Check out this auction for a Cameron Atomica! Holy Crap! $$$

[mooncobra]

I like how in the description it says, "it is said to be the one Brad King held back for himself!"

As if that should count for anything.

I know. Strange description for amp to add that???

 

[Alex_S]

Holy Wowsers 5,900

I wonder how much I can get for my Atomica #020 haha

I don’t think 6k, as serial number 0 adds some collector value. Seems like Cameron’s are more collectors than musicians items right now. But if you want to well it for a reasonable price let me know

 

[Deleted member 13074]

jumpsuit orange
definitely Brad's amp

 

[keennay]

I can't believe these Cameron amps have retained their value so well. I'm in shock

How many people here own all 3 (CCV, Atomica, Old Bitch)?

 

[Racerxrated]

I can't believe these Cameron amps have retained their value so well. I'm in shock

How many people here own all 3 (CCV, Atomica, Old Bitch)?

What you really should ask is, how many own all 3 original. First run CCV, Jose Marshall and Aldrich Marshall. The real deal Camerons.

Only person I knew that had all 3 from the Brad run was Chippy.

 

[scottosan]

I have to admit in my many high end amps that I have owned and in combination with the 10+ years of extreme DIY amp building, that while the XTC Classic is my all time favorite single tone, my Cameron copies come a close second, but accell in versatility. It’s been over a month since I complete the CCV clone and I’m still finding new tones. Aside from the drama and history, marks designs are pretty damn good.

 

[Webb]

I can't believe these Cameron amps have retained their value so well. I'm in shock

How many people here own all 3 (CCV, Atomica, Old Bitch)?

I currently have a Brad run CCV and a Cameron Aldrich modded Marshall. Had an Atomica at the same time as the others but sold it not that long ago.

 

[braintheory]

I can't believe these Cameron amps have retained their value so well. I'm in shock

How many people here own all 3 (CCV, Atomica, Old Bitch)?

What you really should ask is, how many own all 3 original. First run CCV, Jose Marshall and Aldrich Marshall. The real deal Camerons.

Only person I knew that had all 3 from the Brad run was Chippy.

I have an Aldrich modded 79 jmp 2203, 3 channel Jose/Aldrich/plexi modded 78 superlead, Atomica modded slp (I think it sounds better than the production Atomicas that came after) and a ccv that was from the brad era but sent back to mark later. I don't know what other brad era ccv's sound like, but mine sounds identical to when I tried psychodave's which I know is an original. The ccv though sounds and feels very different than his modded Marshalls as did the old bitch from what I remember but that was too long ago for me to say for sure. One of my friends loves my Aldrich, but hates my ccv, but I have 2 other friends who love it and have asked to buy it from me and I know other guys who love the ccv but not like the Aldrich

It seems that Cameron stuff just goes for super high prices on eBay. I've bought all my cameron modded marshalls within the last year through reverb and rig-talk and they were in the low to mid $2000's price range and an ocean mod was on here for $2100 a week or two ago. They just go fast at those prices

I'm still curious about his modern or c75 modded Marshall's, but those are supposed to be super rare. I doubt you'll find anyone with those plus a ccv, Aldrich and Jose

 

[metalmaniac93]

Chippy is completing the man cave

That dude has a ton of amps.

He has lots of cool stuff. I actually know people who have a lot more than what he has. They are just quiet about their gear.

Chippy reminds me of an old friend who went skiing once. He couldn't ski for shit, fell down the hill every single time, nearly killed himself. But the next week he HAD to go out and buy the most expensive skii's, boots, poles, everything. We went skiing again and same shit happened where 7 year olds with Hello Kitty skii's bought at Target were passing him by.

 

[Racerxrated]

I can't believe these Cameron amps have retained their value so well. I'm in shock

How many people here own all 3 (CCV, Atomica, Old Bitch)?

What you really should ask is, how many own all 3 original. First run CCV, Jose Marshall and Aldrich Marshall. The real deal Camerons.

Only person I knew that had all 3 from the Brad run was Chippy.

I have an Aldrich modded 79 jmp 2203, 3 channel Jose/Aldrich/plexi modded 78 superlead, Atomica modded slp (I think it sounds better than the production Atomicas that came after) and a ccv that was from the brad era but sent back to mark later. I don't know what other brad era ccv's sound like, but mine sounds identical to when I tried psychodave's which I know is an original. The ccv though sounds and feels very different than his modded Marshalls as did the old bitch from what I remember but that was too long ago for me to say for sure. One of my friends loves my Aldrich, but hates my ccv, but I have 2 other friends who love it and have asked to buy it from me and I know other guys who love the ccv but not like the Aldrich

It seems that Cameron stuff just goes for super high prices on eBay. I've bought all my cameron modded marshalls within the last year through reverb and rig-talk and they were in the low to mid $2000's price range and an ocean mod was on here for $2100 a week or two ago. They just go fast at those prices

I'm still curious about his modern or c75 modded Marshall's, but those are supposed to be super rare. I doubt you'll find anyone with those plus a ccv, Aldrich and Jose

The first Cam I had was before I was here on RT, it was a 2203x with a Modern mod. If I'm honest it was the best out of all the rest i had, never should have sold it. Tracked it down to a RTer and he ain't selling. Lol. Chewy, rich and awesome.

