LA Amp Show 2007

[Gearjoneser]

Alright, I finally got my pictures together. Curly and I had a blast walking around the LA Amp Show today, and saw some of the best amps ever made...and some innovative guitars and amps.

Highlights for me were the new Matchless amps, the Little Monster, Cobra, and King Cobra, but their Independence 3 channel is incredible.
Also, the 65 Amps, new Fargen Mini Plex MK2, Kingsley, Goodsell, Red Iron, and the amps I played most this afternoon...Gjika. I had a couple of those cranked up with an Echoplex.

Kasha's speaker cabs win my vote for most innovative gear. The baffle board is attached to a footswitchable motor, which allows you to morph between sealed and open. It's really cool to hear the change in sound. I took a pic of the 1-12, but the 2-12 and 4-12 with motorized baffles.....SOOOO COOL!!!!
Kasha's Quickmod is a device that plugs into your 1st postion tube socket, and is footswitchable. It'll turn any average amp into a firebreather! A+

I finally got to put the Fender EVH III through it's paces, and yes, it's a GREAT highgain channel switcher....rockers and metal guys....it's as close to Bogner and Diezel as I've found. The EVH III is a hit.

Ron Thorn's guitars are absolutely killer. Some pictured below.
Also, after the show, I checked out Curly's favorite custom guitars, which he brought for me to see and play. His USA Custom strats/teles are amazing....I really want his gold/rosewood strat.

Kasha's Robo Cab, with motorized baffle. I want the 2-12 SO badly!
On the 4-12, the bottom 2 speakers are fixed, but the top two swivel open like this.
Let the pics begin.












Surreal Amplification...channel switching highgainer.




Gjika Amps. High polished chrome with black metal logo over it...looks better in person! Loved these amps!

Red Iron Amps!


Stevie Ray Vaughan's Tele!


Thorn Teles!

[Hot _Grits]

Awesome. Winner in the looks division for me out of those is the Kingsley stuff...

[Gearjoneser]

One thing I noticed is how many Marshall inspired amps there were. The theme seems to be low powered super plexis. Fine with me...I love that sound, whether it's EL-84, EL-34, KT-66, 88, or even 6V6.

The build quality was so good on all the amps that there wasn't a bad sound to be heard in that entire hotel.

I like these kinds of tradeshows the most, because it's focused solely on one thing....amps. The NAMM show is great and all, but it's almost overwhelming. I like the fact I can hear every tube type and every type of guitar and OD in front of all of them.
And that's all the show is about...amp tone.

For me, it's like being at a theme park for tone.

[casblah]

Nice pix GJ... I'll bet you felt like a kid in a candy store there...

[d1dsj]

Wow... some fantastic looking gear there! How the hell would you decide which you REALLY wanted??? Great pics too. Here's a question GJ..... if you could have ANY 1 set up i.e Amp and Cab... which would it have been?

[Gearjoneser]

Originally Posted by d1dsj

Wow... some fantastic looking gear there! How the hell would you decide which you REALLY wanted??? Great pics too. Here's a question GJ..... if you could have ANY 1 set up i.e Amp and Cab... which would it have been?

It's really difficult to decide because most of the amps there sounded great.
Plus, they're usually fairly classic type circuits.

If I'd had $4000 in my pocket and was determined to come out of there with a new rig, I would have played everything in the Matchless and 65 Amps rooms, and made a tough decision. Both companies had some new amps they asked me not to photograph for posting on the net....it upsets their dealers.
I would have likely walked out with the Matchless Independence or King Cobra, OR a 65 Amps London, Soho, or Memphis.

I have to admit, I did have fun on the Fender EVH III, because it's head and shoulders above all the Peavey heads. I'd love to have one, but my Ecstasy does basically the same thing.....a little better.

I only need one sophisticated channel switching amp. The rest will always be simple tone monsters like the 65 Amps. Dan Boul's dedication to making huge sounding EL-84 amps puts him at the head of that pack. Besides their perfect voicing, the cabinetry looks awesome IMO.

[JB_From_Hell]

Was the EVH really a true, 3 channel amp?

[Gearjoneser]

Originally Posted by JB_From_Hell

Was the EVH really a true, 3 channel amp?

I think so. It's design is probably closest to a Diezel Herbert. EQ/Vol/Gain on all 3 channels, then seperate presence for each as well.

Excellent tone and sustain. I listened carefully to each channel, and Fender did a good job. The lead channel is much thicker than the 5150, voiced better, and if you hit a chord there's no mush, just pure singing gain.

What impressed me the most about the EVH III is how quiet it idles when you're not playing. That's the true sign of a well designed highgain amp.....and why Bogners and Diezels are so good. Cheaper highgain amps always have a ton of hiss.

