Any love for the powerball in here?

[jamesboyd]

Hey all,

Anyone in here own a powerball, or recorded/gigged with one?

Looking at possibly getting a new fizz box in the near future, these things are always mentioned in ushered tones for metal but I'm yet to hear anything 'pro' with them.

thoughts........................

 

[Razorjack]

I've engineered a few bands who have used them and they have sounded ok, not the best sound imo but better than all the new Marshall rubbish we've had on stage.

 

[jamesboyd]

would you say they sound sterile/solidstate-ish?
I've heard that quite often.

Which newer marshall? I've always kinda like the 2000 series, not ideal but not bad.

 

[Ermz]

I've tracked a session with a Powerball. Had some nasty phase issues that we didn't pick up during the session, but nonetheless it was a very unique sound. Very dry but with some bite.

If I had to, I'd use one again.. I've got no problems with them. I think it's just up to the musicians and engineers to pull a sound, the amp seems to be capable of good results.

 

[Razorjack]

would you say they sound sterile/solidstate-ish?
I've heard that quite often.

Wish newer marshall? I've always kinda like the 2000 series, not ideal but not bad.

I wouldn't say the sound was sterile, trebly might be a better way to describe the amp.

The newer Marshall's I speak of are the DSL and TSL 2000 series, I find that most people who use them are the kind of people who think that they still need a Boss Metal Zone in front of the amp to get enough gain. I have never liked them though, I prefer my JMP-1 (or even the old VS100 valvestate heads) for heavier Marshall tones.

 

[guitarguru777]

Ill take a JCM800 With an MP1 anyday over the new TSL's

 

[Nebulous]

Having "used" one in the same session as Moonlapse, I found that I liked it quite a bit, realy nice crunch i thought.Good for thrash from what i've heard of it, but in comparision to say a 5150, or the current popular Kranks, it might not have enough Mids for that sort of sound, but dont quote me on it, we didnt have enough time to play with the settings.
I'd have to try it for myself, but it looks like a contender for my next amp.

Daniel\m/

 

[Exocaster]

The newer Marshall's I speak of are the DSL and TSL 2000 series, I find that most people who use them are the kind of people who think that they still need a Boss Metal Zone in front of the amp to get enough gain.

Sounds like noobs who haven't yet learned how to dial in an amp and think they'll sound good 'cause their gear says "Marshall" on it. They'll sound like ass with any amp, though- it's not the amp's fault.

The JCM 2000s are good amps if dialed in right. And they have plenty of gain; when I had my TSL, I kept my lead channel gain around 6 or so for anything other than low volume practice. Keep the bass and mids up, and they'll get heavy for sure. Trying to scoop Marshalls is a recipe for thin, fizzy tone, but keep the mids (and master volume...) up and they'll roar.

 

[Fragle]

dude, my lead guitar player has been using a TSL 100 for quite some time now, and it's a great amp for thrash/speed metal and anything less than that. one piece of advice: USE THE CRUNCH CHANNEL ! ! ! ! ! seriously, the crunch channel has PLENTY of gain for thrash metal rhythm, and has a certain bite as well as a growl that's very unique. certainly different from my jcm800 2210, but not exactly worse. the lead channel isn't the best for metal rhythm, though, and i can see why people tend to call them mushy and fuzzy POS. it's not the best amp for leads, too. my 2210 just "sings" more than the TSL ever will, and that's with less gain.
but once again, the crunch channel is great. actually i've considered getting one for a few times. the dsl is close, but not really the same (i used a dsl100 for 3 weeks on tour. channel 4 (hi lead) is crap, channel 3 (low lead) is decent). it's very tight, with good bass (not vht, bogner, or mesa bass, though), and a nice edgy feel. in comparison to a 2210 it's darker even with the presence way up, and has more bottom end.
one last thing, it gets all nasty and fuzzy even on the crunch channel when the tone shift is engaged. the deep CAN be useful at low volumes, but it just too much at gig volumes.

ok, enough OT. regarding the powerball....i don't like it. sounds solid state to my ears, with a very unpleasant high end - like all ENGLs. i've played one show with an powerball, and owned a blackmore for quite some time. both shared a certain thin sound quality. TO MY EARS, they have a lot of bass, but a huge lack of mids, especially low mids, which makes them sound thin when cranked IMHO. add the unpleasing, rather abrasive highs to that, and you'll understand why i sold my blackmore and got a 5150
on the other hand, the ENGLs have a very clear sound, thats for sure. most likely due to the lack of "muddy" low mids and the "glassy" feel of the high frequencies. but then again, i don't want a really clear sounding amp, that just does not punch in a live and loud gig setting.
just my $0.2 though

 

[Matt Crooks]

I just recently got a Powerball and have recorded some solos with it. Both the guitarist and I were very happy with it.

