Mojave Ampworks Plexi 45 Head

This is a new production amp,and has the ususal features for an amp like this.The tone controls are very effective,more so than on a Marshall.the line out is a great feature and something not found on the reissue marshall.Power dampening is cool and works well,but is not perfect.My experience with it is that it does reduce the volume and keep a really good tone but it doesn't clean up real well when the volume control on the guitar is rolled back.This could just be my guitar,I don't know.

Ah yes.....the point of the whole thing,sound quality.Well to my ear this thing rules,it's nothing short of spectacular.The cleans are GREAT,as good as it gets,this is why we buy tube amps.The raggedy on the edge of distortion blues tone is as good as anything out there.The cranked up rock and roll tone is where,to me anyway, this amp excells.It sounds fan frickin tastik with the channels jumpered and the volume controls turned up.It's big,fat and has one of the best classic rock tones to be found anywhere.Take a Les Paul a good cable,plug straight in to the front of this tone machine ,turn the wick up on the volume controls and be prepared to pick your jaw up off the floor.This amp just flat out ROCKS.

Hard to say as It's pretty new,but looking at it I would say it's going to be around long after I'm gone.

The only time I've dealt with them is when I ordered the amp and that was a positive experience.I talked to Victor Mason the man behind Mojave and he was very pleasent to talk to.We spent a lot of time talking about muscle cars,he's building a Chevelle and I own a Roadrunner.

I've been playing for twentyfive years and own a fair number of amps,81' marshall jcm 800 2204 full stack,vox ad120vtx valvetronix,vox ac30 handwired head,budda sd30 head,eppi valve juinor head,kendrick blackgold35 with 4/ten's,kendrick gig rig;orange ad15,and some other less noteworthy amps and cabs.If stolen I would with out hesitation buy another one.If your reading this review and thinking about buying this amp,dude,pull the trigger ,you will not be sorry.This amp is as good as it gets.

Just a modern built Marshall Plexi...All the feel of a Plexi with out the noise & problems..not many features but tone for days...I have owned this amp two times now...

Let me say I can't live with out the cleans from this amp. I just went through a dozen boutique amps and came right back to the Plexi 45. The amp needs to run 16 ohms to get the milk shake thickness on the leads, and I now run 2 pedals in front for crunch & leads..I found a Vox valve tone set at just a touch of gain is plenty for a 2nd. channel crunch, then I ues a Barber direct drive for the Lead tones, and heavy crunch..This seems to give me all I could ever want in a amp..The best cleans in the Biz..and a nice fat crunch, along with singing fat thick leads that blossom with overtones..Its like a vintage amp, not much to play with, and I really never had to run 2 OD pedals before, but after all the modern stuff I went through, this seems like the real deal...

bullet proof...

Hit & miss...could be better, but delt with alot worse..

Really for what I play the Plexi sound steals my heart. I just have a smile on my face when ever I play this amp..I loved my Demeter TGA's but this vintage tone just sounds so real..This is the plexi tones on all the classic rock songs you love...just the bomb really...

Last review on this amp...my other 2 on under this..

Just let me say this..the very best clean tones I ever heard. The crunch kind of grinds on the ears after a bit..and the leads are very Plexi, but it leaves you wanting more of the good thing..It is with out the best sounding in older 4-12 cabs, Marshall, Hiwatt, ETC. NOT THE NEWER STUFF....I loved this amp but needed alittle more of a good thing, and sold it to a great player that just loves it for blues...I still think for what it is its a killer amp..

bulletproof....just a rock..

Very good, nice to chat with but short to the point. These boutique amps need alot of smooze to go over, being there are so many new amps comming out all the time. And I did'nt get that feeling with Mojave, I do with some other new amp companys. will see how long these stay in biz.

Down the road I would like to have another plexi 45 and run it just for my cleans..but I can't afford to do that at these prices..I played it for a ton of shows for about 4 months..Loud as hell but what a nice tone..

THIS IS A FOLLOW UP TO MY LAST REVIEW.
and this time it gets a 10///////

After a months worth of gigs, all I can say is wow..I get the best cleans, crunch & leads I have ever had at my fingers. I always wanted an amp that had all 3 in one package, some came close, but this is just right on the money. The cleans alone are worth every penny this amp cost me. The crunch has so many colors but just touching your volume knob, and my lead playing has never felt this good, I feel every note I hit right down to my bones. This amp is just awesome..

