I guess im asking randomly but does anyone know of a method to log back into an instagram account? I was dumb forgot the account password. I would appreciate any assistance you can give me.
@Tripp Khalid I really appreciate your reply. I got to the site thru google and im trying it out atm. Looks like it's gonna take quite some time so I will reply here later with my results.
Pretty sure that Landau and VH used their H&H for their stereo wet cabs. I had Bob make a rack years ago and the VHT was my dry center and the H&H was my stereo wet. (I still have the rig)
Almost correct, he was originally using the H&H's for his main cabs(first mono, then stereo) by slaving his plexi into the H&H's to control stage volume and NOT to blow up his vintage celestions. Later, when he went from stereo to w/d/w, he used his H&H's for the wets...
Steve Fryette VHTs is where its at. I ordered a new Two-Ninety-Two in early 2000's. Best power amp I ever owned. Heaviest too. My best to least list that I have owned: VHT, Mesa 50/50, Carvin TS, Peavey 50/50, MV962, ADA Microfet.
2150 and the power station sounded great! Love my sp-77. Paired it with a solid state Hafler power amp for years and it killed. I have a Marshall 9100 paired with it now and love it.
Thanks for doing this! This is the exact video I've been waiting for: battle of Fryette/VHT in 2150 vs Power Station and battle of the big boys in 2150 vs TBR. They all bring something really nice to the table. The Rivera had a smooth, full bottom with a brighter top-end cutting through. The 2150 was more full frequency. It definitely had more girth & weight than the PS, but overall the same flavor. The H&H was impressive as a power amp I'd never heard of before. Good job! It was mildly interesting!
You know... I always wondered why people didn’t use that and have discussed it with my best friend. EVH always talked about his live rig and it was basically a cranked Plexi with a load box into the H&H, using the power amp as a glorified master volume. It was all right there and no one thought to copy it.
Thanks for comparing these poweramps, with my smartphone i don't hear realy big differences in sound,but in your studio, you will hear and feel it for sure. I'm a Rivera amp lover,so to me ,a TBR 1 SL ,is a full stereo pack,nobody else offered.It has options like PCOMP(pick up compensation to level the guitar output to the preamp),a pre preamp loop and a stereo parallel loop between pre and poweramp and the stereo poweramp with its own volumes,focus adjustment ,presence and 4 level powerampmodes(half/full power,triode/pentode mode). Here in Europe,you can find these amps around €1000,when you're lucky wirh its 3 way footswitch.
The HH was respectable, and I suspect, gave the truest representation of the original signal, but the VHT added a “roundness” that seemed to emerge AFTER the string attack. I guess that’s “sag?” It was pleasing and organic.
Awesome video!! I loved the Rivera’s brightness, but I believe the power station is so versatile and cost effective (and small) that it is simply genius!!! Great vid!!!
Maybe it's the cheap 30+ year old stereo (and the TV) I'm hearing this through, but they didn't really sound all that different. Maybe a little less of "something" with the Power Station, but otherwise they all sound good to me. None really seemed to color the sound of the preamp and guitar that much, which I'm guessing is what you want in a power amp.
hi Ian, I don't think you're wrong. There was a little bit of post production level matching, and I'm sure the Power Station was always the quietest of the bunch, so it may have lost some speaker girth there. But, overall, the PS has a little less POW than the other guys. But the PS2 is the only power amp you could realistically carry to a gig.. or across a room.
@@BigHairyGuitars True, although there were some lighter power amps. Back in the mid-90's I ran my ADA MP-2 into an ADA MicroTube 200 power amp. I don't know if it was the best sounding amp of the era, but is was light and small and I could fit my entire rig into a four space SKB rack (I actually still have all of this).
Thanks Michael, great job. I just bought a Soldano SP-77 from a fellow guitarist. Looking forward to its arrival. In all other cases I have found that the Rack Units leave me wanting when stacked nest to a well Modified Marshall type circuit. David Hopkins ♫
The HH felt like it bumped the mids up and rounded the highs off a tad, especially in one of the samples you provided, so basically it was a bit warmer sounding. The VHT 2150 definitely had the most balls but that’s not always what you need. The Rivera to my ears had some extended high end and chewiness that I wasn’t a big fan of, and the Fryette was sort of neutral to me. Just my two cents. Thanks for the excellent comparison!
The Fryette PowerStation has a little less coloring I feel like, but that makes sense if you're going to use it to drop the output of an amp to line level and then amplify it again. The Rivera sounds a little more angry and the VHT just sounds huge to my ear. The H&H sounds fine, but I would probably pick the VHT or the Rivera if I was sculpting a sound personally.
All the combinations sound very good, but the Soldano/VHT it' s " the perfect match", it' s not a coincidence if It was the combo of choice of many rack users in those days!🤟🏼
Went in to thoroughbred music in Tampa to get the 77 and the salesman was like have you heard this Yamaha T50. It’s pretty much the same preamp but also has a 50w power amp😳. I still use that T50 today. 4 hour gig last night through my Mesa 1x12 200ev cab. To this day people still ask what im playing through.
