Amp modders from back in the day

[guitarmike]

At some point in the near future my finances will improve (kids out of the house) and I'd like to collect modded Marshalls from back in the day. The only amp modder i knew of prior to Rig Talk was Lee Jackson. I have a Metaltronix head and a XLS500. I have heard of Metalhead and Jose, who else was reasonably well known back then?

This was 7-6-2011 at summerfest in Milwaukee. Being the 80's guy I am I stuffed the jcm800 chassis Dave friedman modded for me into the Metaltronix cab. The top cab is a 1995 Sonic cab that some guy bought and never used, he sold it to me a couple weeks ago for $80. The bottom cab is a late 70's Marshall.

 

[glpg80]

dude that metaltronix case is pure awsome, great idea stuffing the 800 in it, i bet you get alot of compliments and questions about it

Tom Scholz was another modder and amp builder back in the 80's, mainly for the boston sound though. but if you are going to be collecting 80's built and designed gear from professionals, his name has got to be mentioned.

then there are the red and purple marshalls that george lynch rented (and tried to steal the purple one at a party once) that aspin pittman modified.

theres also another amplifier modder that did all of zakk's 6550 marshall modifications back in the day, last i checked his company logo was a chrome looking biker skull. wylder amps comes to mind, not sure if that is him.

you already know and mentioned metaltronix

back in the 80's there was an ADA mod called the 3TM that a guy who administrates over at adadepot.com that still provides this 80's mod for people to install. good luck getting ahold of it, its quite a long waiting list. been there. done that, got that t-shirt.

i would look more into what dokken and demartini were using, i know back then boosting stock shit with rat pedals and overdubbing were pretty common, not SO much as amplifier mods persay, although they did exist.

last but not least would be anything done originally by jose arredondo (sp?) - well known as eddie's amp repair man, now taken over by dave friedman.

anything the late Ken Fisher has built and owned would be considered a gold mine.

Tim Caswell was a biggie.

thats all that comes to mind. good luck

 

[mchn13]

Langner who did alot of the marshall modding for the bay area thrash bands. I seem to remember him working on the ada stuff too?

 

[rottingcorpse]

Langner who did alot of the marshall modding for the bay area thrash bands. I seem to remember him working on the ada stuff too?

yeah, langer did gary holts marshall. man, i want one of those.

 

[Wayniac3]

Langner, Tim Caswell, Jose Arredando, Lee Jacskon, Harry Kolbe.. I also think Rivera and Bogner did mods back in the day. There was an issue of Guitar World that profiled many of these guys.
Don't forget the new crop - Voodoo, Splawn, Freidman, Fortin, Bray...

 

[Capulin Overdrive]

Dirk Baldringer from Germany, and Papa Diezel did atleast a few mods.

 

[GITTarzann]

Mike Morin

 

[zee1usa]

Mike Soldano

 

[Bantam Menace]

I've got 2 Metalhead modded Marshalls. They're awesome!

 

[steve_k]

Mike Morin is the guy want.....

 

[glpg80]

I've got 2 Metalhead modded Marshalls. They're awesome!

*Lee Jackson was the word you were looking for

 

[Bantam Menace]

I've got 2 Metalhead modded Marshalls. They're awesome!

*Lee Jackson was the word you were looking for

No....I meant Metalhead. I've got a Lee Jackson as well...it's ok.

 

[JTyson]

Todd Langner
I still have some of his stuff, its still amazing 30 years later

 

[glpg80]

I've got 2 Metalhead modded Marshalls. They're awesome!

*Lee Jackson was the word you were looking for

No....I meant Metalhead. I've got a Lee Jackson as well...it's ok.

the metalhead was designed by lee jackson....so you're saying you have an amp that modified an amp?

 

[Bantam Menace]

Huh...I thought it was a different guy? Maybe you're thinking of Metaltronix?

 

[glpg80]

Huh...I thought it was a different guy? Maybe you're thinking of Metaltronix?

well hell now you've got me confused?

which did zakk wylde play for a bit? those were the ones made by lee jackson? maybe it is metaltronix i am thinking of. if so i appologize for busting your chops, i am under the influence of some serious drugs right now coming out of surgery so i have an excuse and a reason for being wrong for once

 

[Bantam Menace]

Yep, you're thinking of Metaltronix. All good.

I was surprised to see Metalhead mentioned...not many people are familiar with his mods.

 

[freeballinusa]

Did Diaz do mods? Also anyone know what a Metaltronix goes for?

 

[Wayniac3]

Oh - Tommy Folkesson as well

 

[jerrydyer]

Tony Alamia Audio
The dude at Futura sound who started at Alamia Audio
James Art reno at Lab soundt.

tons of bad ones like these dudes un Whittier that did the crappiest generic add a tube mod. uuugghh!!! total hacks.

Lee definately found a nitch