I just pray this amp lasts a long time, man It never even got hot at an outside show in 95 degree temps. It looks to be built to last 40 years of so, and I hope to god I am still playing it then...I bring no other amps to gigs..I live or die with this amp.

Victor seems like a very pro person, someone who knows his shit. He responded to all my e-mails..

I have been playing on a ton of new amps lately, and I wanted one to be the king, ya know?..My taste's are on the classic Marshall side of tones, and this to me is a vintage JTM45 in a better box. Don't get me wrong I still like alot of the other amps out there, I just don't think I will ever play another amp but this one...IT's JUST THAT GOOD...E-mail me with any ???...

Old school English type head. Standard tone settings, NO MASTER VOLUME, and the English type bright & normal input pre's, with a hi & low on each. Mine came with the KT66HP groove tubes and some NOS telfunken 12AX7's. This is the standard single channel JTM45 type amp.
For what I was looking for it is just about perfect.

I have done reviews in the past on Rivera, Koch, tubeworks, and Demeter on H.C., and I liked everything about those amps, and tried to be very honest. In my quest for the tones that are in my head I have tried just about every amp on the market, and some were great and some were not. I had the holy grail of amps in the 70's, it was a non master volume plexi 50 watt head made by Marshall and was covered in red. I played every type of music with this head and so did many of my friends that used it after me. The tones were pure, open & very 3D. the crunch was as big as a house, and the leads were creamy. Well this is the exact sound I get with the new Mojave plexi 45. I tryed the other Marshall type Plexi wantabe's out there, and most sounded paper thin or more like a JCM800, not a bad sound, but no PLEXI...The Mojave has a sound that makes you want to play until your fingers are bleeding. I tried 4 or 5 different settings by jumping the pre's, and it just has that RIGHT ROCK TONE that we all have heard on so many recordings. AND like a great old plexi, it just loves every pedal you toss at it..I use the Barber direct drive and I can go from the best 3D Hendrix clean to a thick as hell screaming lead tone on a touch of a button. The crunch tone's on the amp can get a little loud, but never harsh, and they are perfect AC/DC. IF and thats a big "IF" you are looking for a great amp to work with you & your pedals, well this might be the best out there, but if you want a channel switching hi gain chunka chunka amp, look elsewhere...I am running it into a 2-12 open back Carvin tweed cab with 2 vintage 30 celestions and it is just killer, I can hardly wait to try a 4-12 with greenbacks...

This thing is built just unreal. It takes your breath away when you look inside. I will tour soon with just this head.

I talked to Victor alittle about the sidewinder vs. the Plexi 45, and got great advice on both. He is very wonderful on helping you any way he can. I wish more companys were like this...Mojave rules..

I sold my beloved Demeter TGA-3 for this amp and I have to say, I was not sorry at all. I would buy another in a heartbeat. This amp is alot different from what I have been playing as it is not a super hi gain type amp, but what is does in its own way of gain is just awesome. It takes every bit of my personality and amplifies it, and that is what a great amp should do, right?....

Your standard Vintage Plexi 45 appointments: six knobs, 4 inputs. I will not bore you with stuff you already know. This is the only similarity with plexis. What sets this amp neck and shoulders over other "similar ones" are: TONE, quality of construction, attention to detail, quality of components, and the sheer timeless beauty of its cabinet and chassis. All of this adds up to a very quiet amp with killer looks. If you love the tone of a Vintage amp and don't want to deal with constant maintenance issues, this is your amp, look no further. Point-to-point wiring, smooth pots, the components and wiring are executed and laid out with surgical precision. I always open and look inside every amp I own, and looking inside of this one was a feast for the eyes. This amp embodies everything you want from a reliability, quality, and vintage standpoint. Even the cabinet is well designed, great looks with proper ventilation will sure extend the durability of the tubes. Speaking of that, I ordered mine with the JJ 6L6-CG tubes. I highly recommend these tubes. I have had the opportunity to A/B these tubes with the holy grail N.O.S. GEC-KT66 tubes, and the newer KT-66HP in this amp. The GEC-KT-66 sound great, have a bit more clean headroom, and the breakup is more sudden. The 6L6CG's are a bit more aggressive, and the breakup is more gradual, but these tubes have great harmonics, touch sensitivity and tone. The KT66-HP had the tone of an older tube, but significantly less volume and sound complexity. Also, the GEC-KT66 tubes are in very short supply, and securing a reliable pair is an issue, plus the higher price, in all honesty, do not agonize over this. Go with the JJ 6L6-GC. It is a great sounding tube, it is reliable, inexpensive and abundant.

