Killer Kali++ - Fortin or Gower

[ericb]

I have a Fortin Cali-Modded Marshall jcm800(Bass model) , and a Gower Killer Kali++ modded plexi-ri. . I don't know anything about Fortin doing a KK++ mod at all. These 2 amps are way different. Both are absolutely awesome. Eric

How would you describe the differences? Gower also does a Cali mod and said that the KK++ sounds bigger and fatter than the Cali but can sound very similar.

Also, do any of you guys know if Fortin's Gainmonster mod is the same thing as Gower's Rockmonster mod? It seems like they're both now doing the same exact mods as each other, so it would be great to know how they compare.

The Cali mod is in the KK++ mod as it is the 3 gain stage part of the mod with the SAT switches/Jose diode clipping...The KK part of the mod is the 4th gain stage which makes it sound bigger and fatter. The rest of the extras include depth, glass, mid shift and feel.

I do not know much about Dan's rock monster compared to Fortin's Gainmonster.

That's what Dan said also, so it's surprising to hear that guy saying his Cali and KK++ sound way different

Mine do sound quite a bit different. I only use the Gower KK++ with the Violence turned up , so really only love that one as a meidum to hi-gain amp.. Meanwhile, my Fortin Cali Modded Jcm800bass amp has the 2 positions where diodes kick in and the volume drops a lot, so you turn up the volume knob to bring it back and then I love the tones at all different gain levels. The 2 different bright switches on the 2 gain knobs offer all kinds of tonal variation(and they dramatically effect gain levels also) and it sounds really great from lo-gain to medium -gain to hi-gain. Also my Fortin Cali-modded JCM800 cleans up better using guitar's volumes knobs. As for the Gower KK++ I like that for all kinds of hi-gain tones, but don't like it as much as the Fortin Cali for lower to medium gain tones, and it doesn't clean up as well at any gain level (to me) .. . Keep in mind my amps also are VERY different. . The Gower was done on a Plexi RI (with NO Fx loop) . . It's a smallbox . He didn't want to try to fit an fx loop in it, and also he replaced all the filter caps,etc. The amp is an absolutely monster but not as versatile as the Fortin/Cali/Jcm800 to me. . . Meanwhile, that Fortin JCM800bass is NOT a reissue, is probably an early 1980's amp , has a GREAT parallel/series fx loop in it put there by Fortin,etc. . Very different amps. Keep in mind I have loads of modded Marshall, and others might find them extremely similar but to me every one is different than the other! Good luck and you can't go wrong with either! Eric

The KK++ violence (4 gain stages) is going to sound much different than 3 gain stages with the SAT switches. My KK++ has the Violence and the SAT switches plus the two bright switches so I can get the Cali tone or the Killer Kali (Violence). Of course there is the Glass, Depth, Feel and Mid-shift options too. I can great low gain tones out of it, but mine is a 1982 JCM 800 2203 so it retains some of the original JCM 800 tone with no SAT or violence on. My KK++ has a parallel loop only as that is what I wanted since I only use delay through it. Does your KK++ have the SAT switches?

Nope ,and I was just going to post again with my disclaimer! I just went downstairs and wailed on both for awhile. . They're different, no doubt about it. I do not have the transparent/3d type medium gain tones with my Gower Killer Kali , and don't have 1/2 the options you do . Mine is thicker and fuller than my Fortin Cali with or without the Violence engaged, and ballsy as all hell. It's a great amp The Fortin Cali's gain is not quite as thick/full/ballsy with the diodes switches kicked in , but more airy/3d or whatever the hell someone would describe it. They both are absolutely great amps but not alike.. . MM you head the nail on the head though as I don't have the saturation switches on my Gower KK. I have dual volumes with push/pull pots for brightness, and a FEEL pot and VIOLENCE pot on the back . . I have Depth but no glass or mid-shift. . With the exchange rate /shipping,etc it just cost me too much to get everything, and also I was an EARLY adopter, and I really didn't have much to go by for references , other than loving Fortin's work , and having a positive hunch. Meanwhile, I'd get a few more options if I had it done again. . I'd also get an fx loop , BUT with mine I can run a Bray line out into FX into another amp/cab and have a killer Wet/Dry type of setup at least I wouldn't hesitate to recommend any of these amps , and would LOVE to try the fully loaded Gower KK++ Eric

 

[metalmaniac93]

I have a Fortin Cali-Modded Marshall jcm800(Bass model) , and a Gower Killer Kali++ modded plexi-ri. . I don't know anything about Fortin doing a KK++ mod at all. These 2 amps are way different. Both are absolutely awesome. Eric

How would you describe the differences? Gower also does a Cali mod and said that the KK++ sounds bigger and fatter than the Cali but can sound very similar.

