Just had a mini-ampfest at my place!

[killertone]

Amps that were there:
ENGL Fireball 100, Mako Mak2, Framus Cobra, Marshall JVM 410H, ENGL Blackmore
Cabs: VHT Fatbottom, Marshall 1960BV

Guitars: Caparison Dellinger w/ Caparison pups, Gibson LPC with MCP Solution, Ken Lawrence Custom Explorer with Anderson H3, Gibson LPC w/BKP Warpig, Gibson LPC with stock pups, ESP Custom Shop V (not in the pic)

We had a killer time and some killer tones!

All the amps sounded great. Since I live on a couple acres we got to open each one up considerably.

I think I have GAS for a Fatbottom cab now. It is the first cab that I have played in a long time that I really dug compared to my Marshalls. Had a very nice top end in that cab, and the bottom was....fat. But still super tight.

 

[Riddick]

Thanks for the invite pal

 

[killertone]

Thanks for the invite pal

It was a pretty spur of the moment thing. If there would have been any notice I would definitely have put the word out.

 

[Digital Jams]

Well from the Framus and KL I can tell who was there, why dont you tell him to hang here more than over at kiddie world

What did you think of the KL?

 

[killertone]

Well from the Framus and KL I can tell who was there, why dont you tell him to hang here more than over at kiddie world

What did you think of the KL?

Yup. I am not sure why he hangs there? I told him tonight he should hang here more often.

The KL is very nice. Immaculately built and sounded great. At first it had a Lundgren M6 in it and it sounded ok. Then Ans switched to an H3 and it was waaaay better.

 

[Digital Jams]

Yeah I have disagreed with Ans on a couple of things but that is more likely our different styles of play, I here that guy has a shotgun for a right wrist. I saw him defending a cab over at kiddie world and he was just wasting his time with some of the guys he was typing to

What did he think of the JVM?

 

[tonmazz]

Awesome! How did the JVM hold up against the others?

 

[killertone]

Yeah I have disagreed with Ans on a couple of things but that is more likely our different styles of play, I here that guy has a shotgun for a right wrist. I saw him defending a cab over at kiddie world and he was just wasting his time with some of the guys he was typing to

What did he think of the JVM?

I saw that, too. He called me when that was going down so I went in there and looked at the thread. Commonplace HCAF crap for sure.

He digs the JVM, he has seen me use it with my band a couple times and he always tells me it kills.

 

[killertone]

Awesome! How did the JVM hold up against the others?

Very well. Sounded killer. One guy that was there doesn't like Marshalls even though he has never played them and the other has heard me use that amp a few times and digs it.

 

[tonmazz]

Awesome! How did the JVM hold up against the others?

Very well. Sounded killer. One guy that was there doesn't like Marshalls even though he has never played them and the other has heard me use that amp a few times and digs it.

I only ask because I know you have some killer amps and I've seen you post a few times how good the JVM was. I just havn't been able to bond with it all the times I've played it in comparision to the older Marshalls.

 

[killertone]

Awesome! How did the JVM hold up against the others?

Very well. Sounded killer. One guy that was there doesn't like Marshalls even though he has never played them and the other has heard me use that amp a few times and digs it.

I only ask because I know you have some killer amps and I've seen you post a few times how good the JVM was. I just havn't been able to bond with it all the times I've played it in comparision to the older Marshalls.

Right on. I think it excels at modern high gain tones and its clean channel is awesome. I am not too fond of its mid gain tones for me personally. A lot of people love the amp for those tones but I like my '77 JMP or my Metro 50 watter for those and don't think the JVM does them nearly as well. That's just my opinion. though. For what I use the JVM for, it works awesomely.

 

[tonmazz]

Awesome! How did the JVM hold up against the others?

Very well. Sounded killer. One guy that was there doesn't like Marshalls even though he has never played them and the other has heard me use that amp a few times and digs it.

I only ask because I know you have some killer amps and I've seen you post a few times how good the JVM was. I just havn't been able to bond with it all the times I've played it in comparision to the older Marshalls.

