EBS Fafner 2 or Glock Heartrock 2

M

Modulus1906

May 5, 2009
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#1
I'm considering upgrading to one of these heads from an Ebs TD650, and was wondering which head those of you who have experienced both would chose. I'm leaning toward the Glock because I just love the tone of the Blue Soul amp demo I keep playing over and over on YouTube, but I'm torn that the Fafner 2 can run at 2 ohms whereas the Glock is not rated down to 2 ohms, and the Fafner's eq seems really flexible with the two mixable channels. I have an ebs proline 410 and an ebs proline 212, but if I upgrade to an amp that cannot runs 2 ohms, I'm not sure whether I'd keep the 212 or the 410. I prefer the tone of the 212 since it has more bottom, but the 410 handles more power (800 versus 400 watts). I could keep both cabinets technically and just run one at a time if I got the Glock, but I'm just wondering whether the Fafner2 can cop the Heartrock 2 tone or a tone close to it since, ideally, I'd like the option of running both cabs at once. Another way of looking at the question is whether you think the Glock tone
would be that distinctly better than the Fafner 2 with either cab such that it negates the fact that the Glock could only run one cabinet? Also, if I get the Glock and can only run one cabinet, is it overkill to get the Heartrock II versus the Blue Soul or does the Heartrock offer significant sonic advantages over the Blue Soul despite the weight.
 
#2
I can't answer your direct question, since I don't have more than a quick GTG experience with the Fafner.

But, I owned a TD650 for a while, and owned a HeartRock, and now own a Blue Soul, so can provide a bit of input to your secondary questions.

I can say that either the Heartrock II or the Blue Soul will literally BURY the TD650 run at 4ohms, Not even in the same universe regarding low end fatness, punch and volume. The HeartRock II will operate at 2.67 ohms safely, and if you need that (i.e., running a 4ohm 410 and 8ohm 210 for example) that would be the ONLY reason I would choose the very large, very heavy HeartRock II over the very small, very light 'but still slams like a hammer' Blue Soul.

I know the Fafner is more of EBS's 'rock' amp, and if you want overdrive, etc., from the amp, that would be more appropriate than the Glock stuff. Tonally, you should feel reasonably at home coming from the TD650 and going to the Blue Soul... the Glock stuff has a similar 'upper treble hi fi character' as the TD650, but again, is MUCH more meaty down low. Of course, I would assume the Fafner 'run clean' would remind you of the TD650 also.
 
#6
I own a heart rock and the store where I work got in a Fafner II (the first in canada) They are very different beasts (although i never A/B'd them in the same room) The FAfner two is VERY loud! insane volume levels it's just a beast and it will do some very distorted tones. i would't worry too much about doing 2 ohms et unless you don't want a cabinet upgrade but the Heart rock is very impressive at 4 or 2.77. (750 and 1000 watts respectively)

if you want light go for a blue soul.

I'm just curious, what is it that you think you'll get /need that you aren't getting with the 650? I've only played a 660 briefly but i love the HD350 and would even consider downsizing to that head. 2 ohm possibility lots of punch and power, great eq compressor di etc...
 
#7
droskobass said:
I'm just curious, what is it that you think you'll get /need that you aren't getting with the 650? I've only played a 660 briefly but i love the HD350 and would even consider downsizing to that head. 2 ohm possibility lots of punch and power, great eq compressor di etc...
Click to expand...

I actually thought the HD350 outperformed the TD650 at 4ohms, and ended up keeping the HD350 for quite a while. At 4ohms, that three rack space650 was a waste IMO. I guess if you are always running at 2ohms, it would be worth the extra size, weight and price.

And yes, the Fafner is their kind of 'rock voiced' head, and is quite loud!
 
#8
droskobass said:
I'm just curious, what is it that you think you'll get /need that you aren't getting with the 650? I've only played a 660 briefly but i love the HD350 and would even consider downsizing to that head. 2 ohm possibility lots of punch and power, great eq compressor di etc...
Click to expand...

From my ear and my experience with the TD650,the Glock Blue Soul or HR II seem like they get warmer and perhaps rounder while still being bright, which I like. On the low end, to Kjung's point, it does strike me that the low end is bigger and smoother versus what I perceive to be a very "tight" low end on the TD650. Some of that might be my Proline 410 (plays down to 70hz versus 30hz on my Proline 212), but Kjung is confirming my hunch/ears and he's owned a 650. I think the 650 is a great head, but I can see being more content with the tones I've heard from the Blue Soul or HR II despite that my experience is very limited to sampling web clips. I do have a fairly accurate computer setup though, so I trust what I'm hearing generally.
 