Also, do any of you guys know if Fortin's Gainmonster mod is the same thing as Gower's Rockmonster mod? It seems like they're both now doing the same exact mods as each other, so it would be great to know how they compare.

The Cali mod is in the KK++ mod as it is the 3 gain stage part of the mod with the SAT switches/Jose diode clipping...The KK part of the mod is the 4th gain stage which makes it sound bigger and fatter. The rest of the extras include depth, glass, mid shift and feel.

I do not know much about Dan's rock monster compared to Fortin's Gainmonster.

That's what Dan said also, so it's surprising to hear that guy saying his Cali and KK++ sound way different

Mine do sound quite a bit different. I only use the Gower KK++ with the Violence turned up , so really only love that one as a meidum to hi-gain amp.. Meanwhile, my Fortin Cali Modded Jcm800bass amp has the 2 positions where diodes kick in and the volume drops a lot, so you turn up the volume knob to bring it back and then I love the tones at all different gain levels. The 2 different bright switches on the 2 gain knobs offer all kinds of tonal variation(and they dramatically effect gain levels also) and it sounds really great from lo-gain to medium -gain to hi-gain. Also my Fortin Cali-modded JCM800 cleans up better using guitar's volumes knobs. As for the Gower KK++ I like that for all kinds of hi-gain tones, but don't like it as much as the Fortin Cali for lower to medium gain tones, and it doesn't clean up as well at any gain level (to me) .. . Keep in mind my amps also are VERY different. . The Gower was done on a Plexi RI (with NO Fx loop) . . It's a smallbox . He didn't want to try to fit an fx loop in it, and also he replaced all the filter caps,etc. The amp is an absolutely monster but not as versatile as the Fortin/Cali/Jcm800 to me. . . Meanwhile, that Fortin JCM800bass is NOT a reissue, is probably an early 1980's amp , has a GREAT parallel/series fx loop in it put there by Fortin,etc. . Very different amps. Keep in mind I have loads of modded Marshall, and others might find them extremely similar but to me every one is different than the other! Good luck and you can't go wrong with either! Eric

The KK++ violence (4 gain stages) is going to sound much different than 3 gain stages with the SAT switches. My KK++ has the Violence and the SAT switches plus the two bright switches so I can get the Cali tone or the Killer Kali (Violence). Of course there is the Glass, Depth, Feel and Mid-shift options too. I can great low gain tones out of it, but mine is a 1982 JCM 800 2203 so it retains some of the original JCM 800 tone with no SAT or violence on. My KK++ has a parallel loop only as that is what I wanted since I only use delay through it. Does your KK++ have the SAT switches?

Nope ,and I was just going to post again with my disclaimer! I just went downstairs and wailed on both for awhile. . They're different, no doubt about it. I do not have the transparent/3d type medium gain tones with my Gower Killer Kali , and don't have 1/2 the options you do . Mine is thicker and fuller than my Fortin Cali with or without the Violence engaged, and ballsy as all hell. It's a great amp The Fortin Cali's gain is not quite as thick/full/ballsy with the diodes switches kicked in , but more airy/3d or whatever the hell someone would describe it. They both are absolutely great amps but not alike.. . MM you head the nail on the head though as I don't have the saturation switches on my Gower KK. I have dual volumes with push/pull pots for brightness, and a FEEL pot and VIOLENCE pot on the back . . I have Depth but no glass or mid-shift. . With the exchange rate /shipping,etc it just cost me too much to get everything, and also I was an EARLY adopter, and I really didn't have much to go by for references , other than loving Fortin's work , and having a positive hunch. Meanwhile, I'd get a few more options if I had it done again. . I'd also get an fx loop , BUT with mine I can run a Bray line out into FX into another amp/cab and have a killer Wet/Dry type of setup at least I wouldn't hesitate to recommend any of these amps , and would LOVE to try the fully loaded Gower KK++ Eric

Eric thanks!!! The KK++ is definitely thicker even with the violence or without but with the SAT switches engaged it changes the tone to be slightly brighter and more open. Almost as open as my Atomica which I dig. As far as the FX loop, I do not even use it as I run W/D. Now if I gigged I would. I also have a clean channel that I rarely use!! I need to figure out the MIDI/RJM Amp Gizmo. Just cannot get it to work the way I want!!! Almost tempted to ask Dan to build me a foot switch, but I am travelling a whole bunch for work i do not have time to play as much as I would like. Here are pics of my KK++.