I think that it can sound a bit sterile if the mids are not set well, but with some tweaking, it sounds really nice.

I played it though a Marshall with the 75w speakers and it was horrible. The amp is scooped enough without those speakers... it sounds much better with V30s.

 

[Ermz]

Sounds like noobs who haven't yet learned how to dial in an amp and think they'll sound good 'cause their gear says "Marshall" on it. They'll sound like ass with any amp, though- it's not the amp's fault.

The JCM 2000s are good amps if dialed in right. And they have plenty of gain; when I had my TSL, I kept my lead channel gain around 6 or so for anything other than low volume practice. Keep the bass and mids up, and they'll get heavy for sure. Trying to scoop Marshalls is a recipe for thin, fizzy tone, but keep the mids (and master volume...) up and they'll roar.

Had someone who totally scooped his JCM2000 come in for a session. Mids 0. Treble 10. It's kind of hard to talk about it... almost a traumatic experience.

 

[jamesboyd]

Thanks guys,

Yeah I had pretty made up my mind, but just wanted some second opinions.

The dsl and tsl rule, personally I think they need some sort of boost to get the metal tones I like, but they have more than enough gain without

Old jcm800's with a boost or 5150's with a boost are pretty hard to beat I quess

 

[FrostGiant]

The Powerball jackpot is up to 340 million. Drawing is tonite. I have to make sure to buy a ticket after work.

 

[kaomao]

Had someone who totally scooped his JCM2000 come in for a session. Mids 0. Treble 10. It's kind of hard to talk about it... almost a traumatic experience.

Yes Marshall, totally scooped sucks!
My 5150 with mids set 0 sounds really nice beause 5150 has planty of mids I think. It's incredible at 0 a lot of mids.
I set them to 1 or 2 just when I play with my band, when recording I usually set to 0 and I'm fine

Maurizio

 

[Fredrik-Ablaze]

I both play and record a powerball and i totally love it. In my ears I'll take it over any 5150 or Recto any day. It takes some tweaking to find the sweetspot though. The leadtone is simply amazing!
Try one out and see for yourself

 

[Kazrog]

I am definitely a fan of the Powerball and I wouldn't mind having one someday.

 

[Rich - Rannoch]

Been using (gigging and recording) a Powerball for almost a year now, along with the other guitarist in my band, and we've both been very happy with them. We both play 7 strings with EMG 707's which will make a difference to the tone and one thing I've also noticed is that they do sound a lot better through the Engl cabs; the bog standard Marshall 1960 4x12's sound a little 'fizzy' by comparison. Haven't tried it through anything else though so can't really comment, but yeah, we like 'em.

 

[Ermz]

To me they sound a little harsh with the ENGL cabs. Those things are loaded with the GT75 speakers aren't they? Gives a bit of that 'Dead Heart' vibe to the guitars. Preffer the Mesa slant cab, myself.

 

[silverwulf]

Had someone who totally scooped his JCM2000 come in for a session. Mids 0. Treble 10. It's kind of hard to talk about it... almost a traumatic experience.

I'm sorry...your ears may very well need some therapy after that... I think too many inexperienced guys try to use "traditional" EQ methods when finding a tone. They let their eyes decide their tone instead of their ears. You can make a JCM 2000 sound killer if you tweak it right. I much prefer an old JCM 800, or one of the 6100 30th Anniversary Heads, but the 2000 series is pretty damn good, and has a pretty nice clean channel too.

I find myself EQ'ing most all Marshall's quite the opposite of the guy in question. Both my treble and presence are around the 2-3 range, and the mids would normally be up around 6. Most all Marshall's I've played sound paper thin until you get the mids around 5-6.

 

[Exocaster]

I find myself EQ'ing most all Marshall's quite the opposite of the guy in question. Both my treble and presence are around the 2-3 range, and the mids would normally be up around 6. Most all Marshall's I've played sound paper thin until you get the mids around 5-6.

I've always liked Marshalls, but there's something really harsh about the treble on those amps. On my TSL, my treble hung out around 4. I had a '76 JMP where I never brought the treble over 2. I had no problem gigging that (boosted, of course!) with bass and mids on 10, treble and presence on 0. That amp was insanely bright.

As for TSL settings, I remember something like Bass 6-7, Mids 8-10, Treble 4, Presence usually 0, Lead channel gain 6, Channel volume 10, Master somewhere between 4-7 depending on the practice space/venue/drummer. The usual stuff. 1960AV cab with the Vintage 30s, of course. 75s were way too bright. The amp sounded comparatively anemic with those settings at low volumes, but when turned up, it gave a very heavy, percussive sound. ESP LTD EC1000 tuned down to C#...