Fortin "Cali" PreSale is up... with my NAMM vid!

[wIsEbLooD]

Glad I had one modded by Mike back in the day.
This Fortin fanboyism is kind of rediculous.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

I'm surprised they wouldn't keep some of the production run local so that canadian customers could benefit. Not that I have 3300$ US but as an Ontario resident, it would be cool if a person could make arrangements to pick their amp up in person and avoid all the import tarrifs. Pay the tax and be done with it.

 

[errrrrl]

Glad I had one modded by Mike back in the day.
This Fortin fanboyism is kind of rediculous.

I agree and kind of feel by purchasing a Fortin amp I'm now lumped into that fanboyism. For me I was always curious about Fortin amps and modded amps. The fanboyism that I see are legions of dudes tuned to drop Z with a crazy metalic clank to their 7 or 8 string tones... not my thing at all. The Cali seemed more my speed to try a Fortin amp for the first time. Hoping I like it.

 

[stratjacket]

Glad I had one modded by Mike back in the day.
This Fortin fanboyism is kind of rediculous.

I agree and kind of feel by purchasing a Fortin amp I'm now lumped into that fanboyism.....

Man I wouldn’t worry about that at all. I know it goes without saying, but still gotta say it, if you like it, screw what I may think, doesn’t matter. I mean you already live in the dumpster out behind the 7-11 and I live in a van down by the river !!

 

[crankyrayhanky]

Yeah, outside of this forum no one I know ever heard of Fortin amp....and I'm talking about a lot of musicians. We geek out in here but the rest of the world only knows Marshall Fender and Boogie.

 

[IntenseJim]

Stumbled across this thread with a Fortin modified head. Rips.

UYr-CITKD5s&feature=youtu.be

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=142553

 

[JerEvil]

Stumbled across this thread with a Fortin modified head. Rips.

UYr-CITKD5s&feature=youtu.be

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=142553

Not sure if that is Ralph’s or Kage’s amp but I know the two of them still have it! Lol! Was just talking to Kage about it the other day. It’s his favorite amp to play though in the world apparently.

That clip sounded tasty as all getout.

 

[harsh59]

Stumbled across this thread with a Fortin modified head. Rips.

UYr-CITKD5s&feature=youtu.be

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=142553

Not sure if that is Ralph’s or Kage’s amp but I know the two of them still have it! Lol! Was just talking to Kage about it the other day. It’s his favorite amp to play though in the world apparently.

That clip sounded tasty as all getout.

Holy Shit that sounded great

 

[psychodave]

Stumbled across this thread with a Fortin modified head. Rips.

UYr-CITKD5s&feature=youtu.be

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=142553

I’ve played this amp. It’s cool, but very very bright. With a tube screamer out front it was really cool too. As you listen, you will notice that is isn’t a bottom heavy amp. Lots of high end and mids.

I’d say that Ralph is making the amp sound that way. He knows how to get the best out of anything he plays.

 

[311boogieman]

Hoping I like it.

So you ordered one?

 

[IntenseJim]

Hoping I like it.

So you ordered one?

I don’t know about Errrrrl. I did .

 

[JerEvil]

Hoping I like it.

So you ordered one?

Yup. errrrl has one coming.

 

[LunatiBSW]

Glad I had one modded by Mike back in the day.
This Fortin fanboyism is kind of rediculous.

I agree and kind of feel by purchasing a Fortin amp I'm now lumped into that fanboyism. For me I was always curious about Fortin amps and modded amps. The fanboyism that I see are legions of dudes tuned to drop Z with a crazy metalic clank to their 7 or 8 string tones... not my thing at all. The Cali seemed more my speed to try a Fortin amp for the first time. Hoping I like it.