I play a Gibson LP 57 RI with burstbuckers 1 & 3, a Suhr Classic T, Suhr Classic Strat, and Suhr 2002 Ltd Edition through this amp. I play classic rock and blues. As mentioned, this amp is very quiet, and you can dial in just about any sound with it. 6 knobs and your guitar volume yield awesome variety of sounds from chimey clean to AC/DC without a single pedal, straight in. Plug you Les Paul, set the volume at 6, and you have Malcolm Young. It may not do metal too well, but you do not buy this amp for that. This is for the mature player who wants a versatile, great sounding amp. Plug in a decent overdrive pedal and this baby will SING with that glorious sustaining FAT tone you have heard in your favorite recordings. Yes the sound is FAT, even with single coils. Very complex tone, responsive to your touch and your guitar volume. It also worthwhile mentioning that is very pedal friendly. Plug your favorite delay, or Tube Screamer, etc. and let it rip. I am very pleased with this amp.

Only time will tell, but let me put it this way: If the original vintage amps lasted so long (40~50 years), what are the prospects when you take space-age materials and careful assembly with a time-tested vintage design and put it all together? This baby will probably last a few generations.

The guys at Mojave are top-notch. They know their stuff and have taken the time to answer my numerous e-mails and phone calls (I have bought other stuff from them too). Victor, Craig and Greg have been very helpful. I would highly recommend their service and products. These guys have repaired and maintained tons of Vintage amps so you are in good, knowledgeadble hands.

I have been playing on and off for about 20+ years. I own several high quality amps: Vox AC-30HWH, Two Rock Custom, and Vox AC15-TBX. I have owned more production and boutique amps than I can remember, and this amp is up there with the absolute best. If you want killer vintage tone, sound complexity, and reliability, this is your amp. Considering the versatility and sound quality of this amp, it is a must-have. I'm glad I bought a Marshall Re-Issue JTM-45 and modded it to "vintage specs", (NOS tubes, transformers) before I bought this one, because I was able to appreciate how much better this one sounds. Yes, the difference is very noticeable, you can hear it. I would buy this amp again in a heartbeat if it were lost or stolen.

No channel switching, cabinet modeling, or digital signal processing here, and I don't miss any of it. Just your standard vintage Marshall-style control layout -- presence, bass, middle, treble, treble channel volume, bass channel volume, and four inputs (high and low sensitivity for each channel). Jump the two channels with a short cord and use the volume knobs to mix to taste. I'm cheap, so I didn't pop for the NOS KT-66 tubes, I got two Ruby 6L6s instead. It puts out in the neighborhood of 36-38 watts with these tubes installed.

Even though it doesn't have channel switching or signal processing, the range of tones that are possible is huge. Just by riding the volume knob on my guitar, I can go from shimmery clean to a throaty growl, and everything in between. Plus, this is the only amp I've ever been able to dime without the sound getting muddy -- the entire range of the volume controls is useful.

I've tried this head with all kinds of guitars (humbuckers, P-90s, single coils), as well as with different cabinets (including a 1960TV, a mid-70s 1960A, and a 1960B loaded with G12H30s) and I have yet to get a bad sound out of it. The clean tones with a Strat are astounding, especially with the neck pickup (very Hendrixy...). A Les Paul with humbuckers really makes it grind.

This amp has less gain than my '72 50-watt Marshall, but the distorted rhythm tones of the Plexi 45 are WAY more complex than any Marshall I've ever owned. You can hear the individual notes of the chords even with the volume maxed. It seems to inhabit a place between Marshall and Hiwatt, if that makes any sense to you. Imagine Malcolm Young's sound, and you'll be close to what kind of clean-yet-grind sounds you can get out of the Plexi 45.

Pushing it with a pedal (I use a Time Machine Boost) turns the Plexi 45 into quite a screamer. I've also thrown different fuzz/distorto boxes at it, all with good results.

And if it sounds this good with Ruby 6L6s, imagine what a set of Genelex KT-66s would sound like...

I've had this amp for a few months now (it is Serial NO. 0012, built in Jan. 2003), and it has worked flawlessly. It is well built, so I'm fully expecting it to keep on ticking for a good long time.

