Time to kill...time for opinions.. THEE Marshall/Mod thread

[suhrimmetal]

Im sure this thread or topic hits home for alot of you all here.. some of you are as addicted or even more of a gear addict as myself Alot of you have been more fortunate or just have had the opportunity to play/own great, great amps.. Ive owned many myself.. The dilemma with me is that I think I find 'my one' holy grail amp... then my playing evolves, my ear (I think) evolves, and my influences grow and evolve as well..or, my needs change a bit and I start to look at different gear.... so i get that itch that maybe there is a 'better' amp for me out there. That being said, I know I dig and find a home with Marshall flavored amps... I can't get along with Diezels, Engls, Splawns(tho it's marshall based)... Im a lead guy at heart but love finding that chewy, thumpy, organic rhythm thump that still retains clarity and articulation. So... who does it best?? From the classic rock into modern rock territory and in between... no nu metal, 7 string stuff.... along the lines of AC/DC to Skid Row to Alter Bridge... and all those good bands that fall in between. The amps Ive owned that Ive liked.. but that being said, my ear and playing has evolved so don't know if I would still like, like more, or like less if I played today. Been playing for 20+ years, can hold my own... but always gassing as most of us our. So that list Ive owned and liked or loved... Gower Killer Kali+, Friedman KS, Bog 20th XTC, Cornford MK50II, PT100, 5153...im sure there is more I can't remember... So, who do you think does it best, consistantly, and with the magic we are all searching for ??

-Cameron (if so which mods/models)
-Friedman
-Fortin
-Gower
-Soldano
-Cornford
-PWE
-Landry
-Henning
-Suhr
-Bogner
-Marshall w/ an OD
-Carol Ann
?? By no means trying to step on or say one is better or start a bashing thread. Just would like to hear some opinions of maybe some members with more experience, a better ear, or just words to say. Cheers and look forward to reading your thoughts. You can always p.m me if you don't feel comfortable 'comparing' in the open. All my best

Cory

 

[yngzaklynch]

 

[LP Freak]

I've owned pretty much every amp on your list and there's no winner here. It seems to work for me if I own a few different. I get tired of one and switch to the other and so on ....or you can just buy a Kemper.

 

[suhrimmetal]

I've owned pretty much every amp on your list and there's no winner here. It seems to work for me if I own a few different. I get tired of one and switch to the other and so on ....or you can just buy a Kemper.

I think I would miss that organic 'tube' feel and sound with the Kemper.. haven't tried one personally yet but just haven't found the 'feel' in any modeler yet to date. And I can only afford 1.. hell, I really can't even afford 1 with my current situation but I need it for my sanity

 

[gtrwun]

Yeah, I always find I get tired of the same sound, no matter how good or great it may be. I need choices depending on how I feel. My g/f just laughs at me....it is a sickness but I cant be cured.

 

[sivad]

Have you tried out a Marshall Vintage Modern 100 watt? There pretty cool and the price is good on used ones-I got one for 575.00 shipped and it does ACDC,VH,Maiden etc very good to me--the 50 watt combos are suppose to be cool too

 

[Racerxrated]

I've had 3 Camerons(Aldrich and 2 one-offs that were killer) all great. One Gower cali, same one Shade is selling and a Fortin modded Ceriatone 800 clone. A Golub lead mod that needed an EQ pedal to tighten up but could match up with any of them. Prob the most articulate amp of the bunch. Those were the best..2 Friedmans were good but in 2nd place to the previous. After all those, my little Jubilee combo (2554) is still the king. A mid bump eq pedal, and a fulltone OCD level halfway added with the gain maxed..with 90s v30s, or G12 65s, and you can get darker and modern with G12 80s..all the metal or classic rock/80s you want. And the Jubilee EQ actually works, compared to most Marshalls. I bought the Cameron Aldrich from Cap overdrive and he agreed that a jubilee boosted is as good as any modded Marshall. Black tolex Jubes are usually reasonably priced..and you can get your money out of them when you sell.

 

[Racerxrated]

I would also add the KK JCM 800 is great as well..I put the boss eq in front and it also sounds as good as those I previously mentioned..I picked this one up for less than 1k in MPLS a few months back..noise gate is very good. No loop though...had a Vintage Modern, it wouldn't compare to the amps you've had..it was good but....not great. You've had some great amps..if you ever want to try any of mine out just pm me..you're about 2 hrs away..

 

[LP Freak]

I've owned pretty much every amp on your list and there's no winner here. It seems to work for me if I own a few different. I get tired of one and switch to the other and so on ....or you can just buy a Kemper.

I think I would miss that organic 'tube' feel and sound with the Kemper.. haven't tried one personally yet but just haven't found the 'feel' in any modeler yet to date. And I can only afford 1.. hell, I really can't even afford 1 with my current situation but I need it for my sanity

You're right about the organic feel. It's almost there but not quite. One thing though, downloading a profile is a good cure for GAS and allot cheaper.

