Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: James C on January 30, 2009, 03:34:17 PM
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I've heard a lot of good comments about Martamp Amps's in this forum and with the current value of the pound going through the floor and the fact that i like playing british gear i just wanted to glean some info about their models.
I'm looking for an early 80's Rock/NWOBHM Rhythm Tone which i can chuck pedals in front of to boost into lead territory and saw the 36 watt TT Model (which i would probably get with ss rectifier for more tightness) and just wanted to know whether anyone had any experience using these amps?
Please share your insights
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I think it's fair to say that apart from Martin, I'm the person with most experience of his amps ;) I've played his 18w and 36w models, but I don't own one.
The 36 watter is a great amp. Lots of gain, even more so in TT format, and the EL84s give it a thick midrange-y tone. You may not need the pedal if you've got the extra gain engaged to be honest. And you can really crank them to get the power stage cooking :D
I think there are one or two people here on the forum who own one of his 18w or 36w models who can add some more info.....
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The 36 watter is a great amp. Lots of gain, even more so in TT format, and the EL84s give it a thick midrange-y tone.
Fella, where the best place for clips, my interest is peaked (shame my wallet is empty)
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Works for me 8)
(http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/398/v620025up0.jpg)
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You may not need the pedal if you've got the extra gain engaged to be honest.
Sweet... as well as playing metal, i love a saturated lead tone Gary Moore style, i think i may have to sort out a closer inspection, if people have any clips of the 36w or 18w TT doing hard rock / metal riffing and lead, please let me know as i'm at that stage of.....'my guitars are sorted..now for the amp'
Cheers!!
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It's about time he did a high gain channel switcher ;-P
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It's about time he did a high gain channel switcher ;-P
Yeah, I'd call it an Orion...............
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Martamp do metal-type amps? :O
Or is this metal from the addition of pedals?
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Depends on your definition of metal. Old school JCM800-ish, yes.
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Hi MOTE, thanks for the interest. :)
I haven't got round to doing a set of clips yet, but here's a clip I've borrowed that gives you an idea of the sound of the 36W Roadstar. Note that it's NOT my amp, (and not me playing) but it is the same type of architecture and valve type as mine, so will give you an idea of it's character. TF will validate that.
Sadly, some b*****d nicked my 36W demo amp, and I've just recently ordered the parts to build myself a new one. It's my favourite rock amp I'd have to say.
Cheers :D
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It's about time he did a high gain channel switcher ;-P
Yeah, I'd call it an Orion...............
You probably would... but our idea of high gain is different. I'm not talking about a JCM800 0_o or old school Vanhalen sounds.
When I say high gain I'm talking about VHT/ENGL/Diezel and unless he's started making pcbs I doubt he has a high gain amp 8)
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He won't be doing that level of gain as standard I don't believe......
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He won't be doing that level of gain......
UH HUH.... so... like I said "It's about time he did a high gain channel switcher" :shock: :shock:
8)
I'll have to throw my money at some American or German brand instead :lol:
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no br00talz?
:cry: :cry: :cry:
actually, i'd be very interested in a martamp, except my experience with amps seems to be that i have no clue if i'll like them or not until i try them... :lol: not even because they're not good amps (i'm sure martamps are great- everyone else seems to think so, anyway), just because they don't suit me...
:)
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To clarify, the OP did ask about high gain amps as in NWOBHM etc, which I do make.
To respond to the point about brootalz, I currently have no interest in doing an amp with that level of distortion for the simple reasons that (i) the advantages of handwired, turret board construction are less apparent with that much tonal mayhem and (ii) no-one has given me a deposit for one! :wink:
PCB's are neither here nor there. There's more than one way to skin a cat.
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no br00talz?
