As many people who know me will know, I have made great strides to lighten my equipment over the past couple of years, shelving the Pinnacle & Vox AC30 amps and opting for firstly the Boss Katana then the Fender Tone Masters' that are by comparison to the Voxes a joy to carry.
Well I've took it a step further this past week or so and because of my renewed interest in the Zoom G3Xn and similar FX units I tried a Full Range, Flat Response cabinet with just the pedal, that had been programmed with the Vox, Fender and Boogie amp sounds that I like to use.
Thanks largely to Adrian Fountain who plays in our band, I tried the Headrush FRFR 108, 2000w active speaker with my Zoom G5n and was absolutely amazed at what came out of it. At a cost of £195 it easily equals the sound I'm getting from any of my other amplifiers, including the new Fender Tone Master at almost £1000. Because it only employs one high power eight inch speaker and a tweeter, it is a quarter of the size of the Fender amp and weighs 19lb. I must admit, when Adrian showed it to me last week I laughed and almost ridiculed the idea - until I heard it. I went home and immediately Googled it, read about it and ordered one.
I gigged it on Bank holiday Monday, leaving the Twin Reverb in the car and it sounded awesome.
I would say to any of you who use a Vox Tonelab, Zoom G3 - G5 or any of the ones that have the amp simulation, this is the way to go. The FX gives you your sound, the Headrush faithfully delivers it at any level you wish up to concert hall volume should you so wish. It's equally great in the quietest bedroom and takes hardly any space in your room.
Don't ask me how an eight inch speaker and a tweeter deliver a louder, clearer, equal and better sound than our beloved Vox AC30, but it does - and with style.
I suspect the 2000w Class D amplifier has a lot to do with the purity of the tone, but I can't get over how it delivers everything from the cleanest acoustic tone from my Martin 000-17 to my Les Paul when I'm playing Gary Moore licks with all the other sounds in between. On Sunday I was sat with our bass player practicing with him with our mikes, bass and guitars all going through the one cabinet, clear as a bell. Check it out, The Headrush FRFR 108. They also do a twelve inch speaker version. Recommended !