Budda Superdrive 18 Series II combo?

[tommy p]

Sound, quality, versatility, limitations??? One thing I've read a lot is that they are LOUD! Can they/do they sound decent at more moderate volumes?

Anyone with some experience chime in with your thoughts.

[RobB]

I think of my SD18/II as a "Vox on steroids." The clean channel gets that clangy, compressed Beatles thing in spades. The drive channel is a big, badass plexi. I've never used the effects loop.

There's talk around the web that there is to much of a volume jump between the channels. There is a mod you can do to help with this, either adding/clipping a resistor or adding a second master volume on the back panel.

Personally, I've never run into this issue. Maybe it's because l don't run the preamp gain very high. This amp needs to be turned up to get the power tubes cooking.

It can get loud, QUITE loud, but sounds fine at reasonable volumes. It's a versatile amp-the one l grab if l'm too lazy to bring my pedal board/half stack rig. That said, the chassis currently resides in a headbox, paired with a Bogner 2x12.

[bubs_42]

Great amps, I played an 18 then a 45 when I was in Nashville. I ended up picking up my SD30 and love the amp. Both channels take pedals well and the MV works great. I play pretty quite most of the time.

[jisham]

Great amps but yep, super loud. I had a hard time controlling it at gigs when I had one. I does have a good master volume but like any low watt amp, IMO, you need to open up (ie turn up) the power the section for it to really shine.

[alantig]

Outstanding amp.

I've never run into the volume issue between the two channels, but I've never had the chance to really open it up. Loud? Oh yeah. I use mine in my basement, and I don't think the master volume has ever gotten above 10:00.

Very versatile - about the only thing it doesn't do is crazy high gain. Takes pedals very well, and has given me good tone with whatever guitar I've thrown at it.