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Stephenson Amplification Stage Hog V-8: Stage Hog: A low wattage tube amplifier designed for guitar players Features:
The Stage Hog is a 1 watt, all-tube guitar amplifier that doubles as a distortion pedal and a low wattage practice/studio amplifier. When used as a practice amp, the speaker out jack can be plugged into any type of guitar cabinet. When used as a distortion pedal, the line out jack can be plugged into any guitar amp input. The Stage Hog’s sound is very reminiscent of a good old hot-rodded vintage tube amp. The voice switch toggles between tweed warmth and plexi crunch. Tube Amp Controls:
Line
out controls:
The majority of tube distortion pedals on the market today produce preamp distortion. The Stage Hog is different because it relies on power tube saturation for its distortion. The SH has all the components that a full size guitar amp has, high voltage power supply, tube power section with output transformer, and tube preamp. Mark designed the SH to be the second channel of a clean amp (such as a twin). He wanted an all out cranked tube amp sound for his gain channel (cranked plexi), and bypass the pedal for his clean sound, and he wanted to be able to have these sounds at any volume level. So this is the idea behind the SH, and since it is a regular guitar amp (just miniaturized) it will drive a speaker cabinet (great little practice amp). The power scale feature allows control over the level of power tube saturation. Power Scale used in conjunction with the gain and mode switches enables tones from dark and saturated to bright and focused and everything in between. The remote switching feature is a dual button footswitch that detaches from the Stage Hog. The remote switch comes with a detachable 6 foot cable. A longer cable can be used so that the Stage hog can be located in the backline.
Stage Hog Operation When powering up the unit: first turn the Power Scale control to minimum, then turn the power switch to ‘ON’. After about one minute slowly turn the power scale to the desired setting. This offers the ultimate in soft start (gentle warm-up). Amp section controls:
LINE (Controls):
Here are some tips. Mark usually keeps the power scale set ½, the gain at 12 o’clock, the tone about 3/4's with the Voice switch set to the brightest sound (up), Mid boost engaged for Lead sound (up), and Bright on (up). This is a good starting point and you can tweak from there. The controls are very interactive; if you adjust one thing, try tuning the other control for best tone. When the Stage Hog is being used as a distortion pedal the power scale control has to be turned up high enough to produce a big enough signal to match the bypass volume. If the power scale is set low (around 8 o’clock or less), the line control won't have enough range to make the volume loud enough to match the bypassed sound. So keep the power scale over this setting when using the stage hog as a distortion pedal. When using the Stage Hog as a distortion pedal and plugging into a guitar amp that has a 'bright' switch, leave the guitar amps’ bright switch off. The tone will be fizzy and bright when the guitar amp’s volume control is adjusted to lower settings (a guitar amp’s bight switch bypasses highs when the volume is turned down). When using the Stage Hog as a practice amp, you can set the power scale as low as you want (there is no bypass signal to worry about matching).
The Stage Hog uses two dual triode tubes:
The 12AX7 is the tube on the left hand side - this is the pre-amp. The 12DW7 tube is the one on the right - this is the power amp.
Since the amp only has two tubes, changing either one has a major influence on the tone. The Stage Hog is supplied with current production tubes. Of course it doesn't hurt to experiment with different makes and brands. Here are some possible tube choices that can be used in the Stage Hog.
Please note that after the stage hog has been running for s short while the tubes get hot so be careful when trying out different tubes on the fly. For Some cleaner tones: Mark likes to run a 12AU7 in the 12DW7 location, I find the tone to be very pleasing
for low gain situations. The 5751 is a nice candidate in the SH's 12AX7 position for some classic tones, (NOTE: Mark has had very good luck with the Sovtec 5751). 12AU7's in both SH tube locations for the cleanest possible tones One of Mark's favourite tubes is the ElectroHarmonics 6072A/12AY7 tube. Offers a great deal of gain, but cleans up nicely with the guitar’s volume control Customer Comments:
"It´s a very good little amp Mark. The little test drive I gave it before confirmed that it will be a great thing to have. I tried it without effects or anything, and was amazed at how much bottom it has. I can really hear the different gain possibilities - It´s nice that I can do that. It was not possible with the "Cream Machine" because it was designed to only play high gain. I actually think that with the right gain combo that I can play,just using the volume knob. THANKS for that bypass/gain board.You are really making some great things Mark. Also the look of it is very good. It has been a pleasure to deal with you Mark.And you can rest assured that I will tell everybody about the Stage Hog!"
"The Stage Hog arrived perfectly, and I’ve had the weekend to give it a try, its great, got the sound I needed easily with a 2 x 12. Many thanks and keep up the good work!"
"Hi Mark, playing around with the Stage Hog sure is a lot of fun! Overall, a really great pedal. I love how amp-like (well duh.. its an amp!) it is and how easy it is to impart a player's feeling into its sound. As shipped it is definately a lower gain setup which nicely fattens up an amps distorted tone. In this configuration it feels like a medium-gain overdrive. Very musical, and also quite transparent. Having played around with the lower-gain tones I am now trying for the more aggressive, higher-gain sounds, and I will be trying the higher-gain JJ that you shipped with the SH."
"Hey Mark...got the SH today. Sounds amazing...nice work. I have been at it for about 4 hours tweaking. Definitely the most transparent pedal money can buy. Thanks Mark...this thing is outstanding!!"
"Thanks a lot Mark, just got the Stage Hog this afternoon. What a neat pedal just to look at; without even plugging it in I can tell that it means business ;-) I'll be spending lots of time with it over the next week or two and I will most definately share the distilled version of my tonal experiments with you. I can only imagine how busy you must be filling those orders in addition to running the busines end of it, and yet you still have time to type out thoughtful and detailed answers to questions and emails. Its been a true pleasure dealing with you."
"I have now extensively tested the Stage Hog at home and with the band. This
thing is great !!! Finally somebody got it right.
I found the Stage Hog most pleasing when plugged before a clean amp (various
"The Hog arrived today! Everything is all right.The voicing switch is just perfect for my needs. It's exactly how I pictured it. Man,you must have a great ear! But,I know that already... The Hog is what every product should be like... just always gratifying. I've been trying to spread the word about it because I genuinely believe it's the best around and more."
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Contact Info : STEPHENSON
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