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Author
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Topic: Webb 614-E Old vs Newer
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Mark Fasbender
Member From: Salt Lake City,Utah
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posted 02 March 2006 11:19 PM
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Ive heard that there is a sound difference between early ones and the later models.
Im thinking of getting one and would like to hear what you all think. Thanks a bunch.  ------------------
Got Twang ? Mark |
Jay Ganz
Member From: Out Behind The Barn
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posted 03 March 2006 06:36 AM
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Are the new ones still being sold anywhere? |
Chick Donner
Member From: North Ridgeville, OH USA
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posted 03 March 2006 03:15 PM
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Shouldn't be. The old are 2 piece front panel/preamp) and the power supply and amp sections. The new ones are simply one piece, like Fender or Peavey. Electrically, samo-samo. |
John McClung
Member From: Los Angeles, CA, USA
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posted 03 March 2006 10:01 PM
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Hey, TwangBanger! That collection of Sho-Buds you have, including the groovy ext E9 you got from me, would all sound great through a Webb.I have two, both are vintage 1978 or so. I've never played a newer one, do like the power amp in feature they have, but have lived without it all these years. Both mine have JBL K-130 speakers at 8 ohms, so they don't blow out with fuzz tones and heavy C6 stomps. Many seem to prefer Black Widows, guess it's just personal taste. Webbs just have great tone, bar none. ------------------
E9 lessons
Mullen D-12/Carter SD-10/Webb amp/Profex II/Lexicon MPX-110
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Ray DeVoe
Member From: Columbia, Tennessee, USA
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posted 04 March 2006 05:27 AM
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Webb??I am not going to claim to be the expert on this subject. I have had both, the newer and older models. I have kept 2 Webbs in my collection and they are both older 2 piece chassis units. One still has the original K 130 - 4 in it which sounds great, but one wonders how it made it from the early 80's to now without the speaker blowing up. It must have had light use. Most everyone replaces this speaker with a K 130 - 8 or a BW, when the original ends up smoked. Brad Sarno has developed a parts replacement kit for the newer Webbs. Most everyone states that they sound better after being reworked. I think that he might be able to share some wisdom on this subject. I had one of the reworked Webbs and sold it to a fellow forumite, Ed Thomas, who claims it is the best sounding Webb that he has every played through. Ed plays well which of course never hurts! I will send this link to Brad and see if he has time to respond with his expertise and wisdom. Keep pickin
Ray D.[This message was edited by Ray DeVoe on 04 March 2006 at 07:28 AM.] |
Brad Sarno
Member From: St. Louis, MO USA
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posted 04 March 2006 08:28 AM
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I never was able to totally nail down the causes for the sonic differences between the old and new Webbs. The design always stayed the same. The schematic didn't really change. The reverb can changed a couple of times. I have found that the early ones seemed to have a sweeter tone, but I didn't necessarily confirm that it wasn't simply the factor of an old broken in speaker vs. a brand new one. I did notice that the modern ones had a slightly different feel on the bass control. It could be just because the modern pot's didn't have exactly the same taper characteristics as the old ones. I noticed that on the old ones, the bass control was even and smooth. On the newer ones the bass seems to jump a bit as you turn the knob. I think maybe some key factors to look at would be the power transistors. I have a suspiscion that the newer transistors may be a bit different. Same value/type, different make. I've only had my hands on about 3 or 4 Webbs, and they all sound very similar, but there was something maybe a bit sweeter and smoother about the older ones that I messed with. I wish I had more info to offer. Brad |
Mark Fasbender
Member From: Salt Lake City,Utah
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posted 05 March 2006 01:39 AM
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Hey Brad............. Are the webbs discrete or otherwise? Thanks......------------------
Got Twang ? Mark |
Brad Sarno
Member From: St. Louis, MO USA
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posted 05 March 2006 08:19 AM
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Mark. They're all discrete. No opamps anywhere, just discrete (individual) transistors. That's part of the magic. Other cool amps that are all discrete are the old Peavey LTD and Session 400, Sho-Bud amps, and all the Evans amps. Brad |
Mark Fasbender
Member From: Salt Lake City,Utah
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posted 05 March 2006 05:13 PM
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Hey John............ Hows it goin? Still doin Freddie Fender gigs? Im enjoying that 12 string bud. "Twang Banger" Ill have to think about that one Brad......... I think there was a difference in the newer power transistors. Ive got a buddy who has some definite preferences on them. He has boxes and boxes of various NOS . He doesnt think the newer iterations have the same tone. He always replaces them with older, matched units.There are some that he has given "Holy Grail" status. Is the mod process on the webbs the same as on the sessions?
I imagine it is.
How do the webbs compare to a session 400 since I am familiar with that amp?
Thanks
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Got Twang ? Mark |
Nick Reed
Member From: Springfield, TN
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posted 05 March 2006 05:36 PM
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This is my old 1978 Webb 614E. . . .probably the roughest looking Webb Amp in Nashville, but it's a HOSS and I LIKE IT!  I've heard newer Webb's that sound a little different than mine, but I honestly can't say they're any sweeter! |
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