Polytone S15B

[tomvwash]

I haven't plugged this in yet, and just brought it back home from the luthier for potential purchase and wondering about its compatibility with archtops--still in search of a fat, low end tones. Any perspective appreciated, thank you.

[garybaldy]

I haven't plugged this in yet, and just brought it back home from the luthier for potential purchase and wondering about its compatibility with archtops--still in search of a fat, low end tones. Any perspective appreciated, thank you.

Did you forget a pic?!

[skiboyny]

People love em. I have a 102. They sort of sound like they have a wet blanket over them lol. It's quite different from a fender. You will find out soon enough.

[vintagelove]

I haven't plugged this in yet, and just brought it back home from the luthier for potential purchase and wondering about its compatibility with archtops--still in search of a fat, low end tones. Any perspective appreciated, thank you.

That is IMO the best sounding Polytone. The Diamond tolex, no mid knob S15b with tweeters is a really nice jazz guitar amp, and maybe the "truest" amp I have. In other words, you can hear each guitars distinct voice through it. It will do fat low end with no problem. The special thing with these though, is the tweeter, which is just barely on, adds just enough high end extension, that separates it from regular amps. Terrible sounding with distortion... but there is a footswitch to turn off the tweeter if you ever did need to play some distortion with it.

They're not quiet amp... not loud... but... there's a little noise (like all polytones... I am enjoying the gentle hum of a baby brute right now).

It's a great amp. Btw, I have that, the baby brute, and the IV, and had the 12", and had a mid knob s15,... I have a 64 BFSR, Octal amps, etc... I know amps. The s15b is awesome.

[garybaldy]

That is IMO the best sounding Polytone. The Diamond tolex, no mid knob S15b with tweeters is a really nice jazz guitar amp, and maybe the "truest" amp I have. In other words, you can hear each guitars distinct voice through it. It will do fat low end with no problem. The special thing with these though, is the tweeter, which is just barely on, adds just enough high end extension, that separates it from regular amps. Terrible sounding with distortion... but there is a footswitch to turn off the tweeter if you ever did need to play some distortion with it.

They're not quiet amp... not loud... but... there's a little noise (like all polytones... I am enjoying the gentle hum of a baby brute right now).

It's a great amp. Btw, I have that, the baby brute, and the IV, and had the 12", and had a mid knob s15,... I have a 64 BFSR, Octal amps, etc... I know amps. The s15b is awesome.

Could you add tweeters to a 3 knob MBIII?

[gitman]

Could you add tweeters to a 3 knob MBIII?

You could add tweeters to pretty much all amps provided the tweeter can handle the signal. I use a Raezer's Edge 6" cab with an attenuator hooked up to the tweeter (they call these cabs "extended range") but so far I've never used it, the sound of the main speaker alone is just find, even when I plug in my classical guitar (via my BUD6) .

[vintagelove]

Could you add tweeters to a 3 knob MBIII?

You could, because there is no separate amp etc for the tweeter. It just has a cap and a resistor (I think) in line. It won't sound exactly the same though, as the s15b also has a bigger cabinet. Still good though I would bet. You could add a simple tweeter setup without drilling holes etc. Just use the preamps out to go into a small cheap power amp (the modern ones anv are SMALL and CHEAP) into a box with tweeters.


And remember, they should be barely just on. You might not even notice if you didn't have it side by side with a Polytone that doesn't have them.

[tomvwash]

People love em. I have a 102. They sort of sound like they have a wet blanket over them lol. It's quite different from a fender. You will find out soon enough.

I wheeled it back in to his shop today. The Fender '68 has the same bottom end. Can't believe how partial I am to Fenders. I'm selling a Tone King Imperial tomorrow, just because I don't hear that rich bottom end, on any of my guitars.

[skiboyny]

I wheeled it back in to his shop today. The Fender '68 has the same bottom end. Can't believe how partial I am to Fenders. I'm selling a Tone King Imperial tomorrow, just because I don't hear that rich bottom end, on any of my guitars.

I can’t say I’m surprised. Side by side with a tube amp, they sound a bit flat. Still many recordings with many greats, they do have their own signature sound.

[vintagelove]

I wheeled it back in to his shop today. The Fender '68 has the same bottom end. Can't believe how partial I am to Fenders. I'm selling a Tone King Imperial tomorrow, just because I don't hear that rich bottom end, on any of my guitars.

I can’t say I’m surprised. Side by side with a tube amp, they sound a bit flat. Still many recordings with many greats, they do have their own signature sound.

It's important to understand how a polytone "tonestack" works. When you say "it sounds flat", you are correct, that is actually what a flat (roughly a Baxandal) EQ circuit sounds like. When you hear a fender amp (or Marshall, or vox, etc), you are hearing a massively scooped midrange.

People that love the polytone sound, like a very midrange forward tone. However, if you use and eq pedal, and recreate that mid scoop, you would be impressed with the familiar sounds you can get out of it. Now... don't get me wrong... My 64 super reverb sounds better than my polytone. It's one of the holy grail amps... but... you can get a great jazz tone out of a Poly, and a lot of other tones if you understand how they work.

[skiboyny]

It's important to understand how a polytone "tonestack" works. When you say "it sounds flat", you are correct, that is actually what a flat (roughly a Baxandal) EQ circuit sounds like. When you hear a fender amp (or Marshall, or vox, etc), you are hearing a massively scooped midrange.

People that love the polytone sound, like a very midrange forward tone. However, if you use and eq pedal, and recreate that mid scoop, you would be impressed with the familiar sounds you can get out of it. Now... don't get me wrong... My 64 super reverb sounds better than my polytone. It's one of the holy grail amps... but... you can get a great jazz tone out of a Poly, and a lot of other tones if you understand how they work.

I think "flat" was perhaps not the right word. Lack of dimension would be better. I actually prefer a mid forward sound. As I said at the beginning I own a polytone and have for years. I just personally wouldn't call it the holy grail. Another tool, a different sound, I like variety so in that regard I keep it in the stable. I use it every day in the summer. Solid state, no extra heat lol.

[wintermoon]

I think "flat" was perhaps not the right word. Lack of dimension would be better. I actually prefer a mid forward sound. As I said at the beginning I own a polytone and have for years. I just personally wouldn't call it the holy grail. Another tool, a different sound, I like variety so in that regard I keep it in the stable. I use it every day in the summer. Solid state, no extra heat lol.

Not to speak for VL but I think he meant his Super was a holy grail amp.
At least that's how I read and hope that's how he meant it.

[vintagelove]

I think "flat" was perhaps not the right word. Lack of dimension would be better. I actually prefer a mid forward sound. As I said at the beginning I own a polytone and have for years. I just personally wouldn't call it the holy grail. Another tool, a different sound, I like variety so in that regard I keep it in the stable. I use it every day in the summer. Solid state, no extra heat lol.

What do you consider a mid forward amp? If you use a fender with a tone stack, you need to run basically 0-10-0 TMB to get it flat.

TSC in the web

Seriously, give an eq pedal into your polytone a shot. Also, drive the input a bit. I think it will help you get a little closer to what you're looking for. Also... the speaker makes a huge difference. The stock speaker is a classic sound, but people shouldn't be afraid to experiment here.

Lastly, to be clear, the 64 Super reverb is a holy grail, the poly is "just" a good sounding amp (if you're going for that sound).