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What an awesome little amp this Evans RE200 is!!
After hearing some of Jim Soloway's great clips with the RE200... I was really interested.
I heard there was a touring amp in the works, so I put in the call to Scot Buffington and next thing you know the amp made it to BK. Gotta also say, Scot is a real joy to chat with!
I'm really blown away by how big this little amp can sound but also how much range it has. The controls are very sensitive but in a good way, you can really fine tune a sound that you're hearing.
I made a little playing video using my Klein and the RE200. Gotta love the bright neon green tolex on this amp!(not the standard color btw)
I really enjoy how the amp brings out a woody flavor to the Klein.
*At the very end, there is a little buzz coming through. NOT from the amp, but from my guitar, still dealing with some grounding issue.
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11-15-2013 04:19 PM
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Beautiful tone and great playing too - you're demonstrating what's really nice about the Klein. It's so articulate, and the neck pickup placement with 24 frets has a unique jazz tone. Sweet! Hey, it would be cool if that amp traveled from Bklyn to NJ... What's the deal with the logistics?
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Call Scot and tell him you talked to me about it. He's basing the demo/travel amp on what I used to do with my demo guitars. He's just getting the program going and he's going to try to keep it in the area to keep the shipping down so you may well be able to work out something quickly.
Originally Posted by rpguitar
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They're great amps. I love mine. It's an earlier model, a JE150 . . dark green enclosure. Tons of clean head room.
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How are they different from an AI Clarus type of sound? More tubey? Natural sound or highly idiosyncratic?
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Thanks! Yeah, I'm loving the Klein/Evans combo. Its bringing out all the details of the guitar that most amps don't do so well. Originally Posted by rpguitar
Like Jim said, give Scot a call. I'll PM you, maybe we can work something out and meet half way.
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Yeah, rpguitar, would love to hear your take on the RE200.
And great demo VV. You gave a good account of it.
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I have a couple of Evans amps, and have used AI for a bit, and I'd say the Evans is probably as far away from the AI sound as you can get in a SS amp. The Evans is anything but a flat sound, it's tubey, even "springy"; very dynamic and extremely tweakable, with good dispersion due to the semi- open back cab. Even the smallest AE100 model has extraordinary bass response.
The one thing it doesn't do especially well is that trademark AI 'flat' sound, with forward mids, tight bass and damped dynamics. I don't find that sound ''natural'' with an electric archtop, altho some do; I just find it flat.
I find the Evans especially good for a 175 or similar plywood guitars, which can sound pretty clanky though a totally flat, highly damped amp like the AI. The Evans makes these guitars sound wonderful. Maybe it's less useful for a carved top with floater, and would need some tweaking to bring out the best with one of those.
Maybe the one down side of the Evans is that the controls are so interactive that you have to work a bit to get the sound that's right for a particular guitar - it ain't a plug-and=play amp. Also, it's not clearly indicated where the 'flat' position is; it's somewhat counterintuitive that on the Evans you get a 'flat' sound with the treble on approx 1.5 and bass about 3...
With an Evans ( and a mambo) you've got everything covered, once you've paid for them.
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Thank you, Franz, that was a helpful write up. I use a Sansamp Paradriver DI in front of my AI Clarus. It provides tube emulation and very sensitive EQ, transforming that amp with the press of a footswitch. Also, I checked the price on the Evans so I think I need to say "I'm good" with my current amp herd.
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What do you mean by 'touring amp'?
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Its a demo/travel amp for players to check out. Originally Posted by barrymclark
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Wow! I'd love to try one. Not an Evans dealer nearby. Originally Posted by Double V
Is the deal I just pay for shipping?
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As far as I know, there are no longer any Evans dealers anywhere. I think Evans went to only direct sales last year. Probably a necessary step considering these are low sales volume boutique amps and there probably isn't enough margin to justify selling to dealers at wholesale prices.
I think the travelling demo/loaner amp is great idea. I'd love to give the amp a spin but there's no way Scot is going to ship it cross border into Canada. There's just too much hassle with the required commercial invoices, inflated shipping for cross border, etc.Last edited by va3ux; 11-17-2013 at 09:01 AM.
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What is the point/appeal of guitars with no headstock? Weight? Balance?
Headless guitars look weird to me.
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Balance and ergonomics. Playing seated, guitars in the Klein body shape sit on one's leg in a manner such that the neck is angled up, like a classical guitar. It also negates the need to exert any hand/arm effort lifting the neck. Also, yes, the weight is generally quite light.
I had a Klein for a while and still have a couple of Forshage guitars in a similar vein. The "ergo" thing is definitely cool, but I found that ultimately it wasn't worth completely switching from my beloved archtops.
Also, the Klein is unique in that it has a fairly special, articulate sound with lots of richness. It's hard to explain so you'd have to find and play one (good luck!).
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He might is there was enough interest in Canada to do a full tour. I've been helping him lately with a few things and I could probably handle the border crossing for him. I have to go down to northern Washington about once a month anyway. Originally Posted by va3ux
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Yup. If you're interested, reach out to Scot Buffington at Evans. Originally Posted by barrymclark
Wow! I'd love to try one. Not an Evans dealer nearby.
Is the deal I just pay for shipping?
Not sure there are any Evans dealer's.
Like Roger said, its all about balance and ergonomics. When playing seated, the guitar sits very comfortably and puts the neck in a seated classical guitar style angle. There is practically no weight on the neck because of it being headless. Originally Posted by Broyale
There is no fight on the Klein as opposed to a 'regular' guitar when playing seated,.. for me..ymmv.
The headless/ergo thing might not be for everyone but it has lots of playing benefits.Last edited by Double V; 11-17-2013 at 12:53 PM.