 

[suhrimmetal]

I would also add the KK JCM 800 is great as well..I put the boss eq in front and it also sounds as good as those I previously mentioned..I picked this one up for less than 1k in MPLS a few months back..noise gate is very good. No loop though...had a Vintage Modern, it wouldn't compare to the amps you've had..it was good but....not great. You've had some great amps..if you ever want to try any of mine out just pm me..you're about 2 hrs away..

Thanks for the offer and opinions bro. Appreciate it! Cheers and all the best

 

[garey77]

I feel like Mike Lickliter's work should be given a name in this, too. I seriously love my amp I got from him, and I've had a few of the ones on that list from above. Great dude, killer amps.

*edit: VHT amps, the Ultralead in particular, are a wonderful "do it all" sort of amp (for me, personally) as well.

 

[suhrimmetal]

I've owned pretty much every amp on your list and there's no winner here. It seems to work for me if I own a few different. I get tired of one and switch to the other and so on ....or you can just buy a Kemper.

I think I would miss that organic 'tube' feel and sound with the Kemper.. haven't tried one personally yet but just haven't found the 'feel' in any modeler yet to date. And I can only afford 1.. hell, I really can't even afford 1 with my current situation but I need it for my sanity

You're right about the organic feel. It's almost there but not quite. One thing though, downloading a profile is a good cure for GAS and allot cheaper.

Very true

 

[JesusToneFreak]

Corey, Try the 100 B. Blue channel w/boost on does it for me and you still have a great clean channel and a use the red as a fatter lead tone . I go back and forth between this and Marsha # 29 with 2 master volumes . Good luck on your search

 

[metalmaniac93]

I don't know since I have only played a handful of these amps like the Friedman BE-100, SS-100, Brad era CCV, Fortin Modded Marshall (John Sykes Jose), Soldano SLO100 and I own the Atomica and Gower/Fortin KK++. It all depends on what kind of player you are and what tone you want. Oh I owned the Engl Savage 120 and liked that thing a lot and also owned the Bogner 101B and Shiva, which are great amps. Rhodes Amplification would be another option.

There really isn't a winner and I know I do not gel with the Friedman stuff at all, but I dig the Atomica and KK++. I also digged the CCV, but that is a different story. The KK++ pretty much can do any Marshall sound plus more as you already know. The Fortin Sykes Jose just plain smokes. Just pure in your face Marshall sound!!!

Oh and there is no HOLY GRAIL Amp. It is all a facade!!!

 

[Badronald]

Mesa MK.

Seems to me many modded Marshall's I've heard tend to be ballpark Mesa MK.
Might not be a popular answer, but......

If the mods are so great why do people seem to go through so many of them? Flavor of the day?

I prefer a classic, consistent tone. That's just me.

 

[JTyson]

I like all of them for different reasons. They each bring a little tasty something that makes me wanna run it for a particular song. My 2 favs would be the Langner and the Fortin Cali++. The Langner is stunning everytime I crank it, its the tone I always heard in my head that nothing else would get. The Cali++ is more versatile than the Langner, it will get a shocking number of tones, all of them great, especially when changing up the output tubes. It takes different types of guitars equally well. Its more brutal and tighter than the Langner (or just about anything else I've played) But on the other hand, the Langner Marshall is probably the most perfect heavy rhythm tone ever. Thick, chewy and articulate with ridiculous gain levels, but does prefer humbuckers over single-coils. It is not quite as tight as the Cali++, but the amount of sag it does have feels perfect when you play it.
At the same time, my Friedman KS Superlead will hold its own against anything, and cleans up with the vol knob better than any high gainer I've ever had. Its also super tight with massive gain levels. It sounds great at mousefart levels, but is pure sex when cranked, and sounds fantastic with any type of pup you choose to run it with.
I've kept these mods for good reason, I'll never part with any of them. They all sound very different, but are all fantastic at something

 

[rlord1974]

Uh, what about the...

 

[lespaul6]

The wizard is the ultimate marshall amp.... it will assault you and make your other amps appear small in comparison. No joke

 

[guitarmike]

I've owned pretty much every amp on your list and there's no winner here. It seems to work for me if I own a few different. I get tired of one and switch to the other and so on ....or you can just buy a Kemper.

I think I would miss that organic 'tube' feel and sound with the Kemper.. haven't tried one personally yet but just haven't found the 'feel' in any modeler yet to date. And I can only afford 1.. hell, I really can't even afford 1 with my current situation but I need it for my sanity

If you ever get to Milwaukee you can stop over and play through my Kemper, I think you might change your mind.

 

[drspearing]

+10. So let it be written. So let it be done.

The wizard is the ultimate marshall amp.... it will assault you and make your other amps appear small in comparison. No joke