And that the rivera an in some instances the H&H kicked its butt. But all were fairly similar. The power station was ...well out of its regular use and it sounded the thinner of sorts.
I had one of those SP-77s back in the early 90s.. Had numerous tube power amps, Boogie 50/50, etc.. The Seymour Duncan KTG-100 with KT-88s, sounded huge and very 3d
That was GREAT! Thanks Micheal! I really liked the Fryette Power Station! But, it is really splitting hairs with the tube offerings there......I agree that the HH sounded a bit flat in some spots, but the HH doesn't have any power amp controls on it, so, it's not apples to apples....
Hah. Finally some love for good old smaller purple brick 😀. I‘ve had mine since ´95, and it´s my third-longest used-without-interruption piece of ampage after my 2203 and „mouse piano version“ SansAmp. Always liked it lots, now love it even more after loading a 12AY7 in the first gain stage. Less gain overall, but excellent cleans & slightly hairy sounds. I still could kick Soldano in the shins every time I switch the unit on for not including a manual channel switch...
VHT2150 sounded amazing and looks sexiest in a rack with the Soldano! Guitar companies should ditch putting RGB lights in amps and start introducing 80's pastel-colored gear again.
They all sounded killer...but one power amp that gets no love is the randall rt2/50,2 channel,1 has 6l6's,2 has el34's,midi,50w stereo or mono. I Have one and love it!
My man! Excellent Sunday comparo! That VHT 2150 was monstrous! I do wish you had access to a Rivera TBR-5 Hammer 320 instead, as it will be even better for this shootout. (I personally want to hear it compared to the VHT2150). All sounded great though, as well as it displayed the difference in sound power amps make. Great work!
A Rivera TBR 5 320 HAMMERHEAD wouldn't be a fair compare to the other poweramps,in full power it will give 160 watts per side,allthough with the full/half power and pentode/triode switches,it could be leveled in power to the other poweramps.
Michael... I confess that, hearing today again, now i'm in between Rivera and Fryette, and hate the H&H. The Rivera seems to fit better in a mix situation for my taste, and the Fryette seems to have the same tone but with some more lows.
I've got a purple VHT 2150 loaded with KT88s. It's a beast. I also have a VHT Classic. It looks similar to the 2150 but it's loaded with EL34s and it also has some custom switches that Steve Fryette added when he custom built the Amp for me. It can switch to Class A or Class B and also to half power. He also added 'bright switch. I love the 2150 with KT88s but there's something about EL34s that prefer even more. I think it's a little more spongy.
Hey Michael! Great channel! Can you tell how you connect the SP77 to your amp? Do you need a re-amp? Or can it connect directly? Can you plug it directly to your DAW interface?
Hi Tom, Really straightforward. Guitar to SP77 then from the SP77 go into the FX Return of your amp. OR, if you want to connect to the DAW, do Guitar > SP77 > into the DAW interface. Then you'll need at minimum an amp IR to simulate the cabinet. Or maybe something like the Two Notes Torpedo so you can simulate the power amp and cabinet.
I liked the VHT for most things,the Power Station was nice,I found the Rivera to be a little on the high endy side and the H&H? Not bad! And for some reason the sunburst Friedman T type clean guitar through the H&H was the "woodiest" sounding Tele I think I have ever heard
I had a marshall 9200 with 5881, a Rivera tbr 1, a vht 2 90 2, a vht 2 50 2, mesa 50/50 and a mesa 2 90... All played with the marshall jmp 1... Vht 2 90 2, sounded better than the others, but I never had the chance to hear 2150 vs 2 90 2.... Please make a video for that... They share the same valves (kt88) the same design, but the transformers are bigger in 2150, I want to know how that sounds like
You just HAVE to love the colour coordinated VHT2150 - all the attitude, balls and chunk you could ever want! Surprisingly, I didn't really dig the Power Station in this application (brilliant as it is)... I suppose I still want a little extra "sumfin sumfin" in my power amps...
VHT is the best by far..... Michael, I would love to see you try an old ADA B200S. its solid state, but sounds amazing with the MP1. would love to hear you rip through it and hear your thoughts.
Yeah I was thinking an interview with him would be interesting. Why does he stockpile these preamps? Also if he could bring the Langner with him, that would be cool :). Happy holidays Michael!
HH made some of the best solid state amps ever made and created mosfet. Just sayin. Wanna know more ? Marc bolan used them, buzzcocks, Wilko Johnson from dr feelgood so many bands did. I have an IC100 myself and it’s a killer amp. They are becoming kind of rare nowadays too btw.
