It has a fantastic break up curve just like a no-master-volume tube amp. Clean and chimey up to a point where it starts to break up nicely and responsive to the guitar volume and OD pedals. Very, very nice. The Mike Matthews Dirt Road Special had a built-in phaser instead of a built-in reverb. Having a built-in Holy Grail Max adds a ton of value.
That Tri Parallel is awesome too. Being able to "stack" your dirt in parallel rather than serial gives you so many more options. Imagine the noise you get running three distortions in series. In parallel, they don't amplify each other's noise. Very nice. Being able to run things like the 9 pedals in parallel is awesome. As if that wasn't enough, you can also use it as a three way SPLITTER to send the signal to three different amps, or three entirely different effects loops. You can also use it as a three way (four way actually) footswitchable MIXER to be able to select from multiple instruments with a footswitch. Think of going into a single looper with a rhythm instrument, a bass, and a guitar that you can select with the footswitch. Very, very nice.
I had the original Mike Matthews Dirt Road Special from the 70's and what a great amp for a kid in his first band. It kept up with all the other members gear and the crashing loud drummer. The original had the Small Stone Phase in it which was cool, but the new version with the reverb seems more versatile. I'm actually selling a few amps to make room for this one. I have to have it. It's a blast from MY past and it really help define my first "sound". I want it back now, some 40 years later. That's EH and thanks for making a great demo of this wonderful little under rated amp. Mike was a genius.
I can see why you need a send and return volume on that pedal but I would prefer a more front of amp set up with a single blend knob. Maybe two versions?
@@IETCHX69Oh, I know exactly how I intend to use it, I have been waiting for a product similar to this to come out. I want to use it for running reverb and delay in parallel in a small wet/dry set up, so that I can use the kill-dry on both the reverb and delay into the wet amp. I have been at this for thirty years, so a learning curve is not really a problem for me nowadays.
@Ben HackettThat's what I am expecting as well, that's why I used the term "assembled in the USA" instead of "made". I think we have all come to terms with the fact that ALL electronic devices nowadays are made from internationally sourced components, no matter where they are put together. I still give credit to EH for assembling so many of their products here in the US and at the same time keeping prices reasonable, at least it creates some jobs here in this country.
That Dirt Road special is so inexpensive that people will consider getting TWO of them to set up a true stereo rig, for the price that you might pay for ONE other similarly capable amp.
Really didn’t like it. I will keep my tube amps. My old Peavey Bandit red stripe sounds better then that. For that price range I’d buy another used Fender Blues Jr. tweed NOS.
It has a fantastic break up curve just like a no-master-volume tube amp. Clean and chimey up to a point where it starts to break up nicely and responsive to the guitar volume and OD pedals. Very, very nice. The Mike Matthews Dirt Road Special had a built-in phaser instead of a built-in reverb. Having a built-in Holy Grail Max adds a ton of value.
That Tri Parallel is awesome too. Being able to "stack" your dirt in parallel rather than serial gives you so many more options. Imagine the noise you get running three distortions in series. In parallel, they don't amplify each other's noise. Very nice. Being able to run things like the 9 pedals in parallel is awesome. As if that wasn't enough, you can also use it as a three way SPLITTER to send the signal to three different amps, or three entirely different effects loops. You can also use it as a three way (four way actually) footswitchable MIXER to be able to select from multiple instruments with a footswitch. Think of going into a single looper with a rhythm instrument, a bass, and a guitar that you can select with the footswitch. Very, very nice.
I had the original Mike Matthews Dirt Road Special from the 70's and what a great amp for a kid in his first band. It kept up with all the other members gear and the crashing loud drummer. The original had the Small Stone Phase in it which was cool, but the new version with the reverb seems more versatile. I'm actually selling a few amps to make room for this one. I have to have it. It's a blast from MY past and it really help define my first "sound". I want it back now, some 40 years later. That's EH and thanks for making a great demo of this wonderful little under rated amp. Mike was a genius.
Wow, that clean sound is lovely. Wait, that was the soul drive magic...
Distortion sounds tweed and dry, quite nice.
The drive in the amp sounds really good! Kind of a lo-fi drive vibe to my ear
caught him with that soul food on
Gotta hand it to EHX - they're always doing stuff.
I always got a real cool vibe from Mike Matthews like he was looking out for his customers. Odd phenomenon.
I've always thought that every pedal should have its own wet dry knob! This is great!
He has his OWN flavor , which is great and cool .
No line out, no line in, no effects loop; I've never seen a solid state amp so self-contained.
Sounded great! Cool amp.
The Dirt Road Special is a wicked little amp, would've been nice to hear it dimed though!
I can see why you need a send and return volume on that pedal but I would prefer a more front of amp set up with a single blend knob. Maybe two versions?
Up the old dirt road.
Gig-ah-tay ...
Gotta have that mixer.
Use it in 10 seconds . LEARN how to use it , 2 years .
@@IETCHX69Oh, I know exactly how I intend to use it, I have been waiting for a product similar to this to come out.
I want to use it for running reverb and delay in parallel in a small wet/dry set up, so that I can use the kill-dry on both the reverb and delay into the wet amp.
I have been at this for thirty years, so a learning curve is not really a problem for me nowadays.
It says "New York City USA" on the face-plate, is this amp actually assembled in the USA?
@Ben HackettThat's what I am expecting as well, that's why I used the term "assembled in the USA" instead of "made".
I think we have all come to terms with the fact that ALL electronic devices nowadays are made from internationally sourced components, no matter where they are put together.
I still give credit to EH for assembling so many of their products here in the US and at the same time keeping prices reasonable, at least it creates some jobs here in this country.
That Tri mixer has piqued my interest for sure. Mix some fuzz and some marshall in a box distortion in parallel? Yes please.
nice demo
i think an ambient spacey verb would have been better that the reverse .imo
Good demo.
SAaaaay it aaaintt soooooooooooo OOOO ooo OOOO ooooh
3PM for the win
lmao i thought it was j mascis from the thumbnail
Soul Food to add color??? I thought it was supposed to be transparent.
I'll never understand why people don't demo amps without any added pedals so we can hear just the damn amp
That Dirt Road special is so inexpensive that people will consider getting TWO of them to set up a true stereo rig, for the price that you might pay for ONE other similarly capable amp.
The only pedal you will need is a Lehle P-split.
It's not "so inexpensive" at all, as anyone who checks online for a minute can see.
Has anyone figured out if the tone is active?
Probably whatever is cheaper.
Kevin says he doesn't know.
The thumbs up goes to the demonstrator. PG guy gets like three hundred twenty five and a half thumbs down. Just my opinion.
$395 for the amp, not bad!
$395 is list. I've seen it for $349 now.
I Like Mike. 👍
The price on the amp is , I will be buying one dollars . The mixer price is , yes please .
Really didn’t like it. I will keep my tube amps. My old Peavey Bandit red stripe sounds better then that. For that price range I’d buy another used Fender Blues Jr. tweed NOS.
I have a Blues Jr. Myself. And yes they are bad ass amps. I know I Love mine.
please tune up and get a guitar that is set up properly if you want to SELL us
Yikes. Sounds like a Bugera 100$ shit cake.
@Far Stox Im sure they do. This amp just really sounds like the 100$ bugera I own.
Stop that jumpy edit shit it's annoying !!!!