A pic of the current rig. Seven amplifiers, with two sharing the Mesa 2×12 Cabinet. This rig has the ’60s, and ’70s tone covered.
The AC15 was the first amp produced by Vox in 1958, and this Hardwired addition sounds almost identical. Definitely has the Vox Chime with Celestion Blue Speaker, but turned up and it grinds beautifully. All amp heads are complemented the Mesa Boogie 2×12 cabinet with a Celestion Vintage 30 and a Celestion Greenback.
Here we have a Gibson Dual Falcon and a Fender ’65 Deluxe Reverb. The Gibson Falcon is a reissue of the original ’61 version. Gibson amps were really over shadowed back then, and were tonally different. This one sounds great; especially with the replaced Mullard pre amp and power amp tubes. The Fender DR sounds just like a real mid 60s version. I replaced the Power and Output Transformers, the choke, and the Reverb transformer also with Mercury Magnetics upgrades. As a final upgrade, I replaced the standard Jensen C12K with a 1964 Jensen C12N that I found on on eBay. The amp sounds nothing like it did when I bought it. The trannys just open it up, and the speaker is brighter and more sparkly. Gretsch and the Fenders really shine through it!
A Magnate Varsity and a Vox AC30. The Magnatone is a dual EL84 offering that just knocks your head off! It sounds more like 20+ watts rather than the 15 to 18 watt rating. It’s a bit of a blend of American clean and British grit. The AC 30 Power and Output Transform along with the choke, have been upgraded with Mercury Magnetics versions. The AC30 is a very clean amp, but turning it up using a Hot Plate and you get this incredibly creamy, belltone like overdrive, thanks to their Celestion G-12 Alnico Vox Blue speakers!! This one was from the last year they made them in the UK.
Here we have a couple of Marshall Studio 20 watt reissue of the iconic amps of the ’60s. Marshall ST20H, a Marshall SV20H (Red), a Marshall ST20H (Black and Cream). At the bottom is a G-Force rack system, along with 2 Furman power racks on the bottom. The ST20H, which is a replication of the JTM 45; the first amp produced by Marshall, powered with a pair of 5881s. The Red SV20H is a 20 watt studio version of a late 60s Plexi, powered with 2 EL34s! The tone is quite amazing and symbolic of those respective eras. Seems that Marshall limited the output voltages, which basically dumbs it down to 20 watts rather than the 50 watts you’d normally see with these power tubes. The TC Electronics G-Force rack system used through the effects loop in the amps that provide one. It adds distinctively clean digital effects, such as reverb, delay, and chorus capturing that early 80s feel.
A few of the THD Hotplates that I use in conjuction with the amps, which allows you to turn up the volume, and not have the police at your door. They dissipate volume by way of heat, but let the tone of driven power tubes come throughc and provide the legendary crunch and creamy tone, so identifiable with Rock and Roll. The top unit is custom built by my Amp Tech Todd Marquart, which allows me to switch up to 10 different amp heads to use through the Mesa Boogie cabinet equiped with a Celestion Vintage 30 and a Celestion Greenback. The setup is so freaking convenient!! The pink ones are for the 8 ohm amps, and the blue ones are for the 16 ohm Vox amps.
