bubs_42 Posted May 28, 2015 Posted May 28, 2015 Ok, so one of the amplifiers I have purchased in the last month was a Fuchs Blackjack 21 version 2. I felt the price was really good and I wanted to try the amplifier out but before purchasing I had no idea what to expect. After recieving it I had to overcome a couple of minor issues. First was the Power Tubes they had been crushed in shipping since the footswitch was placed int he back of the amp during shipping and second it had a hum when the amp was live even if everything was turned to zero. Tubes were replace but I had to take the amp to a tech to have it looked over. After he looked everything over he could not find the remedy for the hum. After he contacted Fuchs, he was given a "Ground Mod" to perform and that fixed the issue. The amp was super loud, bright and a little unbalanced for my taste and after looking around at the Fuchs Website and noticing they offer multiple speakers I decided to change out the speaker. I place a Tone Tubby Ceramic that was well broken in and that did the trick. The amp is smooth balanced, has great breakup and is very dynamic and the volume is more managable. I can push the amp hard without blowing out my ears and both of my guitars sound great through it without touching a knob. I've never played, touched and been into Dumbles but Fuchs gets compared to that amp often. All I can say is it sounds killer and after doing my own research and listening to some Robin Ford it nails that tone. Each guitar sounds different, each pickups sounds different, it lets the character of each shine.Clean channel is clean to gristley and slightly crunchy when boosted. Drive Channel does Mike Campbell, to Robin Ford, Classic ZZ Top. It really makes me want to swing for a used Fuchs ODS 30 but that is just a "Rabbit Hole" I don't want to get one yet but haven't talked my self out of .
santellavision Posted May 28, 2015 Posted May 28, 2015 I had an ODS50 for a while. It's an acquired taste for sure. Incredibly articulate amp. That always seems to be only complaint about the ODS amps you read. If you're even a little bit of a 'sloppy' player, it accentuates that.
bubs_42 Posted May 28, 2015 Author Posted May 28, 2015 Did you have an SLX or HRM?Like a Soldano, the Fuchs seems to match a flexible preamp with a HiFi Rock Hard Output section. I don't feel that with the 21 but most likely because I can push the output section. Only amp i've played in some time that does not have a rectifier tube and I don't miss it.
django49 Posted May 28, 2015 Posted May 28, 2015 Over year ago, I was nearly set to buy an ODS 100 (50/100) with a 2 x 12 cab locally. Near mint and an excellent price. In talking with the guy, he had used it mostly in the studio and found he could get all of THAT sound he needed from an Ethos Overdrive into a good "base" amp. Since that was what I was looking to "improve upon" I decided to keep the $2400 in my pocket.FWIW, THAT package has been on CL out here for nearly two years.Still, the idea of having it all (in a smaller package) appeals. Yours sounds like a winner.FWIW, the new versions, ODS-II, is supposed to be out in the next month or so. It improves upon some "limitations" on the original. But hold on to your hat when you look at the price tag!
bubs_42 Posted May 28, 2015 Author Posted May 28, 2015 Ya, that's not going to happen because i'm not going to look. I was thinking more along the lines of $1500 on the used market but lests face it how much better can it sound? Good chance I won't like it as much as this one.. Forgot to mention that the Blackjack 21 is one of the easier 1x12 Combo's to carry around. Large but still a true grab and go. I at first was concerned with the Cabinet wood choices but it sounds fantastic. Quote from Fuchs's Website: Our cabinets are made of light-ply, an environmentally friendly highly resonant plywood that is about half the weight of birch or pine cabinets. Export units are CE and RoHs compliant. All components are the same premium quality components selected for low noise and sonic attributes. IMHO these just sound F'ing Fantastic!
dragan Posted May 28, 2015 Posted May 28, 2015 glad the tt worked out , Im lookin forward to hearin it
JES1680 Posted May 29, 2015 Posted May 29, 2015 I had an ODS 30 combo many years ago and it was great for cleans and that liquid violin solo tone. Heaven with a newport or ES style guitar. However where the dumble players usually have flying fingers, I have fists of ham, and it's really not my sound.Test drove a TDS 100 for a weekend and while great sounding, I'm happier with Marshall crunch and tweed clean. Had a Lucky 7 that was really fun, but was stolen in Memphis after only a week.