The VHT Tube Power Amp sounds best overall. Although sometimes I've heard rack preamps through solid state power amps that sound good, in general, I think tube power amps sound best with rack preamps and mosfet/solid state power amps sound better if you're playing an amp head either loaded down into a load box then played in a stereo rig or an amp head in a w/d/w rig with the SS power amp sounding better with the left and right stereo effects.
All of the Fryette power amps are fantastic. The core tone of the Power Station is VERY similar to the legendary VHT Classic. The 2502 and 2902 are both great. Just comes down to how much volume you need. More wattage also give a fraction more heft and tightness to the sound.
The VHT 2150, in my opinion, sounds best. I have one, in blue colour. And it’s the best sounding guitar power amp that I owned. (And I had a lot before: Marshall, Rocktron, Mesa, Engl, Matrix Amplification, etc.)
Yes. The Mosvalve Tubeworks amps have a similar color to the H&H, but even more of it. I’m not too wild about the Tubeworks amps they’re a little too colored in that direction for me. Some EQ could mostly fix it though
BTW on tales from the bulges it was a lot a marshall that was used too ! ! (**Tales info...* "I'm Buzzed": The Intro, crunch & solo was a Jose mod '70 100 watt Marshall through a vintage late '60's Marshall cab with 25 Greenbacks. No juice extractor on this one, I had it up pretty loud... Floyd Rose Schector Strat with '60's Humbucker (not a PAF) "Judy": Same as above but a different Strat, I think it was a Tyler Humbucker in the bridge... "Chynna": I'm old, I cant remember... "Johnny Swing": This was definitely the purple Soldano pre amp with the VHT power amp through newer Marshall cabs w/vintage 30's... "Big Bulge": Same as "I'm Buzzed" "Roodis Tones": Same as "Johnny Swing" "Eater": Definitely the Jose Marshall, vintage cab, I used the Juice Extractor on the solo and into a Eventide 910 harmonizer (after the Juice Extractor) Schector Strat again... "I Don't Care": ??? Probably the Jose Marshall again... "My Bulbous Meathead" This was definitely the Jose Marshall through the Vintage 4x12 with the juice extractor, I used a PCM 42 for delay after the Juice Extractor... I used a "Rat" pedal back then too, sometimes a "Tube Screamer"... I guess it was mostly that Jose Marshall, cool... Mike )
Yes!!! That post from Mike is one of the few few times he got specific about rack gear. I actually prefer his rack tones. His Jose seems to have a very different vibe than EVH and Vai's, and some of the others I've heard. BUT, also, Mike has a specific vibe... so maybe it's in the hands.
The Rivera has aggressive high mids, the VHT is extra punchy, and the H&H great but less dynamic sounding clean or low gain. I would to see a Mooer Tube Engine used against the big boys.
None of them are bad, but I must admit that to my taste, the 2150 and power station lack some mojo... at least from the video, maybbe being in the room i'd feel it different. Otherwise I just love the hi-end sparkle of the rivera, make me wanna try the Hammer series power amps :D Ad that HH is kinda weak in the treble but there is something in the mid frequencies that I really dig! Michael, I think you have to try the HH with a BBE or an Aphex... might be the magic trick ;)
That HH is so warm and fuzzy...actually, the only one I didn't like was Rivera, seemed too cold to my ears. ps The pickups on the Friedman tele might be a bit too high, I think they're messing with the intonation.
I can't be the only one who'd take the Rivera over the VHT, despite knowing the legacy and price of the VHT lol. The Rivera has the best bite, the most aggressive sound, and the best high-end/low-end balance. The VHT sounds the "biggest" but to my ears, the Rivera just sounds cleaner, despite being "smaller"? The VHT almost dampens the preamp tone while just spiking the amplitude? No? On a side note, when are we gonna get to see your review of the MP-2!? Keep the vids coming bro!
To me the Fryette and H&H were similar and either flat/less coloring with the Fryette having more openness, the Rivera sounded really open and rich. while the VHT was bassy without enough freedom. I say Rivera wins, then Fryette second, then H&H/VHT depending on bass requirements. Of course EQ fixes anything here. Say: What do you think of the CARVIN FET 400
Well said, I agree with your VHT analysis. To my ears, it's just not right in how I want to hear my tone, maybe like Mike said, in a mix it sits well, but to me, the Rivera SMOKED the VHT in terms of tone.
I’m a dumbass and sold my powerstation, but I’m thinking of another one since they’re so versatile. Also thinking about diving into synergy preamp modules, and the PS could be cool for those too.
if you can afford it, get a PS100. The 100w is a stellar power amp. I love the 50w, but IMHO, the 100w is 1-3% better. Also, Synergy is on fire right now. In the past year, they've managed to elevate the quality of their modules. A Syn-2 and a PS100 would rival any amp... it wouldn't be stereo though. But it would be bonkers versatile.
Nuno used the Soldano SP on one track on ‘Waiting for the Punchline’. Check out ‘Evilangelist’ and how different it sounds to the Fender used on the rest of the album. One of his most impressive performances.
