Lexicon 284, anyone ever played one?

[LeftyStrat]

I'm interested in the Lexicon 284. Has anyone here ever played one? What were your impressions? I don't plan on buying one, but thought it might be worth a build. Also, how does the speaker sim sound?

[gearhead]

I actually have one, but only use it for stereo preamp for direct recording. It is killer for that. Because it's stereo, it's great to use just after digital delay/reverb. Warms it up like nothing else.

Don't use the speaker sim much; I think I did try it and liked it.

I have an ADA Ampulator that is a tube-based amp simulator that also has speaker sim. Chain for guitar is Rocktron Piranha >> Ampulator >> Digital Delay/Reverb (Lex MPX1 or Korg A1) >> Lex 284 >> Recording Input.

Thanks for posting the schematic; what the heck is a 1629 Magic Eye Tube?

[drhulsey]

...what the heck is a 1629 Magic Eye Tube?

Magic Eye tubes were used in old radios to indicate when you were "on station." I'm not sure what it does in a Traynor amp.
http://radioremembered.org/tuneye.htm
This guy made a solid state version, because eye tubes were so hard to get in Japan:
http://www005.upp.so-net.ne.jp/y_kondo/MAGICEYE2.HTM
Here's one use in an amplifier:
http://cooltubeamps.com/mgceye.html

[tele_player]

I found an article that mentions the Magic Eye on the Lexicon goes fully dark when the power amp is running at its full 3 watts. So I'd say, in this application, it's used to monitor power and clipping.

[Structo]

Yeah, I remember those old radios with the "magic eye".
They were cool!

[LeftyStrat]

There were two versions of the Lexicon 284. The limited edition had the magic eye. I think it's pretty rare, I've never seen one for sale.

[muchxs]

I've got a bunch of "eye" tubes. I recently scrapped an old hi-fi amp with a Mullard eye. They're not that rare although I haven't seen a 1629. If Lexicon used it they must be available.

[tunghaichuan]

There were two versions of the Lexicon 284. The limited edition had the magic eye. I think it's pretty rare, I've never seen one for sale.

The first version of the 284 was the MacIntyre Bluesmaker Mark II. AGI-Lace used to sell it on the website and it came in a 2x12" cabinet that looked like a 30s jukebox. Later the Bluesmaker amp became an 18W circuit, IIRC. I believe the Bluesmaker was wired on a turret/eyelet board and not PCB like the 284.

The pics are gone, but some info:

http://web.archive.org/web/199911101015 ... cuits.html

tung

[deiseldave]

I own a "Magic Eye" 284 and love it. Very clean, almost no hum. Big tone. Crunches up kinda marshally, but with a sweet Voxy chime. Very organic sounding. Good for everything from country & blues up to old school hard rock (Zep, AC/DC, Mountain, Sabbath, etc.). Doesn't do the modern Mesa thing too well (which is fine with me).
Speaker sim's sound as good as any others I've used, but I typically like to mic cabs.

Edit: It just occurred to me that I could post a clip or two if your interested. I've never posted an attachment here, but I'm sure I can figere it out.
Please let me know if me to post clips of the 284, otherwise, I won't bog down the site with it.
Regards,
Dave

[LeftyStrat]

I would love to hear clips. I'm really interested in this design. I searched high and low on the net for clips but never found any.

How would you compare the tone controls to other amps?

I'd love to hear both mic'd clips and direct clips.

[deiseldave]

Ok. I've got a pretty hectic weekend ahead of me, but will try to have a couple clips posted within a few days.

[Krinkle]

I don't know what the Lexicon sounds like but my first mod was a Fender Bassmanhead to a "Bluesmaker". I thought that it was pretty good but that was a fifty watter and I only cranked it a few times (2 or 3). It sounded pretty close to a regular Bassman at low volumes.

I do remember that I didn't get the sound that the reviewers in Guitar Player described (that's where I got the schematic, it's on Blue Guitar now, I think) so I ripped it all out again. I also had a Strat with Lace Sensors at the time and I've since figured out that they were the part of my clean/overdriven tone that I did not like, so that may have contributed to my lack of enthusiasm.

Sorry if wasn't helpful, just chiming in.

[deiseldave]

Here's a two tracks lifted from a couple demo songs of mine. I just solo'd the channel that they were on, and disabled all effects. They may sound a bit out of context without the rest of the song playing, but I wanted you to hear the amp without distractions.
File 1 is a Guild Bluesbird Front P/U (Duncan '59)-> Lexi 284 -> Celestion Blue Open Back -> Shure 300 ribbon mic @ 12" on-axis-> Mackie VLZ channel (set flat) -> M-audio Delta sound card.
File 2 is a Strat Front P/U (EMG)-> Lexi 284 -> Celestion Blue Open Back -> Shure SM57 @ 4-6" on-axis-> Mackie VLZ channel (set flat) -> M-audio Delta sound card.
Please forgive the less than mediocre playing.

Regards,

Dave