The Fortin Bones amp smokes!!

[Gainfreak]

I got a chance to play this sucker lastnight and I was really digging what I heard.

So that I don't get to long winded you can go Here for an overview of the amp

http://www.fortinamps.com/products.aspx

What does it sound like or should I say what did it reminded me of? A bad-ass modded Marshall type amp with some VHT/Soldano thrown in , a sprinkle of laser beam accuracy and a lot of Mike Fortin lol

Here are a few observations. The Amp remains tight and focused even when 4 gain stages are engaged. The amp is very midrange heavy and will cut a PA like glass. The type of mids or freequency that Mike chose for the midrange will cut in any live band situation in a NY minute
There is no such thing as getting lost in a mix at a gig or with this thing, I can gurantee that 100%

The amp also has one of the quickest response times of any amp ive played and the weird thing is that it can have that dry focused sound that people talk about when mentioning VHT's but it has more saturation then the VHT and the amp is easy to play.
This amp does not sag out like the boogies do. It has more of that Marshall feel but it also has that laser beam accuracy that I was speaking about.
It sustains like a bitch at any volume. Another great feature is that it has a great master volume, so bedroom wankers like me will be able to get a great sound at home or at a live gig.

Ok... since people know me here, the amp has plenty of gain in the "H" or 4 gain stage mode. I cranked it to 10 but to be honest with you, anyone should feel comfortable with the gain a little over 12 o'Clock. Hell, even the 3 gain stage mode should be enough for most. So far so good!

I had the pleasure and luxury of taking the amp home with me, so Im going to see what it sounds like with some of my cabs and I'll report back!!

Mike has a monster on his hands and I can't wait to hear the NATAS and the Meathead!!!

On another note, I got to meet Joe Nardulli and Carl Roa. These guys are monster players and really great all around people. Carl invited us to his home and was a great host..I can't thank him enough and Joe actually came by my house and picked me up!!! Amazing guys for sure!!
Anyone into good guitar playing and tunes should buy these guys Cd's ASAP.

 

[Wayniac]

Sounds like a cool amp
Carl is a monster player - i owned one of his old Brian Moore 7's. Was real cool guy when I met him and his family

 

[JackBootedThug]

 

[Shiny_Surface]

Sounds cool, wonder how they'll be priced (and the other models in the line as well)...

 

[MrDan666]

Awesome!!!

I look forward to hearing your thoughts when you play about with it thru some of your own cabs. Sounds like a killer amp from your initial review Ralph!

 

[Digital Jams]

Pissed off Marshall with the focus of VHT but more forgiving....oh shit.

What speakers would be the best for this amp? I am thinking with the VHT qualities that greenies may not be the best solution in this case, I am thinking right now H30s or MC90s.

Glad to see bulders getting you outside to check stuff out and getting that xbox controller out of your hands

 

[Shiny_Surface]

Pissed off Marshall with the focus of VHT but more forgiving....oh shit.

What speakers would be the best for this amp? I am thinking with the VHT qualities that greenies may not be the best solution in this case, I am thinking right now H30s or MC90s.

Glad to see bulders getting you outside to check stuff out and getting that xbox controller out of your hands

The thought the best tones I got out of my VHT UL was when I ran it through Greenbacks, sounds odd I know...

 

[Digital Jams]

Pissed off Marshall with the focus of VHT but more forgiving....oh shit.

What speakers would be the best for this amp? I am thinking with the VHT qualities that greenies may not be the best solution in this case, I am thinking right now H30s or MC90s.

Glad to see bulders getting you outside to check stuff out and getting that xbox controller out of your hands

The thought the best tones I got out of my VHT UL was when I ran it through Greenbacks, sounds odd I know...

I could be way off and talking out of my ass, been done many times When I think focused I think a higher wattage speaker

 

[SQUAREHEAD]

I KNEW you'd love the amp, Ralph!!

I've played it and have never had an amp with all of the best!!
Quick response, Cutting edge, Clarity, Satuation but no mush.... and the whole package cuts like a knife WITHOUT any brittleness - but also sounds H U G E !!

I personally have never played / felt another amp quite like this!

Mike's a freak! (but a nice, humble, sincere freak) hehehehe

Keith

 

[Shiny_Surface]

I could be way off and talking out of my ass, been done many times When I think focused I think a higher wattage speaker

I was running it at pretty low basement volumes for clips that way, might have been a different story altogether if I was running it louder...

A VHT voicing with the capability to be more lively and saturated sounds attractive to me in any event.

 

[SQUAREHEAD]

Hey Ralph,

Can't wait to hear your thoughts when you get a chance to play thru your own cabs and spend some more time with Bones!!