@@BigHairyGuitars it was because of YOU and Leon Todd that I just HADDDDD to grab an MP-1.....followed by an MP-2. To me, they're the best preamps ever made. There's something special about the EQ that no other preamp can quite do.
Wish I never let my SP77 go. Bought it for $200 sold it for £250. Especially as I now have a HHV800. That being said my ADA MP1 was a lot better so I kept that :D
Yeah. The classic is phenomenal. I had a classic and a 2150 at the same time for a while. They are similar in DNA, but the in inherent EQ curves are opposite. The classic has a big pregnant midrange, and the 2150 is scooped when you play them back to back. Pick your poison. Both are the best ever.
I had one for a year. It was nothing to write home about. It was just a power amp, with not a lot of mojo. The 290 and 2150 always, every time, sounded better (to me).
@@BigHairyGuitars l like my 290 for the lows and I like my 2150 for clarity. But I haven’t used my Soldano stuff in a while. I’ll take your word for it.
garbage...had one, my 2/50/2 destroyed it for tone, punch, volume. not even in the same league. mesa power amps always sound bloated and fizzy to me...YMMV
Kind of like the SLO, sounds best with the gain around 4 (using humbuckers mostly).Once you get up to 7 the low end is just falling apart and it gets too indistinct overall. But the amount of gain at 4 is about as much as you really need. I bet it’s better with a pedal hitting it at 4 than turning the pre up further.
Well the Power Amps sound nice and I like the VHT the most for distorted sound, but I really don't like the Pre-Amp...oh shit I gonna get so much hate for that XD
PLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAASE do a shootout with the sp77 and x88. I actually have the same 2150 you have and a sp77. Never played the x88. I need to hear someone who understands tone such as yourself do it justice.
That VHT 2150 sounds the best to my ears...There's a warmth and cleaness that I like.
I guess im asking randomly but does anyone know of a method to log back into an instagram account?
I was dumb forgot the account password. I would appreciate any assistance you can give me.
@Augustus Gregory instablaster :)
@Tripp Khalid I really appreciate your reply. I got to the site thru google and im trying it out atm.
Looks like it's gonna take quite some time so I will reply here later with my results.
@Tripp Khalid it worked and I now got access to my account again. Im so happy!
Thanks so much you really help me out !
@Augustus Gregory Happy to help :)
Pretty sure that Landau and VH used their H&H for their stereo wet cabs. I had Bob make a rack years ago and the VHT was my dry center and the H&H was my stereo wet. (I still have the rig)
Almost correct, he was originally using the H&H's for his main cabs(first mono, then stereo) by slaving his plexi into the H&H's to control stage volume and NOT to blow up his vintage celestions. Later, when he went from stereo to w/d/w, he used his H&H's for the wets...
Steve Fryette VHTs is where its at. I ordered a new Two-Ninety-Two in early 2000's. Best power amp I ever owned. Heaviest too. My best to least list that I have owned: VHT, Mesa 50/50, Carvin TS, Peavey 50/50, MV962, ADA Microfet.
2150 and the power station sounded great! Love my sp-77. Paired it with a solid state Hafler power amp for years and it killed. I have a Marshall 9100 paired with it now and love it.
VHT 2150 for pure tone, Powerstation for cost efficiency while still sounding great. That SP-77, mmmmm. Great vid dude!
Thanks!
Rivera cut through the mix, and Fryette was the one with nicest breakup for me! Rivera is unique
Thanks for doing this! This is the exact video I've been waiting for: battle of Fryette/VHT in 2150 vs Power Station and battle of the big boys in 2150 vs TBR. They all bring something really nice to the table. The Rivera had a smooth, full bottom with a brighter top-end cutting through. The 2150 was more full frequency. It definitely had more girth & weight than the PS, but overall the same flavor. The H&H was impressive as a power amp I'd never heard of before. Good job! It was mildly interesting!
You know... I always wondered why people didn’t use that and have discussed it with my best friend. EVH always talked about his live rig and it was basically a cranked Plexi with a load box into the H&H, using the power amp as a glorified master volume. It was all right there and no one thought to copy it.
@@JasonCGuitarOfficial
I don’t mean me LOL! Touring pros and such.
Lots of people copied EVH’s Plexi/load/hh rig back in the day. Reb Beach, Steve Stevens, Vito Bratta, John Sykes....more but I cant remember.....
@@Peter_Stoops
Vito makes complete sense. I always thought there was something more to his live tone (pre-ADA) than just guitar/TS/Plexi.
The sp-77 sounds amazing, i'll never sell mine!
Always love the groove in your riffs!
Thanks so much!
Fryette is amazing !!! Small weight and sound full
We used to run 8 H+H v800's for front of house power in the 80's, never had a problem with em
I've had a bunch, NEVER had one die...and I tortured those things...lol
Thanks for comparing these poweramps, with my smartphone i don't hear realy big differences in sound,but in your studio, you will hear and feel it for sure.
