James Brown designs a new amp

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 12250 Location: PEORIA ILLINOIS

amp designing legend James brown (xxx/5150 fame) designs an amp for schecter.

the schecter hellwin.

This guy they had help design the tone is a good player but wouldnt know tone at all. he is a midrange scooper and used muddy duncan invaders. there is no tone when you have no mids and or use invaders. might as well buy a marshall and metalzone if you want a hideous guitar sound.

http://www.blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=185199

Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2013 12:52 am

I have faith in james to come through despite mr.gates.

below 70 IQ type name though.

Joined: 21 Jul 2008 Posts: 614 Location: Yorkshire, England

I was thinking of a completely different James Brown...

Although this now makes more sense, I am somewhat dissapointed.

Joined: 28 Apr 2011 Posts: 1737 Location: in the past

Razorback16 wrote:

I was thinking of a completely different James Brown...

Although this now makes more sense, I am somewhat dissapointed.

yeah me too

Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 13396 Location: Earth

Ugh, this doesn't make me happy. James and I were talking about this last year but he didn't give all the specifics because it was in the early stage. I respect him and he makes good gear but the idea of this head just turns me off. I don't care what it sounds like lol... The fact that it's linked with A7X gives me heartburn. Laughing

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 12250 Location: PEORIA ILLINOIS

Lanning is Killdozer wrote:

Ugh, this doesn't make me happy. James and I were talking about this last year but he didn't give all the specifics because it was in the early stage. I respect him and he makes good gear but the idea of this head just turns me off. I don't care what it sounds like lol... The fact that it's linked with A7X gives me heartburn. Laughing

I personally like the band. think he is a phenominal player but he has no tone. His tone is very scooped and crappy to me. To me when you are famous and have all the available tools at your disposal, there is no excuse to have a shitty guitar sound. Thats why reamping was invented. I dont like schecter guitars etiher. They look nice but play like crap and sound worse to me. They always have the crappiest feeling fret wire. i will be curious to hear it though. Im expecting it to sound like a variation of the peavey xxx like the kustom doublecross was.

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 12250 Location: PEORIA ILLINOIS

found more info
actually has really good specs.

About the HELLWIN USA 100 Amplifier:

Made in U.S.A.
100 watt / All Tube Design (MIDI Switchable)
Three Channels w/ Independent EQ and Gain Boost
Front Panel Custom Noise Gate
Innovative Active/Passive inputs
4 position 'Focus' Control

The HELLWIN's classic design stands out and matching 4x12 Speaker Cabinets are also available:

Four Celestion Vintage-30 Speakers 16ohm
Baltic Birch Solid Construction
Mono or Stereo
Angle and Straight design

Joined: 10 Feb 2006 Posts: 1370 Location: Lutz, Fl.

James Brown's designed Kustom Coupe amp is a seriously underated amp. My personal opinion is that it is a complete Fender Killer. It has amazing tone, and can play a variety of musicial styles. I'm not crazy about too many 6L6 amps, but that's one that I love. I just hate that Kustom has stopped producing it.

Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2013 2:17 pm

Jesus, that's ugly as shit. Pretty cool features, but would it have killed them to make it look a little more tasteful? Mad

Joined: 12 Apr 2007 Posts: 2976 Location: UK

what-a-cool-username wrote:

Jesus, that's ugly as shit. Pretty cool features, but would it have killed them to make it look a little more tasteful? Mad

Agreed. The colours are cool, but that logo sucks. I also think the name sucks, too. Hellwin? HELLWIN?

I thought at first it was Hellwing misspelled, at least that kinda made sense. I won't be investing. My TH30 is good enough for me.

On a side note, it says that it's MIDI switchable next to where it says its a tube amp. What does it switch in to? Solid State? Or does it mean the output is switchable? I guess the second but the way it is written threw me.

Joined: 08 Aug 2006 Posts: 795 Location: D.C. Metro

I had a Kustom Double Cross that was designed by James Brown for several years, and it's still my biggest regret as far as getting rid of gear goes. It's by far the most versatile high gain amp I've ever come across, but at 100 watts was just too much power for what I do. I still wish I'd held onto it though.

Joined: 26 Oct 2012 Posts: 34 Location: London UK

hellfail on the name. intrigued though.

Joined: 13 Feb 2004 Posts: 5601 Location: phoenix az.

BLOODROOT wrote:

amp designing legend James brown (xxx/5150 fame) designs an amp for schecter.

the schecter hellwin.

This guy they had help design the tone is a good player but wouldnt know tone at all. he is a midrange scooper and used muddy duncan invaders. there is no tone when you have no mids and or use invaders. might as well buy a marshall and metalzone if you want a hideous guitar sound.

http://www.blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=185199

cough bullshi t!i use invaders and marshalls and people love my tone!as far as the amp goes how can anyone make a decision without hearing it makes no sense to me.

Joined: 19 Jan 2007 Posts: 3197 Location: UK

Greg... wrote:

what-a-cool-username wrote:

Jesus, that's ugly as shit. Pretty cool features, but would it have killed them to make it look a little more tasteful? Mad

Agreed. The colours are cool, but that logo sucks. I also think the name sucks, too. Hellwin? HELLWIN?

I thought at first it was Hellwing misspelled, at least that kinda made sense. I won't be investing. My TH30 is good enough for me.

On a side note, it says that it's MIDI switchable next to where it says its a tube amp. What does it switch in to? Solid State? Or does it mean the output is switchable? I guess the second but the way it is written threw me.

Pretty sure it means it can be channel switched via midi

Joined: 03 Sep 2009 Posts: 1129 Location: Atlanta, Ga

RobBouchardDeanml wrote:

BLOODROOT wrote:

amp designing legend James brown (xxx/5150 fame) designs an amp for schecter.

the schecter hellwin.

This guy they had help design the tone is a good player but wouldnt know tone at all. he is a midrange scooper and used muddy duncan invaders. there is no tone when you have no mids and or use invaders. might as well buy a marshall and metalzone if you want a hideous guitar sound.

http://www.blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=185199

cough bullshi t!i use invaders and marshalls and people love my tone!as far as the amp goes how can anyone make a decision without hearing it makes no sense to me.

+1

Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 7:15 am

Google schecter hellwin and there are 2 vids from namm. Same guy, different clips, 3 mins and 6 mins respectively.

Whorver let that below 70 IQ type monkey dial in those amps should be punched. He wouldnt know how to demo an amp if it bit him in the face! I hear potential on these but god those tones were bad.

Interesting note, theres also a schecter hellraiser amp and both have a knob to change the eq based on if youre using a 6/7/or 8 string.

Awesome potential on the cab. One of the 12's is a 200w subwoofer with a knob on the back to adjust the low end.

Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 8:55 am

Lanning is Killdozer wrote:

Ugh, this doesn't make me happy. James and I were talking about this last year but he didn't give all the specifics because it was in the early stage. I respect him and he makes good gear but the idea of this head just turns me off. I don't care what it sounds like lol... The fact that it's linked with A7X gives me heartburn. Laughing

You and me both.... Laughing

Never liked that band. Whether or not they ripped off Over Kill's logo or not. Laughing

Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 9:04 am

BLOODROOT wrote:

I personally like the band. think he is a phenominal player but he has no tone. His tone is very scooped and crappy to me. To me when you are famous and have all the available tools at your disposal, there is no excuse to have a shitty guitar sound. Thats why reamping was invented. I dont like schecter guitars etiher. They look nice but play like crap and sound worse to me. They always have the crappiest feeling fret wire. i will be curious to hear it though. Im expecting it to sound like a variation of the peavey xxx like the kustom doublecross was.

Sounds like a Kirk Hammett / Hetfield clone to me.

Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 9:07 am

BLOODROOT wrote:

there is no tone when you have no mids and or use invaders. might as well buy a marshall and metalzone if you want a hideous guitar sound.

http://www.blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=185199

Why all the Metalzone hate? I max out my mids on mine while keeping the bass and treble lower.

Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 9:35 am

RobBouchardDeanml wrote:

BLOODROOT wrote:

amp designing legend James brown (xxx/5150 fame) designs an amp for schecter.

the schecter hellwin.

This guy they had help design the tone is a good player but wouldnt know tone at all. he is a midrange scooper and used muddy duncan invaders. there is no tone when you have no mids and or use invaders. might as well buy a marshall and metalzone if you want a hideous guitar sound.

http://www.blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=185199

cough bullshi t!i use invaders and marshalls and people love my tone!as far as the amp goes how can anyone make a decision without hearing it makes no sense to me.

It's the player, and not the equipment, and you have a great sound Rob. Even when you used that Ampeg at the Whisky.

Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 9:43 pm

short demo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCE5A7eYQok

long demo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjmYC8gHweU

Sad

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 12250 Location: PEORIA ILLINOIS

ML Tib wrote:

RobBouchardDeanml wrote:

BLOODROOT wrote:

amp designing legend James brown (xxx/5150 fame) designs an amp for schecter.

the schecter hellwin.

This guy they had help design the tone is a good player but wouldnt know tone at all. he is a midrange scooper and used muddy duncan invaders. there is no tone when you have no mids and or use invaders. might as well buy a marshall and metalzone if you want a hideous guitar sound.

http://www.blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=185199

cough bullshi t!i use invaders and marshalls and people love my tone!as far as the amp goes how can anyone make a decision without hearing it makes no sense to me.

It's the player, and not the equipment, and you have a great sound Rob. Even when you used that Ampeg at the Whisky.

you know i really hate the sound of the metal zone and invaders. but if you dig it and your crew dig it then rock it out. but like I said the guy uses invaders and is a good player and is real good at making a bogner uberschall sound bad. But doesnt matter. he is selling cd's, merch, has sig guitars and amps, so he wins. tone is subjective and at the end of the day, arguing over it is lame. one day a great guitar sound is a bad guitar sound next week. bad players make good amps sound bad, good players make good amps sound bad, so %$#@! it. we all have an opinion and its fun to bitch and moan and critique but in the end of the day, what does it mean? nothing. just enjoy your tone and rock it out. I own 4 tube heads cause I cant decide from day to day which one i like. it changes all the time. gas is fun too but expensive so just do what makes you happy cause there will always be haters.

Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 13396 Location: Earth

lordkronos187 wrote:

short demo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCE5A7eYQok

long demo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjmYC8gHweU

Sad

You know I'm a "Tone is subjective" guy and I try to not comment on specific tones too often but, those demos make those amps sound HORRIBLE.

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 12250 Location: PEORIA ILLINOIS

Lanning is Killdozer wrote:

lordkronos187 wrote:

short demo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCE5A7eYQok

long demo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjmYC8gHweU

Sad

You know I'm a "Tone is subjective" guy and I try to not comment on specific tones too often but, those demos make those amps sound HORRIBLE.

agreed. a turd in a wetblanket. Alot has to do with the shitty player demoing it me thinks0.

I never uderstood why companies have subpar players demo their units or incorrect style players for the gear. You always see that idiot paul demoing metal amps for guitarworld but he cant play metal. you dont get Keith Urban to demo triple rectifiers and you dont get cannible corpse guitar players to demo a fender black face. These companies need to smarten up and get their endorsers to do their vids not the wrong people or their talentless marketing guys. Holding the damn guitars or sitting next to the gear in a picture with a stupid smile, only moves so many boxes. I want to hear endorsers play the gear to hear how it really sounds with the style of playing the gear is associated with.

however on a different note.
this is major respectful. not kissing anyones ass cause I dont give a s#%t. What other company owner can say they play and tour with their own guitars. I think Mustaine is the only other one that almost did it when he tried to buy Jackson guitars years ago.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9Xtibln4B4

Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2013 10:37 pm

Jesus, it costs nearly $4000 and sounds like one of those little Gorilla practice amps...

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 12250 Location: PEORIA ILLINOIS

what-a-cool-username wrote:

Jesus, it costs nearly $4000 and sounds like one of those little Gorilla practice amps...

I think Schecter is going through their starstruck mode as dean did with dimebag. There is no way they are going to move many boxes with that sound and pricetag. They have quite a bit of crappy signature gear lately. Luckily ESP owns them and their deep pockets will keep them afloat after this mismanaged endeavor. At the same time ESP has always been known to put know name upcoming flops on their home page too.

Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2013 12:14 am

its unreal how bad those demos are. i really feel like i heard potential in the amp. but it would have to be mic'd up and played by somebody who knows how to show what an amp can do

Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 13396 Location: Earth

They had a Hellwin display in the lobby at NAMM making it look like it's the coming of baby Jebus in amp form... James was excited about it and I was excited for him. I dunno what to think though. I don't like it but at the same same don't wish poor success to James. I know he was happy because it has the Amptweaker logo on the back and he gets a piece of the sales. I really hope he does well with it.

Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2013 7:29 am

Lanning is Killdozer wrote:

They had a Hellwin display in the lobby at NAMM making it look like it's the coming of baby Jebus in amp form... James was excited about it and I was excited for him. I dunno what to think though. I don't like it but at the same same don't wish poor success to James. I know he was happy because it has the Amptweaker logo on the back and he gets a piece of the sales. I really hope he does well with it.

Did you hear it in person?

Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 13396 Location: Earth

lordkronos187 wrote:

Lanning is Killdozer wrote:

They had a Hellwin display in the lobby at NAMM making it look like it's the coming of baby Jebus in amp form... James was excited about it and I was excited for him. I dunno what to think though. I don't like it but at the same same don't wish poor success to James. I know he was happy because it has the Amptweaker logo on the back and he gets a piece of the sales. I really hope he does well with it.

Did you hear it in person?

Yes, I'm not impressed. I didn't play it though.

Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2013 8:02 am

Lanning is Killdozer wrote:

lordkronos187 wrote:

Lanning is Killdozer wrote:

They had a Hellwin display in the lobby at NAMM making it look like it's the coming of baby Jebus in amp form... James was excited about it and I was excited for him. I dunno what to think though. I don't like it but at the same same don't wish poor success to James. I know he was happy because it has the Amptweaker logo on the back and he gets a piece of the sales. I really hope he does well with it.

Did you hear it in person?

Yes, I'm not impressed. I didn't play it though.

thats a shame. i really have a feeling that it can be dialed in to do some great things. but the oddss of me getting to see one up close are slim so its whatev.

any thoughts on the cab ? the added adjustable sub seems like a great idea

Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 13396 Location: Earth

Nope, no thoughts.

Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2013 8:12 am

lol k

Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2013 10:39 am

BLOODROOT wrote:

Lanning is Killdozer wrote:

lordkronos187 wrote:

short demo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCE5A7eYQok

long demo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjmYC8gHweU

Sad

You know I'm a "Tone is subjective" guy and I try to not comment on specific tones too often but, those demos make those amps sound HORRIBLE.

agreed. a turd in a wetblanket. Alot has to do with the shitty player demoing it me thinks0.

Sounds more like a bear that got its head stuck in a bee hive. Considering we thought the Krankenstein sounded like a hive of angry bees.

Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 13396 Location: Earth

I actually can get a good sound out of the Krankenstein. Many amps are very particular to the cabinet they run through (speaker wise). I know many of you know this. If you buy an amp but don't use it through the type of speakers the manufacturer intended, and are not happy with the tone, you can't blame the amp because you drifted from the intended match. Some amps benefit from different cabs. This amp in particular? Who knows, maybe it could benefit from a different speaker set.

Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 10202 Location: New Jersey USA

I heard it too, and was unimpressed. Didnt care for the new Randall that everyone was excited about either. I guess they arent my style of amp.

Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2013 7:32 pm

Lanning is Killdozer wrote:

I actually can get a good sound out of the Krankenstein. Many amps are very particular to the cabinet they run through (speaker wise). I know many of you know this. If you buy an amp but don't use it through the type of speakers the manufacturer intended, and are not happy with the tone, you can't blame the amp because you drifted from the intended match. Some amps benefit from different cabs. This amp in particular? Who knows, maybe it could benefit from a different speaker set.

When I had the krankenstein, I got a pretty good time out of it, and was pretty happy with it. Of course you had to fuck with the settings quite a bit, but once it was dialed in, it was killer.

