Digital Jams
New member
I am sure this is going to get some interesting responses but all I am going to say is that you have to try one for yourself 
Working with Mike:
I am lucky that I had played his amps and was able to speak with Mike one on one so I had zero reservations going in, it was not a blind purchuse going by clips for me. Mike provided all shipping labels and three copies of the paperwork that I would need to get the amp over the border. We went over where I wanted the holes punched, what I was looking for, and went over the loop after I changed my mind about getting it done since the loop is not inexpensive. I heard the loop and knew it would be worth it in the end.
Quality of work:
Pulled the chassis and Mike is one anal guy. Holes are burr free, wires are neatly run, every hole is lined up as if he snapped a chalk line across the chassis. The loop is a well thought out layout and very clean, solder job is very nice. Speaking with Mike and seeing his production work I knew his quality was going to be very good, even his logos are milled aluminum billet. The mod looks production and that it always belonged there.
Playing the amp:
First thing I noticed was the low noice level, quietiest hot rodded Marshall I have played. Many here have more experinece with different people's work but I have been around enough to state this is one quiet amp. It takes time to go through the amp, not looking for a good tone but going through the different good tones. If I want a easy playing amp it is as easy as setting the amp for tight and upping the gain levels some. If I want that looser feeling raw roar I go for spongy settings and place the master sat switch in the middle for a stock plexi type tone. If I want 80s Ratt or Dokken I set the switches for more clipping for more saturation. If I want more modern I set the amp for max saturation and raise the depth settings for more bottom end. Yes, you can dial in a bad tone if you start going extreme with some of the settings and switch positions.
For the Joe Holmes guys and lower gain players:
It is in the box. The amp is very tight and fast tracking, you can get that Ronnie LeTekkro staccato alt picking sound
A very good JCM 800 is there is spades if you want that. Even with higher gain settings the amp cleans up very very nice without getting to much treble working or sounding weak in the knees. I have not even thrown a boost in front yet, have not had a situation that I wanted to. Complex chords ring out, you hear the entire chord and not just the root tone.
Modern playing guys:
With the gain levels up and the depth knob past 3:00 you can get to Rust in Peace levels of saturation and gain while the amp maintains it's focus and not getting muddy at all. Very tight and I see no reason for a gate unless you have dirty power or something else on the circuit. You can dime the gain and the amp holds together very well, of course you are taking out the bright caps and will have to grab some res and re-eq some.
Loop:
It has send and return pots and it is post master so the louder you play you have to reset the return. Very clear and transparent once dialed in correctly, the return is pretty much a dry/wet level so you can add a touch or go full 100% wet.
That's it, I am very happy that I had this done and love the amp. Wish I had gone for a foot switchable gain boost but can always have a boost with just level working for that. Total cost including the amp and shipping was approx $1900 which puts the amp under most used Camerons which imo is the closest thing to this amp tone and voicing wise. Anyone in my neck of the woods is more than welcome to demo the amp and I will bring it to LI in November when Mike shows up as well.
Working with Mike:
I am lucky that I had played his amps and was able to speak with Mike one on one so I had zero reservations going in, it was not a blind purchuse going by clips for me. Mike provided all shipping labels and three copies of the paperwork that I would need to get the amp over the border. We went over where I wanted the holes punched, what I was looking for, and went over the loop after I changed my mind about getting it done since the loop is not inexpensive. I heard the loop and knew it would be worth it in the end.
Quality of work:
Pulled the chassis and Mike is one anal guy. Holes are burr free, wires are neatly run, every hole is lined up as if he snapped a chalk line across the chassis. The loop is a well thought out layout and very clean, solder job is very nice. Speaking with Mike and seeing his production work I knew his quality was going to be very good, even his logos are milled aluminum billet. The mod looks production and that it always belonged there.
Playing the amp:
First thing I noticed was the low noice level, quietiest hot rodded Marshall I have played. Many here have more experinece with different people's work but I have been around enough to state this is one quiet amp. It takes time to go through the amp, not looking for a good tone but going through the different good tones. If I want a easy playing amp it is as easy as setting the amp for tight and upping the gain levels some. If I want that looser feeling raw roar I go for spongy settings and place the master sat switch in the middle for a stock plexi type tone. If I want 80s Ratt or Dokken I set the switches for more clipping for more saturation. If I want more modern I set the amp for max saturation and raise the depth settings for more bottom end. Yes, you can dial in a bad tone if you start going extreme with some of the settings and switch positions.
For the Joe Holmes guys and lower gain players:
It is in the box. The amp is very tight and fast tracking, you can get that Ronnie LeTekkro staccato alt picking sound
A very good JCM 800 is there is spades if you want that. Even with higher gain settings the amp cleans up very very nice without getting to much treble working or sounding weak in the knees. I have not even thrown a boost in front yet, have not had a situation that I wanted to. Complex chords ring out, you hear the entire chord and not just the root tone.Modern playing guys:
With the gain levels up and the depth knob past 3:00 you can get to Rust in Peace levels of saturation and gain while the amp maintains it's focus and not getting muddy at all. Very tight and I see no reason for a gate unless you have dirty power or something else on the circuit. You can dime the gain and the amp holds together very well, of course you are taking out the bright caps and will have to grab some res and re-eq some.
Loop:
It has send and return pots and it is post master so the louder you play you have to reset the return. Very clear and transparent once dialed in correctly, the return is pretty much a dry/wet level so you can add a touch or go full 100% wet.
That's it, I am very happy that I had this done and love the amp. Wish I had gone for a foot switchable gain boost but can always have a boost with just level working for that. Total cost including the amp and shipping was approx $1900 which puts the amp under most used Camerons which imo is the closest thing to this amp tone and voicing wise. Anyone in my neck of the woods is more than welcome to demo the amp and I will bring it to LI in November when Mike shows up as well.
