Members Stratotone Posted September 14, 2005 Members Share Posted September 14, 2005 Originally posted by GCDEF There are plenty of low-wattage amps with way more clean headroom than the UV. If somebody asked why not buy a plexi, I could give plenty of reasons there too. You guys don't need to be so defensive. The poster asked for the downside. I replied. I could get clean headroom with the low input and a 5751 in the preamp slot... I just don't understand someone complaining about clean headroom on a low wattage amp. That's like bitching about gas mileage on a humvee. Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members David Simpson Posted September 14, 2005 Members Share Posted September 14, 2005 I love the Univalve.It is a fantastic tool for studio work....it has a beautiful roundness to it when put to tape.The tube swapping is a blast too. You can really hear the different tones between el34's, 84's (need adapter), 6v6, 6l6 and so on..Cram an old Mullard 34 in there with a mullard pre and hold on! Pure tube tone at its best! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GCDEF Posted September 14, 2005 Members Share Posted September 14, 2005 Originally posted by Stratotone I could get clean headroom with the low input and a 5751 in the preamp slot... I just don't understand someone complaining about clean headroom on a low wattage amp. That's like bitching about gas mileage on a humvee.Pete Again, the original question. Question: "Why shouldn't I buy one of these things?" Answer: for live performance, it lacks clean headroom. Why is that hard to follow? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Stratotone Posted September 14, 2005 Members Share Posted September 14, 2005 Originally posted by GCDEF Again, the original question.Question: "Why shouldn't I buy one of these things?"Answer: for live performance, it lacks clean headroom.Why is that hard to follow? Shouldn't that be a given since it's a 5-15 watt amp, depending on the tubes used? Figured that one was common sense. Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members maz_master Posted September 14, 2005 Members Share Posted September 14, 2005 I recommend playing one to decide for yourself. I owned one and regret selling it. Here are some thoughts on the issues previously discussed. 1.) Clean Headroom: Not an issue for me, even when gigging at outdoor festivals. I used the amp in two different ways: a.) As a high gain lead & crunchy rhythm dirty amp, as part of a two-amp rig, A/B'ing to another amp for cleans. Awesome tones. The only downside is hauling the extra gear. b.) As a clean, one-channel amp with pedals for distortion. Awesome tones again. No real downsides here for me. I picked a tube complement and/or attenuator setting that gave me just enough clean headroom for my gigs, but allowed me to overdrive the amp with pedals to blend some amp distortion with pedal distortion for leads. The big gigs were mic'ed, so headroom was never an issue, even with a 6L6. Plus, switching to a 6550 increased the wattage and headroom even more, but I never needed it. 2.) Fizzy Distortion: Certain tube/speaker/cab/impedance combos could sound fizzy with higher attenuation settings. However, with an Ei-ECC83->JJ-12AX7->EH-6L6 tube complement into a 16 ohm cab with broken in Classic Lead 80 and Vintage 30, the distortion tones were smooth as butter, but could be made a lot more aggressive with the Attitude knob. If you don't know how to tweak an amp to get your tones, then the UV may not be for you. 3.) Tube Swapping: I found this feature indispensible in getting the amp to sound exactly the way I wanted, as in #2 above. It was never meant to be something you used "on the fly"! 4.) No Channel Switching: The UV is a single channel amp with low and high gain inputs. If you don't know how to use that kind of amp, you should never buy one! I never hear people complain that the Dr. Z Maz 18 (for example) doesn't have channel switching, so why would anyone in their right mind complain about the UV not having it?! For ways to get the most out of the UV in practical rigs, see #1 above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bob Savage Posted September 14, 2005 Members Share Posted September 14, 2005 Originally posted by GCDEF Here's a thought. You post what you like and I'll post what I didn't. People can read both perspectives and decide for themselves. That's fine, but I can still laugh about your comments. Oddly enough, you seem to be a fairly rational, intelligent person in most threads, so UV thing somewhat perplexes me. My guess is that there's some bitterness, but either way, your posts about the UV are fairly humorous to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members potaetoes Posted September 14, 2005 Members Share Posted September 14, 2005 i've never met a capable player who disliked the univalve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dicky sofa Posted September 14, 2005 Members Share Posted September 14, 2005 You should get one.You should buy it because it's the most fun you can have with your clothes on...Originally posted by skippydmongoose I've read the glowing reviews and I've just about been sold. Why shouldn't I buy one of these things? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GCDEF Posted September 14, 2005 Members Share Posted September 14, 2005 Originally posted by Stratotone Shouldn't that be a given since it's a 5-15 watt amp, depending on the tubes used? Figured that one was common sense. Pete Again no. I've used plenty of 15 watt amps with lots of clean headroom. Traynor's YCV20WR is one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members maz_master Posted September 14, 2005 Members Share Posted September 14, 2005 Originally posted by GCDEF There are plenty of low-wattage amps with way more clean headroom than the UV. You mentioned liking Deluxes, but with a 6550 or KT88, the UV can produce more clean headroom than a Deluxe! I know, because I owned them both (actually, an Allen Accomplice, which is a Deluxe clone) at the same time and gigged them both side-by-side onstage! I also owned a Maz 18 Junior at the time and could configure the UV to get as much headroom as that amp too. So, anyone considering any of those low-wattage amps could safely consider the UV too. But, with all that said, the argument you make is ridiculous to begin with because people buy low-wattage amps specifically for the reduced headroom! If you want headroom, buy a Twin! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GCDEF Posted September 14, 2005 Members Share Posted September 14, 2005 Originally posted by Bob Savage That's fine, but I can still laugh about your comments.Oddly enough, you seem to be a fairly rational, intelligent person in most threads, so UV thing somewhat perplexes me. My guess is that there's some bitterness, but either way, your posts about the UV are fairly humorous to me. You must be easily amused then. I'm not bitter. I really wanted to like the amp and I gave it 4 months. Whenever people fall over themselves praising a product, a little perspective can be a good thing. Every point I made is true. Whether they're important to you or the person asking the question is up to them to decide. Its features obviously work for some people, but not me. No need to get so worked up because I don't like it. It's not a personal indictment of you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dicky sofa Posted September 14, 2005 Members Share Posted September 14, 2005 But Dubya loves the UV...Originally posted by GCDEF You must be easily amused then. I'm not bitter. I really wanted to like the amp and I gave it 4 months. Whenever people fall over themselves praising a product, a little perspective can be a good thing. Every point I made is true. Whether they're important to you or the person asking the question is up to them to decide. Its features obviously work for some people, but not me. No need to get so worked up because I don't like it. It's not a personal indictment of you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bob Savage Posted September 14, 2005 Members Share Posted September 14, 2005 Originally posted by GCDEF You must be easily amused then. Not really, I just have a keen sense of silliness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members maz_master Posted September 14, 2005 Members Share Posted September 14, 2005 Originally posted by GCDEF Again no. I've used plenty of 15 watt amps with lots of clean headroom. Traynor's YCV20WR is one. Again, stick a 6550 or KT88, or even a KT66, in the UV and you've got just as much headroom as the Traynor and the other low-wattage amps you mention. The advantage of the UV, however, is that you can change the wattage (and tone) so easily! You can't do that with the other amps you mention. Once you buy 'em, you're stuck with 'em in it their stock wattage and power tube style...unless you pay a tech to change them for you! So, you're actually making an excellent argument in favor of the UV, without even realizing it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GCDEF Posted September 14, 2005 Members Share Posted September 14, 2005 Originally posted by potaetoes i've never met a capable player who disliked the univalve. Name one big name player that uses them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bob Savage Posted September 14, 2005 Members Share Posted September 14, 2005 Originally posted by GCDEF Name one big name player that uses them. Probably won't meet your standards, but:http://www.univalve.net/forums/viewtopic.php?topic=2694&forum=2&14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members maz_master Posted September 14, 2005 Members Share Posted September 14, 2005 Originally posted by GCDEF Name one big name player that uses them. So...you only give credence to amps that are played by your heros? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members skippydmongoose Posted September 14, 2005 Author Members Share Posted September 14, 2005 Originally posted by GCDEF Name one big name player that uses them. This a weak reason to own an amp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members maz_master Posted September 14, 2005 Members Share Posted September 14, 2005 Originally posted by Bob Savage Probably won't meet your standards, but:http://www.univalve.net/forums/viewtopic.php?topic=2694&forum=2&14 But, Allan Holdsworth is not a big enough name. I need to know that Hendrix used one, man...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GCDEF Posted September 14, 2005 Members Share Posted September 14, 2005 Originally posted by maz_master So...you only give credence to amps that are played by your heros? No, it was a counter argument to Potatoes when he said "i've never met a capable player who disliked the univalve.". I'm just asking conversely for a well-known capable player has chosen UV. Jeeze you guys are defensive though. If it works for you, great. One more time, the poster asked for negatives. I provided them. So far, I'm the only one in three pages to actually answer the poster's question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GCDEF Posted September 14, 2005 Members Share Posted September 14, 2005 Originally posted by skippydmongoose This a weak reason to own an amp. You asked for reasons not to buy one dude. I gave you some. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members squealie Posted September 14, 2005 Members Share Posted September 14, 2005 Originally posted by potaetoes i've never met a capable player who disliked the univalve. Ouch. And I agree. Much like old Marshalls, it's very responsive, but it ain't gonna play itself (like a high gain amp). I preferred the BiValve I played to the UV. For whatever reason, I thought it had more ass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GCDEF Posted September 14, 2005 Members Share Posted September 14, 2005 Originally posted by potaetoes i've never met a capable player who disliked the univalve. Allow me to introduce myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Stratotone Posted September 14, 2005 Members Share Posted September 14, 2005 Originally posted by GCDEF Allow me to introduce myself. We've now established that you've met, and that you don't like the univalve.Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members potaetoes Posted September 14, 2005 Members Share Posted September 14, 2005 Originally posted by GCDEF Name one big name player that uses them. what relevance does that have? you knock the amp based on features that you knew about before you bought it... that's dumb. your only legitimate complaint is about the distortion character - cool, that's personal taste - but other than your concerns about the distortion, there's nothing else you couldn't have figured out before you bought it. yet you bought one anyway... did you expect it to magically sprout a second channel, a loop, some extra power and various other non-stock features? do you think the person starting this thread really isn't aware the amp has one channel, no loop, and that swapping tubes mid-song isn't practical? having an issue with the sound is one thing, but having issues with features that any literate person can read on a spec sheet, and then regarding them as flaws after the fact, after you bought one despite those same lacking features, is just kinda nuts. the amp didn't sound like you wanted - fair enough. the rest of what you're saying just makes you look like you have some kind of grudge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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