bubs_42 Posted June 8, 2015 Author Posted June 8, 2015 So after the speaker swaps and the ground hum being fix, this amp really does sound fantastic. The reverb is just killer on this amp the only thing I wish it had was like an abient delay built in. I had a Crate VFX 50 combo that was heavy as all get out that had DSP build in and it had a Reverb/Delay Setting that was fantastic. Reason Amps put digi reverb in the Grande as well, but they also did a digi delay for a Nashville Guy that sounded just like I want it. The BlackJack 21 doesn't have an FX Loop or i'd just velcro one in the back of the cab, set it and forget it.
bubs_42 Posted June 8, 2015 Author Posted June 8, 2015 So I found this information, but not sure how to use the mentioned TRS Jack?As mentioned, the Blackjack is further distinguished from its predecessors by way of onboard reverb and an effects loop. The loop is provided via a simple 1/4″ TRS plug that splits Send to the ring and Return to the tip.Fuchs offers this, so does that mean I have to buy one of these or similar to use the loop? Thats not going to happen.http://www.fuchsaudiotechnology.com/products-plush-detail.php?id=tube_fx_loop&cat=2Will this do the job?http://www.ebay.com/itm/Y-Insert-Cable-1-4-TRS-to-2-1-4-TS-Right-Angles-Mogami-Cable-18-NEW-/321771692806?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4aeb166306
django49 Posted June 8, 2015 Posted June 8, 2015 I THINK that you would be better with the TRS male (as pictured) but splitting into a pair of FEMALE TS ends.......That would make it much more convenient for using any standard male to male cords to connect to whatever you want in the loop..
bubs_42 Posted June 8, 2015 Author Posted June 8, 2015 Yes, a TSR Male with at 90 degrees would be even better.Found it!
bubs_42 Posted June 8, 2015 Author Posted June 8, 2015 Some Chassis Shots: Fuse instead of a Jewel so its easy to change but should never go out. Backlights the BlackJack21 Logo No sure what it does so i'm not touching it Bias each tube so you can use different tubes. I'm going to do some adjusting here to Dial in the amount of boost in the footswitch. Going to back it down a bit.
django49 Posted June 8, 2015 Posted June 8, 2015 I would assume it is counter clockwise to back it off(?)I will have to take a look at the inside of the Ceriatone, which should have a fairly similar circuit.
bubs_42 Posted June 8, 2015 Author Posted June 8, 2015 Dunno,i'll give it whirl while its on tonight. I need to test a speaker for Dragan for comparison to another with the same, ect, ect.
bubs_42 Posted June 10, 2015 Author Posted June 10, 2015 I would assume it is counter clockwise to back it off(?)I will have to take a look at the inside of the Ceriatone, which should have a fairly similar circuit.Nope, ended up Clockwise to Decrease, Counter to Increase. The pot is super touchy, I wish it was more gradual. I still have the chassis out and i'm going to go back and listen one more time, I have it pretty much set to sound like a your hitting it with a clean boost. I purchased the TRS Cable yesterday and pulled the Ibanez delay from my FS Ad, if I get the boost set correctly I am 100% sure I can go any where with this amp without a pedalboard.I'm taking My Mira and my backup to a Local Tech that has done work for me in the past, nice guy that I trust his ears and work. If I can get him to copy the bleed on the Mira for its back up and replace the sketchy tone pot both guitars will sound killer and i'll be a happy camper.
hamersandstrats Posted June 10, 2015 Posted June 10, 2015 I've played the first generation Blackjack 21 and though it was a great amp-very solid bass, and yes loud. Definitely not too bright, which I can't stand. I had a friend with a Silverfaced Bassman head modified by Fuchs for the Dumble sound and that amp sounded great. Thing is, it is possible to get those tones with pedals and a good clean fender sounding amp.It's much harder to duplicate an overdriven Marshall tone and feel.
