Tommy Folkesson modded Marshall

[tokyo tapes]

I picked up my amp today and played it at Tommy's place for an hour or so. Man!!! what a great sounding amp!!! It can do so much, but what really impresses me is how dynamic it is and how extremely well it cle and a DDans up.
We did also discuss the interest showed by a number of forumites both here and at HRI. It didn't sound like it was impossible to set something up, but he needed to think it over. I'll get back to those of you that have PM'ed me when I know more.

/Ulf

I was very surprised to how well that amplifier cleaned up in that video. I couldn't tell though if it was a combination of a footswitch changing channels from high gain to cleaner or just the guitar volume knob though. This is one of the best modded Marshall tones I've heard in a while. Is there an effects loop as well for your re-housed Chandler Echo?

It does clean up better than any amp I've tried. (in this genre). One could pretty much stay in the Crunch channel and just ride the volume for different shades of gain.
Yes it got an effects loop but no, the Digiplex (rehoused Chandler) will stay on the board. I've got a regular Chandler to go with this baby (and a 2290 and a SDD-3000 and a PCM-41) . Have you heard of "the one who dies with the most delays wins" competition? I just figured that at least 2 of the delays must go though. Replaced by an El Capistan perhaps?

Ulf

 

[studiojig]

Damn, this thing keeps sounding better and better with each listen!

 

[MARK1970]

Very nice tones from all channels. The cleans sound really good.

 

[petejt]

Testing a Tommy Folkesson (Swedish amp modder) modded Marshall. This is Tommy's four channel Class-A modd.

That sounds awesome man. And some great playing too.

 

[Telephant]

Sounds like a Marshall.

 

[rocker]

I picked up my amp today and played it at Tommy's place for an hour or so. Man!!! what a great sounding amp!!! It can do so much, but what really impresses me is how dynamic it is and how extremely well it cleans up.
We did also discuss the interest showed by a number of forumites both here and at HRI. It didn't sound like it was impossible to set something up, but he needed to think it over. I'll get back to those of you that have PM'ed me when I know more.

/Ulf

Congrats Ulf, the amp sounds great. We need to talk about this, I will call you.

 

[tokyo tapes]

I picked up my amp today and played it at Tommy's place for an hour or so. Man!!! what a great sounding amp!!! It can do so much, but what really impresses me is how dynamic it is and how extremely well it cleans up.
We did also discuss the interest showed by a number of forumites both here and at HRI. It didn't sound like it was impossible to set something up, but he needed to think it over. I'll get back to those of you that have PM'ed me when I know more.

/Ulf

Congrats Ulf, the amp sounds great. We need to talk about this, I will call you.

Thanks Arild! Yeah, I think this amp would be right up your alley

 

[rocker]

I picked up my amp today and played it at Tommy's place for an hour or so. Man!!! what a great sounding amp!!! It can do so much, but what really impresses me is how dynamic it is and how extremely well it cleans up.
We did also discuss the interest showed by a number of forumites both here and at HRI. It didn't sound like it was impossible to set something up, but he needed to think it over. I'll get back to those of you that have PM'ed me when I know more.

/Ulf

Congrats Ulf, the amp sounds great. We need to talk about this, I will call you.

Thanks Arild! Yeah, I think this amp would be right up your alley

I would think so. One problem, look at my sig, no more funds.

 

[tokyo tapes]

I have finally had some time to take the Folkesson Mark V through its paces. I went down to my rehearsal space with a Tele and a Les Paul and set it up with my 4x12 with mid 70’s 25W blackbacks.

First of all I must say I really don’t like pristine clean channels. Although the clean channel sounds great (and it is totally clean up until power amps starts clipping) I almost immediately went to the second one (Crude).

