NAD - something different

[Gtrbldr]

There are many small amp builders. Some of them are great and have a following, others are flying a little under the radar, but make great stuff. This is a story of the latter kind.

The last couple of years I was all in on digital, at home and live, but had a tOOb amp for fun. I used profiles of that amp with my Kemper for years (Mesa Transatlantic TA15). This summer I bought a BadCat Black Cat and I was hooked. With a two notes capture and a helix LT I got a lovely rig for church.

Lately I found myself craving a Marshall style amp, since all my heroes of days gone by used them. However I like reliability, quality built gear. Stuff that lasts. Marshall does not fit that bill. Friedman: great amps, not my sound. Too bassy, polished.

Found myself a fellow Dutchman builing nice, Jose Arredondo style modded plexi amps. Bought one and having a blast. Name is Kool Amplification, model is the hot modded Marvell. It is a small builder, but he makes quality stuff. This is a different taste than the JCM800-ish amp, more vintage plexi, but tighter, more gain, due to the added gain stage. Dunno, lot of tones, familiar tones. Think GnR appetite for destruction, Gary Moore, Joe Satriani, with the right settings: Eddy vH. Like I said: FUN!

Kool Amplification - The hot modded Marvell

Marvell

www.koolamplification.com

For the tonex users: made some tone models for those who would want to give it a whirl

https://www.tone.net/tonex/search/?advsrc_option[]=Default&q=Marvell&search_filters=

 

[bodia]

That's a cool sounding amp! Nice find

 

[László]

Kinda reminds me in some ways of my beloved HXDA, especially the cleaner, 'edge of breakup' sounds.

Really nice. Enjoy it!

 

[Gtrbldr]

Thanks. Still getting to know the amp. For now I live on the hot modded channel 2, because for cleans, break up and overdrive I am really REALLY diggin the sounds that my Bad Cat Black Cat makes. However for a little more cascaded amp vibe, say 3 gainstages, it is too smooth. Too polite.

A marshall on 10 sounds a little unstable, like it is about to burst, self combust, and that is what this amp does quite well

 

[DreamTheaterRules]

The clips on ToneNET sound good

 

[Gtrbldr]

The clips on ToneNET sound good

Thanks! I make the models with reactive load and an IR. Have been using the same IR pack from York Audio for quite some time. It just works.

Not my playing though ;-): Tonex has standard direct riffs or clips, so you can compare the tone models. Works really well actually.

 

[Prina]

Kool!

Know where you're coming from: digital (Fractal) for years then back to tubes last year (Archon 25W USA combo) and a plexi ('69ish in all probability) in the near future to fit in between the Archon's clean & lead channels and get those Jimmy, Angus & Eddie sounds. Don't need much more.

Also, big on York IR's following a Suhr RL. I had been using mostly the KW, Mesa 2x12 & MV30 packs but recently got turned on to the MRSH 412 M25 421V-1 single mic IR with a 1959SLP Jumped model. What's your York favorite?

 

[DreamTheaterRules]

Thanks! I make the models with reactive load and an IR. Have been using the same IR pack from York Audio for quite some time. It just works.

Not my playing though ;-): Tonex has standard direct riffs or clips, so you can compare the tone models. Works really well actually.

Wow, that’s really cool, and a great concept.

 

[Gtrbldr]

Kool!

Know where you're coming from: digital (Fractal) for years then back to tubes last year (Archon 25W USA combo) and a plexi ('69ish in all probability) in the near future to fit in between the Archon's clean & lead channels and get those Jimmy, Angus & Eddie sounds. Don't need much more.

Also, big on York IR's following a Suhr RL. I had been using mostly the KW, Mesa 2x12 & MV30 packs but recently got turned on to the MRSH 412 M25 421V-1 single mic IR with a 1959SLP Jumped model. What's your York favorite?

Very cool. Although digital is extremely usefull, tubes are such an integral part of the electric guitar (for me). By the way: the Tonex is so extremely accurate: change the tubes and it captures that nuance very well. It is my back up for live applications.

Will try that particular IR. Have the pack, but never use it, thanks for the tip!

I have been working with the Matchless ESD G12M mix3 (sm58+M160) for quite some time. Works great for the bad cat. balanced, and fat while still really cutting in a live situation. Those mixes do exist ;-).

The Kool otoh does a little better with mix2 (57+121) of that pack. Little less rounded off, more hair on the high end, more Marshally.

 

[DreamTheaterRules]

How do you do your captures?

 

[Gtrbldr]

How do you do your captures?

With a combination of techniques found in a video by the Studio Rats and mr lonely rocker.

The routing idea in my helix comes from mr lonely rocker and is the hardest part. Connecting the devices I got from the studio rats.

So:
Guitar --> helix --> amp through send 1 with a reamp box between the helix and the amp, otherwise the amp does not respond as intended. Amp --> twonotes captor --> return 1 of the helix.

It is important to get the level of the reamp box right, but the tonwx software helps with that.

However: I tweaked the preset from YT a little and I do capture with IR instead of DI. so after the loop (with reamp box, amp and rwactive load) I put the IR block. Also the lower "lane" is empty in my preset and ends with XLR outputs, not multi output. Otherwise you get a feedback loop.

Works very well, workflow and all and once set up the results are stellar.

 

[DreamTheaterRules]

I keep thinking I’ll get one of the TONEX boxes just to try. I thought they also came out with a device to make it easy to do your own captures.

 

[gk2003]

I’ve always had a bias (ahem) toward 12AU7 as opposed to 12AX7. It’s smoother, less abrasive.

 

[Gtrbldr]

I keep thinking I’ll get one of the TONEX boxes just to try. I thought they also came out with a device to make it easy to do your own captures.

They did. I was cheap and both ways (tonex box or ordinary reamp box) work fine, but the Tonex box is less of a hassle. Capturing the amp is fun, and suprisimgly rewarding because it is so spot on.

I’ve always had a bias (ahem) toward 12AU7 as opposed to 12AX7. It’s smoother, less abrasive.

As a preamp tube or as a driver for the fx loop? This one has has the 12au7 for the loop, but I do not use the loop