Is this the Axe-FX of Tube amps?

[engage757]

bump.

 

[timeroo]

Can someone do a quick cliff notes version of this story. This thread is very amusing but how about some background for those that would like the whole story or even the point form version. Don't leave us hanging.

 

[splatter]

Had a guy that came to my house to see my marshall bring one of these with him .

I wasn't impressed,In his words "the marshall had something the blades didn't" .

in my words the marshall has body and the blades doesn't. there was no "UMPH" to it if ya know what I mean
Also the owner of the amp wasn't pleased with the fact that when he engaged the saturation switch the volume fell off so far that it was unusable . He said he mentioned it to the guy who built it and he said it was normal .

But hey tone is subjective and if ya need a cup holder then go for it .

 

[robertkoa]

No. It is not.

 

[RJF]

 

[mooncobra]

http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.d ... ckAsSeller

looks like none have sold through ebay yet.

 

[TrueTone500]

Had a guy that came to my house to see my marshall bring one of these with him .

I wasn't impressed,In his words "the marshall had something the blades didn't" .

in my words the marshall has body and the blades doesn't. there was no "UMPH" to it if ya know what I mean
Also the owner of the amp wasn't pleased with the fact that when he engaged the saturation switch the volume fell off so far that it was unusable . He said he mentioned it to the guy who built it and he said it was normal .

But hey tone is subjective and if ya need a cup holder then go for it .

Your "a guy" must have had a bum tube(s), because the Blades Firebolt has more "UMPH" than any Marshall based circuit I've ever played.

Here is Mike Himmel doing Atomic Punk on his Firebolt amplifier...

 

[311boogieman]

^ I am sooo sick of seeing that video and the Billy Blades justification.

Can someone do a quick cliff notes version of this story. This thread is very amusing but how about some background for those that would like the whole story or even the point form version. Don't leave us hanging.

Well. I'll give it a shot.

*Several years ago a guy named Billy Blades (not his real name) supposedly sent his '74 Plexi and Cash to Mark Cameron for a mod.
*Supposedly, Billy never got the amp or the cash back (I don't think this was proven or disproven but you can make your assertions)
*He then befriended several on the SLOclone forum to get copies of schematics of some of the most popular Marshall mods.
*He then went on all the major gear based forums and claimed that he was going to make a better amp cheaper.
----so far so good right?----
Then things started to go South for Billy
*His claims and demeanor on the major gear forums were outrageous (in mine and many reader's books).
*He attacked every amp modder out there (Jose, Cameron, Rockstah, Friedman, Metropoulos, Splawn, etc etc - I lost track)
*His professionalism, writing ability, and sanity came into question.
*Then a guy with an on-line name of DirtySteve bought one of Billy's prototypes. It was a disaster. This was about a year ago.
*Billy treated DirtySteve like dirt. There was also someone else that had a mod done by Billy that was also disastrous.
The thread linked below chronicles some of this.
*Then sometime this year the Billy Blades Firebolt was created.
*Then TrueTone500 spammed and trolled the thread defending Billy Blades and posting videos of people with diarrhea. Then he deleted posts.
*Then CharvelDan posted a video of someone getting electrocuted to death and got banned temporarily and then permanently.
*Then, a dealer for Billy Blades, Moriano, also came on to defend Billy Blades and post videos by a guy named Mike Himmel.
Most would concur that the tone in the video and the video production were pretty good.
*Then things went South again as someone created multi accounts here on Rig-Talk pretending to be Billy Blades, Mike Himmel and even Eddie Van Halen.
*Then the thread was closed and locked.

References:

Watch this video first, it will give you a good sense of how Billy's online persona began
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6rG8b0RbF8

Here is the link to the R-T thread that chronicles most of what I've stated.
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=143498

Here is some background reading leading up to this year:
http://www.marshallforum.com/other-amps ... ion-3.html
http://www.marshallforum.com/workbench/ ... ybrid.html
http://www.marshallforum.com/workbench/ ... eover.html
(there are similar threads on http://www.forum.metroamp.com and http://www.guitarampboard.com

Mike Himmel vid
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMmJ7Ttvf_M

Billy Blades production vids
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYmHNrWwgQk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AarwrPtEbNY

Billy Blades Amplification - business licenses information:

I searched the Maryland database for his business name and he never applied for a business license. The address he is operating from is not a registered business location. However the Tattoo shop does have a license:

(L12153078) FLAMING DRAGON TATTOOS Personal Property INACTIVE

That would mean he has no license to file the purchase on his tax forms.