The Crude channel’s fantastic. It can go from a totally clean sound to a roaring late 60’s early 70’s Marshall. When setting my cleans I usually have, ever so slightly, some dirt in it. This gives it some extra dynamics and sparkle and I ride the volume if I want it any cleaner. This channel has a Bassmanish feel and when you increase the gain it takes on a more of a Plexi character

The third Cannel (Chrunch) is where I spent most of my time. It has more mids than both the clean and crunch channels and is more aggressive, in your face and have a lot more gain. With just the tone controls straight up I could dial up anything from crunchy Black Crowes riffs to 80’s metal. The way the amp reacts to guitar volume tweaking made it possible to go from almost clean (with intact highs) to a blistering high gain sounds. I could do a whole gig with a lot of different material with this channel only.

The fourth channel (Lead) is pretty much the same one as the crunch channel but with a slightly fatter and rounder sound. You could say it sounds a bit more modern without ever loosing the stringy British midrange.

I compared the amp with a Soldano SLO and a Wizard Metal. Both these amps are classics and have a strong identity of their own. Still the Folkesson managed to keep up, and in some ways surpass these giants.
The SLO have its clarity and attack while still sounding fat and round. The Folkesson could be dialed in similar but had I different midrange that for lack of better words sounded more “vintage” The SLO does the guitar volume thing ok but didn’t come close to the Folkesson. It really cleans up great!!! The Wizard was more dynamic when comparing this feature, and it also had a core sound more similar to the Mark V with its more aggressive vintage inspired sound.

I could very much live happily with any of these amps, but the better dynamics (compared to the SLO) and much better features (compared to the Wizard) makes the Folkesson Mark V a winner for me.

/Ulf

 

[FortinAmps]

I have finally had some time to take the Folkesson Mark V through its paces. I went down to my rehearsal space with a Tele and a Les Paul and set it up with my 4x12 with mid 70’s 25W blackbacks.

First of all I must say I really don’t like pristine clean channels. Although the clean channel sounds great (and it is totally clean up until power amps starts clipping) I almost immediately went to the second one (Crude).

The Crude channel’s fantastic. It can go from a totally clean sound to a roaring late 60’s early 70’s Marshall. When setting my cleans I usually have, ever so slightly, some dirt in it. This gives it some extra dynamics and sparkle and I ride the volume if I want it any cleaner. This channel has a Bassmanish feel and when you increase the gain it takes on a more of a Plexi character

The third Cannel (Chrunch) is where I spent most of my time. It has more mids than both the clean and crunch channels and is more aggressive, in your face and have a lot more gain. With just the tone controls straight up I could dial up anything from crunchy Black Crowes riffs to 80’s metal. The way the amp reacts to guitar volume tweaking made it possible to go from almost clean (with intact highs) to a blistering high gain sounds. I could do a whole gig with a lot of different material with this channel only.

The fourth channel (Lead) is pretty much the same one as the crunch channel but with a slightly fatter and rounder sound. You could say it sounds a bit more modern without ever loosing the stringy British midrange.

I compared the amp with a Soldano SLO and a Wizard Metal. Both these amps are classics and have a strong identity of their own. Still the Folkesson managed to keep up, and in some ways surpass these giants.
The SLO have its clarity and attack while still sounding fat and round. The Folkesson could be dialed in similar but had I different midrange that for lack of better words sounded more “vintage” The SLO does the guitar volume thing ok but didn’t come close to the Folkesson. It really cleans up great!!! The Wizard was more dynamic when comparing this feature, and it also had a core sound more similar to the Mark V with its more aggressive vintage inspired sound.

I could very much live happily with any of these amps, but the better dynamics (compared to the SLO) and much better features (compared to the Wizard) makes the Folkesson Mark V a winner for me.

/Ulf

Hey Ulf,
That's awesome Let me know when you're back from your travels.
Cheers,
Mike

 

[tokyo tapes]

So, Tommy has decided he will take on international customers. There are some conditions though: For now he will not mod amps sent to him I’m afraid. He will source amps, mod them and ship them to the customer. This is due to the hassle and cost of sending amps back and forth over the Atlantic.