 

[dogman]

Holy Wowsers 5,900

I wonder how much I can get for my Atomica #020 haha

I don’t think 6k, as serial number 0 adds some collector value. Seems like Cameron’s are more collectors than musicians items right now. But if you want to well it for a reasonable price let me know

I love my Atomica. Its a very clean build and just sounds great. Being only 20 built I suppose adds to the whole Cameron mystique but 6K is crazy. But I guess for the right price anything can be bought. lol

If I ever decide to sell it I'll let you know.

Cheers

 

[Alex_S]

Holy Wowsers 5,900

I wonder how much I can get for my Atomica #020 haha

I don’t think 6k, as serial number 0 adds some collector value. Seems like Cameron’s are more collectors than musicians items right now. But if you want to well it for a reasonable price let me know

I love my Atomica. Its a very clean build and just sounds great. Being only 20 built I suppose adds to the whole Cameron mystique but 6K is crazy. But I guess for the right price anything can be bought. lol

If I ever decide to sell it I'll let you know.

Cheers

I never had the chance to test an Atomica, but I seems to be an amazing amp. Possibly one of the best, but 6k is still crazy. Funny thing is, I wouldn’t rule out, that they still increase in value for a while (until either Cameron starts building again or the general market saturation reaches also the unicorn amps). But that’s all more market things. Still an amazing amp I’d like to test if I ever find one at a reasonable price...

So have fun with your Amp, forget about market craziness. These things are there to be played

 

[ElectricVoodoo]

Well worth the 6k if you ask me.
Hell, I'd take it in the ass if it meant me getting a cameron.

 

[scottosan]

Well worth the 6k if you ask me.
Hell, I'd take it in the ass if it meant me getting a cameron.

That’s the whole point. The only thing Cameron is the name on the amp. It’s preamp is “based” on but a scaled down version of Marks Jose mods and a Friedman powers section. This was not Marks circuit, nor did he build them.

 

[Zachman]

Well worth the 6k if you ask me.
Hell, I'd take it in the ass if it meant me getting a cameron.

That’s the whole point. The only thing Cameron is the name on the amp. It’s preamp is “based” on but a scaled down version of Marks Jose mods and a Friedman powers section. This was not Marks circuit, nor did he build them.

Didn't you build a clone of one of Mark's amps? How does it sound? Have you gotten the chance to A/B in person against a Cameron?

fwiw, I have one of Mark's Jose mod Marshall SLP's (I've had a few), the Atomica, BE100, and a BE50 combo and I can get the Friedman tones on the Atomica, BUT I can't get the Atomica tone I like on the Friedmans nor on the Jose mod. It's in that regard that it really doesn't matter who the hell made this thing, it is AWESOMENESS.

My $.02

 

[scottosan]

Well worth the 6k if you ask me.
Hell, I'd take it in the ass if it meant me getting a cameron.

That’s the whole point. The only thing Cameron is the name on the amp. It’s preamp is “based” on but a scaled down version of Marks Jose mods and a Friedman powers section. This was not Marks circuit, nor did he build them.

Didn't you build a clone of one of Mark's amps? How does it sound? Have you gotten the chance to A/B in person against a Cameron?

fwiw, I have one of Mark's Jose mod Marshall SLP's (I've had a few), the Atomica, BE100, and a BE50 combo and I can get the Friedman tones on the Atomica, BUT I can't get the Atomica tone I like on the Friedmans nor on the Jose mod. It's in that regard that it really doesn't matter who the hell made this thing, it is AWESOMENESS.

My $.02

zach, first of all you can make make anything sound great.

i agree it doesn’t matter who built it. It’s a great circuit. I have no issues with the amp. Only that the real Cameron’s aren’t going for that much. I have only played a Brad era CCV. It sounded great. I had some help after my build to get it to more traditional Cameron specs. Form a technical standpoint if you look at the schematics for both the Atomica and the Old Bitch, Mark only shared the preamp design. Mark does a lot of unique stuff in the power amp section as well for added versatility, that’s missing in those amps. Not to say you aren’t getting Cameron tone from the amp, just you are missing a few extra bells and whistles that would otherwise be on one of his mods

As for the mod not sounding the same, the donor amp plays the biggest role in the inconsistency. As we know, Marshall used many different transformers, Capacitor specs, etc. not to mention the age of those component etc.



I’ll use the whole Dumble or Ken Fisher analogy. There are clones out there but they don’t demand the same price.

 

[Zachman]

Well worth the 6k if you ask me.
Hell, I'd take it in the ass if it meant me getting a cameron.

That’s the whole point. The only thing Cameron is the name on the amp. It’s preamp is “based” on but a scaled down version of Marks Jose mods and a Friedman powers section. This was not Marks circuit, nor did he build them.

