Rick Lee
Well-known member
gbsmusic":ko2rdoub said:
That sounds awesome, but is not what I'm looking for (this time
).Check out the D chord here at 1:44. It sounds like his Marshall is about to catch fire.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwzXop5kLxE
That is THE tone I want. Everyone gushes about VH1 tones, but I swear the second and third albums are where it's at for me.
311boogieman
Well-known member
I am assuming you've heard this:
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=176980&hilit=Splawn+B
Not the greatest recording but still...
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=176980&hilit=Splawn+B
Not the greatest recording but still...
Marshallman
Active member
I'm surprised no one mentioned Voodoo Amps?!?
AndyK
Well-known member
Rick Lee":1hf5mtqm said:gbsmusic":1hf5mtqm said:
That sounds awesome, but is not what I'm looking for (this time
Check out the D chord here at 1:44. It sounds like his Marshall is about to catch fire.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwzXop5kLxE
That is THE tone I want. Everyone gushes about VH1 tones, but I swear the second and third albums are where it's at for me.
I agree, and believe the albums after the first one were done with a modded 1959 w/ master volume. Much darker, and more gain. Completely different tone and gain levels between 1 and 2 even.
glpg80
Well-known member
Send it to Cameron 
Joking aside, here is a list of my preferences:
Friedman:
Friedman's marshalls are all about the pre-amp modifications, but one of his kitchen sink mods which I played did not hold together well at band volumes. It was modified yes, but refined it was not. It was not bad tubes or user error as it was owned by a very respected studio owner at the time. I had high expectations for one of his highly touted modifications and was left disappointed overall. Friedman does excellent work and has a great following, but I do not like his marshall modifications for this reason. YMMV.
Splawn:
If you're looking for more tightness and headroom then I'd suggest Splawn. Every one of his amplifiers I have played seemed to be extremely tight, with absolutely insane amounts of headroom. He runs a special set of transformers in his own line of amplifiers. I've spoken to Scott in person and visited his store, he's a stand up guy and loves to talk gear.
Fortin:
If you're looking for sheer amounts of gain which is articulate along with a lower noise floor, Fortin is your guy by far. His knowledge and ability to apply different solutions to fit your needs is excellent, and I'd recommend him if you're wanting to go full custom. Fortin also uses custom transformers in his amplifiers. He is also down to earth and excellent to talk with - I consider him a great friend who is extremely knowledgable.
FJA:
Jerry has a modification for marshalls called the "Nick Mod" which is pretty nuts. Have not heard it in person, have not played one, but recommend FJA.
Bray:
If you're looking for vintage marshall sounds and brown sound territory, you should highly consider David Bray at Bray Amplification. His deluxe modifications are excellent and nails the van halen stuff. He has a 4550 50W and 4550 100W model made for the van halen tone. It's 100% dead on the closest I've personally ever heard and he has been doing modifications to marshalls for well over 10 years.
Joking aside, here is a list of my preferences:
Friedman:
Friedman's marshalls are all about the pre-amp modifications, but one of his kitchen sink mods which I played did not hold together well at band volumes. It was modified yes, but refined it was not. It was not bad tubes or user error as it was owned by a very respected studio owner at the time. I had high expectations for one of his highly touted modifications and was left disappointed overall. Friedman does excellent work and has a great following, but I do not like his marshall modifications for this reason. YMMV.
Splawn:
If you're looking for more tightness and headroom then I'd suggest Splawn. Every one of his amplifiers I have played seemed to be extremely tight, with absolutely insane amounts of headroom. He runs a special set of transformers in his own line of amplifiers. I've spoken to Scott in person and visited his store, he's a stand up guy and loves to talk gear.
Fortin:
If you're looking for sheer amounts of gain which is articulate along with a lower noise floor, Fortin is your guy by far. His knowledge and ability to apply different solutions to fit your needs is excellent, and I'd recommend him if you're wanting to go full custom. Fortin also uses custom transformers in his amplifiers. He is also down to earth and excellent to talk with - I consider him a great friend who is extremely knowledgable.
FJA:
Jerry has a modification for marshalls called the "Nick Mod" which is pretty nuts. Have not heard it in person, have not played one, but recommend FJA.
Bray:
If you're looking for vintage marshall sounds and brown sound territory, you should highly consider David Bray at Bray Amplification. His deluxe modifications are excellent and nails the van halen stuff. He has a 4550 50W and 4550 100W model made for the van halen tone. It's 100% dead on the closest I've personally ever heard and he has been doing modifications to marshalls for well over 10 years.