This was my thinking as well. I also don’t do much 7, and no 8 string stuff.
I love dropC# on a 6 string with 11-56 strings. That’s as low as I go. The Cali seemed like the perfect fortin for me.
The Meshuggah seemed very catered towards the drop Z crowd. Or obviously like the band Meshuggah.
I originally was wanting to get a twin jet modded by mike a few years back, we had a plan, I waited too long, then he got busy with all the new production, and didn’t mod any more.
Almost pulled the trigger on a couple Kk+ Marshall’s. But I’m ultimately happy that I waited until this amp came out. It has amazing features (all ones that I’ll actually use) and 3 channels. I also love the bias adj/test on the back. Clean, rhythm and lead, boom. Or 2 diff gain setups for brutality. Options!
I’m prob in the minority. But I’d rather have a “new” handbuilt fortin amp, that was designed around his features and core fortin sound. The guy knows metal, that’s for sure.
Fanboy or not, don’t give damn. This amp is gonna rip, and I’m super excited about it.
I actually hope it kicks a couple of my amps out of the stable.

I think a lot of the “fanboy” happened from the pedals.

A good friend of mine, recently picked up a gower kk+.
He called me and told me after he played it, it would be my perfect Marshall.
He has like 20 something marshalls, and knows the metal I play.
Makes this wait even harder.

 

[steve_k]

If the production Cali is based off the original Jose amps he owns and off his original Cali mods, it should be a kick ass amp for mainstream players who like the diode clipping amps. The ordering scheme is a little fucked, for whatever reason. But, Mike delivers, no need to worry or be skeptical. I have known the man a long time.

 

[errrrrl]

Glad I had one modded by Mike back in the day.
This Fortin fanboyism is kind of rediculous.

I agree and kind of feel by purchasing a Fortin amp I'm now lumped into that fanboyism.....

Man I wouldn’t worry about that at all. I know it goes without saying, but still gotta say it, if you like it, screw what I may think, doesn’t matter. I mean you already live in the dumpster out behind the 7-11 and I live in a van down by the river !!

thanks dude! Great point

Hoping I like it.

So you ordered one?

Yup I did. It just seems like it was made for thrash, at least thats what I'm telling myself lol. It will be the first time ever trying a Fortin made amp so i'm a tad bit excited.

I’m prob in the minority. But I’d rather have a “new” handbuilt fortin amp, that was designed around his features and core fortin sound. The guy knows metal, that’s for sure.
Fanboy or not, don’t give damn. This amp is gonna rip, and I’m super excited about it.
I actually hope it kicks a couple of my amps out of the stable.

I think a lot of the “fanboy” happened from the pedals.

Well said dude! You got to do a comparison clip for me later between the Cali and your Wizard curious how it stacks up.

 

[LunatiBSW]

If the production Cali is based off the original Jose amps he owns and off his original Cali mods, it should be a kick ass amp for mainstream players who like the diode clipping amps. The ordering scheme is a little fucked, for whatever reason. But, Mike delivers, no need to worry or be skeptical. I have known the man a long time.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but wouldn’t the only diode clipping part of
The amp be from the “sat” option?
Which would be to engage the Jose part of the amp.
I’m assuming he used diodes for that? But I’m no tech.
The violence says he uses a 4th tube gain stage. All the other options are tone shaping.
So it sounds more like a fortin greatest hits for the cali’s he’s done.

I don’t follow “mainstream” players who like “diode “ clipping?
Most guys have never even heard of fortin? And it sounds like the amp is not relying off diodes?
Def sounds like an amp catered towards metal guys, moreso than 80’s rock.

 

[IntenseJim]

Stumbled across this ancient scroll of a thread which is encouraging :
viewtopic.php?t=60066

 

[FourT6and2]

Correct me if I’m wrong, but wouldn’t the only diode clipping part of
The amp be from the “sat” option?
Which would be to engage the Jose part of the amp.
I’m assuming he used diodes for that? But I’m no tech.
The violence says he uses a 4th tube gain stage. All the other options are tone shaping.
So it sounds more like a fortin greatest hits for the cali’s he’s done.

I don’t follow “mainstream” players who like “diode “ clipping?
Most guys have never even heard of fortin? And it sounds like the amp is not relying off diodes?
Def sounds like an amp catered towards metal guys, moreso than 80’s rock.

