Egnater Mica TOL 100H

The ability to select any of four different tonal qualities with the push of a button makes this a no brainer. But, having MIDI capability makes this head the real brain for any total system. I think this is an important distinction isnofar as being able to have a rack of gear work in harmony with a head give one unlimited flexibility.

I've been a firm fan of the TOL. This is my first MICA TOL-100 and, I must say, IT JUST FRICKEN ROCKS MY WORLD! The distortion is, of course, great, but the clean channel is so underrated that it is a little mind boggling. You can read my reviews of the Rocktron TOL elsewhere. This head has all the same stellar charateristics, but it has more headroom, a bit more definiton, and still more focus. The distortion is much like other TOL heads: heavy but focused and not overly hyped in the preamp gain staging. It is a player's sound and is not the flavor of the day. Rather, this is what you need if making music and playing guitar is you prime motivation. If you want a buzzy, fuzzy, everybody else's sound, go with another amp.

This head is solid! I never am without a backup TOL--I just can't live without these heads. But, this head has been balls on to the max and sports more vibe than those pan flute specialists that come to the annual forest people's get together (Bill Nelson, not withstanding).

Bruce fricken rocks. `Nuff said.

I've used them all. I own most of them. And the MICA is flat out the most useful instrument of the bunch. I not only would replace it, I will grab any MICAs out there if the price is reasonable. Got a spare for sale? The bottom-line is that the MICA is the best all around value on the market. For me, personally, it is the best value period because no other head gets it all done with such style, utility, and class.

Not sure what year this amp was made. I think the guy I bought it from told me, but it has been a couple years and frankly I forget. One of these days I want to call Bruce and find out when he made this puppy. Love all four channels, and I use them all. I am in a touring modern rock band (which means a little bit of every tone for me) and I can pull every sound I need from the amp. I only wish that there were 4 sets of Eq's instead of 2, like on the preamps. I don't use the Midi switching, my amp is racked and my GCX switches the amp (via my RS-10) physically using loops. i will say though there have been a few times I had to pull the amp out of the rack when my Beast couldn't make the trip, and it was nice to be able to plug the RS-10 right into the amp to switch it.

I use McCarty PRS's. I love the versatility of this thing. I can pull ANY amp out of the four channels that I need. Really can't say enough about that. I used to use a Tri-Rec, but I couldn't stand it. The tri-rec sounded good, but it had no life like a Marshall, not to mention crap clean tones. This Egnater solved both problems for me. Amazing cleans, and ballsy distortions without getting lifeless and muddy. LOVE IT!

Like I said earlier this amp has been racked the entire time I have had it in a Mark Snider (Frampton, Petrucci) so it is well protected. There have been a few times in the past year that the amp has shut it self down while playing (luckily not during a gig) not sure why though. Takes it about a minute and a full reset (on/off) for it to come back.

Never had to deal with Bruce yet (knock on wood). I hear great things about him though.

I love the third channel on this amp. It is da bomb. In a close second is the first channel, it is so pretty. I wish I could find another pre-rocktron TOL MICA head out there, I would buy it quick. I have considered finding it's equivalent TOL MICA pre (which is stereo and has the extra 2 eq sets) but I feel a little married to this head. If it ain't broke, don't etc..... I am also playing through a pre-rocktron Bruce made Egnater Cab that I just love. The amp sings through it. Those babys are harder to find then the amps. I love that cabs brown canvas-ee front matches the amplifiers. LOVE it LOVE it LOVE it. Go buy it if you can find it.

4 channel head. PURE TONE. Mid 90's, Very loud. From mild to mean. 100 watts switchable to 50 watts. Easy switching from 16,8,or 4 OHMS.

I use it with single coil and humbucker PU's . It is very versatile.
Chan 1 is like a Fender Twin, Chan 2 is like a Fender Deluxe, Chan 3 is like a Marshall Plexi, Chan 4 is like a Hot marshall. Very quiet.
Extremely well built..

All is great with this amp. It is a Bruce Egnater MICA amp, what more can you expect from THE amp GURU himself. Pre rocktron, before they cheapened it up. Hand made by Bruce himself. I did have a look into the heart of this amp, and seeing how it has been put together it should last a very long time . Very road worthy. I myself am a technician, and I work on a lot of gear, I see no problems with this baby...

Talked to Bruce on the phone many times and he ALWAY's gave me way more of his time than I could ever expect. Very informative....

I've been playing for 33 year's and have NEVER had the versatility that this amp has to offer. If you can find one GRAB IT!!!! But, make sure that it is a MICA (pre rocktron). There is a major difference!

This is a prerocktron mica 100-watt head. This is the basic layout of this amp. Four channel's. (Channel-1) and (channel-2) share the same EQ. You have a gain controll and master volume to tailer this amp's output! Also a density controll for more bottom end. Then finish with the main level controll for the final volume. This is a very clean sounding amp on channel-1. Plenty of headroom. great for texas blue's country picking. or slow ballet's . Channel-2 is a little more darker with a touch of more gain . but remaining clear. and precise. remmember this channel also share's the same EQ with channel-1. so the setting's are'nt different but more of a gain stage. Channel-3 is a british marshall tone. The best vintage marshall's with that killer brouwn tone. that ever guitar player would love to have! but not to many amp's offer! channel-4 will take you to the OZONE.This is the most deadly tone that will kill most ever amp on the market.The tone is were this amp kick's ass.There is also at two way bright switch on channel-1 and 2 .Channel switching done via midi.also effects send.and return. with slave out and slave level controll. plus remote switching.The gut's are 4 6l6s and 6 12ax7s.this amp can be bias also for EL34s.this amp has power. believe me! dial on 3 and it time for ear plug's! I gig with this amp and it just kill's on ever performance. Most amp's sound great in a music store. but then when you take it for it's first test drive playing with you'r band or live gig. you'r standing there friking out. this thing sound's like shit. were's the sound man! Not this amp .

