Cornford amps anyone?

[PoshCollins]

Hi everyone, sorry its been so soon for me to start another topic but I have been considering buying a Cornford MK50 head and Cornford 4x12 cabinet.

Just interested to see what everyone else thinks of them.

Cheers,

Posh-Collins.

[indysmith]

BOGNER: Namely Shiva EL34 (never actually played one, but never actually heard a bad clip), and the only experience i have with cornford is the harlequin, which i like actually, just not that much. Yeah... pretty much just ignore my opinion :P

[noodleplugerine]

Indy - The Harlequin is soooo unrepresentative of the Cornford range.

Spectacular amps - Amazing tone.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=-yPEewaalik

MK50 there I think.


Personally I think I'd rather have a Cornford than a Bogner - I picture Cornfords as the god of just pure "tone".

[Nolly]

DO IT!

If I didn't need modern high-gain sounds so badly I'd have one myself. In fact, I'm hoping I might have the free cash to afford one near the end of the year..

[noodleplugerine]

DO IT!

If I didn't need modern high-gain sounds so badly I'd have one myself. In fact, I'm hoping I might have the free cash to afford one near the end of the year..

+1

If I didn't need UltraGain channel I'd get one in a flash.

[March]

You either like the Cornford tone or you hate it. I fall into the latter catagory. Personally I love the woodiness of Bogner amps.

I know an amp tech who would advise you to stay away. He has serious issues with the design of the boards and the routing of the wiring on a couple of heads and has even rebuilt one from the ground up for one customer.

Having said that, mention any brand of amp and someone out there will tell you a horror story!

I have a few friends that have them and love them and I did some demo'ing through one (Carrera) at last years Newcastle Guitar Show.

[Ted]

I nearly bought a Harlequin at one point, that was quite nice, but a bit too loud to get it properly cranked at home.

[PoshCollins]

Thanks for your replys :D.

I'm into instrumental players mostly but I need something with versatillity too. Looking for something that can cover stuff like Greg Howe, Reb Beach, Joe Satriani, Vinnie Moore, Macalpine,Dann Huff, Steve Morse and Yngwie.

I think Noodle knows into great depth (Thanks to the wonders of MSN:P) what sort of thing I'm looking for.

If I need to reach metal tones do I need a Pedal in front or do you reckon the Cornford would cover it all?

[March]

Is there a particular Cornford you are wishing to buy, also what budget are you working to?

Personally if you can, I would always recommend going on an amp hunt and buy what sounds the best to you. Decide what features you definitely want, what features would be nice to haves but would not stop you buying that amp if it gets you tone wise and are not present. Take your No.1 guitar and any effects you intend to use with it.

Years ago I decided that a Mesa Boogie Nomad would be my perfect amp. I ended up trying various Mesa's, Marshall's, Soldano's and the like and ended up buying a Trace Elliot Speed Twin (back then these were an expensive valve amp). Great sounding amp but it proved that sometimes your perceptions gained from what you read don't match the reality when you try the amp in the flesh.

Last year I tried a Bogner Ecstasy for the first time. I plugged in expecting to be disapointed (at first I was - it was not plugged in!  :lol: ). I ended up ordeing one on the spot.

I know Dakine is another Bogner convertee.

But again, if you have the chance, try as many as you can before you buy.

What suits one person will not necessarily suit you.

[Crazy_Joe]

Cornfords are well nice, tone machines!

[PoshCollins]

Is there a particular Cornford you are wishing to buy, also what budget are you working to?

Personally if you can, I would always recommend going on an amp hunt and buy what sounds the best to you. Decide what features you definitely want, what features would be nice to haves but would not stop you buying that amp if it gets you tone wise and are not present. Take your No.1 guitar and any effects you intend to use with it.

Years ago I decided that a Mesa Boogie Nomad would be my perfect amp. I ended up trying various Mesa's, Marshall's, Soldano's and the like and ended up buying a Trace Elliot Speed Twin (back then these were an expensive valve amp). Great sounding amp but it proved that sometimes your perceptions gained from what you read don't match the reality when you try the amp in the flesh.

Last year I tried a Bogner Ecstasy for the first time. I plugged in expecting to be disapointed (at first I was - it was not plugged in!  :lol: ). I ended up ordeing one on the spot.

I know Dakine is another Bogner convertee.

But again, if you have the chance, try as many as you can before you buy.

What suits one person will not necessarily suit you.

I have about 1.5K to spend. I could stretch a bit more than that though.

[hamfist]

I like a lot about Cornfords. I loved a Harlequin I played for quite a while in a shop. I love a load of clips I've heard. i really like their philosophy, who theyare, where they are, etc. etc.
  However, my main experience of Cornford was buying a Hurricane 20W combo, which was just horrible. I'm suspicious that I got a bad amp, but I was just not willing to try again in the hope of geting a better one.  I got my refund and ran.
  In the end, the advice, given above, about playing an amp before you buy it is really important. Or at least buying from a place that gives you a 7 day return period (Anderton's in Guildford sell Cornfords and give a "no questions asked" 7 day return period).
    I think that, potentially, Cornfords are awesome amps. But each single individual amp must be judged on it's own merits !!

[PoshCollins]

Ok I have a new plan.

I'll follow March's advice and I'm gonna go round pretty much every shop I can find.

I'm considering an Engl though. Here is a list of the ones I would open to trying.

- Engl Powerball
- Engl Blackmore
- Diezel Einstein
- Cornford MK 50
- Peavey 5150 II
- Give a Laney a good whack =]
- Tried a Marshall JVM (Not bad).

Oh boy what a fun day this going to be  PDT_015  PDT_003.

Note to self - Try all of them with BK's!

[Nolly]

If you're considering Engls, you should definitely try out an Invader 100. They're incredible sounding amps, and are very versatile indeed. Probably more suited to lead playing than the Powerball.

[PeteyG]

I'd consider the ENGL Invader also, I own one and it's simply the best, most versatile thing I have owned in my life, the only sound I'm really yet to achieve is a dirty grungy sound, but given my playing style that probably wont be happening for a while.

As for Cornford, they're tasty amps, a friend of mine has a Hellcat Combo, and it's delicious.