Maybe the hellwin needs to be messed with to sound good. Or maybe it just sucks lol. I do like the cab having a sub in it tho

Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 13396 Location: Earth

I wonder how many dudes are going to destroy those subs, pushing them too hard, before the year is out? lol

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 12250 Location: PEORIA ILLINOIS

I didnt read anything about the cabinets having a sub just 4 v30s

Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2013 11:08 pm

Lanning is Killdozer wrote:

I wonder how many dudes are going to destroy those subs, pushing them too hard, before the year is out? lol

I was wondering the same thing lol

Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2013 11:09 pm

BLOODROOT wrote:

I didnt read anything about the cabinets having a sub just 4 v30s

Bottom right speaker is a sub

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 12250 Location: PEORIA ILLINOIS

misfitz69 wrote:

BLOODROOT wrote:

I didnt read anything about the cabinets having a sub just 4 v30s

Bottom right speaker is a sub

I see that now on their site.

there are 5 different hellraiser cabs.

only one of the slanted cabs has the sub. which is odd. you always want your subs on the floor for maximum low end not on the top cab.

it appears the cabinet has a built in power amp for the sub. so I dont think anyone is going to blow it lanning.

as far as the two heads, expensive peavey xxx/jsx

Joined: 21 Sep 2010 Posts: 437

There are a minimal few songs that have pretty decent guitar tone from A7X. Syn can tear it up though. He is a fantastic guitarist. I'm not sure why his tone is so lacking though. As big as they are they have every tool ever imagined at their disposal. The other mystery is that their live tone is actually really good. Hearing his Uberschall live is the reason I ended up buying one cause it sounded so sweet. I can make my uber sound better in a mix with sonar and a cheap mic pre than they did on their platinum records. The new amp has a stupid name, and looks so cheap. And for the cost I'd take several amps in front of this abomination. Now as far as Duncan Invaders, I like them ok. Not my favorite pickup by any means but I didn't rip them out of the Syn custom I traded for. That guitar plays fantastic and it doesn't take up as much room as my ml's so it's seen some stage time just because it's smaller. But I know where you were going with the invader/metal zone sound comment because I used to be that guy, around 20 years ago lol. But then Dan Donnegan uses them and makes them sound pretty good somehow. . .

Joined: 13 Feb 2004 Posts: 5601 Location: phoenix az.

lordkronos187 wrote:

Google schecter hellwin and there are 2 vids from namm. Same guy, different clips, 3 mins and 6 mins respectively.

Whorver let that below 70 IQ type monkey dial in those amps should be punched. He wouldnt know how to demo an amp if it bit him in the face! I hear potential on these but god those tones were bad.

Interesting note, theres also a schecter hellraiser amp and both have a knob to change the eq based on if youre using a 6/7/or 8 string.

Awesome potential on the cab. One of the 12's is a 200w subwoofer with a knob on the back to adjust the low end.

wow that sounds super cool built in sub?

Joined: 13 Feb 2004 Posts: 5601 Location: phoenix az.

ML Tib wrote:

RobBouchardDeanml wrote:

BLOODROOT wrote:

amp designing legend James brown (xxx/5150 fame) designs an amp for schecter.

the schecter hellwin.

This guy they had help design the tone is a good player but wouldnt know tone at all. he is a midrange scooper and used muddy duncan invaders. there is no tone when you have no mids and or use invaders. might as well buy a marshall and metalzone if you want a hideous guitar sound.

http://www.blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=185199

cough bullshi t!i use invaders and marshalls and people love my tone!as far as the amp goes how can anyone make a decision without hearing it makes no sense to me.

It's the player, and not the equipment, and you have a great sound Rob. Even when you used that Ampeg at the Whisky.

thanks and that was a solid state head.my pedal board into my marshall kills that amp.heres a little vid ive been using a amptweaker metal pedal and a mxr eq into my marshall total midrange chunk that cuts through amazingly.Amptweaker hands down best pedals ive used for distortion lots of crunch and definition.and for the record im using invaders and i dont hear any mud Wink

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AmsRp9GOLw

I checked out what videos i could find of these schecter amps and all i could find was some dude with a tele demoing some ac/dc sounds wtf?why wouldent they have someone playin some strait metal or gates demoing it?frackin retarded if u ask me.like anybody interested gives a s#%t about jangly clean tones.i wana hear some slayer through it!