The Meshuggah amp relies on diode clipping and it's the same '80s Jose mod that's been around for decades. So what makes it "catered towards metal guys, moreso than 80's rock"? I'll tell you: all the clips of it were done by people playing metal instead of '80s rock. If you take a typical Jose mod Marshall, throw a 33 or grind pedal in front of it, detune by 15 steps, and play some Meshuggah... it'll work. And likewise, if you take a Meshuggah amp, play in standard, without a boost pedal, and play some Van Halen while wearing zebra striped spandex pants, it'll sound like '80s rock.

The Meshuggah has diodes engaged at all times. Higher voltage ones across the master for a tiny bit of clipping compared to no diodes and lower voltage transistors on the push/pull for more clipping. Without any diodes at all, the amp would have only a little more gain than a typical JCM800. The bright cap adds a lot of upper mid gain on its own. No idea what's in the new Cali, so I can't comment on that. It could have some diodes hardwired at all times like the Meshuggah. Or not. Someone will just have to take a look if they're that curious.

As far as the 4th gain stage thing goes, all I'll say is the product description for the Meshuggah amp used to say it had 4 gain stages. It has since been edited and the 4 gain stage thing was removed. Does the Cali have 4 stages with one assignable? I don't know. You'll have to buy one and pop it open to find out. It's certainly possible to get 4 gain stages with 3 tubes.

 

[LunatiBSW]

Correct me if I’m wrong, but wouldn’t the only diode clipping part of
The amp be from the “sat” option?
Which would be to engage the Jose part of the amp.
I’m assuming he used diodes for that? But I’m no tech.
The violence says he uses a 4th tube gain stage. All the other options are tone shaping.
So it sounds more like a fortin greatest hits for the cali’s he’s done.

I don’t follow “mainstream” players who like “diode “ clipping?
Most guys have never even heard of fortin? And it sounds like the amp is not relying off diodes?
Def sounds like an amp catered towards metal guys, moreso than 80’s rock.

The Meshuggah amp relies on diode clipping and it's the same '80s Jose mod that's been around for decades. So what makes it "catered towards metal guys, moreso than 80's rock"? I'll tell you: all the clips of it were done by people playing metal instead of '80s rock. If you take a typical Jose mod Marshall, throw a 33 or grind pedal in front of it, detune by 15 steps, and play some Meshuggah... it'll work. And likewise, if you take a Meshuggah amp, play in standard, without a boost pedal, and play some Van Halen while wearing zebra striped spandex pants, it'll sound like '80s rock.

The Meshuggah has diodes engaged at all times. Higher voltage ones across the master for a tiny bit of clipping compared to no diodes and lower voltage transistors on the push/pull for more clipping. Without any diodes at all, the amp would have only a little more gain than a typical JCM800. The bright cap adds a lot of upper mid gain on its own. No idea what's in the new Cali, so I can't comment on that. It could have some diodes hardwired at all times like the Meshuggah. Or not. Someone will just have to take a look if they're that curious.

As far as the 4th gain stage thing goes, all I'll say is the product description for the Meshuggah amp used to say it had 4 gain stages. It has since been edited and the 4 gain stage thing was removed. Does the Cali have 4 stages with one assignable? I don't know. You'll have to buy one and pop it open to find out. It's certainly possible to get 4 gain stages with 3 tubes.

Love this info, glad you chimed in.
I get the grind thing. I personally didn’t like the 33 that much or grind.
But there is a certain attack that comes with fortin amps over the typical Jose, no?
That the diode on the master? It’s different than just getting a pedal in front?
I wanted the Cali cause I know it’ll be tight and have great options off the bat.

 

[FourT6and2]

But there is a certain attack that comes with fortin amps over the typical Jose, no?

Not in my experience. At least not with the Meshuggah. I can't speak to the Cali.
The Hiwatt Super-Hi 50 I have (designed by Fortin) is nice, though. I wouldn't say it has a "certain attack" but overall it's pretty rad. No diodes.

That the diode on the master? It’s different than just getting a pedal in front?

Yes. A bit different. Still tough to beat a JCM800 with the right boost pedal though, for that type of sound.