[JB_From_Hell]

Did you read that interview in GW with EVH & Matt Bruck a few months ago? About every other answer, at least one of them said, "It's truly a real, three channel amp". It got a bit irritating pretty quickly.

I'll not hold that against it, though

What took the cake as far as dial in one tone, and use your guitar/pedals to control it stuff went?

[Gearjoneser]

Originally Posted by JB_From_Hell

Did you read that interview in GW with EVH & Matt Bruck a few months ago? About every other answer, at least one of them said, "It's truly a real, three channel amp". It got a bit irritating pretty quickly.

I'll not hold that against it, though

What took the cake as far as dial in one tone, and use your guitar/pedals to control it stuff went?

Honestly about half the amps at the show. It's SO hard to decide because almost everything sounds great when you're standing in front of it.

When Curly and I were outside in the courtyard, I commented "I kind of like hearing all those amps from here, because I can really hear the differences when they're traveling through the walls." "Any amp that can punch through an entire hotel full of amps is the amp for ME!" hahahahaha

[Gearjoneser]

One impressive piece of gear there was Kasha's Quickmod. It's a small preamp module that sits on your amp and plugs into the first tube socket. Then, there's a footswitch for it, so you can go between average gain and highgain. It sounds better than an OD pedal because it's actually part of your amp's pre section.

We were plugging it into a JCM 800, Plexi, Super Reverb, and even a $100 Epiphone. It turned each amp into a big fat gain machine.

The unit isn't cheap, but if you want some serious balls out of your midgain Marshall, it's worth the $350-$500.

Here's a link. Also check out the 2-12 and 4-12 Robo Cabs. Awesome cabs that you can tune while you play by stepping on a switch that allows you to morph anywhere between sealed and open.
http://kashaamplifiers.com/products.html#Model_-_QMU-01

[JB_From_Hell]

Hmmm.... I wonder how it would work with a Blues Jr.

[tubeman87]

No Two Rock amps?

It looks like it was a great show, I love those "Flamed" flamed teles.

[Gearjoneser]

Here's a picture from the Mercury Magnetics booth. I believe this is the amp rig belonging to Alan Cyr, one of the best amp techs in LA. And you KNOW his vintage amps are up to snuff.


Lollar pickups.



The chassis of a Reeves (Hiwatt)

[Curly]

there are so many good amp builders out there today it's scary, but I have a feeling that the ones who might be benefitting the most are the parts suppliers

plus I'm really skeptical, and I just wonder how the economy is going to affect people's disposable income

if you asked me what I'd want, I'd agree with Gearjoneser ... I still love the 65 Amps London -- it's so harmonically rich and well designed. It's kind of funny that Dan Boule said he made the London in a 2x10 combo because players were requesting a little less volume. Haha -- it's an 18 watt amp that's too loud for some players!

also, the Matchless amps appeal to me for the same reasons -- great tone, well designed, and touch sensitive amps that go from beautiful cleans to overdrive with just your picking attack

I also enjoy going with Joe 'cause he's a good player, and I got to stand back and just listen.

regarding Two Rock, they were a no show. kind of disappointing, but maybe they are just too busy. (I've been to the Two Rock factory by the way, and they were pretty busy)

Like some others, I also missed seeing ZVex and Menatone pedals.

[Hot _Grits]

Originally Posted by Curly

there are so many good amp builders out there today it's scary, but I have a feeling that the ones who might be benefitting the most are the parts suppliers

plus I'm really skeptical, and I just wonder how the economy is going to affect people's disposable income

if you asked me what I'd want, I'd agree with Gearjoneser ... I still love the 65 Amps London -- it's so harmonically rich and well designed. It's kind of funny that Dan Boule said he made the London in a 2x10 combo because players were requesting a little less volume. Haha -- it's an 18 watt amp that's too loud for some players!

also, the Matchless amps appeal to me for the same reasons -- great tone, well designed, and touch sensitive amps that go from beautiful cleans to overdrive with just your picking attack

I also enjoy going with Joe 'cause he's a good player, and I got to stand back and just listen.

regarding Two Rock, they were a no show. kind of disappointing, but maybe they are just too busy. (I've been to the Two Rock factory by the way, and they were pretty busy)

Like some others, I also missed seeing ZVex and Menatone pedals.

I played an international support gig a couple of months ago, and for any good gig, my importer friend Ryan lets me 'showcase' some gear. We put aside time to see what rig we'd put together out of the many choices he has, and ended up talking endlessly about gear and realising we had ten minutes to make a decision before sound check. So I powered up my victoria and the London head with 2x12. I hit one chord and looked at Ryan. he looked at me and said 'I think that'll do'.