:cry: :cry: :cry:
"What a wonderful world this would be..." :harp:
Sorry. :wink:
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To respond to the point about brootalz, I currently have no interest in doing an amp with that level of distortion
The best extreme metal sounds are guys with JCM800s, overdrives and a machine gun right hand anyway. 8)
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I haven't got round to doing a set of clips yet, but here's a clip I've borrowed that gives you an idea of the sound of the 36W Roadstar. Note that it's NOT my amp, (and not me playing) but it is the same type of architecture and valve type as mine, so will give you an idea of it's character. TF will validate that.
Yep, that's what they sound like. Very middy, good chunky tone and great for rock :)
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no br00talz?
:cry: :cry: :cry:
"What a wonderful world this would be..." :harp:
Sorry. :wink:
i was only semi-serious... :lol: i don't like extreme metal either, i do like the ability to get quite a bit of gain, though. :)
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So when are we gonna get pics, info, vids and clips on that Orion to feed our GAS?
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Pics when the head has been fully covered etc. Should be in a few days ;)
It'll be at the Manchester meet for folks to try out. I can't do any vids, but may be able to squeeze a clip or two together.....
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I'm really looking forward to my Roadstar 36, but with 6V6's and tuned for a more Fender Deluxe/Bad Cat Classic Cat tone! Hopefully in March 8)
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a JCM800 Level of gain sounds great i don't really want anything more extreme than that as i still want dynamic response and aren't looking at gain in the extreme metal realm, thats for the other guitarist to do.
I haven't listened to the clip yet as i am at work and have been away all weekend. Now the clockwatching beings!
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but here's a clip I've borrowed that gives you an idea of the sound of the 36W Roadstar. Note that it's NOT my amp, (and not me playing) but it is the same type of architecture and valve type as mine, so will give you an idea of it's character. TF will validate that.
Just out of interest..as we are listening to a 36W four x EL84 amp clip called "cat-hell" is this a Cornford Hellcat ?
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No, it's Cat Scratch Fever and Highway to Hell through a Roadstar ;)
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but here's a clip I've borrowed that gives you an idea of the sound of the 36W Roadstar. Note that it's NOT my amp, (and not me playing) but it is the same type of architecture and valve type as mine, so will give you an idea of it's character. TF will validate that.
Just out of interest..as we are listening to a 36W four x EL84 amp clip called "cat-hell" is this a Cornford Hellcat ?
I wouldn't put a clip of a Cornford up :evil: as indicative of my stuff.
I can't remeber where I saved that clip from, but I saved it because it was the same circuit and architecture to that which I use, and it does capture the basic tonality of the Roadstar 36, whilst of course not being identical. I think in this case, all I can do is point the listener in the right direction. Many people imagine that an amp with 4 x EL84 will sound like a VOx, and the point is, you can hear it doesn't.
I apologise for not having clips; really must get round to doing some. :oops:
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I'm really looking forward to my Roadstar 36, but with 6V6's and tuned for a more Fender Deluxe/Bad Cat Classic Ca tone! Hopefully in March 8)
Yep, March looks good. Should be a corker!
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double post
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can someone comment on the Goldstar EL34 TT? this is the model in the Martamp range I'm the most curious about.
i'm quite happy with my 2204, but I sometimes it would be nice to go for the more hotrod sound or contemporary tone. not sure wether it would be best to go for another amp, or a rack preamp.
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I wouldn't put a clip of a Cornford up :evil: as indicative of my stuff.
is that because your amps sound completely different to cornfords? i like the cornford tone, for the medium-high gain stuff anyway...
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I wouldn't put a clip of a Cornford up :evil: as indicative of my stuff.
Ooops sorry .... when you said it wasn't your amp, I thought you meant it wasn't a Martamp :?
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Is that because your amps sound completely different to cornfords? i like the cornford tone, for the medium-high gain stuff anyway...
More beucase he builds amps and won't "cheat" showing a clip of other company and his own, I guess :D
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Is that because your amps sound completely different to cornfords? i like the cornford tone, for the medium-high gain stuff anyway...
