Grumpyrocker
SS.org Regular
Okay, first impressions are very positive. It's certainly more useful and better sounding than my EHX 5mm power amp pedal.
The clean channel sounds really good. Works fantastic with the HX Stomp or my pedal board in front. This channel can go all the way up to classic rock levels of chug, with the Rhythm and Lead switch offering asymmetric and symmetrical clipping respectively. Adding the boost means you can be knocking on the door of 80s metal on the "clean channel".
The dirt channel is very similar to that on the full size Ironheart - which I used to own. Full gain can be a little fizzy, but backed off a little with the boost used instead it doesn't sound a million miles away from my beloved EVH 5150 Overdrive pedal. And the dirt channel isn't silent, but it's surprisingly quiet for such high gain.
The effects loop works fine. And I also tried putting my HX Stomp into the FX return to bypass the Loudpedal's preamp. It didn't sound wildly different to just going into the front of the Laney, perhaps a little darker. But it's an extra option there if you need it. One thing to note; there's no master volume after the FX loop, so you need to be careful when going straight into the loop return.
Finally the XLR output sounds really good. I plugged this into my Scarlett interface and tried the Loudpedal with its own cab simulation, and with other cab sims within Garageband.
So overall impressions an hour into ownership are very positive, especially given the price compared to less capable small power amps.
The clean channel sounds really good. Works fantastic with the HX Stomp or my pedal board in front. This channel can go all the way up to classic rock levels of chug, with the Rhythm and Lead switch offering asymmetric and symmetrical clipping respectively. Adding the boost means you can be knocking on the door of 80s metal on the "clean channel".
The dirt channel is very similar to that on the full size Ironheart - which I used to own. Full gain can be a little fizzy, but backed off a little with the boost used instead it doesn't sound a million miles away from my beloved EVH 5150 Overdrive pedal. And the dirt channel isn't silent, but it's surprisingly quiet for such high gain.
The effects loop works fine. And I also tried putting my HX Stomp into the FX return to bypass the Loudpedal's preamp. It didn't sound wildly different to just going into the front of the Laney, perhaps a little darker. But it's an extra option there if you need it. One thing to note; there's no master volume after the FX loop, so you need to be careful when going straight into the loop return.
Finally the XLR output sounds really good. I plugged this into my Scarlett interface and tried the Loudpedal with its own cab simulation, and with other cab sims within Garageband.
So overall impressions an hour into ownership are very positive, especially given the price compared to less capable small power amps.
, the Hiwatt's, Orange's....