I'm a Rivera amp lover,so to me ,a TBR 1 SL ,is a full stereo pack,nobody else offered.It has options like PCOMP(pick up compensation to level the guitar output to the preamp),a pre preamp loop and a stereo parallel loop between pre and poweramp and the stereo poweramp with its own volumes,focus adjustment ,presence and 4 level powerampmodes(half/full power,triode/pentode mode).
Here in Europe,you can find these amps around €1000,when you're lucky wirh its 3 way footswitch.
VHT sounded great as expected. The Rivera, almost as good. Love the Soldano!
the SP-77 and X88R have been on my wish list for years ! Thanks for this great video!
My pleasure!
My SP77 needs VHT 2150!! What a combo!
Man, this pre with the vht just juts made some delicious browny sounds
The HH was respectable, and I suspect, gave the truest representation of the original signal, but the VHT added a “roundness” that seemed to emerge AFTER the string attack. I guess that’s “sag?” It was pleasing and organic.
Awesome video!! I loved the Rivera’s brightness, but I believe the power station is so versatile and cost effective (and small) that it is simply genius!!! Great vid!!!
Maybe it's the cheap 30+ year old stereo (and the TV) I'm hearing this through, but they didn't really sound all that different. Maybe a little less of "something" with the Power Station, but otherwise they all sound good to me. None really seemed to color the sound of the preamp and guitar that much, which I'm guessing is what you want in a power amp.
hi Ian, I don't think you're wrong. There was a little bit of post production level matching, and I'm sure the Power Station was always the quietest of the bunch, so it may have lost some speaker girth there. But, overall, the PS has a little less POW than the other guys. But the PS2 is the only power amp you could realistically carry to a gig.. or across a room.
@@BigHairyGuitars True, although there were some lighter power amps. Back in the mid-90's I ran my ADA MP-2 into an ADA MicroTube 200 power amp. I don't know if it was the best sounding amp of the era, but is was light and small and I could fit my entire rig into a four space SKB rack (I actually still have all of this).
VHT/Fryette is god tier gear. Rivera has some zang going on too. Nice stuff.
Thanks Michael, great job. I just bought a Soldano SP-77 from a fellow guitarist. Looking forward to its arrival. In all other cases I have found that the Rack Units leave me wanting when stacked nest to a well Modified Marshall type circuit. David Hopkins ♫
That VHT sounds mighty, absolutely awesome.
Great video, thanks for the comparison 🤘🤘🤘
Great Video, Steve Lukather used one of those HH V800s in his rack too then used the VHT Classic.
The HH felt like it bumped the mids up and rounded the highs off a tad, especially in one of the samples you provided, so basically it was a bit warmer sounding. The VHT 2150 definitely had the most balls but that’s not always what you need. The Rivera to my ears had some extended high end and chewiness that I wasn’t a big fan of, and the Fryette was sort of neutral to me. Just my two cents. Thanks for the excellent comparison!
The Fryette PowerStation has a little less coloring I feel like, but that makes sense if you're going to use it to drop the output of an amp to line level and then amplify it again. The Rivera sounds a little more angry and the VHT just sounds huge to my ear. The H&H sounds fine, but I would probably pick the VHT or the Rivera if I was sculpting a sound personally.
The Power station has voicing options though.. I wonder how close it could get by tweaking those even though this model is only 50w
I use a HH vx200 for my modeler through a 2 x 12 full range cab. HH make great quality stuff. They are designed to be clean right up to full volume.
Rivera then Fryette, Rivera just has a unique grit to it that makes the tone stand out.
All the combinations sound very good, but the Soldano/VHT it' s " the perfect match", it' s not a coincidence if It was the combo of choice of many rack users in those days!🤟🏼
Rivera and H&H for sure !!
Went in to thoroughbred music in Tampa to get the 77 and the salesman was like have you heard this Yamaha T50. It’s pretty much the same preamp but also has a 50w power amp😳. I still use that T50 today. 4 hour gig last night through my Mesa 1x12 200ev cab. To this day people still ask what im playing through.
Damn, that VHT is the one. Sounds enormous.
Really? I thought it didn't really sounded anything good, especially in the first riff...
And that the rivera an in some instances the H&H kicked its butt. But all were fairly similar. The power station was ...well out of its regular use and it sounded the thinner of sorts.
I had one of those SP-77s back in the early 90s.. Had numerous tube power amps, Boogie 50/50, etc.. The Seymour Duncan KTG-100 with KT-88s, sounded huge and very 3d
Would love have heard the Mesa 290 in this comparison. Great video!
That was GREAT! Thanks Micheal! I really liked the Fryette Power Station! But, it is really splitting hairs with the tube offerings there......I agree that the HH sounded a bit flat in some spots, but the HH doesn't have any power amp controls on it, so, it's not apples to apples....
