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zimbloth · 09-05-2006, 04:23 AM

Okay so I just got back from a lengthy band rehearsal, something like 9pm-2am or so. I am EXTREMELY HAPPY with the Fireball!

The moment I turned it on, I could tell it was going to be great. First figured I'd warm it up by playing on the cleans for a few. Make no mistake, the clean channel on the Fireball is prestine as they get. Very warm and full, nice and glassy. Now on to what matters - the other channel.

I am finally "home". This amp has everything I loved about the Krank (the tightness) and everything I loved about the Mesa awesome punchy dynamic lead tones. It has a very interesting sound, it doesn't sound like any of the amps I ever owned. It has super tight warm lows, awesome articulation (this thing cuts so well, blends PERFECTLY with the Recto too), and most of all a great feel. It has that kind of tight rhythm sound that I didn't think I'd be able to obtain without some serious extra gear or putting solid-state shit in there (like the Krank). Its just so... punchy and in your face. It's not as sizzly as the Mesa or 5150, it's a bit more compressed you could say, but in a good way. It's still very expressive and dynamic, but it really is just a monster.

Leads and riffs that on the Krank felt boxy, plastic and artificial, came to life like when I had my TriAxis hooked up - except it has a much more polished and tight sound than the TriAxis does. It's definitely not oozing with as many complex overtones as with the TriAxis, but it's definitely a great sound.

I've honestly never played an amp that was more ME than this. It's not perfect. I could envision a better tone (altho who knows, my guitar needs a string change, could use better tubes, v30s are kinda getting old to me), but it's just sooo fun to play. We've written 18 songs, and playing our songs - new and old - through this amp... it seems like this thing was made for epic technical heavy metal type stuff. It rewards you for your super precise attack and technique by giving you the kind of feel and response you didn't even think was obtainable.

I love this amp. It's not perfect like I said, I have much more tweaking and experimenting with things to do, but the bottom line is, I was happier with this thing more in the first minute than I ever was with the Krankenstein. At $899 new, I almost feel like I stole this amp

Misc Thoughts:

1) One thing I thought was funny was that, unlike every other tube amp I've owned, when you turn it on/off standby, it just shuts/turns on instantly, theres no fade. Kind of weird. And... even on standby you could hear a bit of sound, haha. I don't care though.

2) This thing looks AWESOME. I love how simple the layout is. It took about 10 seconds to dial in an awesome tone.

3) This thing is very loud, but to be honest not quite as loud as I thought it would be. The master needs to be at 4-5 or so in band situations.

4) This amp has a LOT of gain. I felt myself putting it down to 4 or 5 or so which I usually don't do. On the Triaxis I usually had the gain at 7.0-7.5 or so.

5) This does sound awesome with my Mesa 4x12, but I still want to try this with Black Shadows.

6) I still think the Triaxis is "better", but $900 vs. $2200... its close enough that Im happy to have $1300 leftover. Although the Triaxis has a bit better tone than this (or anything really), I feel this is better suited for my sound. It's nice having something that cuts and is warm yet also is SUPER SUPER tight and crisp...helps when you play the kind of intricate shit we do.

09-05-2006, 04:23 AM	#41
zimbloth Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Boston Posts: 11,244 Real Name: Nick Main Seven: Rico Jr Customs Main ERG: Ibanez 8 Rig: VHT Pittbull UL Thanked: 67	Okay so I just got back from a lengthy band rehearsal, something like 9pm-2am or so. I am EXTREMELY HAPPY with the Fireball! The moment I turned it on, I could tell it was going to be great. First figured I'd warm it up by playing on the cleans for a few. Make no mistake, the clean channel on the Fireball is prestine as they get. Very warm and full, nice and glassy. Now on to what matters - the other channel. I am finally "home". This amp has everything I loved about the Krank (the tightness) and everything I loved about the Mesa awesome punchy dynamic lead tones. It has a very interesting sound, it doesn't sound like any of the amps I ever owned. It has super tight warm lows, awesome articulation (this thing cuts so well, blends PERFECTLY with the Recto too), and most of all a great feel. It has that kind of tight rhythm sound that I didn't think I'd be able to obtain without some serious extra gear or putting solid-state shit in there (like the Krank). Its just so... punchy and in your face. It's not as sizzly as the Mesa or 5150, it's a bit more compressed you could say, but in a good way. It's still very expressive and dynamic, but it really is just a monster. Leads and riffs that on the Krank felt boxy, plastic and artificial, came to life like when I had my TriAxis hooked up - except it has a much more polished and tight sound than the TriAxis does. It's definitely not oozing with as many complex overtones as with the TriAxis, but it's definitely a great sound. I've honestly never played an amp that was more ME than this. It's not perfect. I could envision a better tone (altho who knows, my guitar needs a string change, could use better tubes, v30s are kinda getting old to me), but it's just sooo fun to play. We've written 18 songs, and playing our songs - new and old - through this amp... it seems like this thing was made for epic technical heavy metal type stuff. It rewards you for your super precise attack and technique by giving you the kind of feel and response you didn't even think was obtainable. I love this amp. It's not perfect like I said, I have much more tweaking and experimenting with things to do, but the bottom line is, I was happier with this thing more in the first minute than I ever was with the Krankenstein. At $899 new, I almost feel like I stole this amp Misc Thoughts: 1) One thing I thought was funny was that, unlike every other tube amp I've owned, when you turn it on/off standby, it just shuts/turns on instantly, theres no fade. Kind of weird. And... even on standby you could hear a bit of sound, haha. I don't care though. 2) This thing looks AWESOME. I love how simple the layout is. It took about 10 seconds to dial in an awesome tone. 3) This thing is very loud, but to be honest not quite as loud as I thought it would be. The master needs to be at 4-5 or so in band situations. 4) This amp has a LOT of gain. I felt myself putting it down to 4 or 5 or so which I usually don't do. On the Triaxis I usually had the gain at 7.0-7.5 or so. 5) This does sound awesome with my Mesa 4x12, but I still want to try this with Black Shadows. 6) I still think the Triaxis is "better", but $900 vs. $2200... its close enough that Im happy to have $1300 leftover. Although the Triaxis has a bit better tone than this (or anything really), I feel this is better suited for my sound. It's nice having something that cuts and is warm yet also is SUPER SUPER tight and crisp...helps when you play the kind of intricate shit we do.