Anyone play/played a Cornford amp?

[Tawlks]

I love me some Cornford. The first one Itried was a RK100 about 5 years ago. I did not get to pump up the volume, so it was ah. I did play Josh's MK50 and cyndicates Carrera. I really like them both. For the price, the Roadhouse is really cool. I enjoyed playing one of them. It is a simple amp and Marshally.

How does it compare to the others? I didn't think of it as Marshally, I prefered it to any Marshall I've played.

 

[primerib]

Vinnie Moore used a Conford MK50H and that album had his best tone ever. I must have one!!!!

 

[Eazy-ESP]

The MK50H I had was an excellent amp. Like another posted, similar to an SLO but a little darker with lower mids. An SLO cuts with the upper mids. The MK50 cut with a unique treble. I thought the amp had great feel. Not stiff at all. It wasn't overly filtered by any means.It was a really nice tone. I was going to have Wally get me an MK100 built, but in the end I went a different direction. I trust Wally but I didn't want to end up waiting a year or more which is what happened when I had a deposit in for one. I eventually got a refund when I found a used one. Here was my MK50H. I bought it from Vic. I later put it in a new Cornford black headshell. Another member has it now and loves it. He has two of them.

This has been one of my top tone demos for years.

 

[Beyond Black]

My buddy has an MK50 and a MKII, both are killers. As said, they’re similar to an SLO but darker, slightly lower mids, and tighter as well. Hit it with a boost and it goes beast mode.
I’ve got an RK100 and it’s amazing. I’d say it’s like a darker, thicker, lower mid SL, with more available low end and a great master volume.
It’s extremely raw, organic and gritty, and sounds authentically vintage.
It’s very receptive to the guitar’s volume knob and has an incredibly bouncy, fluid feel.
It’s got gigantic trannys, hits hard and sounds huge. Just like the MK, it goes beast mode with a boost.
Cornfords are top tier amps, shame they went under. I’ve only heard two Victory amps in person, and they’re no Cornfords.

 

[reignman454]

Player / friend had a cornfield fetish for a while… he was buying anyone he saw, ended up with the RK stuff…. They went down… a lot.

The tech who was working on them had nothing but gripes… at the time I didn’t care to listen, but dude was a sorcerer repairing plenty of modded amps I had, having to figure out what guys did versus reading a schematic, he knew his stuff.

Steered me away immediately. Sounded good if you never had a monster amp…. If you did, felt stiff, wasn’t impressed or blown away by any means but they did have tone for sure.

Full disclosure, this was toward their end so I’m assuming it was lack of QC, swapped parts etc… no clue if they were early, later but have to assume.

 

[Eazy-ESP]

Player / friend had a cornfield fetish for a while… he was buying anyone he saw, ended up with the RK stuff…. They went down… a lot.

The tech who was working on them had nothing but gripes… at the time I didn’t care to listen, but dude was a sorcerer repairing plenty of modded amps I had, having to figure out what guys did versus reading a schematic, he knew his stuff.

Steered me away immediately. Sounded good if you never had a monster amp…. If you did, felt stiff, wasn’t impressed or blown away by any means but they did have tone for sure.

Full disclosure, this was toward their end so I’m assuming it was lack of QC, swapped parts etc… no clue if they were early, later but have to assume.

I’ve got a Hellcat from the Martin Kidd era and it has been faultless for the 15 years I’ve owned it. Only issue I had was needing to clean the effects loop with some contact cleaner.

 

[Eazy-ESP]

My buddy has an MK50 and a MKII, both are killers. As said, they’re similar to an SLO but darker, slightly lower mids, and tighter as well. Hit it with a boost and it goes beast mode.
I’ve got an RK100 and it’s amazing. I’d say it’s like a darker, thicker, lower mid SL, with more available low end and a great master volume.
It’s extremely raw, organic and gritty, and sounds authentically vintage.
It’s very receptive to the guitar’s volume knob and has an incredibly bouncy, fluid feel.
It’s got gigantic trannys, hits hard and sounds huge. Just like the MK, it goes beast mode with a boost.
Cornfords are top tier amps, shame they went under. I’ve only heard two Victory amps in person, and they’re no Cornfords.
View attachment 460369

I’ve always wanted to try an RK100. Look at the size of that transformer lol.

 

[lester]

I had a Hellcat and it was an awesome amp.

I bought that from you! still have it, playing it the other day put a 10 band EQ in the loop and a Koko boost on the mid boost in front. Fucking thing kills. Really fun.
Thought I selling a few times but every time I play it I think well... yeah, not yet.

