Yes way, Jose... Bucket list grail amp incoming

  • Thread starter Thread starter RedPlated
  • Start date Start date
Big time congratulations that is a keeperBig time congratulations that is a keeper
 
psychodave said:
I’ll mention that Mark Cameron told me when he worked for the music store that got Jose’s old shop amps, that he finished like 15 amps and the shop sold them off a original Jose amps. They had all of the parts that Jose used. Mark always felt the one Mike Fortin had was one he finished.

Don’t shoot the messenger.
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The benefit here is that I have first hand confirmation from the original owner of both that he had them done by Jose when he was still alive.
 
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glpg80 said:
Wow talk about literal gold mines.

To have a real Jose modded amp is unreal. I’d likely have an insurance policy in place should it get lost/stolen. These are only going up in value over time.

I think yours was the one I saw a recent picture of on Dave Friedman’s Facebook page.
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That was the other of the two in Dave’s Facebook page. But they are virtually identical.
 
psychodave said:
I’ll mention that Mark Cameron told me when he worked for the music store that got Jose’s old shop amps, that he finished like 15 amps and the shop sold them off a original Jose amps. They had all of the parts that Jose used. Mark always felt the one Mike Fortin had was one he finished.

Don’t shoot the messenger.
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Mark's whole story is bs and everyone knows it.
 
"Reinhold stole Mark's clothes actually."

I'm not taking any sides here, but that had me rolling.
 
RedPlated said:
Thank you...

Neither one has the "AARCO" label on back. But to be honest, I've seen a few more real ones in person and they didn't have them either. It's sort of hit and miss. Dave Friedman fully authenticated both of them and confirmed they are 100% original Jose Arredondos. He's been in a lot of them and knows them better than anyone.

I know a guy out here that has two Jose's. Tried buying one for the longest and it wasn't going anywhere. I also remember walking into Dave's shop around a year ago and seeing one of (does he have more?) Hetfield's Jose Marshalls out of the chassis for service. I almost grabbed it and ran and hid in another country haha. That was a literal jaw-dropping moment for me.
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Unless he was able to buy one off of someone years later (it's quite possible), he's only got one. Him and Bob Rock both got theirs around the same time and Kirk had one getting worked on but Jose died before he finished it. He told that story in one of their documentaries.
 
It’s here. Picked it up from Dave just about an hour and a half ago. I didn’t expect it to be as good as it is. Not super high gain. This one does not have the pre tone stack master or diodes. Dave said most of them actually don’t have either of those, which is surprising. I remember him mentioning in the Steve Vai Jose Marshall video that his Japanese importer has 7 Jose’s and none have those features.

This amp growls and sustains like crazy. I’m playing it at super low volumes because it’s late. And it’s still phenomenal. I’m surprised how low volume it gets. The master works really great. Very smooth taper and rolls in very linear-like. This mod isn’t that complex but there’s something magical going on. Harmonics fly out with ease. Notes just sing. Don’t care at this point what it is, I’m just enjoying it.

Huge thanks to Dave Friedman for servicing this piece of history and getting back up to 100%. On a side note in reference to the extra stage gain control, Dave said he’s seen several like mine, where the control is on the back. I’m fact, the one Jose did for him years ago was that way. The customer could request it on back so the amp still looks stock from the front. He also couldn’t remember exactly, but he believed the plate voltage on this one is around 500v.

I asked Dave about the Cameron thing. He said he’s 100% that Mark has never been in the amp and he could tell by the materials and parts used that this an original Jose Arredondo mod.

hI2vimfl.jpg


Here’s a quick iPhone teaser clip. Volume is whisper low. You can hear me hitting the strings in background. I haven’t cranked this thing up at all yet as it’s late. This is straight in with my R9 in D standard with a Suhr Aldrich. G12H30 anniversaries.

 
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RedPlated said:
The benefit here is that I have first hand confirmation from the original owner of both that he had them done by Jose when he was still alive.
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@Fusionbear worked for Jose for a short period back then when he was a teenager.
 
Great score and tone. Congrats to you and Reza. I would keep it in the original shell. That had to cost you a pretty penny and is worth what you paid, and probably more. Keep it as is. A new head shell will ruin the tone.
 
RedPlated said:
It’s here. Picked it up from Dave just about an hour and a half ago. I didn’t expect it to be as good as it is. Not super high gain. This one does not have the pre tone stack master or diodes. Dave said most of them actually don’t have either of those, which is surprising. I remember him mentioning in the Steve Vai Jose Marshall video that his Japanese importer has 7 Jose’s and none have those features.

This amp growls and sustains like crazy. I’m playing it at super low volumes because it’s late. And it’s still phenomenal. I’m surprised how low volume it gets. The master works really great. Very smooth taper and rolls in very linear-like. This mod isn’t that complex but there’s something magical going on. Harmonics fly out with ease. Notes just sing. Don’t care at this point what it is, I’m just enjoying it.

Huge thanks to Dave Friedman for servicing this piece of history and getting back up to 100%. On a side note in reference to the extra stage gain control, Dave said he’s seen several like mine, where the control is on the back. I’m fact, the one Jose did for him years ago was that way. The customer could request it on back so the amp still looks stock from the front. He also couldn’t remember exactly, but he believed the plate voltage on this one is around 500v.

I asked Dave about the Cameron thing. He said he’s 100% that Mark has never been in the amp and he could tell by the materials and parts used that this an original Jose Arredondo mod.

hI2vimfl.jpg


Here’s a quick iPhone teaser clip. Volume is whisper low. You can hear me hitting the strings in background. I haven’t cranked this thing up at all yet as it’s late. This is straight in with my R9 in D standard with a Suhr Aldrich. G12H30 anniversaries.

Click to expand...

It's got a very Doug Aldrich 80's tone to it at this level.. I bet it rips when you open it up. Pop a PQ3 in front of that
 
thegame said:
You've got to take everything Mark says with a gram of "salt"
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Literally took the letters out of my fingers!
He’s a glowing example of a “salt to the earth” kinda’ dude.
Well done mate!
 
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