It was hands down the most amazing sound I've ever stood in front of. And the London appeared to be louder than the 36w Victoria!

-Man, if you can spring for it get a London and run it alongside your Double Deluxe. That's the rig I'll have one day (unless the bigger wattage 65s blow me away wen I hear them). Just amazing.

[Dr.Mavashi]

This thread is like sending a cocaine junkie to Bogota, I've tried to resist for two days. I've never wanted to be reach dude so much before, and I am old. GJ four Qs for you.
First, How are the cleans on EVH III, how is the gain different from first 5150s?
Second, can talk more about what blew you away about Matchless?
Third, Did Weber present new Mass? Is that what I see in the pic ?
Fourth Did you see any Laney?

[Dr.Mavashi]

Originally Posted by Gearjoneser

One impressive piece of gear there was Kasha's Quickmod. It's a small preamp module that sits on your amp and plugs into the first tube socket. Then, there's a footswitch for it, so you can go between average gain and highgain. It sounds better than an OD pedal because it's actually part of your amp's pre section.

We were plugging it into a JCM 800, Plexi, Super Reverb, and even a $100 Epiphone. It turned each amp into a big fat gain machine.

The unit isn't cheap, but if you want some serious balls out of your midgain Marshall, it's worth the $350-$500.

Here's a link. Also check out the 2-12 and 4-12 Robo Cabs. Awesome cabs that you can tune while you play by stepping on a switch that allows you to morph anywhere between sealed and open.
http://kashaamplifiers.com/products.html#Model_-_QMU-01

How is the noise factor on it? God I want this thing!!!!!!!!!!

[Gearjoneser]

Originally Posted by Dr.Mavashi

How are the cleans on EVH III, how is the gain different from first 5150s?
Second, can talk more about what blew you away about Matchless?
Third, Did Weber present new Mass? Is that what I see in the pic ?
Fourth Did you see any Laney?

The cleans on the EVH are as clean as a head can be into a 4-12 closed back cab. It's just like a power section with a gain control.

I've loved Matchless amps ever since I tried the first DC-30's in the early 90's.
I've owned several, and regularly use my Chieftain 2-12 combo.

The founder, Mark Sampson now owns Star Amps, which was also there. I got to talk to him for awhile, which was way cool. However, his old partner, Phil Jamison, owns Matchless now, and he's taking them to the next phase with a whole new line of more versatile handmade amps.....The Independence and King Cobra are Badass!!! Mind you, it's not metal gain, but big fat power tube gain, like you'd expect when standing in front of Robben Ford's rig.

I didn't pay much attention to the Weber Mass, because I didn't see it hooked up. You'll have to check their site for updates, if any.

Laney wasn't there, and in retrospect, we may have missed a couple booths, because we were focused on looking at the hippest gear. I looked at the Amp Show site, and am bummed that I may have missed some other rooms with good stuff.

Originally Posted by Dr.Mavashi

How is the noise factor on the Kasha Quickmod? God I want this thing!!!!!!!!!!

It does add a little bit of noise, because it's a whole tube circuit, force feeding your 1st postition tube socket. However, we were running those amps at full tilt, trying to get massive gain out of them. Everyone in the room looked at each other and couldn't believe how much we'd love to have it for all our classic amps....turning them into chunkmonsters!



Kasha has never grabbed my attention much before, much like Randall.
But this year, Kasha has really stepped up to the plate and offered some hip stuff for rock-minded players. Those motorized Robo Cabs are the most evil and sick thing I've seen when it comes to head-turning cabs onstage.

[OlinMusic]

Ah, so lemme throw in my comments

1) Cameron CCV's - esp the "Vintage model" with the Plexi mode were rally impressive

2) Matchless - The King Cobra was very special in the mids, the Little Monster was also amazing for a small practice / studio piece. The Cobras have THE BEST TREMOLO I have ever heard!

3) Thorn Guitars - WOW WHAT BUILD! Esp the teles - I played the ones joe photo'd. Tone smoked, the PUPS are unreal!

4) Goodsell 33, my new fave EL84 amp - open, chimey, and doesn't get as mushy or grainy and gainy sch that you can't milk gorgeus cleans. Richard (Goodsell) rocks!

5) Celestion Heritage speakers wer the belle of the ball as many companies have taken to them at the show as OEM merch.

6) Scumbacks still rule

7) Keep Kingsley amps on your list.

8) Andy Fuchs is cool, and I now found a new love for his amps. He also showed me how the new EV12L RI's have a certain model that is obviously brown-er as I discovered in person.