Fryette/VHT all the way. I use my power station as a power amp all the time, small but mighty!
Hah. Finally some love for good old smaller purple brick 😀. I‘ve had mine since ´95, and it´s my third-longest used-without-interruption piece of ampage after my 2203 and „mouse piano version“ SansAmp. Always liked it lots, now love it even more after loading a 12AY7 in the first gain stage. Less gain overall, but excellent cleans & slightly hairy sounds.
I still could kick Soldano in the shins every time I switch the unit on for not including a manual channel switch...
MOUSE PIANO! HAHAHAHAH. I've never heard that before, but I totally know exactly what you're talking about!!! hahahaha
I read in the countdown to extinction tour program that dave mustaine used the vht 2150 power amp on that tour
VHT2150 sounded amazing and looks sexiest in a rack with the Soldano! Guitar companies should ditch putting RGB lights in amps and start introducing 80's pastel-colored gear again.
They all sounded killer...but one power amp that gets no love is the randall rt2/50,2 channel,1 has 6l6's,2 has el34's,midi,50w stereo or mono. I Have one and love it!
My man! Excellent Sunday comparo! That VHT 2150 was monstrous! I do wish you had access to a Rivera TBR-5 Hammer 320 instead, as it will be even better for this shootout. (I personally want to hear it compared to the VHT2150). All sounded great though, as well as it displayed the difference in sound power amps make. Great work!
A Rivera TBR 5 320 HAMMERHEAD wouldn't be a fair compare to the other poweramps,in full power it will give 160 watts per side,allthough with the full/half power and pentode/triode switches,it could be leveled in power to the other poweramps.
i really like the Fryette Power Station sound huge to my ear
As soon as my heart goes breakin'..
Great tone and and great chops, Mike! Love your channel, man!
Michael... I confess that, hearing today again, now i'm in between Rivera and Fryette, and hate the H&H. The Rivera seems to fit better in a mix situation for my taste, and the Fryette seems to have the same tone but with some more lows.
The fryette is very cool 🎄🎄
The Holy grail is
Mesa Boogie stereo simul-class 2:90!!
HH V800 always wins!
Rivera RULES !!!
+1 on the VHT, it’s immense
I've got a purple VHT 2150 loaded with KT88s. It's a beast. I also have a VHT Classic. It looks similar to the 2150 but it's loaded with EL34s and it also has some custom switches that Steve Fryette added when he custom built the Amp for me. It can switch to Class A or Class B and also to half power. He also added 'bright switch. I love the 2150 with KT88s but there's something about EL34s that prefer even more. I think it's a little more spongy.
VHT wins for me, but the rivera sounds dark and menacing. Love it
Hey Michael! Great channel! Can you tell how you connect the SP77 to your amp? Do you need a re-amp? Or can it connect directly? Can you plug it directly to your DAW interface?
Hi Tom, Really straightforward. Guitar to SP77 then from the SP77 go into the FX Return of your amp. OR, if you want to connect to the DAW, do Guitar > SP77 > into the DAW interface. Then you'll need at minimum an amp IR to simulate the cabinet. Or maybe something like the Two Notes Torpedo so you can simulate the power amp and cabinet.
TY Michael!!@@BigHairyGuitars
Fun video! That Cali always sounds fantastic!
I liked the VHT for most things,the Power Station was nice,I found the Rivera to be a little on the high endy side and the H&H? Not bad! And for some reason the sunburst Friedman T type clean guitar through the H&H was the "woodiest" sounding Tele I think I have ever heard
The Green Friedman > Rivera was instant self-titled Motley Crue album tone. Sounded EXACTLY like Power to the Music.
I had a marshall 9200 with 5881, a Rivera tbr 1, a vht 2 90 2, a vht 2 50 2, mesa 50/50 and a mesa 2 90... All played with the marshall jmp 1... Vht 2 90 2, sounded better than the others, but I never had the chance to hear 2150 vs 2 90 2.... Please make a video for that... They share the same valves (kt88) the same design, but the transformers are bigger in 2150, I want to know how that sounds like
VHT is just amazing! Personally I think the H & H sounds better than the Rivera.
Another awesome Video... And no fan noise from the 2150 today :-) Love the SP77, got one right here next to me in my rack...
I can hear why EVH still used the H&H v800.
Great test ! Sp77 Purple vs Sp 77 Silver .What is the sound difference ?
Cool stuff!
You just HAVE to love the colour coordinated VHT2150 - all the attitude, balls and chunk you could ever want!
Surprisingly, I didn't really dig the Power Station in this application (brilliant as it is)... I suppose I still want a little extra "sumfin sumfin" in my power amps...
VHT is the best by far..... Michael, I would love to see you try an old ADA B200S. its solid state, but sounds amazing with the MP1. would love to hear you rip through it and hear your thoughts.
