Biz Prof Posted May 6, 2015 Posted May 6, 2015 Anyone try Phaez amps? I'm intrigued by his work, but never seen one in the flesh. Prices aren't dumble at all.I own a 18w Pasadena head that I purchased from James Lugo after he used it in his studio for a year or so. Lugo has done a series of videos called "Ampfests" where he runs several heads (always a few borrowed from boutique builders) through a battery of test recordings and compares them. He liked most of the ones he tried at that time (Randy sent him three IIRC), and he kept the Pasadena because he liked the brown sound and master volume. It really does have a nice top boost feature and a truly functional master. For what you get, the prices are reasonable, and I've read that he customizes models for little if any up charge.You can hear my actual Pasadena starting at 16:11 in this vid:
Disturber Posted May 6, 2015 Posted May 6, 2015 I love the fact that this amp will likely end up in some guy's expansive basement gear room, where he will invite his friends over to oooh, ahhh, and hack their way through "Smoke On The Water" and "Crossroads".There will be hours of discussion over rare scotch, commenting on the unmatched tone this amp generates, and how fortunate they are to feel the mojo down to their very souls.The fact that the amp is over 30 years old, might have stood unsused for long periods of time and for sure might have old caps that drift in value won't bother them. Old drifting caps can change the tone a lot. Some rockers blew-out their ears on Marshall stacks long ago so none of it matters.If it was not for the sick value of this thing I'd take a 1969 Marshall Plexi over it any day in the week. Now my friends, THAT is tone for ya'!!!
bcsride Posted May 6, 2015 Posted May 6, 2015 I love the fact that this amp will likely end up in some guy's expansive basement gear room, where he will invite his friends over to oooh, ahhh, and hack their way through "Smoke On The Water" and "Crossroads".There will be hours of discussion over rare scotch, commenting on the unmatched tone this amp generates, and how fortunate they are to feel the mojo down to their very souls.Damnit, stop picking on me. But in my case it is Hamers, Mesas, one off things, and craft beer. But I play as equally poorly as those guys with better gear and expensive hooch. I even play poorly in public.Exactly why I'd rather hang with you any day!At the low end of the sonic socio-economic ladder, we do think we are tone snobs. We do sit there and talk about tone, change in pedals, guitars, should I set the amp up dirty and go clean with volume, should I set up the amp clean and go dirt with a pedal, and etc. and how it impacts tone. Speculate that maybe I should get a Fender amp. Ask the bass player to use his backup bass and etc. Then usually point out and admit to ourselves that no one listening gives a shit and can't tell the difference anyway. The audience just wants to have a few beers, rock out, and have some fun.
veatch Posted May 6, 2015 Posted May 6, 2015 Then usually point out and admit to ourselves that no one listening gives a shit and can't tell the difference anyway. The audience just wants to have a few beers, rock out, and have some fun. Yes - my response is always the same, though. Of the 200 people at the gig, maybe 2 can tell the difference. The problem is, i'm one of them, and if it sounds better to me, i play with more confidence, and that makes a bigger difference than the sound of the amp/pedal/whatever. Bottom line, it's OK to chase the dragon, just remember that the goal is to play better, not to just sound better. Opinions vary... Edit to add: Bear in mind this opinion is coming from the guy playing amps made in China and not using the effects loop in the amp for delay or whatever. Hell, i even use the wrong foot when using a wah...
bcsride Posted May 7, 2015 Posted May 7, 2015 Then usually point out and admit to ourselves that no one listening gives a shit and can't tell the difference anyway. The audience just wants to have a few beers, rock out, and have some fun. Yes - my response is always the same, though. Of the 200 people at the gig, maybe 2 can tell the difference. The problem is, i'm one of them, and if it sounds better to me, i play with more confidence, and that makes a bigger difference than the sound of the amp/pedal/whatever. Bottom line, it's OK to chase the dragon, just remember that the goal is to play better, not to just sound better. Opinions vary... Edit to add: Bear in mind this opinion is coming from the guy playing amps made in China and not using the effects loop in the amp for delay or whatever. Hell, i even use the wrong foot when using a wah... I'm on board with this though. And the truth is my Hamer guitars, my hand built JCM800 clone, my Tim pedal and etc. are way better equipment then I need or deserve. But I do love it when it is all set up and we play loud. Sound good. Feels good. Is good. And that is why we like music.
T-51Fred Posted May 11, 2015 Posted May 11, 2015 I've gone to a jam with a 5 watt Kustom Defender (total shit for $50 is still total shit) paired with a decent cab and I was invisible compared to my partner on a small solid state Fender modeling amp that had nice sounds. Chops carried no weight over tone to those listening. One power chord was all he needed. My favorite is my Fender Pro Tube Pro Reverb 112. A short lived design with a 13" deep cabinet. It weighs 75 lbs (Dam!) but with my Daytona it sets me out front of every other sound. Great chime and brass and the deep cabinet gives the tone depth, too. Tone inspires me the same way a good violin or sax, or anything else of quality inspires its player. Blend in a sparkle drive the right way and it's incredible to my ears.I've read a lot about the phaez amps and I've seen those amp shoot-outs, but I have to read a lot of print before I believe something I can't hear for myself. The Phaez dude seems real to me and it seems he'll tweak it any way you want it. I'm hoping to run across one in a shop so I can try it out. I like that he saves the buyer some cash by selling w/o tubes and cabs. Gives me a chance to tweak the sound with the right tube investments, and to give the box some personal flair.
Biz Prof Posted May 11, 2015 Posted May 11, 2015 Fred, if you lived nearby I'd let you borrow my Phaez rig for a weekend. Much easier to buy when you've kicked the tires.
T-51Fred Posted May 20, 2015 Posted May 20, 2015 Thanks for the offer. I live in Canaan, NY--near Albany. If I'm near enough or ever passing through, I'd like to try it out.
DaveX Posted May 20, 2015 Posted May 20, 2015 There is a hell of a lot of VOODOO in the guitar/amp world and I think this is a prime example thereof!!
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