GREENSTONE BELLVERB & BELLBIRD5 DEMO CLIPS
Click images for full size photos
The idea of the following page is to summarise the demonstration and wrap the clips in a brief story to explain them. These were all recorded live on the day of the demo. Please check them out and provide some feedback. The guitar used is noted after each clip.
BELLBIRD5
The first clip is of the Bellbird5. As a single ended class A amplifier it can run virtually any octal power tube in the output stage. The first riff you hear is a 6V6GT in the output stage. The second clip is a 6L6GC with all other settings the same, and the third is an E34L. You will hear each tube has a difference in tone and clean volume/ power. I apologise for the early cut off of this clip. (Ibanez Les Paul)
Next up we demonstrate the Bellbird5 EQ, which is the same powerful EQ shared by all amps in the Bellbird family. The first part of the clips the amp has been EQed for a darker jazzy tone. The second part is a more "fendery" tone, and finally a brighter rockabilly tone. The tube is an E34L and all other setting remain static. (Ibanez Les Paul)
Finally for the Bellbird5 we demonstrate power tube overdrive versus pre-amp overdrive. One of the features of a single ended design is the ability to get true power stage overdrive at reasonably low volume levels. In this clip we have turn the master volume to full and have wound the pre-amp gain up until the E34L power tube overdrives. We then demonstrate the powerful midrange control by taking all of the mids out and repeating the riff. Next we wind the mids fully on to show what a pronounced influence it has on overdrive level as well as frequency response. Finally the master is wound down and the pre-amp is wound up to demonstrate pre-amp overdrive. (Ibanez Les Paul)
BELLVERB
Moving on to the Bellverb we have the same 20W of clean power as the Bellbird with the addition of tube driven spring reverb. We demonstrate the dynamics of the amplifiers by controlling the amplifier volume by guitar attack alone. (Ibanez Les Paul)
Next we have the reverb of the Bellverb amplifier. Here we play the same riff with light, medium and heavy reverb. (Ibanez Les Paul)
This particular Bellverb has the post phase inverter master volume upgrade which provides more overdrive than the standard model. This makes it ideal to demonstrate overdrive control again using the pick attack onto the guitar as the method for determining how much distortion the amplifier pushes out. (Ibanez Les Paul)
Lastly during the demo we endevoured to show the Bellverb in the context of a band setting. Unfortunately the drums and bass are not mic'ed up but you will get the general picture. A TC Electronic VPD-1 boost pedal is used in front of the amp to demonstrate how well it takes pedals. (Ibanez Les Paul)
After the demo other attendees had a turn on the amps. Here we have Ryan Thomas of Custom Audio Boutique using a Thorn Jr. 90 Hot Rod. This first clip is bridge pickup single coil bright rock tone. The second clip is the same guitar on neck pickup.
JSN-880
We we lucky to have our friend Jason Novak join us with his Greenstone JSN-880 custom amplifier. The following clip shows Jason playing at low volume and then turning up for more power.
RECORDING DETAILS
There are two microphones in the room, one each in front of a Bellverb and the Bellbird5. Therefore you will get mostly left channel for the Bellbird5 and right channel for the Bellverb. These clips have been normalised to make the maximum level the same across all of the clips. In some of them you will therefore hear an increase in volume as the guitar is turned up or a different tube is used. Any questions please let us know.
