Calling all Fortin users

  • Thread starter Thread starter AngryGoldfish
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AngryGoldfish

AngryGoldfish

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I want to get rid of my Soldano Hotrod Avenger and replace it with a Fortin Bones.

The problem I have with my Soldano is its lack of versatility. I don't mind having a single channel amp (I plan on also buying a Verellen or Fargen as a clean amp). But I do mind having an amp that basically covers only hard rock and little else. Rolling back the volume on the guitar gives a nice blues tone, but I don't like relying SOLELY on my guitar for tones.

I'm looking for a combination of modern and vintage high gain metal. I don't want a JCM800 type tone. I want that Baroness type tone, where you have certain vintage characterstics, but with a modern, tight and aggressive saturation. Kinda like a Baron K88 crossed with a Matamp. :doh:

From some of the clips I've heard, there are only a few amp companies that can fit that criteria. The Bad Cat Hot Cat 30R, Soldano SLO / Avenger, Sound City 50+, original JCM800, Laney VH100R, and maybe the Fortin Bones are some of the only amps I know of that cover that thick, chewy but high gain sound.

Does Fortin cover that kind of ground?
 
Despite being only one channel, the Bones is pretty versatile.
The 3 Gain settings on mine are MIDI switchable, so I don't really feel like I'm limited, tonally. I can get great cleans and killer high gain.
It's not really a super aggressive amp - it's more tight, refined and smooth.

It won't have that nasty upper-mid honk that a JCM800 has (not a bad thing), it's actually voiced more (IMO) like a Diezel VH4 - super articulate, balanced, HiFi, tight, and punchy (but not anywhere NEAR as compressed as a VH4). There's a TON of bass available, but even when you dial it back, it can still kick you in the chest...the low end is just punchy...that's the best word for it.

The Bones also isn't super-saturated. It's a good middle ground between an ultra-dry amp like an UltraLead and something ridiculously saturated like an ENGL. I'd say that it has a similar level of saturation to a 5150 - drier if you keep the gain low, but it can get saturated if you crank the gain. No matter how much gain you use, though, it never loses tightness or punch.
 
I never tend to use very much distortion on the amps I own. My Soldano never passes 12 o'clock on the preamp dial. When I say saturated, I don't mean Triple Rec / Framus Cobra saturated. I mean Fryette Sig:X / Diezel VH4 channel 3, gain at 12 o'clock-saturated. I think you basically described it perfectly.

Can you switch the amps gain stages via a standard footswitch?

I'm glad the Bones has a tighter bass, because the Soldano really flubs out at times. I can't push the gain up very far without needing to crank the master volume and reducing the depth and bass almost completely. I like a lot of depth and manipulation between the speaker and power amp, but not to the point where everything starts to get boomy.
 
I don't have a standard FS on mine, but I'm sure that it would be easy enough to make, or to have Mike include in the build.

I've actually sourced the parts, and to DIY a footswitch for the gain settings and dual Gains/Masters would cost about $40-50. The Bones uses regular short-to-ground switching like most amps...the only tricky thing with mine is getting the right screw-on connector for the break-out cable.
 
I have a hotrod50 that was way too loose. Easily fixed by changing the cathode bypass cap on the first stage.
it will almost get as tight as my fortin now.
 
^ I don't mind altering the Soldano as long as I can easily change it back. I'd have to find someone to do it, though, because I've never done anything like that before.

^^ It would be awesome if I could have Mike add it to the amp. It would mean I could switch between clean with a soft break-up, to British crunch, to full on gain, all with my feet. I don't need dual master volumes, but I guess it could be a neat addition.
 
I was going to send mine to mike but he is too busy.
Told me no more mods this year.
I have done a couple other things to the soldano. I like the clarity of it but it could never do metal without modding. As it sits now it is almost perfect it has that boosted tight sound.
 
I would have to have someone local do it anyway because I live in Ireland and it would cost a fortune to send it off to America.
 
Could not have described it better than SIXTONOIZE, myself! I do love mine but its weird i was thinking when I first heard the amp that there was not enough gain now I never set mine above 1 oclock. Mine has the 6550/El34 combo and like said, has more chest punch than I think ive heard without losing ANY clarity! I will say though, Mike must design these amps for insane volume, because mine needs some to really get going.
I will say the bones does not need a boost, but when i get the volume really going and just barely hit it with the koko boost it is absoloutely insane, but that pedal is incredible! Awesome AMP!!
 
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