It also means he is in trouble should someone decide to turn him in for operating a business without a tax ID. Tax evasion is nothing to mess with. It also means anyone with an email address can report that business ID to the BBB for selling dangerous goods to consumers.

If one of those ever get on the used market someone could get killed.

Seriously someone needs to report his ass. Those things are deathtraps. Not amplifiers. Regardless of which party made an agreement.

Some select quotes from the man himself:

9/20/13

its sturdy and hits me like no other.

And its being built like a brick shithouse and 1/2 the price of its nearest competition.

9/20/13

When.you can.get the same tone... even more versatile... build just as good and maybe "better "...
At a price where you can.buy a les paul to go along with it.

At the same cost of a compeditors lone amp.

The amp is bought for the circuit and tones not the box or name on a box.

It is a revolution in what once was extreme pricing.

9/20/13

Is it not common.to want to be the best you can be or make a great product..

How many paper companies out there? How many TV companies. Car companies.

Im offering a Porsche for the price of a Nissan

Basic math....

What i find lately when searching my name on google you might catch some hearsay thats all bullshit lies ,but what i liked most was i see people on my compeditors forum who "know " tone and i found people complimenting the sounds i been getting.
The majority in fact!
Of course some will vow to never to touch a Blades Amp.


Here are a few pics of his work On DirtySteve's amp

 

[TrueTone500]

^ I am sooo sick of seeing that video and the Billy Blades justification.

Can someone do a quick cliff notes version of this story. This thread is very amusing but how about some background for those that would like the whole story or even the point form version. Don't leave us hanging.

Well. I'll give it a shot.

*Several years ago a guy named Billy Blades (not his real name) supposedly sent his '74 Plexi and Cash to Mark Cameron for a mod.
*Supposedly, Billy never got the amp or the cash back (I don't think this was proven or disproven but you can make your assertions)
*He then befriended several on the SLOclone forum to get copies of schematics of some of the most popular Marshall mods.
*He then went on all the major gear based forums and claimed that he was going to make a better amp cheaper.
----so far so good right?----
Then things started to go South for Billy
*His claims and demeanor on the major gear forums were outrageous (in mine and many reader's books).
*He attacked every amp modder out there (Jose, Cameron, Rockstah, Friedman, Metropoulos, Splawn, etc etc - I lost track)
*His professionalism, writing ability, and sanity came into question.
*Then a guy with an on-line name of DirtySteve bought one of Billy's prototypes. It was a disaster. This was about a year ago.
*Billy treated DirtySteve like dirt. There was also someone else that had a mod done by Billy that was also disastrous.
The thread linked below chronicles some of this.
*Then sometime this year the Billy Blades Firebolt was created.
*Then TrueTone500 spammed and trolled the thread defending Billy Blades and posting videos of people with diarrhea. Then he deleted posts.
*Then CharvelDan posted a video of someone getting electrocuted to death and got banned temporarily and then permanently.
*Then, a dealer for Billy Blades, Moriano, also came on to defend Billy Blades and post videos by a guy named Mike Himmel.
Most would concur that the tone in the video and the video production were pretty good.
*Then things went South again as someone created multi accounts here on Rig-Talk pretending to be Billy Blades, Mike Himmel and even Eddie Van Halen.
*Then the thread was closed and locked.

References:

Watch this video first, it will give you a good sense of how Billy's online persona began
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6rG8b0RbF8

Here is the link to the R-T thread that chronicles most of what I've stated.
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=143498

Here is some background reading leading up to this year:
http://www.marshallforum.com/other-amps ... ion-3.html
http://www.marshallforum.com/workbench/ ... ybrid.html
http://www.marshallforum.com/workbench/ ... eover.html
(there are similar threads on http://www.forum.metroamp.com and http://www.guitarampboard.com

Mike Himmel vid
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMmJ7Ttvf_M

Billy Blades production vids
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYmHNrWwgQk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AarwrPtEbNY

Billy Blades Amplification - business licenses information:

I searched the Maryland database for his business name and he never applied for a business license. The address he is operating from is not a registered business location. However the Tattoo shop does have a license:

(L12153078) FLAMING DRAGON TATTOOS Personal Property INACTIVE

That would mean he has no license to file the purchase on his tax forms.

It also means he is in trouble should someone decide to turn him in for operating a business without a tax ID. Tax evasion is nothing to mess with. It also means anyone with an email address can report that business ID to the BBB for selling dangerous goods to consumers.

