jez_sullivan's Reviews

Works best with a Marshall

I've gigged about 5 different SD1's over the years. They are a no brainier. Great overdriven tones into a Marshall type amp. My favourite modded version is the Monte Allums asymmetrical clip mod. However that particular pedal got stolen in 2016.

Great Pedal

All the usual delays are here. Plus the Toneprint allows others to be downloaded. I use it as a secondary delay with my M5. Sounds great, compact too.

Genius

Has all the sounds from the Line 6 modeller pedals. But 24 presets into a much smaller footprint with a display. As with all modelling FX, some sounds are more useable than others. But all the DL4/MM4 sounds are here. Superb. Have gigged one for 6 years with no problems.

The most amp like pedal ever

Designed to run at 12 volts DC. The 7thvn is a medium to high gain pedal. Voiced like a modded plexi. This has the lowest noise floor I've ever heard on a high gain pedal. Sadly this used NOS JFETs so it's no longer made. Look out for the Kult. Goosoniqueworx other higher gain pedal which is more like a 5150 type voice.

Main amp since 2015

A superb retro amp. Only really does clean to crunch tones. But built like a fucking tank. Superb cleans and a great pedal platform. It’s a really simple design and totally overbuilt. The output transformer is the size of a child’s head!

In 10watt pentode mode, it does get slightly noisy. So I tend to run mine in 30 watt mode.

Only downside is weight. In a flight case it's over 50 kilograms. Tube life is good.

My main amp from 2001-2011

I owned several TSL100's and several TSL60’s. I made an album with them in 2007 and gigged them for a decade.

The amp itself was ok, but the 5 way footswitch was terrible. I was going through two a year without fail. Usually cable issues. A spare is essential.

Also the FX loop was awful. For some reason the TSL100 loop really affected the tone. Even without any FX in the loop itself. Like a blanket being thrown over the speaker.

I've also used and gigged the tsl60 which for some odd reason has a much better quality FX loop, it’s actually amazingly transparent. But sadly due to its really odd control layout I could only get an acceptable tone at gig level volumes. So I’d run the master at 4 o clock and control the volume with the channel volume. You can’t gun the master volume or you get a popping sound when you switch channels.

There are stories of reliability issues. I did have one arc out on me in rehearsal. But gigging was OK. The fix is a post 2002 main PCB. Sadly these are true. Don't get me wrong, they sounded alright. But I had to do a lot of maintenance to keep them going for not a lot of gigs. I used to play hundreds of gigs with a 70’s Marshall Artiste and 80’s Jubilee series combo’s and they were far more reliable.

But personally I think the JVM is a better amp. The TSL was built down to a price and it does show itself.

Probably the best LP I've owned

Build quality is knockout. My only gripe are the pickups. I swapped these out for a set of Lollar Imperials and added vintage style plastics and a poker chip. I'm a critic of Gibson, but the build, fit and finish on this LP genuinely impressed me. I've owned 4 Les Pauls over the last 14 years. This one is the best by far.

Almost perfect

Again a great clash of vintage and modern. But the finish is too blingy. Check out my review at www.japanguitarhunter.com

Almost the perfect Les Paul Killer

Superb build and tone. Only downside is the weight. Get a broad strap. Like a ales Paul, but tonally a touch more top end. Does cleans better than an LP.

My main guitar in Heroes of Switzerland

The Kotzen is a brilliant clash of vintage and modern. Check out my full review at www.japanguitarhunter.com

The best version of the Custom

The maple neck and ebony board give enhanced string definition. The jumbo frets make it more playable. But the \m/ series pickups are superb. While the neck humbucker is slightly over cooked. In split coil mode, cleans are crystalline and sparkle. An awesome pro instrument.