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

  • Thread starter Thread starter RedPlated
  • Start date Start date
psychodave said:
Sounds great. Has “tone” and really sings. :rock:

How is it with a pedal to push it into high gain?

Let’s see some detailed gut shots. ?
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We tried boosting it with an Archer Ikon and it sounded better without. Used a JHS bonsai and that made it sound really mean. Really with this amp and a boost you can do pretty much anything.

I don’t want to take it back out of the shell but I think I have a gut shot from the seller.
 
SpiderWars said:
Sounds killer! Have you/are you and Reza going to compare them?

And good call on the cabinet. You have plenty of Marshalls...now you have an uber rare Narshall.
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Lmao! It’s IS a Narshall!!

I’m sure we will do a comparison as soon as our schedules allow. They are both 71’s but mine has the Plexi OT. His also has the “pull both” feature that bridges channels. Mine never had it according to Dave. He also says it’s pretty useless and not needed anyway.

I still need to make a higher volume clip with a 57. Maybe do that later today.
 
Unicorn amp right here and I was lucky to have the privilege to play it. Something very special and unique going on with this amp. Mojo is a real thing. Albeit a mid gain amp (in my opinion), the compression and sustain and HARMONICS are incredible. Effortless is the best way to describe the feel. Chords ring, single notes are full and fluid. Has a unique growl that just pops the notes out and the top end sizzle is perfect. Has an amazing symbiosis with the guitar and player. It’s hard to put into words, it’s an experience.
 
RedPlated said:
We tried boosting it with an Archer Ikon and it sounded better without. Used a JHS bonsai and that made it sound really mean. Really with this amp and a boost you can do pretty much anything.

I don’t want to take it back out of the shell but I think I have a gut shot from the seller.
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I bet an older Timmy pedal would really make it insane. (the older ones are a bit tighter than the newer ones).
 
Here’s a mic’d up clip with a 57. A lot louder but still not tons of volume. Using my Charvel Nitro Aged with Duncan Alternative 8.

The presence is actually the MV. It's at 2 on the dial. Volume 1 is the gain. I may try running through the PS100 later and get the power tubes to break up some.

 
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jchrisf said:
@Fusionbear worked for Jose for a short period back then when he was a teenager.
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My friend Alan who did sound at my old church back in the early 2000's, worked for and learned about electronics from Jose when Alan was young. Alan also did sound for bands in the Los Angeles area in the 70's including Van Halen. I remember Alan telling me about doing sound for Van Halen and telling me about this guy Jose Arredondo and Alan being absolutely clueless about Jose being legendary to many 80's rock guitar players and the crowd who were into that. He mentioned Arco Electonics and that amp companies would sometimes send Jose out with bands to keep amps and equipment running while they toured. Alan played some acoustic guitar but was not an Eddie Van Halen fan or even slightly into hard rock, and he seriously had no idea that this stuff was well known.

He said Mike Anthony was the nicest guy in Van Halen and that his real name was Soboleski. Alan had been heavily involved in the church for many years and was an incredible sound guy who could hear everything. A real pro. When he and his wife Betty Lou went to see Earth, Wind and Fire someone recognized them and brought them backstage. I remember them coming to church and being excited about that shortly after the concert. His wife knew him back in the 70's and none of the stuff he told me was BS. I started helping do sound when I joined that church and just started asking him how he learned all this stuff. Basically, he started learning electronics and then him and a friend branched out into doing sound also.
 
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Dude that’s bad as fuck, post up some clips plz

EDIT: right after I posted this I saw the clip, that thing sounds great.

Kind of want to hear it downtuned doing some sludge lol
 
I absolutely love this type of sound and this level of gain. I grew up in the ‘Mark’ era and used a pair of Mark IIIs during my 2-3 years gigging. And loved what they did. But the longer I’ve played, the more I have gravitated toward less gain, less compression, and more dynamics. I love amps / tones that seem to clean up with your pick attack only - not necessarily even rolling the volume knob on the guitar back. This amp has all of that going on in spades. It is a gem.
 
RedPlated said:
Here’s a mic’d up clip with a 57. A lot louder but still not tons of volume. Using my Charvel Nitro Aged with Duncan Alternative 8.

The presence is actually the MV. It's at 2 on the dial. Volume 1 is the gain. I may try running through the PS100 later and get the power tubes to break up some.

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Absolutely superb. I love how it sounds extremely dirty with amazing growl with it not necessarily being a super high gain circuit. BTW I am also a '71 so I think I deserve this amp. Thank you for your consideration lol
 
RedPlated said:
Here’s a mic’d up clip with a 57. A lot louder but still not tons of volume. Using my Charvel Nitro Aged with Duncan Alternative 8.

The presence is actually the MV. It's at 2 on the dial. Volume 1 is the gain. I may try running through the PS100 later and get the power tubes to break up some.

Click to expand...


Someone's year got off to a freaking great start.
Sounds so tasty.
Congrats!!!!
 
Thanks, I appreciate it!

I really enjoy playing this amp at home at reasonable volumes. I know Jose’s goal was getting a decent sound at low volumes and that’s exactly what he accomplished.

Of course, so much newer technology, components and circuits are available these days. Something to be said for getting back to the “basics”, though.
 
I often wonder why Dave Friedman wouldn't build one of these amps for his product line . I mean he knows all the Jose mods and how the amps were modded . It could even have an insane price tag ! That amp sounds absolutely awesome and I know I would seriously consider buying a clone. .
 
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