If one of those ever get on the used market someone could get killed.

Seriously someone needs to report his ass. Those things are deathtraps. Not amplifiers. Regardless of which party made an agreement.

Some select quotes from the man himself:

9/20/13

its sturdy and hits me like no other.

And its being built like a brick shithouse and 1/2 the price of its nearest competition.

9/20/13

When.you can.get the same tone... even more versatile... build just as good and maybe "better "...
At a price where you can.buy a les paul to go along with it.

At the same cost of a compeditors lone amp.

The amp is bought for the circuit and tones not the box or name on a box.

It is a revolution in what once was extreme pricing.

9/20/13

Is it not common.to want to be the best you can be or make a great product..

How many paper companies out there? How many TV companies. Car companies.

Im offering a Porsche for the price of a Nissan

Basic math....

What i find lately when searching my name on google you might catch some hearsay thats all bullshit lies ,but what i liked most was i see people on my compeditors forum who "know " tone and i found people complimenting the sounds i been getting.
The majority in fact!
Of course some will vow to never to touch a Blades Amp.


Here are a few pics of his work On DirtySteve's amp

Yes, but dirtysteve purchased a prototype amp. I've seen amps that look much worse than that... They sound great, and operate flawlessly.

You need to learn what is trolling, and what is not. Trolling was the intention of this thread by RT member "engage757". Defending a builder from unwarranted accusations of building amplifiers that electrocute people and catch fire is not.

Trolling:
Being a prick on the internet because you can. Typically unleashing cynical or sarcastic remarks on an innocent by-stander, because it's the internet and, hey, you can!

Guy: "I just found the coolest ninja pencil in existence."
Other Guy: "I just found the most retarded thread in existence."

Mike Himmel joined Rig Talk, and it only 48 hours for him to realize the kind of liberal scum that frequent this place. The Rig Talk forum is becoming known as the worst gear related forum. It's getting that way, because of people like you and the guy who started this thread who insist on defaming others.

This thread needs to be deleted, and those who perpetuate this BS should be banned.

 

[ejecta]

Mike Himmel joined Rig Talk, and it only 48 hours for him to realize the kind of liberal scum that frequent this place. The Rig Talk forum is becoming known as the worst gear related forum. It's getting that way, because of people like you and the guy who started this thread who insist on defaming others.

This thread needs to be deleted, and those who perpetuate this BS should be banned.

 

[TrueTone500]

Mike Himmel joined Rig Talk, and it only 48 hours for him to realize the kind of liberal scum that frequent this place. The Rig Talk forum is becoming known as the worst gear related forum. It's getting that way, because of people like you and the guy who started this thread who insist on defaming others.

This thread needs to be deleted, and those who perpetuate this BS should be banned.

Trolling is not a reply that you happen disagree with... ^ This comment by ejecta is a prime example of a trolling reply.

 

[ejecta]

Mike Himmel joined Rig Talk, and it only 48 hours for him to realize the kind of liberal scum that frequent this place. The Rig Talk forum is becoming known as the worst gear related forum. It's getting that way, because of people like you and the guy who started this thread who insist on defaming others.

This thread needs to be deleted, and those who perpetuate this BS should be banned.

Now this is a troll reply.

You wrote "Drama is reason you wake up." Why the change? What to call me a troll? Come on now you can do batter than that. The first one was better.

I thought the wire in his mouth was a nice touch.

 

[xXDaveyJonesXx]

This thread needs to be deleted, and those who perpetuate this BS should be banned.

aaaand there goes all the killer gear in the classifieds.

 

[TrueTone500]

Mike Himmel joined Rig Talk, and it only 48 hours for him to realize the kind of liberal scum that frequent this place. The Rig Talk forum is becoming known as the worst gear related forum. It's getting that way, because of people like you and the guy who started this thread who insist on defaming others.

This thread needs to be deleted, and those who perpetuate this BS should be banned.

Now this is a troll reply.

You wrote "Drama is reason you wake up." Why the change? What to call me a troll? Come on now you can do batter than that. The first one was better.

I thought the wire in his mouth was a nice touch.

I thought it was a bit extreme... Obviously I was wrong.

 

[TrueTone500]

This thread needs to be deleted, and those who perpetuate this BS should be banned.

aaaand there goes all the killer gear in the classifieds.

I (TheGainDeli) was banned by Brad for trash-talking Mark Cameron, and rightfully so! As it turned-out, I was right.

