It’s all about extension – big lows and big highs – and to be honest it’s a bit much. To start with we’re running the ReVolt into the front end of our usual test amp, a blackpanel type with a naturally balanced EQ profile, so it’s a surprise just how extreme the difference from bypass is. That’s the only light we see, as the ReVolt wakes up in bypass mode, but when we stomp on the left-most footswitch we’re greeted by a bright green LED… and a dramatic tonal transformation. Turning on the power produces a reassuring golden glow from the 12AX7, which we’re told runs at a proper amp-like 200 volts. You’ll notice there’s one white knob next to the valve – this controls the level of the boost, and works across all three channels. Apparently this one is supposed to sound like a Soldano SLO-100 – shredders, djenters and other miscellaneous parent-haters, step this way. On this channel we get gain and volume knobs, plus a three-way EQ section that’s shared with the third option, Modern Lead. Next up is British Crunch, which is where the Plexi tones live. Your controls here are gain, volume, bass and treble. Two Notes says this is based on an ‘early 70s Californian tube amp’, and the graphic on the website suggests that’s a silverface Fender Bassman. The control panel of the device itself is mercifully simple, as befits an analogue preamp, and navigating between the three channels could not be easier: tap once on a footswitch to select it, tap again to engage the boost.įirst up is the American Clean channel, promising a solid foundation tone that will get on well with your pedals. So, here’s what you’re attacking it with. There’s also a headphone port for silent practice, and for ultimate flexibility in the studio you can always use both main outputs at the same time – XLR for direct recording, jack for attacking a real amp. For home recording, you can do the same with your audio interface, or get the speaker part of the sound from your own library of IRs. Playing live? Plug straight into the PA using the unit’s onboard cab sim (based on Marshall’s Slash Signature 4×12), or turn it off and go via an impulse response loader such as Two Notes’ own Cab M+. If you are going ampless, you have plentiful options. This can be either up front like an overdrive pedal or in your amp’s effects loop, if it has one, with the option of employing the four-cable method for maximum switchability. If you turn off the cab simulation you can also use the ReVolt as a tone-shaping, gain-adding, channel-switching preamp in your regular rig. With the ReVolt Guitar, French brand Two Notes aims to combine the tonal flexibility of those first two pedals with the all-analogue purity of the last two.Īh, but don’t toss that 100W stack into a volcano just yet. It was the digital brain of the Strymon Iridium that first made life without an amplifier truly feasible, followed by the likes of the Walrus Audio ACS1, the DSM & Humboldt Simplifier… and eventually the return of the Tech 21 SansAmp, an amp sim from the days before amp sims.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |