Who has played the Gower Rockmonster? Amazing amp.

[metalmaniac93]

Wow, lots of knobs on that JCM800. You sure got every option and I am sure it sounds killer. I just think the look of the amp is a little compromised since it wasn't designed to have that many knobs.

Well it is all about the sound not the look of the amp and this amp pretty much does it all!!

You could always do what Dan did to Josh's amps, with any, or most modding done on the back. (provided theres room). Maybe a push/pull knob or two on front. That would at least keep the front looking stock. Thats what I'm having Dan do as well.

Dan recommended this configuration and it was ok with me since I have a separate clean channel. Now if I didn't have the clean channel, some of the knobs and switches could of been put in the back.

 

[a24fretman]

I would get all of the extras if you can!! It is a must have.

Darn you metalmaniac93! Posting those pics is gonna make me get ALL the mods..... The Boss at home, (Wife) is gonna kill me if i do.I know you dropped some $$$ on that. Did Dan source you the amp?

Then again, I guess it's better to ask forgiveness than it is permission.....

 

[metalmaniac93]

I would get all of the extras if you can!! It is a must have.

Darn you metalmaniac93! Posting those pics is gonna make me get ALL the mods..... The Boss at home, (Wife) is gonna kill me if i do.I know you dropped some $$$ on that. Did Dan source you the amp?

Then again, I guess it's better to ask forgiveness than it is permission.....

I actually found the 1983 JCM 800 2203 at Capitol Guitars in the Twin Cities via my buddy and Eric who is the owner of the store. They packed it and my buddy shipped it to Dan from Minnesota!!!

It is a little pricey, but I received my refund for the 2nd Run CCV via my credit card company plus interest so it was pretty much paid for when I sent the amp to Dan. You probably can do without the clean channel, but I had all of the options added because I could even the 3rd gain stage with the Jose diode clipping, which has it's own flavor, but the 4th gain stage is where it is at. Do not need anymore then that since I only need to run my violence gain (4th gain stage) around 11-12 o'clock at the most!!


Trust me, the feel, glass, depth, and mid shift options are a must IMO!!

 

[a24fretman]

Trust me, the feel, glass, depth, and mid shift options are a must IMO!!

I agree! Lots of tone shaping with those! I guess my problem was wondering to go clean channel or not. Dans sent me a link to one, and it sounded great! Then again, could just do the Gain mod to drop to a 4th gain stage, and roll back the guitars volume. How you liking the clean on that Kali? Any clips?

 

[metalmaniac93]

Trust me, the feel, glass, depth, and mid shift options are a must IMO!!

I agree! Lots of tone shaping with those! I guess my problem was wondering to go clean channel or not. Dans sent me a link to one, and it sounded great! Then again, could just do the Gain mod to drop to a 4th gain stage, and roll back the guitars volume. How you liking the clean on that Kali? Any clips?

The clean is great IMO, but I don't use it much. I am more of turn your volume knob on the guitar to get clean tones most of the time. No clips. If you do not use the clean much, then I would pass on it unless it is an absolute must for you.

 

[lester]

Don't pass on the clean IMO. It's a great feature and rivals the renowned Suhr clean tone on their channel switchers.

And c'mon metalmaniac, get us some clips going, that fucker looks sweet!

 

[metalmaniac93]

Don't pass on the clean IMO. It's a great feature and rivals the renowned Suhr clean tone on their channel switchers.

And c'mon metalmaniac, get us some clips going, that fucker looks sweet!

I will see if I can!!!

 

[lester]

Cool!!!

Gratuitous Gower post -

My custom build. Love it!

 

[metalmaniac93]

Cool!!!

Gratuitous Gower post -

My custom build. Love it!

What mod?

 

[lester]

He did a 4 gain stage deal on it, with the clean and the loops and other accouterments. It's different from the Killer Kali no doubt. More old school. Merren transformers -

.

 

[metalmaniac93]

He did a 4 gain stage deal on it, with the clean and the loops and other accouterments. It's different from the Killer Kali for sure. More old school.

Nice!!

 

[Mixman]

Anybody have anymore Rockmonster clips? I am up in the air between the Sylosis mod and the Rockmonster mod and there is only one clip of the Rockmonster and it's Dan's clip.

I would like to know if that 5th gain stage will approach the same level of the Sylosis gain?

 

[a24fretman]

Anybody have anymore Rockmonster clips? I am up in the air between the Sylosis mod and the Rockmonster mod and there is only one clip of the Rockmonster and it's Dan's clip.

I would like to know if that 5th gain stage will approach the same level of the Sylosis gain?

Here ya go bud, this is another reason i went with the Rockmonster Its the heaviest mod out of what he lists.
This is straight from Dans email to me: "As far as versatility goes, i would actually say the Killer Kali++ Mod (Sylosis JMP Mod is a stripped down Killer Kali++) is definitely more versatile than the RockMonster overall. The RockMonster is probably the darkest sounding mod that i offer and it really lends itself to bright sounding guitars and bright sounding speakers for that reason.
It was really designed for one main specific sound.. Heavy!!"

Here is a Rockmonster Metallica clip Dan sent me.Hope this helps!

 

[Mixman]

Anybody have anymore Rockmonster clips? I am up in the air between the Sylosis mod and the Rockmonster mod and there is only one clip of the Rockmonster and it's Dan's clip.

I would like to know if that 5th gain stage will approach the same level of the Sylosis gain?

Here ya go bud, this is another reason i went with the Rockmonster Its the heaviest mod out of what he lists.
This is straight from Dans email to me: "As far as versatility goes, i would actually say the Killer Kali++ Mod (Sylosis JMP Mod is a stripped down Killer Kali++) is definitely more versatile than the RockMonster overall. The RockMonster is probably the darkest sounding mod that i offer and it really lends itself to bright sounding guitars and bright sounding speakers for that reason.
It was really designed for one main specific sound.. Heavy!!"

Here is a Rockmonster Metallica clip Dan sent me.Hope this helps!

Thanks for the clip.......Is it just me or does the Sylosis mod sound heavier? Perhaps it's just the settings but from the run through Josh gave of his JCM800 it sounds heavier than the two clips I have heard of the Rockmonster. Maybe we need somebody to do the same run through on the Rockmonster as was done with Sylosis?

Right now the main advantage Rockmonster has is the versatility, but then again I am not modding a JCM800 because of versatility, but based on sound. If I want versatility I will have Dan mod a JVM410. That would be cheaper and probably sound just as killer.

 

[a24fretman]

Maybe we need somebody to do the same run through on the Rockmonster as was done with Sylosis?

Maybe Mooncobra can grace us with a few clips of that Rockmonster!

 

[Devilinside]

Wow, lots of knobs on that JCM800. You sure got every option and I am sure it sounds killer. I just think the look of the amp is a little compromised since it wasn't designed to have that many knobs.

Well it is all about the sound not the look of the amp and this amp pretty much does it all!!

You could always do what Dan did to Josh's amps, with any, or most modding done on the back. (provided theres room). Maybe a push/pull knob or two on front. That would at least keep the front looking stock. Thats what I'm having Dan do as well.

Yep!

 

[Devilinside]

Yeah, completely love my Killer Kali ++

THAT Red Marshall is a thing of Beauty! "jealous"

Thanks!!!

 

[mooncobra]

Well, I still have the Rockmonster. It is a great deal of fun. Before this I had the CCV. Before that I was buying/selling/trading amps a lot trying all sorts of stuff out, but then I got the CCV and then the Rockmonster. I have had the Rockmonster for about a year now and the thing totally rules. Very fun to play. The touch sensitivity is great. I am finally starting to consider the possibility that I might sell/trade it. I have hit the point where I would lie to try something new. I am sure if I do, that I will regret it immensely. It really is an amazing amp. I have owned every high gain amp out there, or close to it, and this is by far the most fun to play. For leads I will usually run an overdrive fo an extra bit of touch sensitivity, but I don't need it with this amp. It is super touch sensitive, yet retains total clarity and definition. I noticed a lot of other amps that are really touch sensitive kind of mushed up or were eaten when playing with a drummer/bassist. Its just an all around great amp, especially in the realm of high gain, there it is a monster.

 

[metalmaniac93]

Here is a description by Dan on the differences between the KK++ and the Rockmonster. I inquired about it when I was debating on what mod I wanted from Dan.

The original Cali Mod was 3 stages + diode clip and was like a variation of Jose's mod.
The KK++ is the Cali but instead of diodes it has the extra tube stage. So the KK++ is like a Cali on steroids IMO. Lots of gain but open sounding and not majorly compressed.

The RockMonster has 5 gain stages and overall probably the same amount of gain on tap as the KK++. But since this is 5 gain-stages, it has some extra compression and a thicker tone too.
It's midrange has that singing quality when you play solos and it cuts like a knife in a band mix, but it's definitely more of a wider/beefier sound overall.

An original Jose mod can get very heavy!! Check out this original Jose that Mike Fortin owns!! Demoed by Ola Englund!!

 

[crwnedblasphemy]

Mooncobra....

I'm swinging down sometime to play that bitch...I'll bring some stuff too.