LP Freak
Well-known member
Very odd observation on the Friedman mod you played. I'm not saying you're full of shit but I've had Dave mod numerous Marshalls and never had an issue where the amp didn't hold together at band volumes with any of them.
Beyond Black
Well-known member
Agreed. The louder my Friedman KS JMP gets, the sweeter it gets. There may be something wrong with that amp if it breaks up and gets worse at high volume.
romanianreaper
Well-known member
I had a Marshall modded years ago by Dave Friedman but unfortunately his magic could not significantly improve my crappy sounding amp. Definitely was not Dave's fault. I sent him an amp I got from a friend that was a Marshall reissue of some kind and according to a lot of people I talked to, wasn't a popular one.
I think Friedman and Splawn are both great sounding amps. To my ears, Splawn captures more of an 80's metal tone and Friedman captures more of everything else so to speak. When I think of DIO, RATT, Dokken, etc., I hear a Splawn tone. A lot of us like that oversaturated gain with a ton of harmonics and the Friedman definitely does that. Like I said, both great.
I haven't heard much personally from the other options but I know others on the forum have nothing but great things to say about alof of those companies.
I think Friedman and Splawn are both great sounding amps. To my ears, Splawn captures more of an 80's metal tone and Friedman captures more of everything else so to speak. When I think of DIO, RATT, Dokken, etc., I hear a Splawn tone. A lot of us like that oversaturated gain with a ton of harmonics and the Friedman definitely does that. Like I said, both great.
I haven't heard much personally from the other options but I know others on the forum have nothing but great things to say about alof of those companies.
glpg80
Well-known member
LP Freak":2ilymrcd said:
Indeed. You could say bad things about all amplifiers in reality though. Guitar players know no end. Years ago there was a weird mids discussion for all of Splawn's amplifiers which I'm sure you remember. Some of Splawn's earlier series of quick rod models had an ice-pick to the forehead problem with certain speakers, this could go on and on. It's all a matter of perspective, preferences, and certainly speakers being played through at the time.
But I can guarantee although Friedman does excellent work, the Friedman KS I played was falling apart and was not able to keep the same dynamics at slightly above band volumes. Other amplifiers in the studio had no problem with similar loudness settings through the same cabinet. All amps were very well maintained. I was surprised and overall disappointed. On raw recordings though, it sounded just fine. It's an honest observation based on playing one first hand. I'd consider Friedman's work for studio use only. YMMV.
AndyK
Well-known member
Here is my former Friedman modded Marshall JCM800 1987. Sounded really cool, probably should have kept it! Just the BE mod plus saturation (which I never used).
Rick Lee
Well-known member
AndyK":1752656m said:
No offense, but that tone just does nothing for me. In 1987 I'd have been all over, though I was teeanger flipping burgers in the summer and couldn't have afforded it. That sounds nothing like the other BE mod videos I've seen.
Rick Lee
Well-known member
Damnit. I'm sending it to Dave Bray. I don't care how long it takes. No rush at all. He's two hours closer to me than Friedman and I don't need all the mods he and I previously discussed. Every sound clip or video I hear of the Mod 1 is just ridiculous. I can't imagine wanting anything more than that. Question is which amp to send him. Do I send the HW clone because I just can't sell it, so I might as well keep and use it? Send him the 100w RI because it's a common and easily replaceable head?
R
Racerxrated
Well-known member
I think I had that one, was passed around here a bit? If it was I was unimpressed, OK sounding but didn't wow me. It was an 800 nmv, same features. But every donor amp is gonna sound different, so take that into consideration....AndyK":2e1cn0l7 said:
AndyK
Well-known member
Racerxrated":211yjg21 said:
Yup, OK, but unimpressive was the way I remember it. Too much all or nothing gain for me. I like my 1987 w/LarMar much better.
R
RACKSYSTEMS
Well-known member
glpg80":3v7hhpyh said:
So who's amp was it? I would like to know because it sounds like it's broken or just not functioning properly. Guys please remember Mods are often tweaked for people and power sections are not always the same on different amps. A lot of times a full service and recapping and tubing is not done on a amp when a mod is getting done. Results on old amps will vary.
evhfan
Member
The new Splawn B+ has cured my Friedman gas...
HilltopExplosion
New member
evhfan":18pxuydl said:
From the clips I saw.. like I said before... That's a bitchin' amp!
evhfan
Member
this is probably the best tone I've ever had for this song...this is what "brown sound" means to me...
R
Racerxrated
Well-known member
Yes agreed. The mod 5 you sold me was better IMO. That BE mod certainly wasn't a bad amp, just not that different than a pedal/800 tone. Which is a tried and true combination.AndyK":uhno13dp said:
