Starting a new amp project, Curtomica amp build

[shreder75]

I got a novel idea...
How about more time wood-shedding and less time chasing your tail around looking for a tone that someone described to you on a forum once? I guarantee that if you're warmed up enough, every amp in your extensive arsenal will sound better.

Go take a VH song and spend alot of time dissecting it and learning the nuances of Eddie's playing. That's a much more worth-while investment if you ask me.

practice?..PRACTICE?!?!?!? how DARE you sir!!!

 

[guitarmike]

It is sad that people always try to attack success. Everyone on this forum should be excited for Brad and his endeavors if for no other reason that the guys that sent $$ to Mark Cameron are going to get amps. Because of Brad, Dave, and Rob there will be Cameron amps that most of us will be able to own if we want. That is cool.

Keep up the good work Brad!

 

[Shiny_Surface]

It is sad that people always try to attack success.

He wasn't attacking success just stating his opinion, just imo.

 

[glip22]

Sometimes we all just need extra attention for whatever reasons. Maybe the Wife or girlfriend is making us unhappy. Maybe life is down,etc., so we come on Rig_Talk, start some shit that we know will ruffle feathers, and then sit back and enjoy the show

 

[Digital Jams]

So what's going on today boys?

Brad, hate would mean I was angry about something and that is not the case. Beautiful day with the temp in the upper 60s in November and life is good. If my opinion reads as hate that is your cross to bear.

People take on projects everyday cloning something, why would this be different? It is not

Yes, I do need to practice as well as I am still one of the worst players on this forum

Yeah Tom the heat is on!

Carry on boys, pics tonight of the donor amp

 

[mentoneman]

Heres the deal from my perspective...

The one guy who everybody admits knows the original ATOMICA amp inside and out is Mark Cameron.

The one guy who Eddie Van Halen trusted to rebuild his legendary #1 Marshall Plexi is Dave Friedman.

The one guy who is credited for being "the" if not one of the worlds foremost experts on Plexi Marshalls is George Metroplous

Guess who I have working on the ATOMICA and the OLD BITCH Mod Series Amps?

Cameron. Friedman and Metroplous. .

I have put together arguably the 3 best living guys in the world to pull this off and you get it for $2500 bucks brand new. I am a gear fiend just like you guys and I can tell you that as a regular guy who loves this stuff that I would be all over that regardless that I own Cameron, Rig-Talk or whatever.

I realize haters are gonna hate and its part of it and maybe its not for you but I think lots of guys will dig it at a pretty reasonable price with a warranty, fx loop and the best guys in the business making it.

just sayin...and I wish you luck with modding your Marshall and asking your "friends" to donate time to help you but trust me when I tell ya it ain't that easy and there is a reason why guys with unlimited budgets who could get anybody to do their amps track down one of the 3 guys I put together on this mod series project.

Its only rock and roll...

it is true that you have 3 of the best amp tone ears and minds to put the VH and beyond amp together. I totally applaud that effort and i believe that collaboration is the key to making great ideas and amps and tone go even further. dave friedman holds the record for being involved with the coolest most respected amp collaborations ever. egnater, naylor, blankenship, cameron, metro, his own stuff...unreal. i wouldn't try to say anything that waters down or diminishes the anticipation of such an awesome project or the herculean effort this took! i'd love one of those cool amps

i hoped at one point that bruce egnater, the rocktron/isp guys buck waller and bill blatter(who did briefly collaborate on the tol and prophecy stuff), and joe naylor, all michigan cats, would work together to build a guitar/amp/effects empire

john suhr and jim kelley are joining forces and that's exciting

jeff hilligan joining DAR could also be a very fruitful pairing (those DAR amps are on to something great)

in my search for the AC/EJ/VH classic pure type sounds victor at mojave was the first guy to offer the correct mix of build quality, components, and results. at least that's what my ears and hands and heart told me. and he only a few months ago revealed this tidbit:

"True Story, In 1999, I brought a phillips and flat screwdriver, along with my guitar to Edward Van Halen's 5150 studio as I was a frequent visitor. On this one occasion, I was allowed to take apart Edwards 67/68 Plexi (it's a 68 if you guys care) and saw it for what it was. I have worked on a lot of Edwards gear and now that it's been over a decade, I feel at liberty to speak out. I was asked (required) to keep it to myself at the time so as not to exploit his name. I did buy a good number of pieces as well from the studio and never told anyone where they came from as agreed.
We even wrapped up a few amps that jose had started on and never finished. ed and Jose split up apparently before they were wrapped up. Some projects that they were into which were supposed to be Ed's own amp model, at least that was what was told regarding those amps, and yes they were Marshalls. "

from a purely "amp tone fan" perspective, and totally IMO, i'd sure be awesome if vic could have been part of that tone round table in making this amp, and i even talked to him years ago about having mark cameron collaborate with him on an amp because i heard the connection in their tone machines.

digi is getting punched in the face but i read he just wanted to put an atomica type amp together on slightly more than a used marshall budget, to prove it could be done, and is frustrated by all these $killer$ new amps tweaking a higher gain VH jose master formula ala kid in a huge new candy store! and one of the best amps ive heard in my life was mark c's bassman ($400-600) that he modded ($500?)
voila.

 

[Digital Jams]

Heres the deal from my perspective...

The one guy who everybody admits knows the original ATOMICA amp inside and out is Mark Cameron.

The one guy who Eddie Van Halen trusted to rebuild his legendary #1 Marshall Plexi is Dave Friedman.

The one guy who is credited for being "the" if not one of the worlds foremost experts on Plexi Marshalls is George Metroplous

Guess who I have working on the ATOMICA and the OLD BITCH Mod Series Amps?

Cameron. Friedman and Metroplous. .

I have put together arguably the 3 best living guys in the world to pull this off and you get it for $2500 bucks brand new. I am a gear fiend just like you guys and I can tell you that as a regular guy who loves this stuff that I would be all over that regardless that I own Cameron, Rig-Talk or whatever.

I realize haters are gonna hate and its part of it and maybe its not for you but I think lots of guys will dig it at a pretty reasonable price with a warranty, fx loop and the best guys in the business making it.

just sayin...and I wish you luck with modding your Marshall and asking your "friends" to donate time to help you but trust me when I tell ya it ain't that easy and there is a reason why guys with unlimited budgets who could get anybody to do their amps track down one of the 3 guys I put together on this mod series project.

Its only rock and roll...

digi is getting punched in the face but i read he just wanted to put an atomica type amp together on slightly more than a used marshall budget, to prove it could be done, and is frustrated by all these $killer$ new amps tweaking a higher gain VH jose master formula ala kid in a huge new candy store! and one of the best amps ive heard in my life was mark c's bassman ($400-600) that he modded ($500?)
voila.

That is all it is Pat, I just guess people are just not reading it Do I think it will have the headroom of a new ground up build? No as I have heard a new ground up build against a SLP mod and the ground up just had more past 5 on the master. I am getting face punched for comparing a silly winter project to something not even out yet

Never stated mine will be better because it is not the same amp as what is going to be offered Most here would not even be interested in it as Steve mentioned it will be low gain.

It is just a winter project

Now what would be more interesting? Going to TGP and stating I am making a sub $1000 Dumble!

 

[ejecta]

digi is getting punched in the face but i read he just wanted to put an atomica type amp together on slightly more than a used marshall budget, to prove it could be done, and is frustrated by all these $killer$ new amps tweaking a higher gain VH jose master formula ala kid in a huge new candy store!

I saw it the same way but I guess others saw it as an attack. Forums are funny things.

 

[Anonymous]

Heres the deal from my perspective...

The one guy who everybody admits knows the original ATOMICA amp inside and out is Mark Cameron.

The one guy who Eddie Van Halen trusted to rebuild his legendary #1 Marshall Plexi is Dave Friedman.

The one guy who is credited for being "the" if not one of the worlds foremost experts on Plexi Marshalls is George Metroplous

Guess who I have working on the ATOMICA and the OLD BITCH Mod Series Amps?

Cameron. Friedman and Metroplous. .

I have put together arguably the 3 best living guys in the world to pull this off and you get it for $2500 bucks brand new. I am a gear fiend just like you guys and I can tell you that as a regular guy who loves this stuff that I would be all over that regardless that I own Cameron, Rig-Talk or whatever.

I realize haters are gonna hate and its part of it and maybe its not for you but I think lots of guys will dig it at a pretty reasonable price with a warranty, fx loop and the best guys in the business making it.

just sayin...and I wish you luck with modding your Marshall and asking your "friends" to donate time to help you but trust me when I tell ya it ain't that easy and there is a reason why guys with unlimited budgets who could get anybody to do their amps track down one of the 3 guys I put together on this mod series project.

Its only rock and roll...

digi is getting punched in the face but i read he just wanted to put an atomica type amp together on slightly more than a used marshall budget, to prove it could be done, and is frustrated by all these $killer$ new amps tweaking a higher gain VH jose master formula ala kid in a huge new candy store! and one of the best amps ive heard in my life was mark c's bassman ($400-600) that he modded ($500?)
voila.

That is all it is Pat, I just guess people are just not reading it Do I think it will have the headroom of a new ground up build? No as I have heard a new ground up build against a SLP mod and the ground up just had more past 5 on the master. I am getting face punched for comparing a silly winter project to something not even out yet

Never stated mine will be better because it is not the same amp as what is going to be offered Most here would not even be interested in it as Steve mentioned it will be low gain.

It is just a winter project

Now what would be more interesting? Going to TGP and stating I am making a sub $1000 Dumble!

Digi...

Cmon man...

"enough is enough with with the sales labels and capitalizing on forum legend"?

"no credit for anyone else or branded as such"?

Those comments sound like someone with an axe to grind.

Pat says you are frustrated and that is coming out in your words. What is there to be frustrated about? As I said in my previous post and explained specifically, I think what Cameron amps is doing is a win for everyone.

