Exo-metal
Well-known member
I always wanted one of these but never seen people modding them. Anyone try a high gain jose or similar mod with any success?
stephen sawall
Well-known member
No one does modifications on these because basically they are a modified amp when built.
They are not high gain. But they do have more gain than a JCM 800. If you need more pedals.
The tone controls are much more independent, effective and wider range than most amps. The various switches give a lot of control over the sound and feel.
THD tend to be very dynamic. Reactive to your hands. Over the top harmonics. All the harmonics are in phase giving a very full sound.
It doesn't really sound like a vintage Marshall, Hiwatt, Orange, Park, etc....but it is very much in that family of sounds.
It does well with the tweed family of sounds also.
I have known Andy Marshall since 1986 and we have been friends a long time. So I might be somewhat biased. I find his work impeccable.
Here are mine.
Bivalve 30
Flexi 50
Deco 36
Series One Plexi (JMP smallbox)
They are not high gain. But they do have more gain than a JCM 800. If you need more pedals.
The tone controls are much more independent, effective and wider range than most amps. The various switches give a lot of control over the sound and feel.
THD tend to be very dynamic. Reactive to your hands. Over the top harmonics. All the harmonics are in phase giving a very full sound.
It doesn't really sound like a vintage Marshall, Hiwatt, Orange, Park, etc....but it is very much in that family of sounds.
It does well with the tweed family of sounds also.
I have known Andy Marshall since 1986 and we have been friends a long time. So I might be somewhat biased. I find his work impeccable.
Here are mine.
Bivalve 30
Flexi 50
Deco 36
Series One Plexi (JMP smallbox)
H
harddriver
Well-known member
I had a Univalve for a while when they were all the rage but it really didn't sound like a Marshall to me. It was still a cool amp but don't expect over the top Marshall raw aggressive tones.
I agree with Stephen, I think they lie somewhere between Hiwatt and Fender possibly with some Dumble sprinkled in.
I agree with Stephen, I think they lie somewhere between Hiwatt and Fender possibly with some Dumble sprinkled in.
G
gtrwun
Well-known member
I always wanted one of these. I remember Guitar Player magazine oogling over the Flexi when it first came out. Seems like a cool amp.
stephen sawall
Well-known member
The Univalve and Bivalve are fairly similar. The Flexi is kind of different.
I have had my Bivalve side by side with several Marshall amps. 1959, 1987, 2204, 2203, etc... They can get similar type sounds. But always going to be different. These are class A amps .... So slower attack and all the odd and even harmonics. I remember one 1972 50 watt Marshall I was able to get really close with KT88 and some hotter preamp tubes. As always never really the same.
The Bivalve and Univalve are more raw and aggressive than the Flexi.
A lot of this is what tubes and how you are using the amp.
The THD stuff is influenced by a wide range of vintage amps. Selmer, Vox, Hiwatt, Orange, Marshall, Fender, etc.... Depending on the model you can push them in these different directions. But they are always a THD amp and going to have that fingerprint. It's the harmonics. Some of the vintage tweed stuff gets close. But nothing really like it.
The transformer in the Flexi is voiced between the cleaner (think Hiwatt) and more raw ( think Marshall). So kind of in that range.
I have had my Bivalve side by side with several Marshall amps. 1959, 1987, 2204, 2203, etc... They can get similar type sounds. But always going to be different. These are class A amps .... So slower attack and all the odd and even harmonics. I remember one 1972 50 watt Marshall I was able to get really close with KT88 and some hotter preamp tubes. As always never really the same.
The Bivalve and Univalve are more raw and aggressive than the Flexi.
A lot of this is what tubes and how you are using the amp.
The THD stuff is influenced by a wide range of vintage amps. Selmer, Vox, Hiwatt, Orange, Marshall, Fender, etc.... Depending on the model you can push them in these different directions. But they are always a THD amp and going to have that fingerprint. It's the harmonics. Some of the vintage tweed stuff gets close. But nothing really like it.
The transformer in the Flexi is voiced between the cleaner (think Hiwatt) and more raw ( think Marshall). So kind of in that range.
Exo-metal
Well-known member
The Flexi is just begging for a jose clipper mod imo...someone needs to do this mod PSYCODAVE where are you!!?!? Haha
mooncobra
Well-known member
I think there is one for cheap on SF Craigslist.
G
gtrwun
Well-known member
Looking now
stephen sawall
Well-known member
You can change out the power tubes in a few minutes. I ran KT88 in the Flexi for a lot of years. Currently using EL34.
If you put a 12AT7 in the middle position it will be more in the gain range of the vintage Marshall stuff.
I should make clear the Flexi is not a Marshall clone. It has some similarities but pretty different. The front end is much more like a tweed Fender. The treble and bass are Baxandall. The midrange was influenced from a vintage radio circuit and is very strong. The cut control seems to me to act more like a cut on Vox. There is no negative feedback. These amps can do alright with preamp distortion and using the master. But most people use them for power amp overdrive. I use a Hot Plate or Power Station.
Only modification I have seen done by anyone was on the Univalve. It was something to do with the bass.
If you want the modified sound the settings are ....
Input Hi
Bright On
Boost On
Master off usually.
50 watt
Volume -1
Treble - max
Middle - max
Bass -10-11
Gain - max
Tone - max
Master - usually above 2
Cut - this one depends on the rest of the rig.
I have tried pedals from there. But don't really feel it needs it. I would run the amp cleaner if using pedals. If you turn up the Volume pot too much depending on the rig it can loose definition.
I have had the amp about twenty years and kind of familiar with it.
I would use the Bivalve or Series One Plexi if I wanted more NMV Marshall type sounds.
If you put a 12AT7 in the middle position it will be more in the gain range of the vintage Marshall stuff.
I should make clear the Flexi is not a Marshall clone. It has some similarities but pretty different. The front end is much more like a tweed Fender. The treble and bass are Baxandall. The midrange was influenced from a vintage radio circuit and is very strong. The cut control seems to me to act more like a cut on Vox. There is no negative feedback. These amps can do alright with preamp distortion and using the master. But most people use them for power amp overdrive. I use a Hot Plate or Power Station.
Only modification I have seen done by anyone was on the Univalve. It was something to do with the bass.
If you want the modified sound the settings are ....
Input Hi
Bright On
Boost On
Master off usually.
50 watt
Volume -1
Treble - max
Middle - max
Bass -10-11
Gain - max
Tone - max
Master - usually above 2
Cut - this one depends on the rest of the rig.
I have tried pedals from there. But don't really feel it needs it. I would run the amp cleaner if using pedals. If you turn up the Volume pot too much depending on the rig it can loose definition.
I have had the amp about twenty years and kind of familiar with it.
I would use the Bivalve or Series One Plexi if I wanted more NMV Marshall type sounds.
ZEN Amps
Well-known member
I had one back in the day and honestly just couldn’t get any really satisfying tones happening. Always sounded brittle and the ability to swap power tubes is a novelty that wears off real quick.
In my part of the world they pop up frequently quite cheap, and generally sit for ages. Shame, that line of amps looked promising at the time.
In my part of the world they pop up frequently quite cheap, and generally sit for ages. Shame, that line of amps looked promising at the time.