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  • Spent the day at Guitartone yesterday

I spent the day at Guitartone yesterday, trying out the Reverend guitars and Swart amps. Was hoping to try the Two-Rock amps too, but they hadn't arrived yet. The showroom is small, but good sounding and the stock is all very nice gear. Aside from the Reverends there is also a wall with Gibson and Fender guitars (all US models). Apparently there is a Gretsch White Falcon and a Country Gentleman on the way too...


Pretty much how I think a room should look...


The "other" guitars...

Overall, I was impressed by both brands. Swart amps can be summed up in one word... wow! Reverend are super impressive, especially considering the price range.

The Reverend guitars
The Reverends all have a fairly unique look to them that make them stand out. I wasn't too sure about the headstocks from photos, but in real life they have a lot more appeal. They all have bass contour controls (which make them all incredibly flexible tonally), locking tuners, graphite nuts and roller string trees (where needed). The build quality is very good and consistent across the range (pretty much what you can expect from any of the better ranges of Asian guitars), necks are mostly a comfortable width and thickness (not too thin or too fat) and the stock setups are far better than the usual factory setups (still a little room to tweak for the obsessive amongst us though), pickups are a cut above (or two in some cases) the usual Asian generic models.


The Reverends

Standout models for me were the Flatroc and Sensei RT for a Gretschy vibe (to be honest, I was a sucker for all the models with Revtron pickups), The Manta Ray HB for a Gibson scale two humbucker guitar (semi-hollow) and the Sensei 290 is an awesome P90 rocker with attitude.

The Swarts...
I know what all the fuss is about now. Simple, no nonsense amps with tons 'o tone. Not incredibly loud for their wattage ratings, but all without exception amazing amps.

Many of the models can take 6V6, 6L6 or EL34 valves (auto-biasing) - we experimented a little with the STR Tweed and I preferred the 6V6 for my Strat, but the El34 was really nice for giving an ES335 and Les Paul through for a more rock vibe. We didn't have a 6L6 handy, but that should sound pretty similar to the 6V6 with more headroom. Also, while we didn't try it, some amps can use a 5Y3 rectifier to make the amp sag even more.


Gian slaving over hot tubes, swapping them out just to make me happy...

The little 5W Atomic Jr is without doubt the best small amp I have ever played. It's not just a small practice amp, tonally it blows away a lot of bigger amps too. It only really falls down a little when compared side-by-side with its bigger brothers as it can't match their low end performance and punch. The STR Tweed is also a 5W amp, but has a 12" Mojo speaker in it that brings it a lot closer to the bigger amps in the low end. The AST Master was my pick from the bunch (18-20W with a Celestion Gold speaker), but there wasn't a bad amp among them.

More pics later... Also I'll be announcing a Reverend guitar giveaway later today.
    I have mad gas for one of the Revernd P90s... Here's me holding thumbs ?
      Alan Ratcliffe wrote: Apparently there is a Gretsch White Falcon and a Country Gentleman on the way too...
      OK, so my new guitars have not arrived yet ....... ? ? (jk)

      Alan, wish I could be there. Got two guitars from them.... (my LP Custom, and 50th Anniversary ES 335). Gian and Marco (and mrs. Gian) are really awesome people. Gian actually called me a few times after buying my guitars to check that everything was fine, delivered on time, etc., etc ...... awesome people to do business with. I wish them all the best with their new range of gear, guitars and amps, and I would do business with them in future if the GAS-bug bites again .... ?
        Where is this lovely lovely dangerous place? Must NOT go... must NOT go...
          MikeM wrote: I have mad gas for one of the Revernd P90s... Here's me holding thumbs ?
          Not one 'o those - sorry...
          Aubs1 wrote: Gian and Marco (and mrs. Gian) are really awesome people.
          Agreed - they even fed me coffee and rolls with an assortment of fillings.
          if the GAS-bug bites again ....
          IF? ?
          singemonkey wrote: Erm. Where is this?
          Somerset West. Viewing by appointment. Details at www.guitartone.co.za
            I've always liked the look of the Double Agent and the Six Gun. Did they have those to try out?
              How much does that little amp retail for? I've been GASing for a small tube amp for a while, ever since the Laney Cub offer.
                looks like a real man's candy store, i gotta check this place out, any idea when the 2 rocks are landing? would like to try em out
                  They are in Somerset West ??? How did I miss this. Very dangerous place for an impulse buyer :O
                    I forgot to mention earlier that all the Reverends come with hard cases in the price locally too.
                    Mr T wrote: I've always liked the look of the Double Agent and the Six Gun. Did they have those to try out?
                    Two that they didn't get this shipment. Gian and I spoke at length about the Sixgun earlier today (as you might know I have an affinity for Tele bridge pickups in Strats too), and he'll probably get those in the next shipment.
                    needleshy wrote: any idea when the 2 rocks are landing? would like to try em out
                    Yeah, me too. They are due literally any day now.
                    Norio wrote: How much does that little amp retail for?
                    Unfortunately they don't start cheap - about R10K IIRC. On the other hand, the bigger models were mostly below or just above R20K (not bad if you consider that's what you'll pay for a Deluxe Reverb and these are boutique amps).
                    Reinhard wrote: How did I miss this.
                    Especially as they have been one of our advertisers for months... ?
                    Very dangerous place for an impulse buyer :O
                    I dunno - at least you wouldn't regret any purchase you made from a quality standpoint. ?
                      Alan Ratcliffe wrote:
                      needleshy wrote: any idea when the 2 rocks are landing? would like to try em out
                      Yeah, me too. They are due literally any day now.
                      I think (don't hold me to it) tomorrow!!!!

                        Reinhard wrote: How did I miss this.
                        Especially as they have been one of our advertisers for months... ?

                        Yeh, but for some reason I thought they were in Jo'burg.
                        Very dangerous place for an impulse buyer :O
                        I dunno - at least you wouldn't regret any purchase you made from a quality standpoint. ?
                        [/quote]

                        That's definitely true!
                          I see Marco's R8 and 355 appear to be up for sale. It's a sad day ☹
                            singemonkey wrote: I see Marco's R8 and 355 appear to be up for sale. It's a sad day ☹
                            I'm pretty sure they are NFS, but are around so Marco can plug into any of the amps to play himself. His pedalboard, Mesa and JP LeRoux are in there too.
                              Oh boy...the thought of these goodies, all within easy driving distance... I've been reading about the Swart amps for a long time, and I'm curious to hear one. And those Reverends...
                                Real nice looking display area you have there Gian and Marco...congrats !
                                Sincerely hope you go from strenght to strenght...and thanks for bringing in such quality gear.
                                  well, i'm entering the comp. and will be in the c/t area in sept, so i'll take a drive through to s/w one afternoon, i'm sure the wife and kids can find stuff to keep themselves entertained ?
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