Ignoramus
Active member
My recording gear evolves again. A couple of weeks ago, I tried a Blackstar HT5, going the cheap route and thinking 5 watts would be a really useful amount of sound. Fortunately for me, the clean channel crapped out shortly after plugging the amp in, and 5 watts is PLENTY loud (too loud for me to track while keeping Mrs. Igno happy), so back it went.
Then, I stumbled across the Mako MAK 4 preamp, this huge metal box with a shitload of chickenhead knobs. I was intrigued. I researched, I listened, and I read, and managed to find a mint condition used one last week. That last part was ridiculously dumb luck, since these just don't come up used. Ever. Oh yeah, the lifetime warranty is transferable. Score Team Ignoramus!
An AMAZING piece of gear. All 4 channels are totally usable, and unlike the Engl pre, which I think has one good gain sound that works with all guitars, you really want to fiddle with the knobs on the Mako. Incredibly responsive controls, but really simple ones -- gain, bass, mids, treble. That's it.
The footswitch is included, and is connected via an ethernet cable. Brilliant idea, and so much cheaper if you need a really long cable.
Each one of my guitars sounds different with the MAK4, but each one can be tweaked to sonic sploogeville. And that's a good thing.
The Ignoramus is very happy.
A quick clip I did this morning with the Makoplex channel, using my Horizon with MHD Hollywood Douchebag pickups and a simple drum loop: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1212399/makoplex take 1.mp3
Pretty sure I'll still hang on to the e530. I spent months fighting with Reaper and finally finding the right sound, and still really like it. Probably will be selling the Fireball head, though. I haven't turned it on in months, and it's just sitting there. But that's another story...
Then, I stumbled across the Mako MAK 4 preamp, this huge metal box with a shitload of chickenhead knobs. I was intrigued. I researched, I listened, and I read, and managed to find a mint condition used one last week. That last part was ridiculously dumb luck, since these just don't come up used. Ever. Oh yeah, the lifetime warranty is transferable. Score Team Ignoramus!
An AMAZING piece of gear. All 4 channels are totally usable, and unlike the Engl pre, which I think has one good gain sound that works with all guitars, you really want to fiddle with the knobs on the Mako. Incredibly responsive controls, but really simple ones -- gain, bass, mids, treble. That's it.
The footswitch is included, and is connected via an ethernet cable. Brilliant idea, and so much cheaper if you need a really long cable.
Each one of my guitars sounds different with the MAK4, but each one can be tweaked to sonic sploogeville. And that's a good thing.
The Ignoramus is very happy.
A quick clip I did this morning with the Makoplex channel, using my Horizon with MHD Hollywood Douchebag pickups and a simple drum loop: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1212399/makoplex take 1.mp3
Pretty sure I'll still hang on to the e530. I spent months fighting with Reaper and finally finding the right sound, and still really like it. Probably will be selling the Fireball head, though. I haven't turned it on in months, and it's just sitting there. But that's another story...