I have agreed to help him with the initial contact with international customer. I will do this as a favor to a friend and will only have time responding to mails when my day time job is done and the kids are sleeping

To avoid further spamming in this thread I’d suggest that those interested mail me for more info at:

U dot edelonn at telia dot com

/Ulf

 

[slaktarn]

I have finally had some time to take the Folkesson Mark V through its paces. I went down to my rehearsal space with a Tele and a Les Paul and set it up with my 4x12 with mid 70’s 25W blackbacks.

First of all I must say I really don’t like pristine clean channels. Although the clean channel sounds great (and it is totally clean up until power amps starts clipping) I almost immediately went to the second one (Crude).

The Crude channel’s fantastic. It can go from a totally clean sound to a roaring late 60’s early 70’s Marshall. When setting my cleans I usually have, ever so slightly, some dirt in it. This gives it some extra dynamics and sparkle and I ride the volume if I want it any cleaner. This channel has a Bassmanish feel and when you increase the gain it takes on a more of a Plexi character

The third Cannel (Chrunch) is where I spent most of my time. It has more mids than both the clean and crunch channels and is more aggressive, in your face and have a lot more gain. With just the tone controls straight up I could dial up anything from crunchy Black Crowes riffs to 80’s metal. The way the amp reacts to guitar volume tweaking made it possible to go from almost clean (with intact highs) to a blistering high gain sounds. I could do a whole gig with a lot of different material with this channel only.

The fourth channel (Lead) is pretty much the same one as the crunch channel but with a slightly fatter and rounder sound. You could say it sounds a bit more modern without ever loosing the stringy British midrange.

I compared the amp with a Soldano SLO and a Wizard Metal. Both these amps are classics and have a strong identity of their own. Still the Folkesson managed to keep up, and in some ways surpass these giants.
The SLO have its clarity and attack while still sounding fat and round. The Folkesson could be dialed in similar but had I different midrange that for lack of better words sounded more “vintage” The SLO does the guitar volume thing ok but didn’t come close to the Folkesson. It really cleans up great!!! The Wizard was more dynamic when comparing this feature, and it also had a core sound more similar to the Mark V with its more aggressive vintage inspired sound.

I could very much live happily with any of these amps, but the better dynamics (compared to the SLO) and much better features (compared to the Wizard) makes the Folkesson Mark V a winner for me.

/Ulf

Hej (hi) Ulf!

Have you ever tried a Diezel VH4?
If so, how would you compare the VH4 to the Folkesson Marshall?
I have a VH4 myself which I am very fond of, but I have never tried a Folkesson amp in person. All the clips I've heard sound fantastic, but I'm thinking if this amp would be too close to my VH4 soundwise and featurewise that it wouldn't make any sense owning both...

/Tobbe

 

[tokyo tapes]

Tobbe!

Yes, I have tried the VH4. To me they are very different. The Folkesson have a much more vintage flavor even if it can get quite brutal. The VH4 is more modern and has a less organic sound. I really liked the channel 3 of the VH4, but I didn't care so much for the the others. The Folkesson is more dynamic and is excellent for old fashion guitar volume knob tweaking. The VH4 is more compressed with some more gain and saturation. All IMO of course

/Ulf

 

[robertkoa]

WOW, that is one great sounding Marshall
So its class A and uses the original trannies?
He does some great work

The class A part is a mini power amplifier built with a 12at7 tube, a little transformer and a load. This class A circuit sits between the regular preamp and power amp to get "power amp distorsion" regardles of what volume the real power amp runs at.

The amplifier has 4 channels (clean, crude, crunch and lead) with the controls sitting on the rear face.
The bite control is EQ before distorsion to be able to set optimal sound for single coils or humbuckers.

BRILLIANT ! The distortion is so clear you can still hear the chimy crunch cleaner tone at the core of the distorted tone - all the harmonics just bloom around it.

It's clear distortion clear gain what a circuit !