| http://www.musicianshotline.com/reviews/b-52.htm
This
month's product is submitted to us by B-52 Pro
Audio. A company primarily known for its array
of higher end powered and passive Pro Sound Enclosures.
B-52 has ventured into the guitar amplification
field with the release of LG-100A 100 watt head
and matching 4x12 enclosure. Musicians Hotline
is proud to review the release of this new amp
line fittingly entitled the "Stealth Series".
Let's get to it shall we?
Out
of the Box! First Impression
And what a box it is! The Stealth arrives
to us in two individually packed boxes. Obviously
one for the cabinet, and one for the head. We
unpack the cabinet first. I can tell by attempting
to lift the cabinet out of the box this is one
solid cabinet. All 3/4" wood, covered with
authentic black vinyl, 16 gauge metal grill for
speaker protection, metal recessed handles and
corners to ensure roadworthy use. The Stealth
head utilizing the same material coverings, sports
a gold plated control panel with standard mini
style knobs. Power rocker switch is located on
the front plate and standard vinyl strap handle
to transport the head. The head is a bit smaller
then the width of the cabinet but makes for a
professional looking half stack.Features
The
LG-100 Stealth is a solid state, 100 watt, two
channel head with reverb, with an additional preamp
boost capability in the dirty channel. The preamp
boost also sports a "contour" control
which enables you to attenuate mid frequencies.
Channel one is the overdriven channel and the
controls are laid out as follows; Gain 1, Gain
2, Contour, Gain Switch, Bass, Middle, Treble
and Level. There is a channel select switch between
the two channels. The clean channel is the standard
level, bass, middle and treble. The Stealth features
an over all master control for reverb and level.
There is a standard 1/4" input as well as
a 1/4" headphone input on the front panel.
The
rear panel offers some great features for an amp
in this price range. Including an effects loop
with adjustable level controls for send and return.
A 1/4" line out, two external speaker outputs,
ground lift switch, and a two input footswitch
that operates a three button metal footswitch
for controlling channel switching, Boost and Reverb.
The cabinet is a standard 4x12 angled cab featuring
four custom B-52 12" speakers yielding a
400 watt power handling rating. Enough power handling
capability for a small arena! It's time to get
down, plug in and turn up the juice.
Fire
That Bad Boy Up
For my testing purposes, I have chosen three
guitars that will provide me with a wide array
of pickup selection and tonal characteristics.
My choicesare three of my favorite guitars. A
flametop Les Paul classic loaded with Gibson '57
classic pickups, an early 90's PRS Custom 22 all
stock and an 80's Fender photo flame Telecaster
all stock.
Clean
Channel
I first venture into the clean channel by
utilizing my trusted Telecaster which obviously
I know is capable of producing a crystal clear
clean tone. With the EQ of the clean channel set
pretty much flat, bass on 6, mid on 4 and treble
on 5 1/2, level on 4 and master on 2, the Stealth
produces an inspiring clean tone. EQ is responsive
and retains ample headroom to ensure the tone
stays clean as the overall output increases. With
small adjustments of the EQ, I am able to dial
in everything from a sparkling clean tone with
plenty of Tele Twang, to a moderate crunch tone
by increasing the channel level to add a little
of the sweet stuff. Clean tones are bright but
still retain warmth in the lower mids, the low
end retains firmness and the highs are sweet.
I also tested with a PRS Custom 22 with split
coil capabilities. In humbucker mode I am obviously
able to achieve a bit more of a grit tone from
shear increased output from the pickup. With bumping
up the highs a bit to adjust a bit darker tone
from a humbucker, the Stealth produces a sweet
clean tone regardless of what guitar I use. By
adding a bit of reverb to create space, clean
tones are very impressive and the reverb is quality.
Kickin
On The Overdrive
In my experience this is where the rubber
hits the road with many solid state amplifiers.
All to often, solid state amplifiers sacrifice
warmth and depth in its overdriven mode. My mind
is probably more open these days due to the advancements
in solid state modeling technology. The B-52 Stealth
is not a modeling amp by any means, but I do realize
that solid state technology has come a long way
in the past few years.
It's
time to grab a Les Paul and find out what time
it is with the B-52 Stealth. In the first gain
stage with an EQ setting of the bass on 7, the
mids on 4, the highs on 8 and the preamp levels
on 7 1/2, the Stealth growls very well. Over all
master volume on 2 and the channel level on 4,
this tone creates a typical stage volume that
is tolerable with plenty of sustain and retains
a considerable warm overdriven tone. A 100 watts
provides enough ample power to really get LOUD!
So be careful or the neighbors might call the
cops.
We
then kick into hyper mode with gain structure
2. THE BOOST CHANNEL.This is where it gets over
the top. This mode adds another preamp stage in
the signal path and offers a "contour"
switch for increasing or rolling off mid frequencies.
New age metal players will love this channel and
the contour switch for dialing in that devilish
scooped mids tone with a butt load of gain. This
channel can get down right nasty. But even at
high gain levels, the Stealth retains adequate
warmth and doesn't sound like a chain saw buzzin!
Which can be the demise of many solid state amps.
By
placing a Digitech RP1 multi effects unit into
the effects loop and running both send and return
levels on 6, effects such as chorus, flange and
delay are wet enough without being lost. In the
clean channel and with the processor dialed to
"Fat Funk Chorus" utilizing the Telecaster,
I must admit this is as impressive tone as I've
heard through a solid state head.
Final
Mojo
The B-52 Stealth delivers amazingly great
tone and is capable of delivering a wide variety
of sounds. From "Twang" to full out
"Bang", I would venture to say that
the Stealth is one of the best sounding solid
state amps I've ever played through. However,
when you consider the price vs. features ratio,
the B-52 Stealth hands down a fantastic value.
Rarely do you see features such as a buffered
effects loop, line out, headphone jack, reverb,
and a gamut of gain structures including the over
the boost channel. De-tuning new age metal players
will really dig this channel. At a list price
of $1,299 and a street price of $699 (Half-Stack),
$349 (LG-100A), $349 (LG-412V), the Stealth steals
the show. Priced for budget conscience working
musicians of the world! The B-52 delivers a rock
solid, affordable amplifier.
Information:
ETI Sound Systems Inc.
3383 Gage Ave.
Huntington Park, CA 90255
323-277-4100
www.B-52pro.com |