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Similar situation here Jim. I'm about 20 minutes from the NY State border at Niagara Falls. I have nearly all my US purchases shipped to a US address just across the border. The trick will be bringing it into the country ('importing it') without incurring taxes (Duty charges are not likely). And the same issue will possibly present itself upon it's eventual return to the US.
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I'm pretty sue we could manage it for about $60 of taxes coming in and none going out. If six people wanted to try it, that would be $10 each. The way he ha it configured, we might even be able to convince them that it really is a sample piece that's gong back. Just to make it readily identifiable as the demo amp, he used a bright green cover instead of the used black rolex. I think it has a wire grill as well. The regular version is quite attractive but from what I've seen of the demo, he made it as ugly as you can possibly imagine. Originally Posted by va3ux
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That's funny. But a great idea. Make the demo unit as ugly as possible. Just about guarantees the amp will find it's way home eventually.
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More videos please!!!! I was able to try the RE200 for the first time last week while I was at TrueTone music in Santa Monica (traveling). I was really shocked by how huge it sounded, but I only had a second. I really wanted to compare the RE200 to a Headstrong Lil' King (Princeton Reverb clone), since I currently play and love a PRRI, but I didn't have time. I DID get to compare the RE200 to a Henriksen Jazzamp (both 10" and 12") because they were sitting right next to it. While the Jazzamp definitely has a classic closed-back and bassy/middy jazz tone available, the RE200 was noticeably louder, had better reverb, and had almost a "how'd you fit a Twin in there" sound.
Anybody have a chance to compare the RE200 to a Fender?
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I agree, the Evans can come much closer to a Fender amp sound that closed-back SS amps, if that's what you want.
Half-open back helps a lot, and also the ( v complex) tone stack is voiced so that, although it's quite possible to get a flat-ish kind of sound, most settings have some bass & treble boost built in.
What's interesting is that the Evans can combine mid cut around 400hz with mid boost ( via the depth control) around 200hz. What this does is to emulate a fender sound, but with the bonus of fattened-up top strings ( 200 hz) at the same time.
Since I have always thought that a thin top end was the problem with fender amps, I think this is a very cool feature. Even with this feature engaged, though, the amp doesn't have that familiar AI/ Jazzamp/ Mambo et al midrange solidity and forwardness that you get with a closed back and baxendall tone stack.
And, I agree that the Evans seems louder, too. The RE200 is only 100W into the 8 ohm internal speaker, so again I'd guess that's the semi-open back in operation...Last edited by Franz 1997; 11-20-2013 at 09:05 AM.
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Hey all!
Just wanted to give a report after having the amp for a week.
It was great having the amp this week to be able to play it in a live situation.Used it on two gigs this week. One with a trio and the other with Karl Berger's Orchestra.
The trio gig was fun because it was drums, violin and guitar. So I had a lot of room to play in different registers.
I used my Artinger semi-hollow, a wet reverb and a PTD Feederbone fuzz. The room we played in was somewhat small, intimate and with high ceilings. I set up the amp about 5 feet away from me. I had it at around 3-4 in volume and it was plenty loud. What struck me the most of the amp is its clarity. I could hear every detail coming through and SO dynamic. I played a lot of finger style that night and I could dig in, pull back, and really feel and hear the amp the whole time. Never thought to myself to turn up once, especially when playing finger style where usually I find myself turning up because my attack is not the same as with a pick. I really enjoy the slight open back cab on this amp too. You get this direct sort of sound like a closed back cab but not. Its a nice balance of a somewhat tight sound and an open sound. Basically the sound coming out of the RE200 doesn't just shoot right at you, it disperses very well in a live room. It has a warm immediacy.
Last night was a whole other ball game. I play in Karl Berger's Orchestra. Usually there are about 25 musicians playing.
About 9 different horn players, a string section, 2 bass players, a drummer and a percussion section. The room we played in is very live, volume is an issue but we did a great job of working with the room.
I'll start by saying, I parked a block and half away(NYC block) from the venue and the amp was easy on the back, very light and compact... a big plus!
Back to the sound. I did find myself working with eq a bit more to dial it in with the room and with such a big band. I pulled the treble back a bit and worked a little more with the body and depth controls to dial in a warmer sound for the room. Worked out just fine. This time around I had the volume up at about 6 and the master around 6 as well. It was good to have the headroom in case I wanted to go there, the orchestra is usually very dynamic, lots of loud and soft sections in the music. Again, the Evans delivered. I used my Klein for this gig. I really dig this Klein/Evans combo, the guitar sounds so woody.
Hate to sound like a commercial. But the amp has been wonderful to get to know. It really delivers in so many ways.
Tp me it feels like a good tube amp, dynamic and responsive.
I'm glad to have had the opportunity to check it out for the week and use it playing situations. A really nice experience in getting to know a product before having to actually buy it to know if it works for me. Big thanks to Scot Buffington at Evans for this demo/travel RE200. If any you guys are up for it, its definitely worth checking out!
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I’d like to thank Jim Soloway for suggesting that I send out a ‘touring Evans Amp’. I would also like to thank Jim and Harvey for the great videos and the kind words that they have said about the RE200.
The next stop for the touring Evans RE200 is Music City, USA. So, if anyone in the Nashville area wants to be on the list to test drive this amp for a week, please give me a call at 336-270-5700. Remember, you are not obligated to buy anything. In order to participate, you only need to get it to the next person on the list.
Scot Buffington - Evans Amp Maker to the Universe
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rpguitar if you would please describe that signal chain for me. it might be so obvious , but is it:
guitar
sansamp
clarus high or low input or do you use the send and return effects loop?
thanks
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