Fortin Jose Marshalls?

  • Thread starter Thread starter glpg80
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glpg80

glpg80

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How common are these? I know when Mike was just starting his career, that he did mods for a while and stayed covered up with a backlog. After a while, he denied mods to concentrate on his company venture signature models. With that said, I'm still on the search for a modded marshall platform and really like what I'm hearing from Fortin's take on the Jose mod. I'd really like to trade my current Marshall for one if possible? I'd even be up for sending my current one to Mike for modding but I don't even think he does one-off modifications anymore?
 
You could always contact Dan Gower, he does the Jose mod and he is the only one not named Fortin that can officially do the Killer Kali mod so I'd say he's the next closest to Fortin himself.
 
Dan is overseas on the wrong side of the pond - not a likely adventure.

Some of Fortin's Jose's have a lot of heat, and others are milder. Either way, I'm loving the voicing of just the amp alone as it seems to still maintain the marshall character in recordings that my JMP has.
 
Check the tech sub forum, NewReligion did a Jose mod on a Plexi and it sounds amazing, tons of balls and just pissed off sounding! Still sounds like a Marshall too
 
I've got a Yeti that NewReligion modded as well. granted the yeti starts off as a copy of the Cameron Jose mods, but NewReligion's work seems to correct everything not totally accurate. having played a stock yeti, and also one that he modded, the one he did the work too sounds much much better
 
I thought the Cali was fortins Jose? Back when I had my chupacabra. I had it side by side with one of fortins Cali modded Marshalls and the two sounded nearly identical. Both had the exact same layout/bright switches and everything.
 
Dan Gower just purchased the donor amp for my Killer Kali++ build. Stated a mid to late March delivery. Can't wait...
 
glpg80":2ryf43yt said:
How common are these? I know when Mike was just starting his career, that he did mods for a while and stayed covered up with a backlog. After a while, he denied mods to concentrate on his company venture signature models. With that said, I'm still on the search for a modded marshall platform and really like what I'm hearing from Fortin's take on the Jose mod. I'd really like to trade my current Marshall for one if possible? I'd even be up for sending my current one to Mike for modding but I don't even think he does one-off modifications anymore?
His Jose mod is not the same as the Cali. The Jose mods he does are copies of his original Arrendondo and/ or one he borrowed from a Pro player. Not sure if it was Holmes or not.
 
glip22":129ba3ue said:
glpg80":129ba3ue said:
How common are these? I know when Mike was just starting his career, that he did mods for a while and stayed covered up with a backlog. After a while, he denied mods to concentrate on his company venture signature models. With that said, I'm still on the search for a modded marshall platform and really like what I'm hearing from Fortin's take on the Jose mod. I'd really like to trade my current Marshall for one if possible? I'd even be up for sending my current one to Mike for modding but I don't even think he does one-off modifications anymore?
His Jose mod is not the same as the Cali. The Jose mods he does are copies of his original Arrendondo and/ or one he borrowed from a Pro player. Not sure if it was Holmes or not.

It's confusing as hell because he switched things up after he left Randall... when I got my 2203 done in 2009 he did the Cali mod and the Hulk mod and the Cali had a bunch of options. The newer stuff is listed on the current website. Oh and to add to it the Cali mod is definitely a Jose Mod, just maybe not the same one listed on the current website :lol: :LOL:
 
Had a Jet City JCA50h modded by Dan Gower and it is currently being delivered to me. Sounds like a fire breather in this clip that he posted:

https://www.facebook.com/19552760715823 ... 687563735/

Gower definitely knows how to do the Jose thing. Tbh i think he does the best Jose type of mods there is. Plus he's super polite and easy to deal with.
 
For any of the guys in the U.S. that have had Dan Gower mod an amp, how did the process go? Shipping cost to and from, customs, etc?
 
glip22":d04zzmva said:
glpg80":d04zzmva said:
How common are these? I know when Mike was just starting his career, that he did mods for a while and stayed covered up with a backlog. After a while, he denied mods to concentrate on his company venture signature models. With that said, I'm still on the search for a modded marshall platform and really like what I'm hearing from Fortin's take on the Jose mod. I'd really like to trade my current Marshall for one if possible? I'd even be up for sending my current one to Mike for modding but I don't even think he does one-off modifications anymore?
His Jose mod is not the same as the Cali. The Jose mods he does are copies of his original Arrendondo and/ or one he borrowed from a Pro player. Not sure if it was Holmes or not.

That’s what I was thinking too. They don’t sound anywhere close and the Jose Fortin used to do wasn’t as invasive.
 
glpg80":22unjrdz said:
glip22":22unjrdz said:
glpg80":22unjrdz said:
How common are these? I know when Mike was just starting his career, that he did mods for a while and stayed covered up with a backlog. After a while, he denied mods to concentrate on his company venture signature models. With that said, I'm still on the search for a modded marshall platform and really like what I'm hearing from Fortin's take on the Jose mod. I'd really like to trade my current Marshall for one if possible? I'd even be up for sending my current one to Mike for modding but I don't even think he does one-off modifications anymore?
His Jose mod is not the same as the Cali. The Jose mods he does are copies of his original Arrendondo and/ or one he borrowed from a Pro player. Not sure if it was Holmes or not.

That’s what I was thinking too. They don’t sound anywhere close and the Jose Fortin used to do wasn’t as invasive.
One similarity they do have however is the master volume....Pull the master to engage the boost(diodes) on the Cali and the volume drops, just like a Jose master.
 
MYLILSS":1h5qzslx said:
I've got a Yeti that NewReligion modded as well. granted the yeti starts off as a copy of the Cameron Jose mods, but NewReligion's work seems to correct everything not totally accurate. having played a stock yeti, and also one that he modded, the one he did the work too sounds much much better

ibzprestige":1h5qzslx said:
Check the tech sub forum, NewReligion did a Jose mod on a Plexi and it sounds amazing, tons of balls and just pissed off sounding! Still sounds like a Marshall too

Thank you both for the great words guys.

Below an early Jose I did came in for a tune up between owners. Simply had a bad EL34 Grid Resistor. I went ahead and replaced a couple assemblies and cleaned then biased.

David Hopkins :thumbsup:

 
MYLILSS":urtzd6dw said:
I've got a Yeti that NewReligion modded as well. granted the yeti starts off as a copy of the Cameron Jose mods, but NewReligion's work seems to correct everything not totally accurate. having played a stock yeti, and also one that he modded, the one he did the work too sounds much much better

Differences before/after?
 
Zado":11nr2z7d said:
MYLILSS":11nr2z7d said:
I've got a Yeti that NewReligion modded as well. granted the yeti starts off as a copy of the Cameron Jose mods, but NewReligion's work seems to correct everything not totally accurate. having played a stock yeti, and also one that he modded, the one he did the work too sounds much much better

Differences before/after?


Here is a bit of an example on the King Kong (Cameron CCV)

High Gain (Clipping) ERA Switch This is not me or my recording.


Forward to 2:34 - This is me with amp on High Gain (Clipping) ERA Switch.
 
NewReligion":3jnd0atz said:
Zado":3jnd0atz said:
MYLILSS":3jnd0atz said:
I've got a Yeti that NewReligion modded as well. granted the yeti starts off as a copy of the Cameron Jose mods, but NewReligion's work seems to correct everything not totally accurate. having played a stock yeti, and also one that he modded, the one he did the work too sounds much much better

Differences before/after?


Here is a bit of an example on the King Kong (Cameron CCV)

High Gain (Clipping) ERA Switch This is not me or my recording.


Forward to 2:34 - This is me with amp on High Gain (Clipping) ERA Switch.

Is the KK very far from the Yeti circuit? Cause imho in the first video it sounds quite bad, and very far from the gainy sound I get with the Yeti. In the second vid sounds far better, though not my thing, too much articulation and fizz and not meaty for my preference, but I guess it's due to the video.
 
The Yeti and KK are voiced very similar, the first video didn't sound like either to me. The Ceriatone stuff falls short in the power/NFB section. If you are going to copy a circuit, don't overlook one of the most critical parts of the design. But I guess, when the only parts of schematics that Nik copies from the internet are incomplete or incorrect, so you get 80%. Either of those amps could be modified to a more Cameron correct spec fairly easy.
 
Zado":11vcxn7t said:
NewReligion":11vcxn7t said:
Zado":11vcxn7t said:
MYLILSS":11vcxn7t said:
I've got a Yeti that NewReligion modded as well. granted the yeti starts off as a copy of the Cameron Jose mods, but NewReligion's work seems to correct everything not totally accurate. having played a stock yeti, and also one that he modded, the one he did the work too sounds much much better

Differences before/after?


Here is a bit of an example on the King Kong (Cameron CCV)

High Gain (Clipping) ERA Switch This is not me or my recording.


Forward to 2:34 - This is me with amp on High Gain (Clipping) ERA Switch.

Is the KK very far from the Yeti circuit? Cause imho in the first video it sounds quite bad, and very far from the gainy sound I get with the Yeti. In the second vid sounds far better, though not my thing, too much articulation and fizz and not meaty for my preference, but I guess it's due to the video.

I must agree that I prefer all tube high gain over the medium gain high clipping of the Jose Arredondo originated circuits.

David
 
scottosan":2mt2q9fd said:
The Yeti and KK are voiced very similar, the first video didn't sound like either to me. The Ceriatone stuff falls short in the power/NFB section. If you are going to copy a circuit, don't overlook one of the most critical parts of the design. But I guess, when the only parts of schematics that Nik copies from the internet are incomplete or incorrect, so you get 80%. Either of those amps could be modified to a more Cameron correct spec fairly easy.

Your signature builds sound great. I am in agreement with the Ceriatone commentary. It is obvious that Nik takes away from a single Cameron amp for a Circuit when most of us are aware Mark uses many different component values & manufacturers.

For example for the Yeti I did Mark happened to call while I was working on it. I told him what I was up to. He asked about the layout. After the description he stated he knew exactly which Jose Nik copied & why.

David
 
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