After many years using the Mark Series Boogies, Ive switched

[Gainfreak]

To using Fortin Modded Marshalls. They just do it for me these days.
I still love the Boogies and always will but the Modded Marshalls are just so much easier to use and they just sound killer and they are very inspiring to play.

When I started playing with the new band, I noticed that my MKIV was getting killed in a mix and I had to really fuck around with the EQ. This wasn't new to me but qfter many years of doing this it was an added HUGE PITA. I guess in my old age, Im just tired or having to tweak the EQ lol.
With Mikes Cali Modded Marshall all I have to do is literally plug in , set up my controls the way I like it and Im good to go.

I'll still continue to use the AXE-FX live because of the flexability but the Modded Marshall Mike Lent me has been my go to amp since I got it. I can't wait to get my 100 watter back from Mike and I can't wait until he gets a chance to work on my Ultimate mod lol


Well there you have it.

~R~

 

[tweed]

I expect all amps to be tweaked and setup upon my arrival, MKIV, Fortin, etc. Only after seeing and playing said amps will I believe anything you say. Until then it didn't happen.

Thank you,

Randy

 

[Gainfreak]

I expect all amps to be tweaked and setup upon my arrival, MKIV, Fortin, etc. Only after seeing and playing said amps will I believe anything you say. Until then it didn't happen.

Thank you,

Randy

Be affraid....Very affraid

 

[thiswaythatway]

Well, the Mesa Boogie Mark V laid a huge turd for me so I'm really interested in a Fortin now.

Hey Ralph, what model Marshall is that cali mod installed on?

 

[Gainfreak]

Well, the Mesa Boogie Mark V laid a huge turd for me so I'm really interested in a Fortin now.

Hey Ralph, what model Marshall is that cali mod installed on?

The one that Mike loaned me is a 1987 50 watt re-issue.

 

[tweed]

Well, the Mesa Boogie Mark V laid a huge turd for me so I'm really interested in a Fortin now.

Hey Ralph, what model Marshall is that cali mod installed on?

What happened with the V?

 

[thiswaythatway]

Well, the Mesa Boogie Mark V laid a huge turd for me so I'm really interested in a Fortin now.

Hey Ralph, what model Marshall is that cali mod installed on?

What happened with the V?

Nothing went wrong with it, i just didn't like it. Channel 2 of it was better than the Mark IV, but the lead channel was a letdown for me, especially the IIC+ mode.

 

[thegame]

but the lead channel was a letdown for me, especially the IIC+ mode.

No surprise there.

RIP Mesa Boogie 1971 - 1991

 

[Gainfreak]

I have been gassing for a Fortin amp. I have narrowed it down to either getting a Marshall modded or getting a Bones with a series/parallel effects loop. I am leaning toward the latter since I want the transformers that Mike uses. I sold my Mark III and I am out of Boogie land all together.

For what it is worth, the youtube videos of Mikes amps sound great, but actually being in the room playing them has made me a believer.

I agree 100% I love all the clips but hearing the amps in person punched my face in. I absolutely loved the Bones amp when I played it and his meathead is in a whole other league IMHO. Id be all over that amp if I wasn't to lazy to lug it around

I toyed around with more mods then Im already having done but I really want a fortin production amp. Mike told me that the Hulk800 is like his NATAS production amp but the NATAS will be able to do more because of the transformers and a few tweaks. After my Mods are done I'll be getting the NATAS for sure. I don't even need to hear it to know that Im going to love it because that Hulk amp knocked my dick in the dirt!!

 

[tweed]

Dude you are scaring the shit out of me. I am leaving the credit cards at home when I fly out there.



*yeah right , who am I kidding*

 

[thiswaythatway]

but the lead channel was a letdown for me, especially the IIC+ mode.

No surprise there.

RIP Mesa Boogie 1971 - 1991

Don't get me wrong, I'd take a IIC+ or a Coliseum, but that's about it. I have tried to like a lot of their amps but never did. Stiletto's, Lonestars, Recto's....meh. Well, the first batch of Rectos sound great when boosted.

