Αγαπητοί φίλοι, σε συνέχεια των προηγουμένων πρώτων εντυπώσεων για τον Cornford Roadhouse 30W Head, πλέον μετά από 3 μήνες χρήσης και εμπειρίας με τον ενισχυτή, προχώρησα στην συγγραφή και κατάθεση ενός πλήρους Review στο Harmony Central.
Tο review πέρασε τον συνήθη έλεγχο του Harmony και δημοσιεύθηκε πρόσφατα στο site.
Υπάρχει online εδώ:
http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar+Amp/product/Cornford/Roadhouse+30W+Head/10/1..αλλά το παραθέτω και κατωτέρω, για ευκολία για όσους φίλους τυχόν ενδιαφέρονται για αυτόν τον ενισχυτή:
===========================================================================
Product: Cornford Roadhouse 30W Head
Features : 9 Solid feature repertoire, mostly well explained by the previous reviewers.
This is a single channel amp, given the extra function of an adjustable boost stage, footswitchable, which inserts an extra stage of gain to the signal.
The Boost is not intended as a "solo" function, and although it will add some degree of volume, depending on the adjustments of the normal Gain and Master knobs, it will not solve the live situation requirement for a Solo volume increase. You will have to figure out your own solution to that.
I personally use an MXR MC401 LineDriver/booster in the effects loop (as well as a volume pedal and other effects) to kick on when I need a clean "solo" boost function for leadwork.
I also as others mentioned, would have liked to have in the amp an adjustable volume boost pot associated with the Boost function, to avoid multi tapping. No big issue though.
I do not miss the Reverb, I find that in live situations I can use very little of it and need none at all if I use a good Delay pedal (which I do).
Sound Quality : 10 The Roadhouse has a quite unique character, very particular to Cornford. Not quite old fashioned British, not quite American, both are there, combined in a unique and very nice blend, British upper mid emphasis with American clarity and detail, but it is definitely a more British that American sounding amp.
The tone of this amp is truly excellent, a unique recipe. Even at high overdrive settings, turning the guitar volume pot down, instantly returns you to great clarity and openness, while at the same time the amp when overdriven hard, will retain its unique smoothness and detail. You can hear with your own ears that this is a cathode biased amp! I totally understand the company’s strategy to offer two different designs the 30w cathode biased and the 50w fixed biased, to cater for different tastes.
I play this amp mainly with a PRS Custom 24 Top10 and for the first time I have truly appreciated the subtle intricacies of the coil combinations of this great instrument, thanks to this amp.
Most amps at high gains, smudge your guitar’s tone, to such an extent, that switching coils in the end tends to make very little difference. Not in this case. The Roadhouse retains your tone’s character with clarity and fidelity, even with the Gain and Boost pots fully clockwise. Amazing!
I use the Roadhouse with an ENGL Cab loaded with a Celestion Vintage 30 which is one of the best 1x12 cabs you can buy. The amp seems made exactly for this speaker, it is a great match. I also tried this amp with a 2x12 cab with Celestions G12Ts but I did not like it as much.
This is not a very high gain amp. It will do hard rock very well, but for metal territory, although the smoothness and speed is definitely there, you may need to boost it with your favorite effects. No problem. The amp is extremely pedal friendly, and I will note that it has one of the clearest and transparent Effects Loops I have ever used. Good job it is in front.
Reliability : 10 No problems whatsoever up to now, counting 3 months.
Looks and feels solid and well constructed.
I would bring along a backup amp in a live situation, but only since the amp is relatively new and I need to have all angles covered and I always do. For rehearsals there is no issue.
Customer Support : 10 I had an issue with the absence of a LED on the footswitch, I wanted to add one myself. I wrote to Cornford and I had a reply to my email by Martin Kidd himself, who gave me explicit directions on how to increase the voltage supplied to the pedal from within the amplifier to accommodate a LED. Eventually, I gave my own solution to the issue, however I greatly appreciated both the expert reply and personal care, as well as the trust in providing explicit information on the amps internal workings.
Martin and Paul are quite reachable through the forum and one feels in touch and connected with the company and its top people in a manner that bestows great trust and confidence in their products.
I hope this remains so in the future, despite the ever growing clientele of the company.
Overall Rating : 10I am rating this amp overall on the basis of its cost and character and it deserves a ten plus. It is one of the smartest buys one can make in this category.
I play this amp head mainly in rehearsals and small venues. This is exactly the setup I need for these applications. Easy to move around, excellent sound and the 30 watts is the ideal wattage for that.
I also currently own an Engl Screamer 50, which I find great sounding, but comparing both amps through the same cab (with Vintage 30) the Roadhouse wins on overdrive smoothness, palm muting, overdriven low end tightness and liquid and organic lead tones.
If stolen I would definitely replace it, although I am gearing to go in the near future for the MK50II head which is “the” absolute product from Cornford as we speak.
===========================================================================
