MXR M116 Fullbore Metal

December 2009 Guitarist 179
QUICKTEST
MISCELLANEOUS
CONTACT: MasterTone PHONE: [phone] WEB: www.mastertone-amplifiers.co.uk
CONTACT: JHS PHONE: [phone] WEB: www.jhs.co.uk
One of the holy grails of great
tone is a ‘cranked amp’ sound,
but it’s hard to achieve at low
volume – thanks to efficient
modern speakers, even at gig
levels, many 30- to 100- watt
amps are barely ticking over.
Loudspeaker attenuators in
between amp and speakers
aren’t perfect, as they alter the
way an amp responds. Also,
because you’re working the
output valves much harder,
they don’t last as long. Cue the
smart alternative: Power
Scaling – a trademarked
concept originated by amp
legend Kevin O’Connor of
Canada’s London Power. It
consists of a range of retrofit
modules that allow continuous
proportional adjustment of a
valve’s operating voltages so
you can adjust a Power Scaled
amp’s output from 100 per cent
all the way down to zero and
achieve a real cranked output
stage effect at any volume level.
The nature of these retrofit
modules means installation is
best left to the professionals,
and Tony Lovatt of Mastertone
is the UK’s first licensed Power
Scaling installer, in addition to
the variety of other amp mod
services the company offers.
Sounds
We tried out two converted
amps, an Epiphone Valve
Junior and a Fender Blues
Junior re-covered in custom
purple Tolex by Zilla Music.
Using the Power Scaling add-on
couldn’t be easier: you simply
turn the knob to your desired
output level and balance it
against the amp’s volume
The Bottom Line
We like: Thin finish concept;
crisp voice
We dislike: We’d prefer a
more yellow/orange stain
GUITARIST RATING
GUITARIST RATING
control. Both amps instantly
sounded smoother and more
dynamic at any volume level –
remarkably this was
maintained from full power to
zero output.
Verdict
Power Scaling not only works, it
works really well. If you want to
hear your amp breathing
properly at conversation levels
and get improved recorded tone,
then it may be the answer. The
installed price varies depending
on your amp but typically starts
The Bottom Line
We like: Excellent tone and
response at any volume level
We dislike: Not always
reversible; voids warranty
Manual Rodriguez Model A-DS £599
Mastertone
Power Scaling £120
The Spanish guitar jumps on the relic bus. Almost…
Cranked amp tone at whisper quiet levels…
One of Spain’s best-known
classical brands, Manuel
Rodriguez, is the latest guitar
company to jump on the pre-
aged bandwagon with the
Spanish-made Model A-DS (as
reviewed) and the far eastern-
made MR11 Caballero (£319).
The standard Model A (£549)
has laminated rosewood back
and sides and cedar top; our
‘Old Finish’ version swaps the
rosewood for flamed maple
(laminate). But the ageing is,
ahem, odd. Instead of finishing
the guitar then simulating years
of use, Rodriguez seems to have
taken the bare wood, applied a
dark brown stain directly to the
wood and given it a wax polish
resulting in a dulled brown
finish that while not ‘aged’ is
actually a little more appealing
than it sounds on paper.
Sounds
With a rather rough, textured
feel, the neck initially doesn’t
feel great, and with full
classical nut width (50.9mm)
and chunky depth it’s quite a
handful. The absence of any
markers (face or side) isn’t to
our taste, but that’s what
classical players prefer. Yet the
Model A, with its lack of plastic
gloss finish, has an airy and
crisp-edged percussive tone
that’s evocative of the true
classical (more Flamenco than
Concert) instrument and it
records rather well, too.
Verdict
In the rarefied world of the
classical guitar we fear this
might be a trend too far. But
when viewed from a more
contemporary crossover angle,
here’s a nicely built, certainly
ancient, if not aged, looking
nylon string that could well suit
a more mature player looking
for a crisp classical sound
without the gloss
oh-so-new looks of
the majority
(certainly at this
price range at least)
of the genre. [DB]
at around £120. Bear in mind
it’s a modification that may
involve punching an extra hole
for a control knob, but if that’s
not an issue contact Mastertone
for more information. [NG]
GIT323.rev_quick 179 6/11/09 9:17:9 am