Tales from the bulge! Awesome album! Also, interview/conversation with Mr Toren? I am curious who this legend is 😁
Yeah I was thinking an interview with him would be interesting. Why does he stockpile these preamps? Also if he could bring the Langner with him, that would be cool :). Happy holidays Michael!
HH made some of the best solid state amps ever made and created mosfet. Just sayin. Wanna know more ? Marc bolan used them, buzzcocks, Wilko Johnson from dr feelgood so many bands did. I have an IC100 myself and it’s a killer amp. They are becoming kind of rare nowadays too btw.
The VHT Tube Power Amp sounds best overall. Although sometimes I've heard rack preamps through solid state power amps that sound good, in general, I think tube power amps sound best with rack preamps and mosfet/solid state power amps sound better if you're playing an amp head either loaded down into a load box then played in a stereo rig or an amp head in a w/d/w rig with the SS power amp sounding better with the left and right stereo effects.
You know what would complete this in a big way, a Mesa boogie strategy 400. Owned one and it was an atom bomb.
My buddy has one. I'll try to borrow it one day
Hi Michael how is your thought about the Fryette 2502 and 2902 poweramps?
All of the Fryette power amps are fantastic. The core tone of the Power Station is VERY similar to the legendary VHT Classic. The 2502 and 2902 are both great. Just comes down to how much volume you need. More wattage also give a fraction more heft and tightness to the sound.
Hi Michael, would love to hear a Mesa Strategy 500 in the mix.
The VHT 2150, in my opinion, sounds best.
I have one, in blue colour. And it’s the best sounding guitar power amp that I owned. (And I had a lot before: Marshall, Rocktron, Mesa, Engl, Matrix Amplification, etc.)
Also from that era the Tubeworks MosValve sounded great and wasn’t super heavy:). I preferred the 500 /mv-942.
Yes. The Mosvalve Tubeworks amps have a similar color to the H&H, but even more of it. I’m not too wild about the Tubeworks amps they’re a little too colored in that direction for me. Some EQ could mostly fix it though
Zip line North shore! Doing that March 2022!
Hi Micheal,really like your video! Could you talk about rockman gear?like Rockman X100
BTW on tales from the bulges it was a lot a marshall that was used too ! ! (**Tales info...*
"I'm Buzzed":
The Intro, crunch & solo was a Jose mod '70 100 watt Marshall through a vintage late '60's Marshall cab with 25 Greenbacks. No juice extractor on this one, I had it up pretty loud...
Floyd Rose Schector Strat with '60's Humbucker (not a PAF) "Judy": Same as above but a different Strat, I think it was a Tyler Humbucker in the bridge...
"Chynna":
I'm old, I cant remember...
"Johnny Swing":
This was definitely the purple Soldano pre amp with the VHT power amp through newer Marshall cabs w/vintage 30's...
"Big Bulge":
Same as "I'm Buzzed"
"Roodis Tones":
Same as "Johnny Swing"
"Eater":
Definitely the Jose Marshall, vintage cab, I used the Juice Extractor on the solo and into a Eventide 910 harmonizer (after the Juice Extractor) Schector Strat again...
"I Don't Care": ??? Probably the Jose Marshall again...
"My Bulbous Meathead"
This was definitely the Jose Marshall through the Vintage 4x12 with the juice extractor, I used a PCM 42 for delay after the Juice Extractor...
I used a "Rat" pedal back then too, sometimes a "Tube Screamer"...
I guess it was mostly that Jose Marshall, cool...
Mike )
Yes!!! That post from Mike is one of the few few times he got specific about rack gear. I actually prefer his rack tones. His Jose seems to have a very different vibe than EVH and Vai's, and some of the others I've heard. BUT, also, Mike has a specific vibe... so maybe it's in the hands.
@@BigHairyGuitars absolutly his rack tone (even after with CAE 3+)sounded glorious !!
@@BigHairyGuitars You must know this video with his soldano rack (that solo at 17:33 !) ruclips.net/video/K1vd_kpiJNk/видео.html
The Rivera has aggressive high mids, the VHT is extra punchy, and the H&H great but less dynamic sounding clean or low gain. I would to see a Mooer Tube Engine used against the big boys.
None of them are bad, but I must admit that to my taste, the 2150 and power station lack some mojo... at least from the video, maybbe being in the room i'd feel it different.
Otherwise I just love the hi-end sparkle of the rivera, make me wanna try the Hammer series power amps :D Ad that HH is kinda weak in the treble but there is something in the mid frequencies that I really dig!
Michael, I think you have to try the HH with a BBE or an Aphex... might be the magic trick ;)
VHT, H&H, Fryette, Rivera
That HH is so warm and fuzzy...actually, the only one I didn't like was Rivera, seemed too cold to my ears.
ps
The pickups on the Friedman tele might be a bit too high, I think they're messing with the intonation.