Right on. I think it excels at modern high gain tones and its clean channel is awesome. I am not too fond of its mid gain tones for me personally. A lot of people love the amp for those tones but I like my '77 JMP or my Metro 50 watter for those and don't think the JVM does them nearly as well. That's just my opinion. though. For what I use the JVM for, it works awesomely.

I feel better, that was pretty much my assesment as well. Thanks.

 

[Digital Jams]

Awesome! How did the JVM hold up against the others?

Very well. Sounded killer. One guy that was there doesn't like Marshalls even though he has never played them and the other has heard me use that amp a few times and digs it.

I only ask because I know you have some killer amps and I've seen you post a few times how good the JVM was. I just havn't been able to bond with it all the times I've played it in comparision to the older Marshalls.

Right on. I think it excels at modern high gain tones and its clean channel is awesome. I am not too fond of its mid gain tones for me personally. A lot of people love the amp for those tones but I like my '77 JMP or my Metro 50 watter for those and don't think the JVM does them nearly as well. That's just my opinion. though. For what I use the JVM for, it works awesomely.

Agreed about the mid gain stuff, if you have the cab pushing some serious air it is workable but it is not a JMP.

But overall it is a very good amp that will hold its own against the comp, I have no plans to sell mine after the Cali lands.

 

[guitarslingerans]

You forgot Satan's Little Helper, maing!



As for the amps...the JVM is the br00tz. If there was another amp that I needed/wanted to get that was readily available that I know I could get my tone out of, the JVM would definitely be it. Fucking killer. Through the FB cab it was rockin some bawlz. The Blackmore as well...but we all know that isn't correct because you can ONLY get Ritchie Blackmore tones out of that amp.






The FB100 is cool, but too dark and compressed for my ears. Too smooth. Cool none the less.


AS for the MAK2...well, I can say I feel like my bad experience with the PTP Dorado was a sign which I am glad I heeded and left that first experience as my last in regards to owning a MAK2. Just not my bag. For what it is, that amp is really noisy. Dunno why exactly, but yeah. Without a noisegate, you are lost in a sea of feedbacky, scratchiness. Not to mention the squeals and pops that come out every time you shut the amp to standby. Meh. Built like a fucking tank and looks bad ass as all hell...but unfortunately, doesn't have the tone which makes it worth it to me.


-Ans-

 

[killertone]

You forgot Satan's Little Helper, maing!



As for the amps...the JVM is the br00tz. If there was another amp that I needed/wanted to get that was readily available that I know I could get my tone out of, the JVM would definitely be it. Fucking killer. Through the FB cab it was rockin some bawlz. The Blackmore as well...but we all know that isn't correct because you can ONLY get Ritchie Blackmore tones out of that amp.






The FB100 is cool, but too dark and compressed for my ears. Too smooth. Cool none the less.


AS for the MAK2...well, I can say I feel like my bad experience with the PTP Dorado was a sign which I am glad I heeded and left that first experience as my last in regards to owning a MAK2. Just not my bag. For what it is, that amp is really noisy. Dunno why exactly, but yeah. Without a noisegate, you are lost in a sea of feedbacky, scratchiness. Not to mention the squeals and pops that come out every time you shut the amp to standby. Meh. Built like a fucking tank and looks bad ass as all hell...but unfortunately, doesn't have the tone which makes it worth it to me.


-Ans-

Oh yeah! ESP added to list...

Since I didn't do a breakdown of the amps individually here it is:

Framus Cobra: This amp sounds awesome. I knew it would because I have heard Ans use one live before and I used to be a Framus dealer and always liked the Cobras. We had this one boosted with a Barber Super Sport and it sounded killer. Very organic sounding, a tad bit of compression, just enought to make it ultra tight. I preferred the lead channel with the gain low and the boost on.

Fireball 100: I just got this a couple weeks ago. I really like it but it is too compressed, I think. Has a great tone though and tons of bottom end. Mixed well with the Cobra when we played them together. That would be a sick setup in a band. The noise gate on the Fireball 100 is the best one that ENGL has put on their amps. We had the amp cranked to hell sitting directly in front of the cabs and the gate was quick and silent. If you are into killer tone with compression and saturation, the Fireball is an excellent amp. I will probably own one again at some point as I already sold this one.

