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Maven Peal Ganesha and RG88 Look SWEET!!!


Deuterium

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Linky to Harmony Central News: http://news.harmony-central.com/Newp/2005/Maven-Peal-Instruments-RG88.html

 

Now I have a mission...and that is to save up for the Ganesha. That WILL be my next amp.

 

I want true Power Tube distortion at "bedroom" noise levels, without the drawbacks of attenuators. I am very intrigued by Maven Peal's patened "wattage" and "Sag" circuitry.

 

Who here on HCAF has a Ganesha ??

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Originally posted by Deuterium

Linky to Harmony Central News:


Now I have a mission...and that is to save up for the Ganesha. That WILL be my next amp.


I want true Power Tube distortion at "bedroom" noise levels, without the drawbacks of attenuators. I am very intrigued by Maven Peal's patened "wattage" and "Sag" circuitry.


Who here on HCAF has a Ganesha ??

 

 

Make sure you check out these first. The clips I've heard of them sound way better than anything I've heard from Maven Peal.

 

http://www.stephensonamps.com/home.htm

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Originally posted by maz_master



Make sure you check out these first. The clips I've heard of them sound way better than anything I've heard from Maven Peal.


 

 

******************************

 

Thanks Maz_master, I will check them out.

 

Maven Peal seems to feel their proprietary "wattage" and "sag" control to be real innovations (and have received patents), and claim they are superior to even Power Scaling technology, as used on the Stemphensonamps.

 

Here is what Maven Peal says:

 

 

Variable Transformers (a.k.a. Variac)

A variable transformer is a device that you use between the wall and your amplifier. You plug the variable transformer into the wall socket, and then plug your amp's power cord into the variable transformer.


A variable transformer adjusts the amount of voltage your amplifier receives. Two reasons for wanting to control this voltage include:



The voltage coming out of a wall socket not only varies from socket to socket, but from hour to hour. Amps live longer if they always receive 117 Volts AC (or whatever voltage is appropriate for the country you live in).

You can control your amplifier's sound by changing the voltage it receives.

Three problems with variable transformers include:



The more you turn down the voltage, the worse your amp will sound. This problem can be solved by a competent technician who can add a second power transformer to your amp to supply your heaters with enough voltage. The heater transformer is then plugged into the normal wall voltage, and the remainder of your amp is plugged into the variable transformer. While this approach is certainly Rube Goldberg, it does work.


The timbre and touch responsiveness of your amp changes as you change voltage settings. Specifically, your amp's power supply will sag less and less as you turn down the voltage. Your amp will feel increasingly stiff and bright, completely obliterating the reason for using the variable transformer in the first place--to enjoy 'cranked up to 10' tone at lower volumes.


You can't plug and play; instead you are constantly adjusting and readjusting. This is because you cannot set a variable transformer to a specific output voltage; you can only set it to a ratio of input to output voltage. When the wall voltage changes (which it does all the time), you need to sit down with your variable transformer and a volt meter to readjust the voltage to the output you want.

The marketing term "power scaling" refers to an automatic internal variable transformer. While power scaling is impervious to varying wall voltages, it comes with all of the other problems associated with variable transformers.


The Maven Peal Sag Circuit

The patented Maven Peal Sag circuit is a DC regulator, meaning that it comes after the power transformer, rectifier or diodes and filter capacitors that comprise a traditional power supply.


The Sag Circuit allows you to control voltage supply sag with the turn of a knob. With the Sag knob, you can control voltage sag from 0% to 25% with tube amplifiers, and up to 50% with transistor amplifiers.


Maven Peal amplifiers are DEAD QUIET. All the approaches discussed above cannot eliminate power supply hum, because these approaches are all happening essentially outside the amplifier.


The dynamic touch response created by the Sag Circuit is amazing. And for the first time in a long time, changing guitars and tubes makes a huge difference in tone.


The Sag Circuit is impervious to varying wall voltages. You no longer have to adjust and readjust for the venue's current wall voltage supply.


No other approach gives you the noise free control over your power supply like the Maven Peal Sag Circuit.


Player Benefits

Maven Peal's patented design (patent numbers 5,635,872 and 5,909,145) creates an impressive list of additional player benefits:



Zero power supply hum (essential for recording)

Freedom from wall voltage variations

The tone you want at the volume everyones' ears can handle

One amp with a variable power supply for an array of venues instead of a variety of amps for individual venues

 

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Originally posted by Deuterium



******************************


Thanks Maz_master, I will check them out.


Maven Peal seems to feel their proprietary "wattage" and "sag" control to be real innovations (and have received patents), and claim they are superior to even Power Scaling technology, as used on the Stemphensonamps.


Here is what Maven Peal says:


 

 

I've read what they both have to say and, even as an electrical engineer myself, what it really comes down to in the end is which one sounds better to you and which amp has better features. As for patents, well, I have five myself and, believe me, they don't mean anything. You can patent just about anything. It isn't any guarantee that what was patented was any good. And, secondly, it's no guarantee that what was patented is even unique! I've personally run across loads of "prior art" that copied patents that came before it. The patent examiners are so overloaded that they miss a lot of stuff. Lastly, the patent examiners don't even all understand the technology that they're reviewing. We just recently ran across an examiner who rejected some of our claims on a recent patent application on the basis of a complete misunderstanding how a switched capacitor network functions. There are simple, 1st year engineering equations which prove our point which he did not apply or perhaps even understand!

 

So, when these amp guys parade out their patents, I immediately become suspect! Does the damn thing sound any good? From what I've heard so far (and granted, none of it was live) I'd take the Stephenson stuff any day over the Maven Peal.

