Serious Firepower is on the way.

[misterwhizzy]

As much as I love tubes and all the tonal goodness that comes with them, I've decided to move on, I think, at least at the house.

I've ordered an AMT M2 to pair with an also-on-the-way ElectroHarmonix Howitzer pedalboard power amp to get JCM800 tones at a more manageable level than my 50-Watt JCA-modded-to-JCM800 specs too-much-for-home-use beast.

The bonus is I get my Carbon Copy back as a usable option, since the infamous Soldano effects loop is no longer in play.

 

[Aceman]

I find that my Marshall VS100 set on 25watt mode, with the Wampler Plexi Mini does just find in that area...

Looking forward to seeing a pic!

 

[devastone]

FWIW, the EHX Howitzer looks to be an all-in-one pedalboard amp, the AMTs tend to work better with just a power amp since all the amp tone is built in the pedal. I would at least use the pedal out of the M2 if you are running it in to the front of the Howitzer, or better, run the preamp out of the M2 into the fx return jack of the Howitzer.

 

[misterwhizzy]

FWIW, the EHX Howitzer looks to be an all-in-one pedalboard amp, the AMTs tend to work better with just a power amp since all the amp tone is built in the pedal. I would at least use the pedal out of the M2 if you are running it in to the front of the Howitzer, or better, run the preamp out of the M2 into the fx return jack of the Howitzer.

My plan was to run into-front-of-amp-pedals (wah, drive, fuzz,, etc.) -> M2 in -> M2 Preamp Out -> effects loop pedals -> Howitzer Return -> out to cab. I'll just bypass the Howitzer preamp altogether.

 

[devastone]

My plan was to run into-front-of-amp-pedals (wah, drive, fuzz,, etc.) -> M2 in -> M2 Preamp Out -> effects loop pedals -> Howitzer Return -> out to cab. I'll just bypass the Howitzer preamp altogether.

That works! That's the first I've seen of the Howitzer. I have a ISP Stealth preamp I use for that, of course, it is 180W cranked and it doesn't sound as good dialed back to soft bedroom levels. Technically is should sound the same, may be that the speaker isn't getting driven hard enough at those really low levels.

 

[CaptainWhizz]

If you run a loop switcher pedal, with the M2 in one loop, and the preamp section of the Howitzer in the other loop, then the effects loop pedals between the output of the loop switcher and the effects return of the Howitzer, you will have three channels; the clean mode of the M2, the Howitzer set to a light crunch, and the main channel of the M2 set to rock.

 

[Bogner]

As much as I love tubes and all the tonal goodness that comes with them, I've decided to move on, I think, at least at the house.

I've ordered an AMT M2 to pair with an also-on-the-way ElectroHarmonix Howitzer pedalboard power amp to get JCM800 tones at a more manageable level than my 50-Watt JCA-modded-to-JCM800 specs too-much-for-home-use beast.

The bonus is I get my Carbon Copy back as a usable option, since the infamous Soldano effects loop is no longer in play.

Did you say FIREPOWER?

 

[devastone]

The bonus is I get my Carbon Copy back as a usable option, since the infamous Soldano effects loop is no longer in play.

BTW, there is a pretty easy mod to adjust the loop levels, I even had to do that to my old HR 50+ (I loved that amp...).

 

[misterwhizzy]

BTW, there is a pretty easy mod to adjust the loop levels, I even had to do that to my old HR 50+ (I loved that amp...).

Tell me more... I've Googled around for that mod but always failed to find it.

 

[devastone]

I used to have it somewhere, but that was a long time ago and a few computers, I'm at work now, I'll do some googlin' while I eat lunch but may have to look at home tonight.

You have to lower the gain (level) to the send and pick it back up on the return, so, it may have some affect on the tone of the amp. All of Soldano's loops are the same so if you can find the mod for the SLO or the Hot Rod, it will be the same.

 

[LLL]

My plan was to run into-front-of-amp-pedals (wah, drive, fuzz,, etc.) -> M2 in -> M2 Preamp Out -> effects loop pedals -> Howitzer Return -> out to cab. I'll just bypass the Howitzer preamp altogether.

Yes, yes.

 

[misterwhizzy]

I had about a twenty minute conversation today with Ed at Osiamo. I didn't realize they were the importers for the AMT pedals. Really, really good, down-to-earth guy, and I think he owns the company. When I come back to report on how good this thing sounds, I'm also going to recommend everyone here do business with them.

 

[devastone]

LOL, I've used the SS-11B, SS-30, SS-20, P2, E2, S2, and B2. I currently have a P2 and a B2, sold the others during some very lean times 3 - 4 years ago. They are all really good, the SS series are awesome. Of the Legend 2 series, the S2 is probably my favorite, followed by the P2, the B2 is interesting, not as smooth as the P2 and S2, but has a cool thing going on.

May hunt down an SS again and replace my GT-1K with a "real" pedalboard, except the GT is so easy to throw in a gig bag and go.

 

[devastone]

Tell me more... I've Googled around for that mod but always failed to find it.

It's noted on this SLO schematic:

 

[misterwhizzy]

I appreciate you finding that for me. I'll likely give it a shot. I have to wait until Monday before my M2 shows up.

 

[devastone]

It worked on my HR50+, most of the mods I've seen use a 10uF cap on the return, the 25uF may make it more transparent, just keep the polarity straight, a 25uF will most likely be polarized. This schematic may be straight from Soldano, but I can't guarantee it. I'll look at it again when I get home.

 

[misterwhizzy]

I found the analogous nodes on the Jet City schematic, and it's easily reversible. Two snips with the wire clippers, and it's back to stock.

 

[SweetClyde99]

I’ve pulled some really good Marshall tones out of a boosted AMT M2 running into the FX return of amp. I hope it works out for you.

 

[misterwhizzy]

The power amp is pretty impressive. Somewhat Fendery preamp included, but what's not included is a footswitch. That seems a little shortsighted. If it's plugged in, it's on. But you'd hardly know it. It's dead silent but plenty powerful. At halfway up on the volume, it's about as loud as my 50-watter at about 10:00 on the volume knob. If push came to shove, this would work for a small gig all by itself.


The AMT, however, is not dead silent. As soon as I plugged it in, before I even turned it on, I heard plenty of low-level hiss. That being said, regarding tone and dynamics, I was pleased. This is only about a half hour of playing around with it, but the overdrive channel cleans up VERY nicely. The cleans with the volume rolled down really are sparkly and great. The clean channel itself was a bit uninspiring, but I didn't spend enough time messing with level and boost to really make a judgment.

As far as gain goes, it's a very convincing Marshall tone that sounds just like the JCM800 it's supposed to emulate. Any higher on the gain control than what's pictured, and it starts to squeal and feedback unpleasantly. It's also a pretty bright tone, so I had to address that dialing it in. My next investigation is whether I can turn up the volume and down the gain to get cranked Plexi tones. We'll see.


Here's the rig as a whole now. When I hit either of the drive pedals, it sounded flubby and like it had the dreaded blanket of tone suck over it. I had to compensate with tone controls on the drives.

As far as the solid state versus tube thing, I believe solid state may have caught up. It's very dynamic and sounds and feels almost indistinguishable from the real thing.

 

[devastone]

The AMT is not "on and off", when the LED is off, it is a clean channel similar to a Twin with a preset EQ. My P2 and B2 are very quiet on the clean channe, if it is noisy, might want to check the power supply.

Also not sure why you would want a footswitch for a 1 channel amp? A power switch I can understand, but that's not something you would want to switch on and off by foot.