Lee Jackson Metaltronix Amplifiers

[ramalam]

Where the heck can I find one or these. I would be very interested in getting one.

[tobias]

[quote="ramalam"]Where the heck can I find one or these. I would be very interested in getting one.[/quote]

the best way seems to be evilbay...sorry to say, but thats true...
good luck!
_________________
PG:" I kept a Lee Jackson modified 50-watt Marshall in my locker at school..."

[ramalam]

Thanks for the reply. What is the basic price range for a decent one? How often do you see them? I have only been looking for a couple of weeks but haven't seen any anywhere. How would you compare it to the VL 502? BTW, what school and what is the locker number? Hey, its just a joke. Thanks again, Jim

[tobias]

[quote="ramalam"]Thanks for the reply. What is the basic price range for a decent one? How often do you see them? I have only been looking for a couple of weeks but haven't seen any anywhere. How would you compare it to the VL 502? BTW, what school and what is the locker number? Hey, its just a joke. Thanks again, Jim[/quote]

hi jim,

ampeg vls are from 300-600$ depending on codition and luck [local pick-ups are mainly a lot cheaper] and are easy to get [there are 1 or 2 every week on the bay].+

the lee jackson heads are much more rare [and more expensive] - did you perform a google search? some shops have them and don't know what they really got when the buy them second hand.

sorry, but i had no luck in finding one by myself [just 2 vl heads ;)]…
_________________
PG:" I kept a Lee Jackson modified 50-watt Marshall in my locker at school..."

[shredmuch]

I got an XLS-500 about 3 or 4 years ago, managed to score it for about $350. That said, I would happily pay $700 for what it is and what it does, but wouldn't part with it for that. The VL-502 I've had for perhaps 8 years, payed a little more than I should have, considering what they can be found for now. Tonally, the two amps can pull off seemingly identical sounds with the right tubing and settings. But the VL has always had such a wider sounding "roar" that cuts through, like the sound of a V8 engine vs a V6. The XLS seems a little more refined and smoother, perhaps less messy overtones, and gets a bit darker sounding with 6L6s than with EL34s, A little more Mesa like. The clean channels are quite different to me, the VLs clean can quickly be pushed into a grind at around 4-6 on the pre volume, whereas the XLSs is designed to stay as clean and clear as possible, right up to 10. The amount of gain seems comparable on both lead channels. The attenuator works better on the XLS at preserving the full tone at low volumes, and in many cases improves it, oddly. The effects loop is handier on the XLS, being tube buffered and fully variable send and return levels, rather than being set in one of two level ranges as it is on the VL (pad switch). The XLS doesnt have built in reverb, but I was never fond of the VLs reverb anyways, and I always use an external unit. I haven't run into the heater supply/molex connector problem on the XLS, as I and many others have on the VL heads, but once I fixed that, the VL has been completely reliable.
Certainly if you can find an XLS, get it. It seems to be a brilliantly designed and voiced amp, but it may not give you all that much more that you can't get out of a VL.

Pat