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Why do you
need a GrayTech Sound Amp? |
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Quality Components:
Mainstream amp
manufacturers and even some so-called 'boutique' builders claim
to use the highest quality components. You must ask
yourself: if this were true, why would other techs and
companies offer upgraded components for these amps? In
most cases, the techs have it right, as the higher-grade
components are sorely needed for better tone and performance.
Every model in the GrayTech line
will not require any upgrades. We always install the
best components throughout the entire amp that create: maximum
sustain, definition, dynamic range, touch sensitivity, and
harmonic structure the amplifier circuit design can produce.
If you ever find an upgrade package
recommended for one of our amps, please call us. We will warn
you if the performance is going in the wrong direction. Many
amp builders claim to be experts. In reality, there are only
a few. To clarify a point: TONE and PERFORMANCE is why we buy
an amp. At GrayTech Sound, we have raised the bar to a whole
new standard level that does not compromise. This is the
difference between us and other manufacturers.
Send and Receive Jacks:
It has always been
better to plug 'effects pedals' directly into the front input of
the amp. The effects are actually designed to be used in this
manner. Nothing is more discouraging than paying for 'bells and
whistles' that degrade the tone. With a few exceptions (our
version of a Dumble-style circuit design) we will not install this type of
signal processing. We know this to be a waste of time and your
money.
We have the correct philosophy: any unnecessary added
circuitry typically compromises the efficiency
and tone. The bottom line is this: if a manufacturer is trying
to sell you on great sound with an amp loaded with 'bells and
whistles', chances are the tone and performance will be
missing 'key' elements of either sound or performance. In other words, the manufacturer really does not
care about your tone. It is why race-cars do not have
air-conditioning or power windows; it puts a load on the overall
performance, slowing it down. This is what separates GrayTech
Sound – we care about tone and performance – period!
Correct Amp Design:
The proper way to
design a high-performance amp is to concentrate on its engine;
aka the power supply. The engine installed in all amps that
dictates performance is: the Power Transformer and Output
Transformer. Designing power supply components to fit in a
certain space, often limits the strength of the required current
that feeds the tubes, which has the most serious
degrading effect on tone. This is why in certain combo amps it
is difficult to make the amp sparkle without a complete redesign
of the preamp circuit so it compliments the existing power
supply components.
We build the
engine first, and will design/modify all other components that
compliment the engine; the foundation of your sound!
Vintage Design and Modernism:
Most vintage amp designs
are beautifully simple, creating the most authentic and natural
sound. There is a lot of hype about keeping vintage amps as
close as possible to the original specs. Unfortunately, the
power supplies (engines) in most of the old amps are not as
strong, compared to those we can build today.
A ‘65 Mustang is a classic car, but
if you wanted modern performance, you would install many
upgrades to make it perform more like a present day sports car.
Cruising around in a ‘65 Mustang looks cool, and you get to brag
about your vintage wheels, but when you step on the gas, modern performance is really not there
compared to a high-tech, high-performance vehicle.
At GrayTech Sound, we know that
upgrading a vintage design to eliminate the short-comings, only
makes the tonal response more vintage!
Distortion:
Many amps today
sound as if they have a 'solid state' distortion pedal 'built
in'. This is not actual tube distortion, or tube harmonics.
Many manufactures claim to have designed an 'all tube' signal
path, which only means the amp has tubes used in the circuitry.
Solid-state and digital designs are being used more often in modern
amps, forcing compromises to the overall TONE and PERFORMANCE.
Modern digital circuit designs integrated with vintage
tube/analog design equates to an oxymoron. Tubes and
analog circuitry are completely different from solid state and
digital design. Often, the unstable performance from: carbon
comp resistors, electrolytic caps, along with tubes sometimes
will create problems when combined with modern digital design
concepts.
Today, we have solid-state tube
replacements that rival the sound of a traditional glass tube.
However, they don't replace high-quality tubes. When an amp is
properly designed, you can easily hear the different tonal
colorations from one tube design to the next. This is the
beauty of tube circuitry. Because of its inherent unstable
nature, analog tube designs offer unique performance
characteristics that cannot be achieved any other way. Some of
the most popular amps ever designed have unstable circuits.
Why? The distortion created by using this approach is far more
pleasing to the human ear! … And no, the amp will not
necessarily blow up because of an unstable circuit. But, it
will run hot. Proper maintenance of any tube amp is very
important to keep it sounding its best, while preserving the
components that provide that sought after distortion!
Our Mission at GrayTech Sound is to
produce and enhance the natural tube distortion and its
harmonics with unrivaled punch, sensitivity, and sustain.
EL 34 Tubes:
Some self-proclaimed
tube experts have offered unfavorable opinions about this tube.
We have always found it to have a very musical, harmonic
structure that is full and blends well with 'live stage'
performance; without being harsh. The quality of tubes
being manufactured today is quite good! As with any tube,
there are better designs than others. The price is also a
factor. Like anything, tubes that offer better tone, often
cost more. Another factor that comes into play is the circuit
design used in the amplifier. There are amps being manufactured
that offer little difference in tone, from one tube to the next,
while other amps demonstrate a significant change in sound when
swapping out tubes.
It is true that EL34’s don’t last
quite as long as a 6L6 or a 6550, but it’s a harmonically sweet, soft,
desirable tone that cannot be designed any other way.
One last note: the bias setting is
very important to the life of the tube, as well as the overall
performance of the amp. Setting the bias correctly for maximum
performance will not offer maximum tube life, but will offer the
best possible tone. If you are a musician with a well-developed
ear for discerning good sound, you don’t worry about getting the most
'playing time' out of a tube. Instead, you will be concerned
about how tubes affect your playing style and ability to use
certain techniques that can only be achieved with an amp that is
set up for the ultimate TONE and PERFORMANCE!
Speaker Cables and Speaker
Wire:
With any high
performance amp, it is critical to allow the complex musical
structure from the instrument to arrive at the speakers without
being choked by cheap wire. Thick, lush tone requires a
properly designed speaker cable and speaker wire installed inside the
cabinet; enough said.
The Best Amp Ever!!! A lot of the amp builders claim to produce the most amazing tone
and do it at a price, anywhere from $1799 to $2999. GrayTech
Sound is thinking about building a line of 'price point' amps.
If we do, we are not going to claim them as the best amps ever
built, or producing the most amazing tone. We are going to
tell you exactly what they are: very good amps for the money
with good tone. But, they will not be great amps because
it is technically impossible to build a great amp with low cost,
affordable components. Just as Toyotas and Hondas are
well-built cars, they are not race cars and could never
win the Indianapolis 500. We know what it takes to build
the best sounding amp with a certain
style of tone, as we are doing with our 'Pro Series' line. It
simply cannot be done at a $2500 price point. Our parts cost
more than that. The GrayTech Sound 'Pro Series' is one of the
ultra high-end performing amps on the market right now. This is
a story about evolution. Someday, far in the future, technology
will produce a dilithium crystal amp that blows ours away. But
not today.
With every amp, we will be very upfront explaining the how’s and
why’s of the components being used so that you may be 'informed'
and shop
around fairly, when improving your sound becomes desirable. We understand
that not all parts are the same. There are many levels of
performance a builder may choose from. If we choose to build
price point amps, we will not mislead you with famous Pro
Musicians who say that this amp is the best amp they have ever
played. We will reserve that for our 'Pro Series' line where we
know in our heart, it is true.
Click
Here
to send us
your questions! |
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