* Damn I just realized I'm responding to a15-year-old post!!!
I've had this amp over 15 years now... what the fuck?
This time thing is getting goofy

 

[lester]

Player / friend had a cornfield fetish for a while… he was buying anyone he saw, ended up with the RK stuff…. They went down… a lot.

The tech who was working on them had nothing but gripes… at the time I didn’t care to listen, but dude was a sorcerer repairing plenty of modded amps I had, having to figure out what guys did versus reading a schematic, he knew his stuff.

Steered me away immediately. Sounded good if you never had a monster amp…. If you did, felt stiff, wasn’t impressed or blown away by any means but they did have tone for sure.

Full disclosure, this was toward their end so I’m assuming it was lack of QC, swapped parts etc… no clue if they were early, later but have to assume.

This tech sounds like he's totally full of shit.
Stiff? yeah that don't make any sense at all. I have two the MK50 II and the Hellcat.

 

[Beyond Black]

This tech sounds like he's totally full of shit.
Stiff? yeah that don't make any sense at all. I have two the MK50 II and the Hellcat.

Agreed, Cornfords are the furthest thing from stiff.

 

[Beyond Black]

I’ve always wanted to try an RK100. Look at the size of that transformer lol.

When carrying the amp it hangs very lopsided to that side. Lol

 

[Beyond Black]

Player / friend had a cornfield fetish for a while… he was buying anyone he saw, ended up with the RK stuff…. They went down… a lot.

The tech who was working on them had nothing but gripes… at the time I didn’t care to listen, but dude was a sorcerer repairing plenty of modded amps I had, having to figure out what guys did versus reading a schematic, he knew his stuff.

Steered me away immediately. Sounded good if you never had a monster amp…. If you did, felt stiff, wasn’t impressed or blown away by any means but they did have tone for sure.

Full disclosure, this was toward their end so I’m assuming it was lack of QC, swapped parts etc… no clue if they were early, later but have to assume.

My friend with two MKs and myself have/had plenty of monster amps and his MKs and my RK more than hang with any of them all day long.
He’s also gigged tf out of them with no issues whatsoever.

 

[anomaly]

The MK50H I had was an excellent amp. Like another posted, similar to an SLO but a little darker with lower mids. An SLO cuts with the upper mids. The MK50 cut with a unique treble. I thought the amp had great feel. Not stiff at all. It wasn't overly filtered by any means.It was a really nice tone. I was going to have Wally get me an MK100 built, but in the end I went a different direction. I trust Wally but I didn't want to end up waiting a year or more which is what happened when I had a deposit in for one. I eventually got a refund when I found a used one. Here was my MK50H. I bought it from Vic. I later put it in a new Cornford black headshell. Another member has it now and loves it. He has two of them.

Sounds awesome. You play very well.

 

[reignman454]

BEST AMP EVER MADE

 

[Geo]

Yes

 

[Eazy-ESP]

So because you have two amps my opinion and the tech you've never met who was world class is full of shit? Small pee pee vibes bro... I'll take in person opinions from guys like Andy Wood on amp techs rather than your feelings. That same amp the kid sold the guy months later tried to file a claim because it popped. Was in the power section. Oh, that kid with the Cornfords, he hasn't left the tour bus in years. Glenn Hughes, Sebastian Bach, Malmsteen to name a few he's been on tour with now... He must be an idiot for having those issues too.

I just googled and found several posts about noise, issues etc.

"Cornford shifted parts of its production and logistics to a manufacturing firm called Straight Edge Manufacturing. Ongoing financial issues, component sourcing delays (such as custom transformers), and eventual friction with this OEM partner meant that the company could no longer fulfill orders or handle repairs consistently"

Decaf and less feelings, be good for ya... oh wait yea... internet... your opinions much more important than opinions on actual experiences... got it. I didn't say they weren't good, I didn't say they sounded bad, for all I know it was molested before. What I KNOW, not opinion is my personal interactions with that amp. Anything RK plays and endorses must be pretty solid and the gut shots look incredible but again that's MY experience. I suppose all the guys with issues on the internet I found are full of shit too.. Sound logic. Cornford still around right? Asking for a friend.

(Photo of one of them he was having issues with, don’t know what model)

Have you seen the inside of a Cornford? I’m sure it is possible that your friend’s amp was having issues, but this tech being world class is hard to believe.

 

[reignman454]

STILL BEST AMP EVER MADE

 

[Eazy-ESP]

STILL BEST AMP EVER MADE

Well I’m glad we changed you mind lol.

 

[Geo]

Does this count?