Hey great replies, thanks so much everybody, that's the kind of info I was after.
Ventura":2lwtxctc said:
If you're interested, search youtube for the Mako Mak 4 test by a guy named FastRedPonyCar. He's got 2 sets of tests - the tests which sound the best IMHO are the ones in which you can only see the faceplate of the Mak 4. He runs through every channel and each video is in high def stereo, and about 10 minutes long. You'll really get a good sense as to the Makoplex and Dorado channels - as well as the clean and crunch channels.
That's what I've been watching! Great demo by the guy, it really shows off the different gain levels. I would have liked a lot more dry rhythm playing on the Dorado, but some of that Tool/Metallica/AIC stuff certainly showed off how tight and percussive that channel is.
Ventura":2lwtxctc said:
Personally, I am blown away with the tone and richness of both the Makoplex and Dorado channels - they're unique, not just trying to be something else with their own spin, they really are amazingly awesome channels. I'm not a big 'plexi' fan, but the raunch and sustain coming out of the Makoplex channel alone warranted a couple eyebrow lifts from yours truly. It's pretty banger man!!
V.
Same here, and thanks for the info! I loved the Tokai into the Makoplex, a very sweet and rich sound.
Erock":2lwtxctc said:
I've done exactly what you described man, the Mak4 works excellent with the Herbert poweramp on the switchable loop. It's like having a fourth channel with 4 different modes. As for your comparison, I think they compliment very nicely. The makoplex has more gain than ch2+, somewhere in between CH2+ and CH3 IMO, also with a different feel. It's definitely in the hotrodded Marshall vein. The Dorado has an obscene amount of gain, more than Ch3 if you can believe it. It's also tighter and drier than Ch3 thru the Herberts poweramp, a different flavor altogether. I think the Mak4 works so well thru the Herbert because you get the depth feature to add some girth. The Dorado channel can sound a bit thin thru the wrong poweramp IMO. As for clean and crunch channels, it's a toss up there really dependent on preference. I really like the crunch ch. boosted on the Mak4, kind of a whole different flavor again on top of everything else.
Andrew also has some updates on the Mak4 design I've been told, so it may be wise to order new, I would talk to him first. I've heard the gain taper for the Dorado channel can be adjusted, since it's almost ridiculous how much gain that channel has, along with a depth mod if you want more lowend. Also, I think there are options to brighten the clean and crunch. He's also supposed to be coming out with a Mako poweramp, so that might be the perfect compliment, but I can tell you the Mak4 sounds killer thru the Herbert. As for weight, it's not heavy at all, you could easily lift it with one hand, I would guesstimate 20-30 lbs or so. Have no fears about quality, once you look inside the thing, every other amp kind of looks flimsy in comparison.
Great stuff man, thank you! Yes the Herbert is a cut above in the mono power amp dept, I never ever run out of headroom, I would probably keep it just for that, the switchable loop and Deep/Presence controls plus choice of tubes are perfect for adding preamps.
Those clips of the Dorado sound like what I've always wanted out of Ch3 for heavy rhythm, a less-compressed tighter version of it. Just a few questions about that:
1. The Dorado sounds a bit eviler/grindier in the lower mids than the Herbert CH3 (esp. in the Dem Bones riff), and yet perhaps more cutting too...is that how it seems to you? Reminds me a bit of an Uberschall clip I heard once (I didn't really like the design of that amp, but the tone was impressive).
2. I probably should know this, but I can't remember...is the Mid-Cut on the Herbert before or after the switchable loop? That would be wicked if I could combine that with the MAK4 too, I'm guessing before, but I don't have a spare pre to try it.
3. What tubes are you running in the Herbert power section? I've always been interested in trying KT-88s or 6550s for the percussive effect, but I also prefer the grindy sound of EL34s...I read a post from Andrew where he said KT-88s were a good compliment to the MAK4, he said something like you didn't need EL34s with the Dorado...does that sound right? That Dorado clip was through a Titan with KT-88s and sounded percussive and brutal! Although the Diezel preamp perhaps needs the EL34Bs to cut through.
Ventura":2lwtxctc said:
threadkiller":2lwtxctc said:
I asked him to make the clean channel brighter and make the gain sweep slower on the dorado channel at the urging of forum members who have had the mak4. I was told the stock dorado gain sweep was off or insane with nothing in between. I also am told it is noisy but I guess anything with that much gain is going to be noisy. I think he has made some changes in newer versions in response to this. Can't wait to get mine. Hope it lives up to the hype and youtube clips.
Yep, noise has been dealt with in the newer revisions. I'll be certain to post my up close and personal review after a good 20 hours on it. Stay tuned - and for what it's worth, I am PUMPED about this new rig!! I think it's a terrific beast
V.
What did Andrew do, put a quieter tube in V1/2, or some other mod to the circuitry? I have a couple of ISP Decimators I can use anyway, pity there's no loop on the Mako for that, I'll just stick one in between the MAK4 and the Herbert perhaps, or else the other loop on the Herbert.
Btw I'm probably going to go new, there's not that big a price difference, I want the latest version, and hey, he's an awesome builder worthy of support.
Haha, it sounds ridiculous to have 7 channels of doom, I only started using the 2nd ch on the Diezel recently! I'm gonna be pretty stoked once I have a MAK4.
Thanks again everybody, this is a great forum!
