and fattens the tone a little, and set to less gain and more level gives a nice push to the amp. I do have to roll that treble back to keep it from getting piercing.
I also set a delay to fairly short repeat and rolled the tone of the repeats way down. It really fattened the sound while keeping the initial attack and articulation. That feels really good in the clean channel.
One week in I am very happy with the amp. I'm hoping that the tone capsules I ordered will scratch the itch of wanting some tone options without sending me down the rabbit hole of playing with settings instead of playing music. Plug in one flavor for the day and roll with it. It is very possible I will settle on one of them to use full time. Worst case, I will pass them along and be happy with the stock amp, or possibly add a pre-amp style always-on pedal to get my flavor and be set.
I got the BC Artist 1x12 a week ago (used, off Reverb). The comments below are related to the stock amp, no tone capsule. I have ordered an Ultimate Blues and NY Blues but don't have them yet. I'll post comments specific to the capsules when I've played them.
Why I bought it:
I saw the Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio recently and Jimmy James used a single 12" or 15" (Peavey Delta Blues?) with no pedals. When he needed gain he walked over and turned it up. I was inspired to stick to basics and stop screwing around with stuff that doesn't make me better. I want one amp that can do the styles I like (e.g., R&B, soul, funk, blues, not too heavy rock). Not intending to replicate specific players, just fit the genres. I want to stop wasting time on the endless options in my amp & effects modeler. I'm currently a basement hack, but one day I may make it onto the neighborhood garage and backyard circuit, so I want to have a respectable and capable tool for that level of achievement.
EQ controls:
The first impression upon plugging in is the amp is very bright and also very bassy. I am working with the treble and presence as it can be piercing. The bass is powerful in this one. 9:00 or below is all that is needed. It can do a good scooped mid or warmer/fuller tweedy sound.
I'm not finding sweet spots in the tone controls where you notice a jump or a point after which the change is minimal. The pots seem very linear like in my digital modeler. Not sure yet this is a real thing based on being solid state or if I'm just not feeling it right.
Clean and crunch channels:
I really like the basic sounds in both. There is a change in EQ from clean to crunch. Given there is only one set of EQ controls I thought it would be more of an even gain boost from one channel to the next. I think it is small enough it could be equalized with an EQ pedal, but I'm not bothered enough to do that work. I'd like the channels to have their own EQ like the BC Tour, but oh well. Maybe the crunch is intended to cut through a band mix more than clean, so perhaps there is a rationale to the difference. So far, I set the EQ to my liking on the clean channel and deal with it.
I like the dual mode better than crunch alone as it is fuller and more articulate. I think it sounds great. This could be something that isn't noticeable in a live performance but sounds great at home and presumably in recording. I wish there was a blend control for the dual mode. As is, the blend is by adjusting the channel volumes so there can be a big volume drop from one to the other.
As expected, this is not a high gain amp and that isn't my scene anyway. That said, I have not liked the sound with the gain much past 12:00. The brightness takes over, especially on a bridge pickup. Very sharp, Albert Collins like, but too much. Rolling down the guitar tone helps smooth it out. This is an area I need to spend more time with.
As noted in many online reviews, the clean channel has low headroom, especially with humbuckers. For example, going for a warm jazzy sound I like the neck pickup volume high without pushing the amp into breakup. I really have to knock the channel vol down and master vol up. Not a big deal if I'm just playing that sound, but in a performance it could be a hassle to readjust controls when switching guitars or styles.
Effects:
The onboard tremolo and reverb are fine to me. Not something I've ever gone deep into though I know some people do. They simplify and cover the bases.
Going into the clean channel pedals work pretty well. I'm struggling to dial in a unity volume with an increase in gain and good tone from the Nobles ODR. It has little effect without the level being quite high. Then it gets dark/muddy but cranking the tone knob it gets harsh. The best application I have found for it is on a Strat or Tele bridge pickup, but nowhere else. I have previously used is as a coloring boost but here the low end is too much. I'd welcome comments on best use of the ODR as I have liked it before but know it can be heavy on the bottom end, and this may not be a good amp style to apply it to.
Using a TC Spark boost is very nice. It balances the level of single coil and humbucking guitars and fattens the tone a little, and set to less gain and more level gives a nice push to the amp. I do have to roll that treble back to keep it from getting piercing.
I also set a delay to fairly short repeat and rolled the tone of the repeats way down. It really fattened the sound while keeping the initial attack and articulation. That feels really good in the clean channel.
One week in I am very happy with the amp. I'm hoping that the tone capsules I ordered will scratch the itch of wanting some tone options without sending me down the rabbit hole of playing with settings instead of playing music. Plug in one flavor for the day and roll with it. It is very possible I will settle on one of them to use full time. Worst case, I will pass them along and be happy with the stock amp, or possibly add a pre-amp style always-on pedal to get my flavor and be set.
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