#9
KJung said:
I can't answer your direct question, since I don't have more than a quick GTG experience with the Fafner.

But, I owned a TD650 for a while, and owned a HeartRock, and now own a Blue Soul, so can provide a bit of input to your secondary questions.

I can say that either the Heartrock II or the Blue Soul will literally BURY the TD650 run at 4ohms, Not even in the same universe regarding low end fatness, punch and volume. The HeartRock II will operate at 2.67 ohms safely, and if you need that (i.e., running a 4ohm 410 and 8ohm 210 for example) that would be the ONLY reason I would choose the very large, very heavy HeartRock II over the very small, very light 'but still slams like a hammer' Blue Soul.

I know the Fafner is more of EBS's 'rock' amp, and if you want overdrive, etc., from the amp, that would be more appropriate than the Glock stuff. Tonally, you should feel reasonably at home coming from the TD650 and going to the Blue Soul... the Glock stuff has a similar 'upper treble hi fi character' as the TD650, but again, is MUCH more meaty down low. Of course, I would assume the Fafner 'run clean' would remind you of the TD650 also.
Click to expand...

I was hoping you'd chime in. WOW, interesting to hear your take on the TD650 versus the Blue Soul since I'm considering that head as well. Question, can you project how the Blue Soul may link with the Proline 410 with the relative "high" low end of the 410 (70HZ)? I already like the fact that you say the Blue Soul can get fatter than the TD650 since that's what I believe I hear in samples of the Soul, but I'm wondering whether the frequency response of the proline 410 would negate the Blue Soul's sonic character. I'm not as concerned about that for my Proline 212. Also, are you running the Blue Soul with cabinets that have a higher rated output than the 650 RMS of the Blue Soul? Have you been in a position where you've wanted more output from the Soul? If the Blue Soul gets louder than the TD650 into 4 ohms and stays clean at high volumes, I may scratch my interest in the Heartrock II and just focus on the Blue Soul versus the Fafner II.
 
#10
I owned a Fafner I, and indeed it's a beast. And I would say it is more a rock amp with a nice tubey sound, but can be used for anything really. It had a great, great slap tone due to the natural tube compression
 
#11
I had a Heart-Rock and it was arguably the best amp I ever owned (WT-800, DB750, WW Ultra and a slew of micros). But then again, I never owned a Fafner. If you like a clean sound all the way across the spectrum with plenty of oomph on the bottom, you won't do much better than the Heart-Rock. If you like a tubey, thick, vintage sound then maybe not. Of course you could always put a VT Bass in front of it and have the best of both worlds.
 
#12
Modulus1906 said:
I was hoping you'd chime in. WOW, interesting to hear your take on the TD650 versus the Blue Soul since I'm considering that head as well. Question, can you project how the Blue Soul may link with the Proline 410 with the relative "high" low end of the 410 (70HZ)? I already like the fact that you say the Blue Soul can get fatter than the TD650 since that's what I believe I hear in samples of the Soul, but I'm wondering whether the frequency response of the proline 410 would negate the Blue Soul's sonic character. I'm not as concerned about that for my Proline 212. Also, are you running the Blue Soul with cabinets that have a higher rated output than the 650 RMS of the Blue Soul? Have you been in a position where you've wanted more output from the Soul? If the Blue Soul gets louder than the TD650 into 4 ohms and stays clean at high volumes, I may scratch my interest in the Heartrock II and just focus on the Blue Soul versus the Fafner II.
Click to expand...

The Glock bass control, combined with the low mid control, does a pretty good job matching the low end of the head with most cabs (i.e, cutting or boosting where needed without getting 'thin' when cutting a bit or overly boomy when boosting.

I again can't imagine a 4ohm 410 or 4ohm 212 that the Blue Sould couldn't push to full performance, so can't really see choosing a Heartrock II over the Blue Soul. The Fafner will be a different thing altogether from the Glock though.

Power ratings of cabs versus amp output are not that important as long as they are not too far off (1000 watt head with a 200 watt thermal rated cab). Even then, you just need to be a little careful. With the typical 400-600 watt rated 212 or 410, the Blue Soul matches up great.
 
#13
The new Fafner is very loud and feels very strong with lots of low-end headroom. Almost like a clean DB751. Sounds much more solid than the old Fafner, and buries the other EBS heads volumvice. IMO the best EBS head to date.
 
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