bubs_42 Posted June 10, 2015 Author Posted June 10, 2015 I've played the first generation Blackjack 21 and though it was a great amp-very solid bass, and yes loud. Definitely not too bright, which I can't stand. I had a friend with a Silverfaced Bassman head modified by Fuchs for the Dumble sound and that amp sounded great. Thing is, it is possible to get those tones with pedals and a good clean fender sounding amp.It's much harder to duplicate an overdriven Marshall tone and feel.Yes, a good tuned Fender with a Pedal sure you can get pretty darn close.The Blackjack V1 and V2 are voiced differently, the V1 was shooting for the Trainwreck'ish thing and the V2 is the Fuchs Sound. I didn't buy the amp for the Dumble sound, I bought the amp because I listened to a bunch of youtube and then Andy was on a Podcast that I listened to. I liked what he had to say, I liked his thought process behind his amps and was all set to buy a NEW 4aces when I stumbled on a BlackJack21 Used for less money. Glad I purchased it but it was not love at first pluck. I had one issue that was resolved by a tech and Fuchs and then I did a few swaps of the speaker, adjusted the boost and now I orderd the TSR cable so I can velcro delay in the back. Ordered a 9volt box with an ON/Off switch that just plugs into the pedal so I can just kill the bat when not in use.As for the "Marshall Tone" that tone that you hear has been clone man times over by pedals. Just look at how many Clones are out there, like any amplifiers tone it is the sum of the parts and the quality of the build. Not to mention the builder.(Little Rant)I pushed Egnaters hard a few years ago and they are great designes and Bruce is a great guy, BUT the amps were failing in the field, tons of complaints, I recieved horrible service from Egnater California as well as the repair shop in Chicago that I had to send it to. The warrenty repair ended up costing mea a chunck because I had to ship it and have it shipped back on my dime.I ended up finding Budda, and damn that amp was fantastic and they are fantastic amps and Jeff will answer your emails and talked to you even though he doesn't own Budda anymore. Which led me to East Amplification, I had such a good positive transaction with Jeff that I sold the Budda and bought the East.IMHO your going to have to spend more coin on an amp that is built, designed and cared for by builders that have their heart and soul in a product. No matter if you play at home or in front of 10,000 people they will answer your call or email and do what it takes to make you happy if your not a super demanding ego type.Oh and holy smokes to think that we actually keep things that we buy instead of going to the next thing and the next thing. (GUILTY MYSELF) but i'm working on finding what it is that makes me happy and live with it. I'm going through this myself now, its freaking hard.
hamersandstrats Posted June 10, 2015 Posted June 10, 2015 Fuchs are great amps, don't get me wrong. I've played some and heard them live many times-Jimmy Herring, Umphrey's McGee, etc. I think Fuchs builds great amps and pedals as well. He has a great ear for tone. What I was trying to say was simply, you can put a pedal in front of a Fender to get the Fuchs tone, but the pedals that are supposed to sound like Marshall tone put in front of a Fender amp, just never seems to cut it. Close, but they just don't replicate the feel of say, a real JCM 800. IMHO of course. Maybe its the closed back speaker cabs or something that adds to this feel-I don't know, but it just isn't the same.
django49 Posted June 10, 2015 Posted June 10, 2015 Without getting too far off topic.......ONE way of "getting there" is to have a NOT perfectly clean Fender-type as a base sound. (I use a Mesa Blue Angel). The Ethos OD in front of it can "compensate" for the combo.......As I have it set, the base sound (FX bypassed) is "bluesy", the "clean" is brighter and cleaner than the base sound, the OD is that "Dumble-ish" territory and then engaging the boost (middle footswitch) gets me as much into "Marshall" land as I need to be (esp if using a Les Paul-ish guitar). Think Gary Moore (or, with coils split, some Jimi)......Do something like "Still Got the Blues" at a level where you can feel it as well as hear it and it is PERFECT.....Well, IMHO.Of course there are something like NINETEEN knobs and switches, so it takes a bit of experimenting to get the FOUR sounds you like.....After which, using volume and tone and the 3 way (or "6 way" with splitters) can get me pretty much anything I desire on the fly.Alternatively, such as the Wampler Plexi Deluxe is a good "M" option ahead of the "base" amp.
bubs_42 Posted June 10, 2015 Author Posted June 10, 2015 This is SO what I hear, Gary Moore and Jimi!
bubs_42 Posted June 10, 2015 Author Posted June 10, 2015 I chased Soldano's, Marshall's, Fenders but I just could not put my finger on not what they were playing but what I was hearing. For me when Gary cranked up a Fender and injected a Strat or LP into a Reverb Unit that makes those hairs stand. When Jimi play soft and wimsical with some stratty bite same thing.
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