Who can talk about Mako amps?? Come on in...

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ventura
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Ventura

Ventura

Well-known member
Tell me what you know. They seem pretty inexpensive for what sounds like (at least from the clips) pretty amazing tone.

Who's used 'em, who has 'em, what models, what's their pluses, what's their minuses.

Thanks,
V.
 
Makoplex - best amp I've played to date. Andrew has mine right now adding some new updates, Thing is just MEAN sounding, tight as hell too. only thing I wish it was 2 channels so I have a clean, but for a single channel the fucker just smokes, cleans up nicely with the volume.....


HIGHLY, HIGHLY Recommended, plus Andrews Customer Service is AWESOME!!!! and he's a hell of a nice guy.
 
Custom Hundred is one of the best hot-rodded Marshall tones that I've had the chance to play...very big sounding with great dynamic response. On the minus side, the effects loop could be better...Andrew himself has even said as much.
 
So far, so good... I'm not too concerned about a clean channel, but it would seem the Mak2 would be the amp of preference for that - correct me if I am wrong but it's a Dorado with a clean channel, correct? I'm not overly concerned with the plexi tones, so MakoPlex isn't my 1st choice, but I'm looking at them as a potential contender to add to my repertoire of hi-gainers - so the Dorado, Mak2, or the Custom 100 built to be a bit more aggressive and loose.

Effects loop isn't high on the priority list. For the price of these amps, it seems like a great low-cost buy for a unique tone and some hardcore rip.

Keep 'em coming Folks...this brand is piquing my GAS pedal a bit :lol: :LOL:

V.
 
I've wanted a Mako for a long time. That's all I can say. I've heard great things about them and Mako's customer service has a great reputation.
 
Ventura":1djk29pu said:
So far, so good... I'm not too concerned about a clean channel, but it would seem the Mak2 would be the amp of preference for that - correct me if I am wrong but it's a Dorado with a clean channel, correct? I'm not overly concerned with the plexi tones, so MakoPlex isn't my 1st choice, but I'm looking at them as a potential contender to add to my repertoire of hi-gainers - so the Dorado, Mak2, or the Custom 100 built to be a bit more aggressive and loose.

Effects loop isn't high on the priority list. For the price of these amps, it seems like a great low-cost buy for a unique tone and some hardcore rip.

Keep 'em coming Folks...this brand is piquing my GAS pedal a bit :lol: :LOL:

V.
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Don't let the name fool ya, the Makoplex is HEAVY!!!


 
Had a Makoplex and a Mak-2 black (basically a two channel makoplex). My makoplex was one of my favorite amps, kind of between a plexi voicing and a bogner xtc red channel with more available bottom end (could get quite Uber sounding). The Mak-2 black with the freak knob was cool, but I prefered the straight makoplex. I could get the Mak-2 close to the makoplex, but never got it to be exactly the same.
All that being said, I will definitely be getting a Mak-4 as soon as I get a chance.
 
I remember hearing about the Mako Maks having some sort of problem with the transformers failing, I know there were one or two people on this board that had this issue.
 
Sixtonoize has a Mak4 preamp. Ask him. He spoke very highly of Mako as well. :rock:
 
Gsxrbusa":gbf4fovu said:
Sixtonoize has a Mak4 preamp. Ask him. He spoke very highly of Mako as well. :rock:
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Thanks :thumbsup:

I've already heard back from Andrew - guy's on it when it comes to customer/general inquiries. Seems to me these are kinda cool amps - very straight up, offering a lot of modded tone right out of the box at seemingly good prices. I'm pretty impressed with the MakoPlex and the Dorado - I guess that means I'm impressed with the Mak2 as well :lol: :LOL: Haven't got my head around the Custom 100, but I'll figure this out next week. I'm not totally commited or GAS'ing large, just seem like simple amps that kick - could be a nice adjunct to the tonal department.

Peace,
V.
 
The Mako Dorado is one of my favorite amps of all time!

I owned the Mak-2 (White)....and I didn't think it was as good as the single channel Dorado FWIW.

I actually have a single channel Dorado (just serviced by Andrew) on the way to me in a week or so :)

Mako, FTW.
 
never played one but i heard this vid and i almost took a shit outa my mouth

thing sounds demonic

 
Unfortunately, as of right now Andrew isn't producing any other amp other than the Mak4 Preamp.......gonna have a long wait if you want something else :)

Look used, you can always send it to Andrew to have him go through it and make sure it's all tip top.
 
Dimebag11":2izzcvpt said:
Look used, you can always send it to Andrew to have him go through it and make sure it's all tip top.
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yep, this is what I did, Andrew has mine right now. ;)
 
Juggernaut":dl1ljiam said:
Dimebag11":dl1ljiam said:
Look used, you can always send it to Andrew to have him go through it and make sure it's all tip top.
Click to expand...


yep, this is what I did, Andrew has mine right now. ;)
Click to expand...

We have something in common then :) You got a Makoplex (Which I have to admit I wasn't a HUGE fan of) and I got the Dorado (Which I love!)
 
great sounding amps, practically bulletproof, and Andrew has some of the best customer support in the business IMO. I've owned a PTP Dorado, a Mak2 white, and now the Mak4 preamp, and they have all kicked ass. I will say I liked the original Dorado better than the Mak2 I owned, but I guess it was a problem with the FX loop that Andrew has since addressed and redesigned. The Mak4 is also a winner, and reminds me a lot of my original Dorado. Thru the Herbert poweramp, it just crushes. I also like the makoplex alot more than I thought I would. The thing gets a lot heavier than I expected, and breathes fire with a boost in front.

regarding the transformer issues, I was one of the people that had one that went bad. It was on my first Dorado, but it was modded my someone other than Andrew before I bought it, so that was a likely factor. It was also one of his first Dorado, when they were all point to point construction, and I know he used to wind his own transformers. The newer ones are all printed turret board construction at this point, and I think he outsources the trannies now afaik. The only other guy I knew of that had a transformer issue, also had an amp that was modded by someone other than Andrew, and I know Andrew fixed both amps free of charge under his lifetime transferable warranty. Not sure if all the new ones have the transferable lifetime warranty, but I know getting him to service anything only takes one email. One of the easiest guys to deal with I've encountered with amp makers.
 
I have a Mak4 preamp and it is inspiring. Great clean, crunch, 80's metal and really heavy channels. Best bang for the buck anywhere IMO and it hangs with stuff 4x its price.

DSC02882.jpg
 
Hey dudes!

Thanks for the thread!

I'm not sure where the transformer stories are from. I've NEVER had a Mako transformer go bad or get replaced...either when I was hand rolling them or outsourced. You can run them at any mis-matched impedance, they can take way more current/voltage/temp than other parts/tubes and would be the last thing to blow up. They are covered by the lifetime warranty and are designed not to crap out.

I did fix 2 modded amps that were making the rounds that sounded like ass.....but these did not require transformers. I know one guy was desperate to sell one so he was pumping it up by saying it had new transformers that I put in. He admitted he lied and retracted that.

I currently have a 3rd modded amp in my shop that I'm making stock....free of charge. My policy is that mods void the warranty. I will start charging people to get these back to stock.

Thanks,

Andrew
 
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