More beucase he builds amps and won't "cheat" showing a clip of other company and his own, I guess :D
Exactly. :) The clip was not of a commercially made amp.
Anyway, it's a nice sounding amp, and the Roadstar 36 has the same "flavour".
I can't say I'm a fan of Cornford tone myself. :?
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Exactly. :) The clip was not of a commercially made amp.
Anyway, it's a nice sounding amp, and the Roadstar 36 has the same "flavour".
I can't say I'm a fan of Cornford tone myself. :?
If we all were fans of the same amps, same guitars, same pickups I suppose we wouldn't bother posting in these forums :)
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Exactly. :) The clip was not of a commercially made amp.
Anyway, it's a nice sounding amp, and the Roadstar 36 has the same "flavour".
I can't say I'm a fan of Cornford tone myself. :?
thanks. :) that's what worries me, i do like the cornford tone, and if you don't, i might not like your amps. then again, i only like the cornford tone for certain things, so i might love them. :lol:
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Exactly. :) The clip was not of a commercially made amp.
Anyway, it's a nice sounding amp, and the Roadstar 36 has the same "flavour".
I can't say I'm a fan of Cornford tone myself. :?
thanks. :) that's what worries me, i do like the cornford tone, and if you don't, i might not like your amps. then again, i only like the cornford tone for certain things, so i might love them. :lol:
My head is spinning :crazy2:
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To respond to the point about brootalz, I currently have no interest in doing an amp with that level of distortion
The best extreme metal sounds are guys with JCM800s, overdrives and a machine gun right hand anyway. 8)
And extremely high volume!
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So when are we gonna get pics, info, vids and clips on that Orion to feed our GAS?
Here's some pics:
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Wahey! The first time I've seen it with it's clothes on! Gorgeous!
Can you bring it to rehearsal tomorrow night mate? I'll bring the 2x12 :D
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Yes, no probs.
Have sent you an email with pics.
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can we see some with it's clothes off
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A bit off topic - but Martin could you build a clone of a Fender Brown era Super (6G4-A) in head form from the circuit diagrams? I'm trying to find an amp builder who could so in the future? Cheers.
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If you can get the circuit diagram, then I'm sure he can ;)
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can we see some with it's clothes off
Nope, sorry. Verboten. :wink:
(except back panel off.)
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A bit off topic - but Martin could you build a clone of a Fender Brown era Super (6G4-A) in head form from the circuit diagrams? I'm trying to find an amp builder who could so in the future? Cheers.
TF's right, yes.
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My head is spinning :crazy2:
haha, so's mine :lol:
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alright then back panel off..don't want circuit..but is amp porn
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Here's some sultry pouting:
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porn ahhhh
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That looks very nice!
Must be quite a project to design it.
Which functions on the foot switch? Loop as well?
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Thanks. :)
Its a fairly straightforward design, but it seems to do the job.
The footswitch controls channel (clean and overdrive) and a gain boost on the overdrive channel.
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Its a fairly straightforward design, but it seems to do the job.
That's an understatement mate, you know what I think of it! :D
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It looks fantastic - very impressive. 8)
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i have been wondering for some time about a new amp with a more classic "british" rock sound and reasonable levels of gain. this looks very interesting! wondering though, will there be a 50watt version? (i'm assuming this one is 100watts) or would power scaling be a better option?
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Martin can build you one to your spec. If I remember rightly, mine is 60-ish watts.
Power Scaling can be added if required, although to be honest the preamp and master volume are so good you don't really need it.
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Yours is 45W clean, and 60-ish clipping, Dave. :)
It's also available with 90 watts clean.
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It looks fantastic - very impressive. 8)
Ta! :)
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That rear shot of the Orion does look lovely. I particularly like all 9 valves being placed in a straight line - aesthetically pleasing to me.
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that looks very nice indeed. though a lot of the amps on your site look very nice (i really like the look of that maroon one, i think it's a roadstar?)... :)