Once again, I don't mean to be a pain as I consider you a friend, but I don't get the attitude and then telling brad it's on him. Read your words man - sounds very negative to me...

Once again, I think the project sounds cool and I wish you the best of luck in getting what you are looking for.

Respectfully,

Steve

 

[ejecta]

This would be a good costume for this thread.

 

[Meathead]

I got a novel idea...
How about more time wood-shedding and less time chasing your tail around looking for a tone that someone described to you on a forum once? I guarantee that if you're warmed up enough, every amp in your extensive arsenal will sound better.

Go take a VH song and spend alot of time dissecting it and learning the nuances of Eddie's playing. That's a much more worth-while investment if you ask me.

Oh man, what a downer you are!
Nobody can even dare to dream around here.

 

[Meathead]

This would be a good costume for this thread.

Would you pick up chicks wearing a costume like that, or would you disgust them?

I just don't know anymore.

 

[Rogue]

Do I understand this atomica amp has only been heard by two people (of significance to this forum) years ago?

 

[AmpliFIRE]

 

[ejecta]

To feel like I'm part of the crowd I'm going to go to the pound and get an old bitch and name her Atomica. Instant forum cred.

 

[mixohoytian]

there's a billion VH mod amps out there now....
maybe it IS the fingers....

 

[Chubtone]

there's a billion VH mod amps out there now....
maybe it IS the fingers....

I've got a finger for you

Scotty,
I have to admit that the way I am reading your posts sounds like you are a bit pissy that the new Atomica is not going to be a direct clone of the original Atomica. I think from a marketing standpoint the name Atomica is just kick ass and better than calling Mark's current take on that old circuit plus a higher gain version a "Jose mod".

I only ever called that amp the "Atomica" because it had that stenciled across the front where the Marshall logo was supposed to be. That was the name of the guys band I assume. It was never the name of an amp design or model.

And you have to take my story for what it was, a moment in time SEVERAL years ago, before all these amp modders started getting so close to VH tone that you would have to be a total fanatic to think you needed to get closer. At that point, I was only familiar with Lee Jackson mods and Kasha mods and I did not dig them. I had never owned an original Jose mod. So when I heard that amp, I was finally able to hear a Marshall that sounded like it could do the Van Halen sound. And it still didn't sound like VHI. It sounded like VHII and the albums that came after where the amp sounds like a real amp from planet earth.

Now I am not positive about this, but I think that Marks Low Gain Jose is based off that Atomica circuit and his High Gain Jose is based off the Jose mod like Joe Holmes had. If that is the case and it sounds like both of these amps, this could be the best $2500 any of us ever spent on an amp. We will have to see as the VH tone and Joe Holmes tone are two of my all time favorites.

 

[Anonymous]

there's a billion VH mod amps out there now....
maybe it IS the fingers....

I've got a finger for you

Scotty,
I have to admit that the way I am reading your posts sounds like you are a bit pissy that the new Atomica is not going to be a direct clone of the original Atomica. I think from a marketing standpoint the name Atomica is just kick ass and better than calling Mark's current take on that old circuit plus a higher gain version a "Jose mod".

I only ever called that amp the "Atomica" because it had that stenciled across the front where the Marshall logo was supposed to be. That was the name of the guys band I assume. It was never the name of an amp design or model.

And you have to take my story for what it was, a moment in time SEVERAL years ago, before all these amp modders started getting so close to VH tone that you would have to be a total fanatic to think you needed to get closer. At that point, I was only familiar with Lee Jackson mods and Kasha mods and I did not dig them. I had never owned an original Jose mod. So when I heard that amp, I was finally able to hear a Marshall that sounded like it could do the Van Halen sound. And it still didn't sound like VHI. It sounded like VHII and the albums that came after where the amp sounds like a real amp from planet earth.

Now I am not positive about this, but I think that Marks Low Gain Jose is based off that Atomica circuit and his High Gain Jose is based off the Jose mod like Joe Holmes had. If that is the case and it sounds like both of these amps, this could be the best $2500 any of us ever spent on an amp. We will have to see as the VH tone and Joe Holmes tone are two of my all time favorites.

Couldn't agree more. I went for the "Old Bitch" myself as I can already cover the other territory... Now that I'm not getting my NATAS I needs me some aggression... You thinkin' about grabbing an Atomica?

Steve

 

[Chubtone]

Couldn't agree more. I went for the "Old Bitch" myself as I can already cover the other territory... Now that I'm not getting my NATAS I needs me some aggression... You thinkin' about grabbing an Atomica?

Steve

I would need to hear the Atomica. I have 6 amps right now and I have told myself a new amp in means an old amp out.

 

[Anonymous]

Couldn't agree more. I went for the "Old Bitch" myself as I can already cover the other territory... Now that I'm not getting my NATAS I needs me some aggression... You thinkin' about grabbing an Atomica?

Steve

I would need to hear the Atomica. I have 6 amps right now and I have told myself a new amp in means an old amp out.

That'll be easy enough to arrange.

Steve