 

[311boogieman]

TrueTone (or whomever you are) - someone asked for the Cliff Notes version and I provided one. I tried to be as balanced and fair as I could. Cliff Note versions of the Blades fiasco are hard to find because threads like that get filled up with people posting useless pics and diarrhea videos.

As you can see, I took some time to craft my post and cited facts, references, dates and additional resources. And just like the last time we did this, you cannot. All you can do is post things like "..." and diarrhea videos.

I mentioned that DirtySteve's amp was a prototype. Again, the point was that Billy doesn't know what he's doing and then turned around and attacked Steve when forum members on the marshallforum pulled information out of Steve - not the other way around. He didn't create a thread there to slam Billy.

You don't need to define for me what trolling is. You've already admitted to trolling in other threads. You also delete posts after the fact. That is cowardly.

I don't believe that Mike Himmel actually joined RT and posted any of those posts or videos. It was proven that the real Mike Himmel didn't know anything about what was going on here. I seriously doubt that that was Billy Blades that posted here either.

Only a true master of deception and someone willing to create a multi-account on a forum to trick others could pull that off.

hmmm?



I think I'll just leave this here:

I (TheGainDeli) was banned by Brad for trash-talking Mark Cameron, and rightfully so! As it turned-out, I was right.

 

[TrueTone500]

You don't need to define for me what trolling is... You've already admitted to trolling in other threads.

I never admitted to any such thing. I admitted to engaging in a drama generating "Sasquatch" topic on TPG that carried for 50 pages! I'm sure TGP has deleted this epic thread, as it contains comparisons and analysis that many would find compelling.

I admitted to talking trash-talking Mark Cameron, which was perceived as trolling by Mark Cameron fanboys, and by those who had a vested interest in protecting the Cameron Amplification namesake. Mark's actions since then have more than vindicated my position. What was once perceived as trolling, is now fact!

 

[timeroo]

Thanks for clarifying the situation.

Not sure why this trutone guy has such a big problem with everything here. Shitty manufacturers should be outed and flamed relentlessly.

 

[311boogieman]

I never admitted to any such thing. I admitted to engaging in a drama generating "Sasquatch" topic on TPG that carried for 50 pages! I'm sure TGP has deleted this epic thread, as it contains comparisons and analysis that many would find compelling.

Nope. Again, you are wrong.

In the 'Billy Blades Update' thread I asked you if you were admitting to trolling and this smiley emo was your response:







------------------

I admitted to talking trash-talking Mark Cameron, which was perceived as trolling by Mark Cameron fanboys, and by those who had a vested interest in protecting the Cameron Amplification namesake. Mark's actions since then have more than vindicated my position. What was once perceived as trolling, is now fact!

So let me get this strait. Billy Blades got sideways with Mark Cameron and supposedly lost his amp and cash to Mark. Then Billy Blades decides he is going to get back at the amp modding business by doing these famous mods himself and trash talking all the modders, including Mark. Then his first prototype gets exposed and his workmanship and lack of professionalism get questioned.

Are we to all just be blind to the workmanship and lack of professionalism because of Mark's past? We are to jump right over that according to you? According to you, we should all be praising Billy's efforts and buying his amps.

I also don't get why you treat ejecta and others on here with such disrespect.

Everyone else, this is where TrueTone500 will come back and not really address anything that has been presented to him and will attempt to side track again. He always does. I never had a problem with you before TrueTone500 until the Blades fiasco. I just find your demeanor on the whole subject to be very irritating. Then you create a thread entitled 'Let's clean up Rig-Talk' and propose we all deleted posts where we were inflammatory. Are you fucking kidding?

Personally, I think you would be happier over at G.A.B.



v....No one believes that you are leaving because everytime you say that...you come back.

 

[TrueTone500]

This thread should have been deleted after the first post! It's nothing more than a fishing/trolling thread, posted for the purpose of creating havoc. It has been pointed out to Brad, but instead of deleting it, he replied; "I will watch it..."

Any forum is only as good as those who are running it... All I can say about Rig Talk, is that it is a virtual ghetto! There's no moderation, because those who own the Rig Talk forum obviously get-off on the chaos and dissension. How else can one explain the lack of moderation? A liberal paradise of controversy and hate.

Mike Himmel is right to disassociate himself with Rig Talk. When asked why he said that he never joined, he replied;
"I'm a professional musician... I can't be associated with people like that."

I've done by best to help people where I could, and hopefully it was worth the effort. Take care... TrueTone500 signing out!