Didn't you build a clone of one of Mark's amps? How does it sound? Have you gotten the chance to A/B in person against a Cameron?

fwiw, I have one of Mark's Jose mod Marshall SLP's (I've had a few), the Atomica, BE100, and a BE50 combo and I can get the Friedman tones on the Atomica, BUT I can't get the Atomica tone I like on the Friedmans nor on the Jose mod. It's in that regard that it really doesn't matter who the hell made this thing, it is AWESOMENESS.

My $.02

zach, first of all you can make make anything sound great.

i agree it doesn’t matter who built it. It’s a great circuit. I have no issues with the amp. Only that the real Cameron’s aren’t going for that much. I have only played a Brad era CCV. It sounded great. I had some help after my build to get it to more traditional Cameron specs. Form a technical standpoint if you look at the schematics for both the Atomica and the Old Bitch, Mark only shared the preamp design. Mark does a lot of unique stuff in the power amp section as well for added versatility, that’s missing in those amps. Not to say you aren’t getting Cameron tone from the amp, just you are missing a few extra bells and whistles that would otherwise be on one of his mods

As for the mod not sounding the same, the donor amp plays the biggest role in the inconsistency. As we know, Marshall used many different transformers, Capacitor specs, etc. not to mention the age of those component etc.



I’ll use the whole Dumble or Ken Fisher analogy. There are clones out there but they don’t demand the same price.

Mark offered me to go thru my NAMM proto-Atomica, when I go to LA-- and add all the bells and whistles, but to be honest-- I didn't want to risk changing anything. I do however have one of his non-gooped Marshall mods (High gain/Low Gain Jose), and love it-- but actually prefer the Atomica.

I'd love to be able to switch between the High and Low inputs via foot switch, and well as the diode clipping switch via foot switchable control, but sonically, I LOVE this thing.

As far as the costs... I figure EVERYTHING is only worth what someone else is willing to pay for it, but/and that only matters if you intend to sell.

 

[MrDowntown]

I've got a stoopid tech question for You guys that can build these things...replicate (to best of your ability)....

How small a package can something like this be built...1w, 5w...20...? I realize there are tonal differences in amps based solely on wattage differential. But are there physical limitations that would make something like this defacto 50 or 100w minimum?

 

[scottosan]

I've got a stoopid tech question for You guys that can build these things...replicate (to best of your ability)....

How small a package can something like this be built...1w, 5w...20...? I realize there are tonal differences in amps based solely on wattage differential. But are there physical limitations that would make something like this defacto 50 or 100w minimum?

The problem with mass production has little to do with the technical aspect of things. There’s lots of talented folks that aren’t great businessmen. There are amps out there based on these types of circuits with similarity’s but have there own thing going on. Most of Marks amps were gooped. The other variable is that he may or may not have used the same components amp to amp. I have seen the insides of 3 pre-prod and 1 prod CCV and neither used the same schematic. I have seen the ungooped inside of 2 Jose’s and they were different as well. I can only assume that since Dave Friedman was involved with the prod CCV, Atomica, and Old Bitch, that those where all made to a specific consistent and repeatable spec.

Another problem is that when the schematics have been made public, you get hacks like Billy Blades that have no right selling amps pretend they have the holy grail and do a disservice to the industry. Built hey, the cup holder in his ampsnis large enough for a small fire extinguisher so it’s all good! Yes Billy you suck!


People that have bought from Mark directly say that Mark modded it to there liking rather than did mods the same regardless of customer. This makes sense based what I have seen. As for this circuit in different power sections is challenging. You can certainly drop the preamp in but a lot of the tone comes from the power and NFB (Negative Feedback) circuit. This needs to be taken into consideration because the lower the wattage the less NFB voltage comes of the OT. Finding the sweet spot in a Cameron with 10+ components in the presence/NFB vs a single resistor in a 2203/2204 will take some tweaking. Then figure in the power tube characteristics and the fact that building this into a smaller form factor required no less labor makes it prohibitive. There are a lot of established builders that may be technical but can’t make a great amp. There are builders out there that aren’t super technical but can make a great amp. Then you have Mark who is both technical and can make a great amp, but has not illustrated a sustainable business model.

 

[braintheory]

Well worth the 6k if you ask me.
Hell, I'd take it in the ass if it meant me getting a cameron.

That’s the whole point. The only thing Cameron is the name on the amp. It’s preamp is “based” on but a scaled down version of Marks Jose mods and a Friedman powers section. This was not Marks circuit, nor did he build them.

Didn't you build a clone of one of Mark's amps? How does it sound? Have you gotten the chance to A/B in person against a Cameron?

fwiw, I have one of Mark's Jose mod Marshall SLP's (I've had a few), the Atomica, BE100, and a BE50 combo and I can get the Friedman tones on the Atomica, BUT I can't get the Atomica tone I like on the Friedmans nor on the Jose mod. It's in that regard that it really doesn't matter who the hell made this thing, it is AWESOMENESS.

My $.02

I agree! I have a Atomica modded SLP (modded by Dave Friedman) (I think it may also be a prototype thing but not 100% sure) and I like it better than my 78 super lead that has a Cameron Jose mod, but they're both keepers since they both can't match what I like in both of them. I've also owned a HBE/BE modded 78 super lead, butterslax, and Phil x, but I felt my cameron stuff smoked them