I can't be the only one who'd take the Rivera over the VHT, despite knowing the legacy and price of the VHT lol. The Rivera has the best bite, the most aggressive sound, and the best high-end/low-end balance. The VHT sounds the "biggest" but to my ears, the Rivera just sounds cleaner, despite being "smaller"? The VHT almost dampens the preamp tone while just spiking the amplitude? No?
On a side note, when are we gonna get to see your review of the MP-2!? Keep the vids coming bro!
To me the Fryette and H&H were similar and either flat/less coloring with the Fryette having more openness, the Rivera sounded really open and rich. while the VHT was bassy without enough freedom.
I say Rivera wins, then Fryette second, then H&H/VHT depending on bass requirements. Of course EQ fixes anything here. Say: What do you think of the CARVIN FET 400
Well said, I agree with your VHT analysis. To my ears, it's just not right in how I want to hear my tone, maybe like Mike said, in a mix it sits well, but to me, the Rivera SMOKED the VHT in terms of tone.
The VHT all day long....
I’m a dumbass and sold my powerstation, but I’m thinking of another one since they’re so versatile. Also thinking about diving into synergy preamp modules, and the PS could be cool for those too.
if you can afford it, get a PS100. The 100w is a stellar power amp. I love the 50w, but IMHO, the 100w is 1-3% better. Also, Synergy is on fire right now. In the past year, they've managed to elevate the quality of their modules. A Syn-2 and a PS100 would rival any amp... it wouldn't be stereo though. But it would be bonkers versatile.
@@BigHairyGuitars nice, thanks for the tip! I think that settles it then. That new z wreck module sounded amazing on your demo. Love the channel!
Nuno used the Soldano SP on one track on ‘Waiting for the Punchline’. Check out ‘Evilangelist’ and how different it sounds to the Fender used on the rest of the album. One of his most impressive performances.
You should have thrown in a Crate power block for the Lulz..😂😂
Vee Haich TEE!!!!!
I used my ADA MP-1 with a Randall RRM 2-80 Stereo Power Amp....am I still allowed on your channel ??
You had me at ADA.
@@BigHairyGuitars it was because of YOU and Leon Todd that I just HADDDDD to grab an MP-1.....followed by an MP-2. To me, they're the best preamps ever made. There's something special about the EQ that no other preamp can quite do.
Wish I never let my SP77 go. Bought it for $200 sold it for £250. Especially as I now have a HHV800. That being said my ADA MP1 was a lot better so I kept that :D
What’s your take on the Synergy Power Amp for an SP-77?
It's good. If you need stereo, it's a good option. If you don't need stereo, I'd go with a Fryette Power Station. It's so versatile.
Any info about the peavey 50/50 classic stereo power amp ?
try vht 2100 which is my favorite. had the 2150 i prefer the el34 bark
Yeah. The classic is phenomenal. I had a classic and a 2150 at the same time for a while. They are similar in DNA, but the in inherent EQ curves are opposite. The classic has a big pregnant midrange, and the 2150 is scooped when you play them back to back. Pick your poison. Both are the best ever.
Soldano power amp would be rad☝🏼
I had one for a year. It was nothing to write home about. It was just a power amp, with not a lot of mojo. The 290 and 2150 always, every time, sounded better (to me).
@@BigHairyGuitars l like my 290 for the lows and I like my 2150 for clarity. But I haven’t used my Soldano stuff in a while. I’ll take your word for it.
the mesa 2:90 is the best poweramp ever made so far in my experience, second is mesa 395
Hi Chris what modes do you like to run the 2:90 in? Deep, modern, etc?
I ran a 2:90 with my (subtle) modded Soldano SP-77 for many years.....I ran it with only the “modern” mode engaged....
@@BigHairyGuitars both :) but if i had to choose i would say modern..deep can be a little bit too much of a good thing
Would love to check out a 395 one day. Something to match with my quad pre.
garbage...had one, my 2/50/2 destroyed it for tone, punch, volume. not even in the same league. mesa power amps always sound bloated and fizzy to me...YMMV
Is that the blues version of that FastWay song? Say what you will😃
haha!
Funny that back in the day Japanese made was thought of cheap....
pro tip: link your old video in the description
Kind of like the SLO, sounds best with the gain around 4 (using humbuckers mostly).Once you get up to 7 the low end is just falling apart and it gets too indistinct overall. But the amount of gain at 4 is about as much as you really need. I bet it’s better with a pedal hitting it at 4 than turning the pre up further.
Well the Power Amps sound nice and I like the VHT the most for distorted sound, but I really don't like the Pre-Amp...oh shit I gonna get so much hate for that XD
I WANT that Friedman classic T
PLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAASE do a shootout with the sp77 and x88. I actually have the same 2150 you have and a sp77. Never played the x88. I need to hear someone who understands tone such as yourself do it justice.
Stay tuned. I’ll do ya 2 better
No Mesa Strategy 400?
Never tried one.