And of course Mesa Boogie fails to acknoweledge that something was different with the early Rectos. Why does Boogie make a great sounding amp, then fuck it up and claim they can't duplicate it? Even the Mark IV A version sounded differerent from the B version. Now, every amp they make has a million modes,switches, and knobs.

 

[Gainiac]

Yeah, I couldnt make the 'fest, but having spanked that Fortin 50 that Ralph has at his place, good GOD, yeah, like 20 different sounds pulled from this thing, EACH one most enjoyable.... verrrrrry METAL!!!!! and... very blues, very jazz, very nashville pickin'.....

Guess I know what I'm saving for next....

 

[jonny toetags]

Nothing's come close to satisfying me like my Fortin plexi.
I've already told Mike I need a backup

 

[thegame]

Don't get me wrong, I'd take a IIC+ or a Coliseum, but that's about it. I have tried to like a lot of their amps but never did. Stiletto's, Lonestars, Recto's....meh. Well, the first batch of Rectos sound great when boosted.

And of course Mesa Boogie fails to acknoweledge that something was different with the early Rectos. Why does Boogie make a great sounding amp, then fuck it up and claim they can't duplicate it? Even the Mark IV A version sounded differerent from the B version. Now, every amp they make has a million modes,switches, and knobs.

Agree 100 %. This excerpt from your post "Mesa Boogie fails" sums up their recent history quite well.

 

[tweed]

I REALLY love the fact that I can mix and match power tubes. I think I would love the Bones with a quad of 6550s or 6L6's to help give me a more modern sound. I also want to be able to footswitch between the 3 gain stages (switch on the front). Combine that with a pedal for extra dirt and I could have almost any tone I wanted.

This!! Plus a footswitchable solo boost

 

[thegame]

I loved the Hulk, but I think I have some of it covered with the Camerons...

I REALLY love the fact that I can mix and match power tubes. I think I would love the Bones with a quad of 6550s or 6L6's to help give me a more modern sound. I also want to be able to footswitch between the 3 gain stages (switch on the front). Combine that with a pedal for extra dirt and I could have almost any tone I wanted.

The Meathead is killer, but has too many options for me...although I could find a use for them

I need to find out more regarding the NATAS.

You can mix different tubes types at the same time as well, not just different type quads. You could actually mix 1 EL34, 6L6, 6550 & KT88 all at once if they happen to be in a similar enough bias range. Tricky to pull off but it is possible.

The Hulk mod rules, but Natas will be considerably beyond that. Alot beyond it actually. Not neccesarily gain wise just overall aggression will be increased exponentially. Its called Natas for a reason haha.

 

[sebby123]

You guys just keep pushing me towards selling my mark IV and getting a bones

 

[thiswaythatway]

I REALLY love the fact that I can mix and match power tubes. I think I would love the Bones with a quad of 6550s or 6L6's to help give me a more modern sound. I also want to be able to footswitch between the 3 gain stages (switch on the front). Combine that with a pedal for extra dirt and I could have almost any tone I wanted.

This!! Plus a footswitchable solo boost

You can always get away with an EQ pedal into an effects loop for a volume boost.

 

[sebby123]

I REALLY love the fact that I can mix and match power tubes. I think I would love the Bones with a quad of 6550s or 6L6's to help give me a more modern sound. I also want to be able to footswitch between the 3 gain stages (switch on the front). Combine that with a pedal for extra dirt and I could have almost any tone I wanted.

This!! Plus a footswitchable solo boost

You can always get away with an EQ pedal into an effects loop for a volume boost.

I think after owning a mark series amp i couldnt live without an eq in the loop not for scooping mids just i love the idea of moldeing the frequinces like that.

 

[blackba]

Holy cow, everyone is dumping their mesa mark series amps. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, things go in cycles. Not many musicians use the same gear throughout there career, so its not surprising. Sorry you guys are jumping ship from the mark series, however I totally understand, which is why I have my trusty marshall 2553, but the mark IVA is going nowhere, unless I get a mark V or maybe an Axe-Fx, then its in trouble....