Author Topic: New Cornford? (Read 12765 times)

JamesHealey · « **on:** February 19, 2006, 08:30:51 PM »

I've currently got an ENGL Screamer 50 combo and im thinking of upgrading to a Cornford MK50 Head and Cab.

But I've sold this ENGL amp before and regretted it and pleeded with the person i sold it to to, to let me buy it back. has anyone here got any experience with the Cornford stuff and like to share any good and bad points about there experiences?

math2014 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 19, 2006, 08:37:26 PM »

I played with a MK50H and a 4x12 VHT cab, and to be honest with you, even though i thought of the MK-50 head as a dream-amp for next year, i wasnt too impressed with it (maybe i had too great expectations). It sounded very good, but not 1500GBP good imho. It didnt cut through as much as i wanted, and the clean channel wasnt anything to write home about.

Maybe you should try a GH50L at some point. I know i want to :)

stu__r · « **Reply #2 on:** February 20, 2006, 10:28:59 AM »

Well im a cornford user so no prizes for guessing what im going to say as i obviously use them for a reason.

I have a hellcat and do love the mk50 also but i prefer the hellcat just a touch for its slightly less agressive lead tones.

Obviously the new mk50 II is out soon and should be amazing.

I adore Cornford amps. They have very much there own voice and it is unique to them and some people just dont dig it and for others it takes some getting used to but to me and many many other playes it was stunning right off the bat and i would take cornford over ANY other amp.

Just my 2p.

Tellboy · « **Reply #3 on:** February 20, 2006, 12:49:09 PM »

I really love my Cornford (Hurricane) but it seems to be an aquired taste. They do have their own characteristic sound and some people don't like them - e.g. Tim and HJM don't rate them - think they are 'too dark' - I'm sure Tim would tell you to keep your Screamer (as he's got one). To be honest I've heard some great and some shitety sounds from Engls - I think it's down to personal taste/style/type of music etc. The Cornford would certainly be very different to your Engl so I wouldn't fork out for £1500 for a MK50 without really trying it. (should be able to get one on Ebay for much less - I got my Hurricane there).

Must admit though - I would go with stu-r on this one.

stu__r · « **Reply #4 on:** February 20, 2006, 05:34:51 PM »

Just thought i would add that i know players who dont like the harly and hurricane but love the Cornford heads.

Just something for you to consider when others talk about Cornford amps.

Also i will add that yes the lead sounds in particular are rather dark and brooding in many ways but along with that they are also silk smooth with the dark edge which to me gives so much presence to the sound.

The mk50 is the king of that dark edge imo. Its got a more raw kind of lead tone than the hellcat. Both have the same conford voice but as i mentiond in my other post the mk feels more agressive with its raw edge.

Andy Lindsay · « **Reply #5 on:** February 20, 2006, 11:10:25 PM »

I tried a MK50 for a short while when I got tired of my other amps. I wasn't a fan of it personally. Well, I did like the tone, just not when it was turned up. Really brittle sounding when I used it live. I had a lot of people comment on the tone too been harsh. Made real well tho, and the switching is a good idea too. Try one. To my ears, there are better amps for the buck out there!

Floyd Pepper · « **Reply #6 on:** February 21, 2006, 08:51:08 AM »

The only Cornfords I've tried are Harlequin's but I love them. Best sounding amp I've used but it's also the only master volume low wattage amp I've used for any length of time (I'm a JCM 800 Super Lead man).

It interesting to see people don't like the Cornfords. Perhaps I need to get out there and try more amps. The most recent amps I've tried were a Fenber Blues Jnr & and an ENGL combo. I prefered the Cornford.

_tom_ · « **Reply #7 on:** February 21, 2006, 11:44:18 AM »

I've not tried Cornfords, but Jamie Humphries was playing through one at Music Live (not sure on the model, anyone know?) and it sounded AMAZING (even with DiMarzios in his guitar

). Then I heard the guy at the Cornford stand playing one and I didnt think that one sounded too great, maybe because it wasnt cranked though

Floyd Pepper · « **Reply #8 on:** February 21, 2006, 12:22:22 PM »

Any one read the review of the Cornford Carrerra in the most recent Guitar & Bass magazine? I couldn't tell if they liked it or not. They just seemed to say it was expensive.

math2014 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 21, 2006, 12:33:57 PM »

Well 1000GBP for 8W 1x12, isnt it a bit too much? (carrera).

Even the rediculusly overpriced Mesa F30 is a bit cheaper.

stevehammond · « **Reply #10 on:** February 21, 2006, 06:03:14 PM »

I've had an MK50 head and a Cornford 2x12 (Vintage 30s) since 2001 and it's been used for gigs ranging from local pubs to function rooms to big stages at biker rallies and playing off the back of a truck in an open field (without mic'ing up!) to a a thousand people at a firework display and I have to say it's brilliant.

I wrote a review on HarmonyCentral - http://www.harmony-central.com/Guitar/Data/Cornford/MK_50_H-01.html- not long after I got and and I still stand by everything in that 5 years on. Since then I've got a Heritage 535 and put BKP Mules in my Les Paul and they both really sing through it - particularly when pushed in the overdrive.

It's often noted as quite a 'brown' sound (which you either like or not) but it really seems to bring out the identifiable characteristic sounds of instruments and it seems to encourage the sustain. The clean channel's great for twang from my Asat and a bit more crunch from Strats and humbuckers, and the overdrive does everything from Stevie Ray upwards whatever you're playing. It's also very responsive to dynamic attack when you dig in on the strings.

Certainly it's not cheap, but they do crop up on ebay at pretty sensible money and they are built like tanks with top quality components. There's now a Mk2 version that just got a rave review in Guitarist and that has an extra clean channel and some more complex loop switching which I'm interested to try.

Anyway I think they're tops, so there.

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Tellboy · « **Reply #11 on:** February 22, 2006, 10:17:26 AM »

Quote from: stu__r

Just thought i would add that i know players who dont like the harly and hurricane but love the Cornford heads.

There are also many players who do like the Harly/Hurricane. Joe Satriani's favourite was the Hurricane.

stu__r · « **Reply #12 on:** February 22, 2006, 11:25:57 AM »

Well untill he got the heads he had built. hehe.

The hurricane is a great amp. Its more the harly that i know alot of people dont like much....not sure why.

rinse_master · « **Reply #13 on:** February 22, 2006, 02:12:34 PM »

Quote from: stu__r

Obviously the new mk50 II is out soon and should be amazing.

There was a review in Guitarist (the Fender anniversary one) and it looks like a really good amp. 2 channels, swithcable OD, and 2 fx loops you can either assign one to each channel or switch them yourself, you can even switch between those to settings via the footswitch. I like the look of it!, although I can't afford it.

Tellboy · « **Reply #14 on:** February 22, 2006, 06:26:58 PM »

Quote from: stu__r

Well untill he got the heads he had built. hehe.

Looks like the Hurricane is his favourite at home. hehe

"Ampwise, I use a MK50H Cornford head, a 100W prototype and the little 20 Watt Hurricane. I also have a prototype Hurricane which is my favourite amp at home as they really seem to go up to 11" - Joe Satriani