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Originally posted by maz_master



I've read what they both have to say and, even as an electrical engineer myself, what it really comes down to in the end is which one sounds better to you and which amp has better features. As for patents, well, I have five myself and, believe me, they don't mean anything. You can patent just about anything. It isn't any guarantee that what was patented was any good. And, secondly, it's no guarantee that what was patented is even unique! I've personally run across loads of "prior art" that copied patents that came before it. The patent examiners are so overloaded that they miss a lot of stuff. Lastly, the patent examiners don't even all understand the technology that they're reviewing. We just recently ran across an examiner who rejected some of our claims on a recent patent application on the basis of a complete misunderstanding how a switched capacitor network functions. There are simple, 1st year engineering equations which prove our point which he did not apply or perhaps even understand!


So, when these amp guys parade out their patents, I immediately become suspect! Does the damn thing sound any good? From what I've heard so far (and granted, none of it was live) I'd take the Stephenson stuff any day over the Maven Peal.

 

 

Thanks, Maz:

 

I will definitely look further into the Stephenson gear, and also compare the sound bytes on each site. Regretfully, neither manufacturer has any reps or dealers anywhere near me, so I will have to do a bit of research, and determine what the best value as well as the amp that best complements my style.

 

Cheers.

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Originally posted by 17 Tubes

One of those dudes that won one had it for sale.

 

 

To my knowledge, neither winner has sold his Ganesha. Sure is a temptation though, right before Christmas with 100% profit at stake, after Christmas will be a bigger temptation with bills coming in, so who could blame either winner if they do?

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Originally posted by David Zimmerman



To my knowledge, neither winner has sold his Ganesha. Sure is a temptation though, right before Christmas with 100% profit at stake, after Christmas will be a bigger temptation with bills coming in, so who could blame either winner if they do?

 

 

I saw it on HC classifieds. It may not be sold, but it's up for sale.

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Originally posted by JonathanD



I saw it on HC classifieds. It may not be sold, but it's up for sale.

 

 

For the last time: It WAS for sale. Not because I didn't like the amp but because I was making a sacrifice to buy my wife something out of reach of my budget for Christmas but I ended up getting a freelance job and half the money up front so there was no need to sell. As far as I can see, I plan on keeping it forever. Obviously if I end up bankrupt and owing money (which I'm not and I don't) then I might be whistling a different tune. But for the record this amp is AMAZING. The clips don't do it justice. Then again I've never bought something based on clips I hear online.

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Originally posted by maz_master



I've read what they both have to say and, even as an electrical engineer myself, what it really comes down to in the end is which one sounds better to you and which amp has better features.

 

+1, which is why we gave away two amps (so far) as giveaways here. Bottom line, it all comes down to which one sounds better and which amp has better features for each player.

 

I'm thinking that if I give away a couple of crappy amps, and the word gets around, I won't have to make them anymore. :o Or, maybe if I give away some great amps, and the word gets around, I won't be able to make them fast enough.

 

The Stephenson is a very different animal than the Ganesha, for instance, the Stephenson gets much of its tone from the preamp. The Ganesha and RG88 are a lot more than just great ear blistering tone at low volumes... there's power tube switching from the front panel (both) and footswitch (RG88 only), the FX loop (Ganesha only), master volume control (both) and BiaSmart (both).

 

If you haven't played a Ganesha, you're not alone in having the impression that power scaling (or Mohave's power dampening as someone mentioned in another thread) are the same. Again, the proof is in the pudding, not in the clips, not in the posts or in the web site claims, mine included.

 

As for patents, well, I have five myself and, believe me, they don't mean anything. You can patent just about anything. It isn't any guarantee that what was patented was any good. And, secondly, it's no guarantee that what was patented is even unique! I've personally run across loads of "prior art" that copied patents that came before it. The patent examiners are so overloaded that they miss a lot of stuff. Lastly, the patent examiners don't even all understand the technology that they're reviewing. We just recently ran across an examiner who rejected some of our claims on a recent patent application on the basis of a complete misunderstanding how a switched capacitor network functions. There are simple, 1st year engineering equations which prove our point which he did not apply or perhaps even understand!

 

As an electrical engineer who currently holds patents, you will understand when I say that our patents (1) have only one other patent sited by the examiner as coming close the the Sag Circuit (and that patent more or less is the exact opposite of the Sag Circuit), and (2) our patents were issued in less than 18 months from the date of the application. I never spoke or communicated with my patent examiners.

 

I agree with you that many patents issued are suspect, especially when there is a lot of back and forth between the applicant (applicant's attorneys'?) and the patent office as you are experiencing. Fortunately, there wasn't any of that back and forth with our application, as we just wouldn't have been able to afford the legal fees if there had been.

 

So, when these amp guys parade out their patents, I immediately become suspect! Does the damn thing sound any good? From what I've heard so far (and granted, none of it was live) I'd take the Stephenson stuff any day over the Maven Peal.

 

I think we only mention the patent once on our site... please don't discount the Ganesha because we were awarded a patent!

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Originally posted by facefirst



For the last time: It WAS for sale. Not because I didn't like the amp but because I was making a sacrifice to buy my wife something out of reach of my budget for Christmas but I ended up getting a freelance job and half the money up front so there was no need to sell. As far as I can see, I plan on keeping it forever. Obviously if I end up bankrupt and owing money (which I'm not and I don't) then I might be whistling a different tune. But for the record this amp is AMAZING. The clips don't do it justice. Then again I've never bought something based on clips I hear online.

 

 

I didn't know who was selling it or the situation. Sorry if I offended you.

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Originally posted by JonathanD



I didn't know who was selling it or the situation. Sorry if I offended you.

 

 

No offense at all. But rumors get started easily. Next thing you know some fool is on here saying "Some guy sold his Ganesha and said it was pure garbage" or something to that extent. I like the amp a ton.

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