Switchblade or F-series?

[brusdon]

Guys,

I'm looking for a nice combo to take to uni. I tried out the Switchblade (H&K) and the Mesa F-series the other day, and I just wondered if people had any experience with these amps.

I'm buying it for my JP, and I thought the Mesa had an amazing sound, and with 2 channels is nice and simple. The Switchblade seemed to try and do load of things at the same time, and none of them were that great. On top of that, the clarity was no better than my current Marshall; more fuzz than distortion.

Any comments on either amp would be very welcome.

 

[Rossie]

Guys,
The Switchblade seemed to try and do load of things at the same time, and none of them were that great. On top of that, the clarity was no better than my current Marshall; more fuzz than distortion.

I guess you sorta answered your own question.

 

[CudBucket]

The Mesa F series are great. Real loud though so you may have a volume issue in the dorm.

 

[Big Poppa]

We got a switchblade in the artist relations office and it took awhile to dial the tone in as it has a lot of possibilities but we love it now......LOVE IT!

 

[hal9000]

Guys,

I'm looking for a nice combo to take to uni. I tried out the Switchblade (H&K) and the Mesa F-series the other day, and I just wondered if people had any experience with these amps.

I'm buying it for my JP, and I thought the Mesa had an amazing sound, and with 2 channels is nice and simple. The Switchblade seemed to try and do load of things at the same time, and none of them were that great. On top of that, the clarity was no better than my current Marshall; more fuzz than distortion.

Any comments on either amp would be very welcome.

JP? F-series? Oh, yeah, they go together very well:

My friend Tommi Inkila: http://www.scenerychannel.com/broadcast/Tommi Inkila - F50 Sneak Peaker.mp3
http://www.scenerychannel.com/broadcast/Tommi Inkila - Building The Mood.mp3
http://www.scenerychannel.com/broadcast/Tommi Inkila - Seveno.mp3

This is his rig:

I also have some recordings of my F-100:
http://www.64graphics.com/clips/hal9000Haunting.mp3
http://www.64graphics.com/clips/hal9000OneNightsSleep.mp3
http://www.64graphics.com/clips/hal9000StrongWoman.mp3
http://www.64graphics.com/clips/hal9000F-100_Heavy_USB.mp3
http://www.64graphics.com/clips/hal9000COC_ Infinite_War_F-100.mp3
http://www.64graphics.com/clips/hal9000_COC_It_is_that_way_F-100_Xilisoft_ Rev_ B.mp3

I think the Mesa F-series is a great amplifier for clean through mean. There are only a few amplifiers around that can out-clean the F-50. The overdrive is similar to a Mark-series on regular channel 2, and with Contour enabled will kick out the Recto aggression very well.

If you're worried about low volume levels, take a look at this diagram I made so you can use the FX Mix pot as a final master volume:

 

[Roxy]

Try out a Peavey JSX Combo. Easy to dial in great tone, and super versatile.

 

[CudBucket]

+1 on the JSX and Tommi's F Series tones!

 

[hal9000]

BTW, Brusdon, a little birdy tells me that the Mesa F-series is being canceled to make room for a new model that will be released at Winter NAMM. So, if you buy from a dealer, make sure to get the lowest price you can. Normally, Mesas are sold for list, but when a line gets canceled the dealers (like Guitar Center) can discount heavily.

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

From what I understand, the build quality of the H&K's are not brilliant.

 

[augustyn]

i love ENGL and Koch amps a lot.
i ya have the chance try one.
engl sovereign 100 212 is a great combo.
if ya like it smaller:
screamer!
ENGL Amplification Website

 

[Music Man]

Got an F50 and love it. It is very versatille and it handles pedals really well.

 

[brusdon]

Thanks guys, BP. Hal9000 - sounds like a plan...