My main axe is a 87 les paul custom. with gibson's classic high output pickups. I also have a Charvel jackson. also with EMG. active pickup's. both guitar's sound great on this amp.Im running a marshall 1960 slanted cab. with vintage 30s. my influence's are Randy Rhoads. malmsteen.van halen.creed. dream theater.and many more. this amp will cover all tone's of the past and preasent.

The mica amp is built like a tank. all hand built.by the master himself. bruce egnater. bruce is a tone master. a secret with some of the most respected name's in the bussiness.and as reliabilaty. no problem's with my amp.this amp never let's me down.

I have spoken to bruce directly. he is a very nice person. very helpfull on all my question's.He stand's behind he's product's.also check out his new amps. there really cool.

Im in my twenty seventh year of guitar playing. I have played VHT.soldono. bogner. custom marshall's'. wizard amps. triple recterfier' and many other's . Im not going to rag on these amp's. I belive ever body has there personel preference. in what they like in tone. but all i can say is if you ever come a cross a MICA-100 head or combo .PLAY IT .you decide. you wont be disapointed.i promise. I know what i have and also the other MICA owner's.know also. belive me i have been searching for great tone in a amp for a long time. don't think twice about buying one! BUY IT. or the next guy will! right under your nose.these amp's are hard to find. bruce does not make these amp's anymore.also the Rocktron egnater is very impressive also . it will kick ass on most amp's. great articulation's.but not a MICA. there to different animals. If my mica was stolen. my tone would be lost also my sole. would i replace it . If i could find one. that would be hard. because there not available. any more.

This is a pre-rocktron 100 watt tube head. It has 6 12ax7's and 4 EL34's. There are four channels, the two clean channels share one eq, and the two dirty channels share a separate eq. There's separate gain and volume controls for each channel, and one overall master. The clean channels have a 3-way bright switch for different sounds, and the distortion channels have a three-way voicing switch : vintage gain, modern 1 (more gain), and modern 2 (all the gain you ever need, and then some). Slave out, FX Loop, two speaker outs at 4, 8, or 16 ohms, Midi in's and out's for all sorts of crazy stuff.

The only thing keeping this amp from getting a 10 is the lack of reverb and a 1/2 power switch (cause this is a loud little beast!).

I can't even begin to describe it! So good it blows my mind. I'll break it down :

Channel 1 :
Everything from country chicken picken clean (extremely bright and poppy), to SRV fat clean, perfect Jazz, with a crank of the gain nob you get a nice jazz lead sound. Doesn't break up! one of the best sounding cleans I've ever heard...and with the 3-way bright switch you can get a ton of different sounds.

Channel 2:
As clean as channel 1 if you want it to be, but has the potential to be turned into a great blues rhythem channel. SRV like you wouldn't believe! Sounds unbelieveable. Throw a tube screamer on there and you've now got the best thick, singing blues tone you ever heard!

Channel 3:
My favorite channel. Think Brown sound but with a little more of a modern vibe. With the different gain options (3-way voicing switch), you can get everything from a 70's rock tone to Pantera in a haertbeat. Great for Metal heads who enjoy GOOD TONE! None of this Double Rectifier Shit! This is the smoothest Hot rod Marshall tone in the world! But it actually sounds like a cross between a Marshall and a Boogie. It's got that great boogie low end and smooth top end only with the balls that you get out of a Marshall. A very original sounding channel.

Channel 4:
Time to drop my pants and do unmentionable things to my amp! This thing screams like nothing else out there! It's smooth, articulate, singing lead like nothing else. The only thing that might top this is a Bogner. It sings for days, has great controlled feedback, doesn't get hissy or grainy, and is basically the best thing my ears have ever heard. Enough can't be said about this channel.

No problems so far, I've only owned it a short while, but the thing is rock solid and heavier than a lot of other heads I've tried before. I've cranked it to ear bleeding levels and it just sits there and laughs at me because it's only on 3. No fear of a lack of power, or for that matter...pushing it too hard.

Never had to deal with them.

I absolutely can not tell you just how good this amp is. You have to hear it to truly appriciate it. It's so nice to have something that doesn't sound like a Marshall TSL or a Boogie rectifier. Those sounds are so overused and boring. This is the real deal folks...for any style this is one of the best amps out there.

I play tom anderson drop tops through this amp with various cabs. I've been playing for 6 1/2 years, and I've heard damn near everything out there from Bogners to VHT, Soldano, Boogie, and pretty much every high end amp out there. I must admit that if I had the money I would probably look into a Bogner, but I got this thing for half of what a Bogner costs! Not to mention, this thing will do metal better than Bogner, which is a big advantage for me.

Don't settle for the Rocktron shit. I've tried it and it's not the same. If you can get your hands on one of these I highly reccomend you sell anything you have to to get it. The name is absolutely 100% correct...this is the Tone Of Life!

Please e-mail me with any questions...to my knowledge there aren't a whole lot of these out there, and I would love to help convince anyone why they should get one of these.