Cornford amps anyone?

[Tellboy]

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

+1 - I love mine (and Hurricane) - great chimey cleans (vintage) and liquid sustain (modern) BUT I would never recommend anyone buy one without trying - as March said above you either love or hate the sound and have got to try as many amps you can before buying. I've bought a couple of amps in the past based on recommendation/review from other people and, although the reviews were not really inaccurate, I've been very disappointed.

[viking]

pm'd ya but

mesa aint clean IMO (having owned 3).

I can tell you that my clean channel sound is clean and beautiful!  (Nomad)

[MrBump]

They might not be that fashionable, but the guys at Matamp will build an amp pretty much to your spec - they tweek gain settings from vintage to moder, so I'm told.  Might be worth a visit...  the 1224 looks and sounds awesome (to my taste anyway... but I guess I'm quite oldskool)

[Stevepage]

I used to own a Harlequin and I quite liked it. I kinda regret getting rid of it to be honest. You had to be really 'on' with your technique otherwise the harlequin would let you know you're cr@p  :lol:

I'd love a MK50, just too expensive and not something I'd really need.

[DeanS]

I've owned a Cornford Harly now for 8 years and for class A tones I can't fault it- even if its a little on the dark side.

Have you considered the Hellcat as these will cover anything from cleans to vintage bluesey stuff to high gain metal.

Ainsley Lister playing 'Peter Green' style blues using a Hellcat................

http://youtube.com/watch?v=OxAWfNTnYs8

[hunter]

At the moment I am more attracted by Marshall- I already have 2 amps with cornford-like, smooth mids (Bogner & Budda). I think the VintageModern might be nice in band play ...

Having said that, they (cornford) seem cool amps, but I've never had the chance to try one as they aren't the normal thing to be stocked in continental music shops ...

[PoshCollins]

At the moment I am more attracted by Marshall- I already have 2 amps with smooth mids (Bogner & Budda). I think the VintageModern might be nice in band play ...

Having said that, they seem cool amps, but I've never had the chance to try one as they aren't the normal thing to be stocked in continental music shops ...

I've tried the Vintage Modern combo and that wasn't bad. I thought it was like a mix of most vinatge Marshalls into a singl combo.

Not my cup of tea but I know there are players who love to make sweet music with theirs :P.

I think it would suit the types who are into Hendrix, AC/DC, Free etc.. basically vintage Marshall users.

[dave_mc]

i agree with nick, you really need to get out and try as many amps as you can- most amps at the £1500-range will be kickass to someone. I took about a year before i bought an expensive amp (including trips to mainland GB), and still ended up buying something i hadn't tried as i got such a good deal (and ironically probably made a better choice than if i'd relied on my judgement at the time :lol: )...

my advice is, try everything you can... but don't be swayed by an amp which does a tone you'd love to be able to get (which you can't get at the moment), if you only rarely use it.

I was extremely disappointed with my avt's modern tones... yet now I can get modern tones, I realise i don't use/need them all that often. though of course it's nice to be able to get them when i do want them.

[greeny]

Basically They are as good as it gets.    Obviously not for everyone and as stated previously will expose your sloppy technique.

I've had a Carrerra for a couple of years and the only real sound I couldn't easily get was a very jangly (AC30 style) chime. (as said slightly too dark really). Anyway now I use a Carl Martin Parametric EQ and I can get all teh jangle I want.

[JamesHealey]

The Hurricane is great for very small gigs and amazing tone at home, I found it got lost in the mix during reasonable sized gigs.. Hence the move to a non-mv marshall head.

But if i'd have had the money it'd have been a Mk50II - best amp head in the world I assure you.

[stevehammond]

Obviously as a long time happy MK50 and matching Cornford 2x12 owner I come at this with a slightly biased view. I wrote an early review of this on Harmony Central and frankly my views several years on haven't changed.

You'll either like or not the tone of the thing, but I've actually used it at gigs ranging from smallish pubs and parties to Harley Davidson biker festivals and I think it's a joy. It's also really loud.

I know it's difficult to test drive amps like this but I do think it needs to given a fair hearing at what would be considered gig volume to see what it can do. Cornford do have their Lounge thing if you're within striking distance of the Kent coast.

I variously use a 1990 Les Paul Standard with Mules, an 89 PRS Custom, Strat with Rio Grande Halfbreeds (sorry BKP!) a G&L Asat and a Heritage 535 and the Cornford seems to bring out the real character of each of the guitars. It's very responsive so doesn't give your technique (or lack of it) anywhere to hide, but it's built like a tank and sounds sweet whatever you put through it and at a range of volumes.

Hope this helps!

[bmulroney]

I have a Cornford Hurricane and have to say that it is awesome.  Great tones with all my guitars.  Even with lots of gain dialled in, they clean up so well from the guitar.  They are incredibly responsive to tone/volume changes as well as differing pick attacks, etc.  Makes this amp more versatile than a Marshall TSL I used to have.  

I would, however, say that like a lot of "boutique" amps the Cornfords have a distinctive tone so make sure that you like it before committing.  :D