Amp Modders Comparison

[DJUdwin]

I am looking to get my Marshall 1959SLP modded and have been trying to find out who to send it to. I am looking for something that can achieve very, very high gain, but sounds good at all gains and has a great clean tone. So far the contenders are Dave Friedman, Voodoo Amps, Mike Fortin, FJA Mods and David Bray. Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Beyond Black]

I have a Fortin modded SLP with the Cali mod and I absolutely love it. Best amp I've ever owned. The amp has a multitude of tonal options. Stock Plexi all the way to high gain mayhem and they all sound awesome. No clean tone but with the volume backed off on your guitar it suffices. The high gain tones are absolutely vicious. Really good blues tones can be had by backing off the gain and playing with the toggle switches. There's also a 3 way saturation switch. This amp does it all and Mike Fortin will bend over backwards to help you. He's a great guy and really knows how to treat a customer. I had a Bray modded Marshall. It was nice but it had a really loose bottom end that I didn't dig. Great sounding amp, just not my cup of tea. At the time I liked my Splawn much more so I sold the Bray. Check out his samples, they are very accurate. Never had any of the other ones but I'm contemplating a Friedman KS mod. I've heard a lot of good things about FJA but it's hard to tell from his samples. I think he could really benefit from some better recordings. Hope this helps.

 

[JTyson]

I have a Metro-Plexi that has a Friedman Kitchen Sink mod with the sat sw, and fat sw options, Its a killer amp, sounds great high-gain, and has a ton of gain on tap with the sat switch option, but no clean. I dont know if Dave offers a clean channel option or not. I believe Mike Fortin offers a clean option if you want it, and his high-gain is absolutely vicious and stays super tight. Mike also offers different high gain mods if you dont really go for super tight. He can build whatever you want. Call him, he's real easy to talk to. I've heard 2 Brays 1 sounded great and the other one was not really my cup of tea. I have no experience with FJA or Voodoo, but maybe someone will chime in on them

 

[Mailman1971]

I have a JCM 800 that is heavily modded by FJA mods.
It sounds incredible in person. He has diode clipping and so much gain on tap its unreal.
Sounds HUGE!
I have owned 2 cameron amps and find my FJA easily hangs with them.
I would like to get the Friedman Kitchen sink mod next.
That is my new years "resolution".......

 

[DJUdwin]

I guess as problems go, everyone being too good is not that bad... Sure doesn't make things easy though. Has anyone tried the Fortin Cali mod and the Friedman Kitchen Sink? I am also still trying to get a response on FJA's forums about his mods. It does not seem like many people have gotten him to hotrod a plexi yet. I also got a response from Trace at Voodoo about his Ultra Gain Jose mod, with the additional gain stage. Sounds promising. So far though, Fortin and Friedman seem to be pulling ahead.

 

[Mailman1971]

I really dont think you will go "wrong" in any choice.
All the modders BRING it to the table.
I would love to have an amp from all of them!
But my amp whore days are over........

 

[NewWorldMan]

Has anyone tried the Fortin Cali mod and the Friedman Kitchen Sink?

I own a Friedman KS and have a Fortin Cali that should be done any time. Comparison clips to follow...

 

[Digital Jams]

This is an impossible question to answer. All the names listed have great mods. I have only heard Fortin's Cali and Hulk mods in person and I can tell you they flat out rip. Others here love Friedman, others love Jerry. Heck, I am a Cameron bitch.

Agreed, imo it comes down to what feel you are looking for. All guys listed are fantasic modder and builders.

 

[sswanson]

I had a 1959SLP reissue with David Bray's plexi mod re-work II. It was a great sounding amp and Dave is excellent to deal with. He seems to focus on vintage plexi tones more than modern tones. Another poster made the comment that a Bray amp he heard had a "loose bottom", that's an accurate statement but it's all part of the sound he is going for with his mods. If you're looking for tighter, modern sounds you may want to check out some of the other modders. I'm sure they're all great, the stuff I've heard from Mike Fortin is insane.

I don't know for sure if Dave Bray does a separate clean channel, he does offer Dual master volumes. You could set one up for your distorted sounds and the other slightly higher to balance out the volume when you roll the volume knob on your guitar down to get a "semi-clean" tone.

 

[Mailman1971]

Here is a clip of my FJA modded JCM 800..........

 

[DJUdwin]

I own a Friedman KS and have a Fortin Cali that should be done any time. Comparison clips to follow...

That will definitely help a lot.

Thanks also for the info on Bray. I am looking for a more tight and modern mod, while still retaining some plexi, vintage qualities, so I guess he is off the table for me.

Mailman's JCM sounded amazing. I'll have to wait for some kind of response from the FJA fourms. Not the most lively, quick people. I may just e-mail him if I don't get a response soon.

I just remembered CAswell's 39 mod. Anyone tried or heard that?

Everyone is also right that anyone one of these people will do a great job. We are all lucky to have so many talented amp techs.

 

[VoodooChild24]

Based on the clips i've heard in this forum, it would be the triple "F"

Fortin
Friedman
FJA

In no particular order. You can never go with these 3.

 

[steve_k]

Here is a clip of my FJA modded JCM 800..........

That clip is killer. The fucking snare is terrible though. Lars Ulrich impression?

I like that....what a great idea too - a Marshall mod that still sounds like a Marshall!

Steve

 

[MrDan666]

My vote goes to Mike Fortin Amazing tone, lots of flexibility with the tonal options and switching options, extremely clean work and great customer service! What more could you want?

 

[JTyson]

Here is a clip of my FJA modded JCM 800..........

Wow! thats the best sounding FJA clip I've heard yet

 

[Mailman1971]

That clip was done By Nick (Dawnofdreamx97) when he got the amp back from Jerry(FJA MODS)
That is the guitar straight into the amp. Nothing else.
It really does sound that good if not better in person.
Also the Low gain channel is pure AC/DC to EVH Brown sound.
For about $400 is what I believe FJA is charging for that mod.

 

[racer_j]

I would love to hear that clip without the drums.

It sounded awesome. I don't usually give in to amp GASing but damn that sounded sweet!


Jason

 

[rocker]

Here is a clip of my FJA modded JCM 800..........

Wow that sounded great and is the best FJA clip I've heard. My vote goes for the Fortin Cali mod, but I love Dave's Cameron modded Marshall and it would be great to try the mods and Marsha from Dave F. Not easy to choose and amp these days so many great ones.

 

[rocker]

Here is a clip of my FJA modded JCM 800..........

That clip is killer. The fucking snare is terrible though. Lars Ulrich impression?

Good one on the snare comment.

 

[crabby]

wow that fja rips, like you said still sounds like marshall with more punch n grind!