I may be the exception, but I think the 100K plate Skyliner amps sounds smoother than the high plate ones. I am specifically referring to a straight 100K skyliner, with a 100K trimmer and 100KL overdrive pots. S/N 124 had a 345K trimmer and a 250K "level" pot. I have tried the 345K trimmer and find the amp "grinds" a lot more that way, so it's not a sound I would consider smooth. The cleans on the 100K plate amps are, to me, clearer and crisper. The overdrive will be brighter and may need to be tamed, but after you have accomplished that, it will be more "gentle" than the higher plate amps. The bass will not break up as much in the 100K amp, and I think it those amps definitely get along better with single coils than the high plate Skyliners.
The high plate Skyliners have an extended bottom end in comparison which will make them not as bright. This can be an advantage in that it makes the OD more readily smooth. I do not see it as an advantage for the clean channel, however, and I definitely don't see it as an advantage when playing either single coils or trying to use the neck pickup. The high plate Skyliners are super fat sounding and, in my never humble opinion, voiced for bridge pickups. There have been probably hundreds of clips recorded of high plate Skyliners in OD mode -- and some sound spectacular -- but not once have I heard someone click on the fotswitch and go back to clean and show what that sounds like. I guess I like a fat sound as much as anyone else, but I think it's more of a livingroom concept unless you're playing in a guitar-based musical situation, such as our heroes RF, LC, etc., do. Add vocals, keyboards and horns, and you'll be stepping on others' toes more easily with a high plate amp.
If I had to pick a label, I think I would rather call the 100K Skyliner the fusion amp in that it really gives a more sparkly clean sound (not something I usually associate with "blues") and a more focused sounding lead tone. The high plate amps are definitely browner sounding all around.
Cheers,
Gil
llemtt wrote:I can tweak both kind to sound almost the same and in fact I actually do.
As a result my bandmates and friends tell me that they perceive the high-plate to be more "fusion" sounding while the low-plate sounds more "blues-rock".
cheers
teo