Blackmore: I dig the Blackmore, especially this specific one. It has a mojo to it and sounds thicker and meaner than other Blackmores that I have owned or played. This amp has authority. I made some clips a year or so ago (check my sig) of this amp doing a bunch of tones from brutal to bluesy. It can really cover a lot of territory. This is kind of funny and what Ans alluded to in his post...Not too long ago my band was playing in Houston. One of the opening band's guitarists was talking to my other guitar player about his amp (he also has a Blackmore) and said "the problem with the Blackmore is that you can only get Richie Blackmore sounds out of it." One of the most ridiculous and hilarious statements I have ever heard.

Marshall JVM 410H: Sounded killer through the VHT cab. Tamed the brightness that this amp can have. I would get a VHT Fatbottom cab before I did the choke mod or the C83 mod. Gets the same result without the risk of modding an amp that already has so much going on. OD2 on Orange with the gain at 11 o'clock is just pure brutality.

Make Mak2: Noisy as hell. In all fairness, it could be a bad preamp tube, we didn't change them to find out. After a little tweaking I dialed in a pretty fat hi gain tone. I dug it but I honestly did not think that this amp was very special. I know they are made extremely well, but the tone wasn't anything that knocked me out. Sounded good but not great.

 

[TX6Strings]

If that's the same Blackmoore that was at Austin Ampfest 1 then the Mak2 and it's noise scares me!!

 

[killertone]

If that's the same Blackmoore that was at Austin Ampfest 1 then the Mak2 and it's noise scares me!!

It is the same amp. I guess you are trying to say that the Blackmore was noisy? Not sure what amp you heard that day... My Blackmore is not noisy by any means. Maybe the noise you heard was he ringing in your ears because of the volume level in that room that day.

 

[TX6Strings]

If that's the same Blackmoore that was at Austin Ampfest 1 then the Mak2 and it's noise scares me!!

It is the same amp. I guess you are trying to say that the Blackmore was noisy? Not sure what amp you heard that day... My Blackmore is not noisy by any means. Maybe the noise you heard was he ringing in your ears because of the volume level in that room that day.

lol Nah dude, even during your demo of the amp you stopped on the gain channel and noted how noisy those amps are. No offense ment...I've played a couple of Blackmoore's and they're all noise on the gain channel, but if the Mak2 is worse...that's pretty scary!

 

[killertone]

If that's the same Blackmoore that was at Austin Ampfest 1 then the Mak2 and it's noise scares me!!

It is the same amp. I guess you are trying to say that the Blackmore was noisy? Not sure what amp you heard that day... My Blackmore is not noisy by any means. Maybe the noise you heard was he ringing in your ears because of the volume level in that room that day.

lol Nah dude, even during your demo of the amp you stopped on the gain channel and noted how noisy those amps are. No offense ment...I've played a couple of Blackmoore's and they're all noise on the gain channel, but if the Mak2 is worse...that's pretty scary!

That wasn't me, then! I wouldn't have pointed it out because I have never thought that it was noisy. Not offended at all, just needed to set the record straight there. This amp isn't any noisier than any other hi gainer that I own currently.

 

[guitarslingerans]

If that's the same Blackmoore that was at Austin Ampfest 1 then the Mak2 and it's noise scares me!!

It is the same amp. I guess you are trying to say that the Blackmore was noisy? Not sure what amp you heard that day... My Blackmore is not noisy by any means. Maybe the noise you heard was he ringing in your ears because of the volume level in that room that day.

lol Nah dude, even during your demo of the amp you stopped on the gain channel and noted how noisy those amps are. No offense ment...I've played a couple of Blackmoore's and they're all noise on the gain channel, but if the Mak2 is worse...that's pretty scary!

That wasn't me, then! I wouldn't have pointed it out because I have never thought that it was noisy. Not offended at all, just needed to set the record straight there. This amp isn't any noisier than any other hi gainer that I own currently.

Yeah...I was confused by his comment too. The Blackmore was not noisy at all, and never is...he must be thinking about another amp there at Ampfest. Maybe one of the other ENGLs somehow tainted the BMs good name. The only thing to be taken from Ampfest V 1.0 regarding the Blackmore is that it pummeled the Invader.


-Ans-