Should I Do It?

[TheyCallMeVolume]

So I'm strongly considering shipping my amp off to Trace at Voodoo to get the Dr. Feelgood mod. Since the mod was originally designed for 1959's and not 2203's, they'll have to drill I think 2 holes in my amp. I'm really worried about the drilling as I don't want to risk the resale value, although I'm guessing Voodoo modded amps will hold their value. What do you guys think I should do?

[TheyCallMeVolume]

Found out they don't need to use the front, and there's a chance we can use some of the extra speaker outs as holes in the back. Still wondering whether to pull the trigger and mod this beautiful amp!

[richard]

What's holding you back ? What does this mod do ?

[TheyCallMeVolume]

Well Mick has my favorite tone ever and my tone is in his ballpark I would say. I use an overdrive pedal right now and it's just very inconvenient, I'd much rather use my amp straight up. And I think this might get me even closer to a more organic, open sound along with the gain. I just feel like with the OD it's a bit too dark and compressed, though I love the thump and overall tone I have. I just want that in the amp, not outside.

[richard]

Have you got any concerns that you won't like the mod ? I had a look at their site and couldn't see a reference to this mod. Is it basically more gain ? Do you like to control your gain and volume from the guitar ? Why do you find it very inconvenient to use an overdrive ? Have you tried a lot of different o/ds with the amp ? Sorry for the string of questions but it's interesting.

[TheyCallMeVolume]

No problem, I love this! Especially since it could definitely help me decide one way or the other what to do.

I guess you could say it's a "special" mod, I think you have to specifically ask for it if it's what you want. It's supposed to be an exact replica of Mick's amp modded by Jose he used on almost all their records. Richard Fortus of GNR is in posession of it now and had Trace copy the mod for his touring rig, which started this mod for Voodoo, it just hasn't been fully implemented yet.

It's not technically more gain I'm looking for than what I have now, I just want all of it from the amp, not a pedal. The way I use my amp right now is I have it set to about an ACDCish tone, kick on the OD pedal for all my dirty stuff, then kick it off and turn down my guitar's volume for cleans. It just gets a little hectic doing the pedal board tap dance, I'd much rather just flip to my neck pickup and be done with it. From what Trace says it will clean up nicely even at a decent gain level.

I've tried more than a few OD's and always came back to the Green Rhino. Like I said I love the thump and the way it sounds, just maybe a bit too compressed. The mod will get me to the gain level I want while still staying open and clear.

[richard]

It sounds like you really want this mod and, if you don't go for it, you're always going to be wondering what you're missing. It sounds to me like you have to do it. Let us know what you decide. There's a lot of top players using Voodoo so I guess it's really good stuff.

[Brow]

I'm a big Mick Mars fan too, he's a player I think is really under appreciated by alot of people. Not the flashiest player around but I really like what he does with Crue.

I don't know if the album recordings are the same, but live I know he uses the Marshalls together with some Rivera stuff (possibly a knucklehead, I can't 100% recall) and Soldanos too.

I know you've not said you're out to cop his tone from any particular album etc, but it's definitely something to keep inmind that there's alot of mixing of amps going on there, it's not just plug into a JCM800 and you're there.

I'm interested to hear how you get on.

[TheyCallMeVolume]

I'm a big Mick Mars fan too, he's a player I think is really under appreciated by alot of people. Not the flashiest player around but I really like what he does with Crue.

I don't know if the album recordings are the same, but live I know he uses the Marshalls together with some Rivera stuff (possibly a knucklehead, I can't 100% recall) and Soldanos too.

I know you've not said you're out to cop his tone from any particular album etc, but it's definitely something to keep inmind that there's alot of mixing of amps going on there, it's not just plug into a JCM800 and you're there.

I'm interested to hear how you get on.

100% my man. Trace even told me at one point that this amp will not deliver the exact guitar sound you hear on Dr. Feelgood or some of his live work. He layered so many guitar tracks from metal-dirty to sparkly clean to get his sound, this mod is just supposed to combine the best of all those tracks to the best of it's abilities. But I've heard clips of similar amps to mine with the same mod (a JCM 2203/2204, can't remember which) and it sounds amazing.

My thinking right now is that I know for a fact I will love the mod. It's just that I'm wondering if I'll love it enough to warrant the cost and the permanent changes to the amp. That's really the only thing that's hanging me up right now.

[richard]

http://www.rig-talk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=126243

Is this the mod ? Looks like it was the inspiration for Marshall's Vintage /Modern.

[TheyCallMeVolume]

That's it!

[Brow]

I'm a big Mick Mars fan too, he's a player I think is really under appreciated by alot of people. Not the flashiest player around but I really like what he does with Crue.

I don't know if the album recordings are the same, but live I know he uses the Marshalls together with some Rivera stuff (possibly a knucklehead, I can't 100% recall) and Soldanos too.

I know you've not said you're out to cop his tone from any particular album etc, but it's definitely something to keep inmind that there's alot of mixing of amps going on there, it's not just plug into a JCM800 and you're there.

I'm interested to hear how you get on.

100% my man. Trace even told me at one point that this amp will not deliver the exact guitar sound you hear on Dr. Feelgood or some of his live work. He layered so many guitar tracks from metal-dirty to sparkly clean to get his sound, this mod is just supposed to combine the best of all those tracks to the best of it's abilities. But I've heard clips of similar amps to mine with the same mod (a JCM 2203/2204, can't remember which) and it sounds amazing.

My thinking right now is that I know for a fact I will love the mod. It's just that I'm wondering if I'll love it enough to warrant the cost and the permanent changes to the amp. That's really the only thing that's hanging me up right now.

So how much is the mod if you don't mind my asking?

I've heard some clips in the thread that Richard posted and didn't think it sounded all that great tbh, unless it was just badly recorded.

Have you thought about something like a Splawn etc that's in the same ballpark tonally as the jcm800 but has more gain? I love mine, it eats my JCM800 for breakfast. Pairs up very well with the SLO too.

[TheyCallMeVolume]

I believe $500 for everything.

[TheyCallMeVolume]

And as far as the clips go, yeah, it doesn't sound like the best recording, and I don't like the EQ, but I hear the potential and I like the gain structure. If I can tweak it to my liking and play it live, I'm sure I'll like it even better.

Another thing is, which is why I believe that particular amp has been through 4 hands already in the past 2 years, is that Trace really tunes these amps to how you play. He'll ask you what strings you use, picks, tuning, favorite tones, and all this other stuff to fine-tune the amp to your tastes and needs. I'm guessing that the person who recorded these demos didn't match the first guy's specs.

[Brow]

I believe $500 for everything.

Ah, not as bad as I was expecting. Someone in that thread on the other forum said with parts and labour it was over $2000, which is why I suggested the new amp instead.

And as far as the clips go, yeah, it doesn't sound like the best recording, and I don't like the EQ, but I hear the potential and I like the gain structure. If I can tweak it to my liking and play it live, I'm sure I'll like it even better.

Another thing is, which is why I believe that particular amp has been through 4 hands already in the past 2 years, is that Trace really tunes these amps to how you play. He'll ask you what strings you use, picks, tuning, favorite tones, and all this other stuff to fine-tune the amp to your tastes and needs. I'm guessing that the person who recorded these demos didn't match the first guy's specs.

Yeah that's cool. I do like the clarity of it as well.

That makes sense too. It only takes a different guitar to what it was modded for and the whole thing can be out of the window tonally!