Take care,
ENJOY!!!


keith

 

[PeteLaramee]

Great review. Every word in your description sounds like it's something I'd love. However I'm becoming a switching cork sniffer and unless it has at least 437 relays I'm going to turn my nose up to it.

 

[Gainfreak]

Sounds cool, wonder how they'll be priced (and the other models in the line as well)...

Im sure Mike will Chime in!!

Awesome!!!

I look forward to hearing your thoughts when you play about with it thru some of your own cabs. Sounds like a killer amp from your initial review Ralph!

I will definitely chime in when I get a chance to do the speaker test. So far it loves my webers!! I'll try the mc90's,greenbacks and h30's late on!

Pissed off Marshall with the focus of VHT but more forgiving....oh shit.

What speakers would be the best for this amp? I am thinking with the VHT qualities that greenies may not be the best solution in this case, I am thinking right now H30s or MC90s.

Glad to see bulders getting you outside to check stuff out and getting that xbox controller out of your hands

The amp was designed around greenbacks,75's and v30's but with that said I think it will sound killer with just about anything depending on what gain structure your using

I KNEW you'd love the amp, Ralph!!

I've played it and have never had an amp with all of the best!!
Quick response, Cutting edge, Clarity, Satuation but no mush.... and the whole package cuts like a knife WITHOUT any brittleness - but also sounds H U G E !!

I personally have never played / felt another amp quite like this!

Mike's a freak! (but a nice, humble, sincere freak) hehehehe

Keith

Sup Brother!!

I agree on all accounts lol!! I can't wait to here the 5 channel monster and the NATAS!!!

Great review. Every word in your description sounds like it's something I'd love. However I'm becoming a switching cork sniffer and unless it has at least 437 relays I'm going to turn my nose up to it.

Sounds like the 6 channel amp would be right up your alley!!

 

[MrDan666]

Awesome!!!

I look forward to hearing your thoughts when you play about with it thru some of your own cabs. Sounds like a killer amp from your initial review Ralph!

I will definitely chime in when I get a chance to do the speaker test. So far it loves my webers!! I'll try the mc90's,greenbacks and h30's late on!

Very cool!!

 

[Gainzilla]

talk to me about the feel Bro, you know what I like...

 

[ejecta]

Great review. Every word in your description sounds like it's something I'd love. However I'm becoming a switching cork sniffer and unless it has at least 437 relays I'm going to turn my nose up to it.

 

[thegame]

I'd like to echo what Ralph said as I've played the very same amp. I'll also add a few thoughts : Yes, a modded pissed off Marshall vibe is what this amp is about, albeit with the ability to get crystal clean too. It does have some VHT qualities, mostly in the articulation and authority. But it doesn't neccessarily sound like one. Personally I don't really dig the VHT voicing BUT I really do like the Fortin voicing. So to me its more VHT like in its articulation and focus yet more Marshall like in tone. Thats what I want to hear in a "modded Marshall" type amp

And to be clear, this amp can do metal easily, both rhythm and lead. Its absolutely tight and gainy enough. But I think the amp is more suited for the virtuoso type of players like Gilbert, Sykes, Lynch, etc because of its tight yet FLUID tone. Its that school of metal. The upcoming Natas amp will be focussed on the other side of the metal fence, the really heavy shit like thrash, death, technical extreme metal, etc. It will most definitely NOT be a scooped to obliveon amp like the Ubershcall or out-gain a 5150. Rather, its going to sound good Its just going a have an outright vicious, angry quality that has not been realized in any other amp to this point. I'm into some of the really heavy bands out there but almost all of them have horrid tone. I truly believe this amp will fix that

 

[thegame]

Pissed off Marshall with the focus of VHT but more forgiving....oh shit.

What speakers would be the best for this amp? I am thinking with the VHT qualities that greenies may not be the best solution in this case, I am thinking right now H30s or MC90s.

I've played it thru both G1265s and V30 and its great with both. I think this is one of those rare amps that just happens to work with a wide variety of speakers. I love my Wizard amp but unless its mated with Greenbacks, or maybe V30s, forget it. For example, on his Myspace page the "Bones high gain" clip is played thru a Marshall 4x12 with the awful 70 w Celestions. I hate those speakers yet the clip sounds really good. If memory serves correctly, that cab is simply what was available when they did the clips as Mike doesn't even have 70 w speakers laying around. So if it sounds good to you with those, image it with a good speaker

 

[tweed]

Hey Ralph, do you know if they will be at NAMM this year? If so, we gotta hit their booth

 

[rocker]

Thanks so much for giving me some big GAS Ralph

Whit my Wizards I thought the madness of buying was over,but it will never end.

We are all sick

Since Gary and Keith love this amp and also love the Wizard I think this amp will be the next thing for me.

BTW Gary your old Metal are in a basement in Norway.