| General Mods: | Amp Re-Voicing | Re-Voicing an amp involves making changes to the gain and equalization curves of the various amplifier stages. Need more gain? Need more high end? The process of re-voicing is involved in achieving those desired tonal changes. |
| Master Volume | A Post Phase Inverter Master Volume can really help tame an amp's volume without sacrificing all of its character. Best results occur with moderate changes in volume. | |
| Blackfacing | Blackfacing involves returning a Silver Face Fender amp's circuitry back to its Blackface predecessor's specifications. Tonally speaking, the amp tends to sound more open and lively. | |
| Reverb and Vibrato applied to Normal Channel | On Fender amps that have both a normal and vibrato channel (Deluxe Reverbs, Super Reverbs), the reverb and vibrato can be applied to the normal channel as well. A pleasant side benefit to the mod is that what was a previously unused channel on the amp now becomes a thicker, meatier sounding channel great for leads. Using a quality A/B switch turns the amp into a more modern channel switching tone machine. | |
| Amplifier Specific Mods: | Fender Hot Rod Deluxe | Reduce low end flabbiness. |
| Fender Blues Junior | Adjustable bias mod, extend clean dynamic range, tone stack midrange mod. | |
| Fender Pro Junior | Adjustable bias mod. | |
| Fender Super Sonic | Total Gain Stage Make-Over: The "Burn" channel becomes extremely flexible instead of essentially running at full throttle all the time, you will now be able to adjust from a slow burn to smoldering afterburner. The "Vibrolux" and "Bassman" clean tones can be matched to each other in terms of volume as well as cleaned up tonally.
I played Tuesday Night at Brennans for Jam ... full backline, so I cranked up .. everything sounded stellar .. kept in on the burn channel and rode the volume and used my overdrive pedals .. Wednesday went to the Tap Room for a blues jam .. used the burn channel again even though these guys like it clean, but because of the mod I could have it clean .. lower gains and higher master volume = output tube goodness with some clipping/od when you drive volume or picking ..today I set it up a little different .. cranked the master volume on the burn channel and saw just how clean it can go .. pretty damn clean .. then dialed it up and in until I got the distortion that like but could dial back (on the guitar's volume) and clean it up .. works very, very well .. ok .. its gone beyond sounding good to me .. now there are guys with amp envy .. I had the amp out at brennans again last night .. it cranked .. guys were coming up going "what amp is that, it sounds amazing" ... Dave Miller - Beautiful Bones |
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| Epiphone Valve Junior | "The Studio Mod": brighten the amp (optional front panel toggle switch), pre-amp gain restructuring, hum and noise reduction - correct ground issues, add power supply stiffening cap, convert heater supply to DC. "The Marshall Mod": Re-voice the amp's gain and EQ to produce crunchy British goodness! A bright switch is added to add sparkle to lower gain/volume settings. Especially nice when done to a series 3 Valve Junior head. The Ampsmith recently modified my Epiphone Valve Junior into a screaming little recording amp. I couldn't be happier with what he did for my Valve Junior. He understands what guitarists are looking for...Ampsmith rocks! Derek Bassett - Flatbed Just wanted to say thanks to Mike (http://www.ampsmith.com) who did a great job with my Epiphone Valve Jr. amp work. He did a "studio mod" which included lowering the overall noise and adding a 3-position switch. Position 1 doesn't color the sound much so it sort of acts as a bypass. Position 2 acts as a bright mode and position 3 adds 6 dB gain. The amp sounds great at any volume and gives tones from nice and clean to down and dirty. Only knock, limited low end from the small speaker but who's complaining given the form factor. This is now a great studio amp that is also ideal for small gigs. Thanks Mike! Ryan - Toast! |
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| Epiphone Valve Special | Revoice the amp to have more chime, restructure gain for wide range of clean and overdrive tones, tone stack midrange mod *** perform a hardwire bypass of the DSP effects and associated solid state support circuitry for a TRUE ALL TUBE SIGNAL PATH*** Hi, I'm the one that brought in that Epiphone Valve Special. Finally had a chance to play it at band practice. Boy that thing sings now! The other guitarist refuses to believe its only 5 watts, lol. Freaking Awesome Job! Thanks so much! Chris Rhoadhouse |