Victor at Mojave was helpful, he even demoed the amp over the phone before I bought it. Haven't needed service, but I'd bet the service would be good if I did. Mojave had a problem with their tube supplier at the time I was ordering this amp, which delayed delivery, but everything worked out well in the end. It was worth the wait...

I play a lot of blues and blues-based rock (Clapton, Hendrix, blah blah blah), and this amp allows me to nail all of those tones pretty convincingly. I even used this amp when I auditioned for a reggae band recently, and with the volumes on my Les Paul turned down about half-way I was able to get that chinka-chinka rhythm thing going, no problem mon! It was by far the most money I ever paid for an amp (did I mention that I'm cheap?), but I'd do it again in an instant. It's that good.

Brand new, made in May, 2001. Serial number 2. The Plexi 45 is based on the Marshall JTM-45 circuit. It produces 38 watts from two NOS KT-66 tubes, is tube rectified (Mullard) and has three 12AX7 preamp tubes. Four inputs, no channel switching, no effects loop, no reverb, no master volume - nothing to compromise/degrade the signal path. It is hand built using only the finest electronic components.

I know it's a cliche', but the chassis layout is a work of art. Also, I've never owned or used any amp where the knobs turned as smoothly as these do. No grit, static or noise at all.

I rate it a "10" due to the quality of the components used and the fact that the versitility of this amp is exemplified by its ability to deliver everything I, as a player, demand.

I play in a driving blues/rock/R&B/jazz band. As the sole guitarist, I'm forced to cover a lot of ground stylistically. I use a wide variety of guitars equipped with humbuckers, P-90's and single coils. The Plexi 45 has no preference for any guitar or pickup type, it delivers the tone & nuances of each equally well. It is a very "alive" sounding amp and very responsive to playing technique(s).

It is also very pedal friendly. I use a few stomp boxes ahead of it: a volume pedal, wah, two overdrives (Hotcake & original Marshall Gov'nor) and a Univibe. Each pedal sounds as it should. The overdives sound very organic and natural and I'm able to use them seperately or together to achieve a wide variety of tonalities.

As the Plexi 45 has no master volume, I also use a THD Hotplate with it. This allows me to obtain true power amp distortion at reasonable volume levels. Often, I find myself simply plugging stright in, adjusting the Hotplate and ripping it up without pedals - simply enjoying the richness of the pure amp tone.

There is no idle noise whatsoever at the volumes I play at. The plexi 45 is dead quiet - a testiment to the quality of components used, simplicity of the signal path and the skill and care used during the manufacturing process.

As for the tone - I can sum it up in one word: "majestic". Low notes growl with clear authority, mids are full and rich, highs ring pure and sweet (never harsh, even with OD pedals). Muscular articulation. Singing distortion.

In addition, the Plexi 45 delivers very impressive low end and excellent balanced tone through a variety of speaker cabs that I've tried: a Vox 2x12 closed back with alnico blues, a Mojave 2x12 open back with one blue & one greenback and a vintage '66 Marshall 4x12.

Particularly impressive is the Mojave 2x12 open back with the mixed speakers. Fantastic tone for it's size.

I would say that this is the most reliable amp I have ever owned. Moreover, it is the only amp I have owned that I would even consider using without a backup - but I won't because tubes do fail.

Victor Mason of Mojave Ampworks stands 100% behind any product he sells. Period.

FWIW: I have purchased several items from him through Plexi Palace ('73 Marshall 50 watt head, '61 JMI Vox AC-30 combo, Tubeplex tape echo, THD Hotplate, George L's cable, tubes and speaker cables). When my AC-30 died recently, Victor had me send the chassis to him and he repaired it (no charge) and returned it to me within a week. I just paid for shipping and a new tube. He is a prince among men.

When I wanted to purchase a Mojave product - he spent an entire Saturday afternoon with me and a friend of mine AT HIS HOUSE allowing me to try each Mojave amp to make sure I was getting what I wanted. Now, that's customer service!

If there was a rating higher than "10" for customer support, Victor Mason would surely receive it from me.

I'll sum this up with a short story:

Last summer I attended VOXFEST 2001 in Riverside, CA. Victor Mason was there representing Plexi Palace and demonstrating several amps (vintage Marshalls & Voxes) using a large multi-amp/effect switching rig. Prior to the "show", he had me listen to the rig while he played to make sure the sound was balanced and not too loud.

As he played, he switched from amp to amp, one impressive tone after another and landed on one spectacular tone that made me weak in the knees. After he had finished playing, I asked him where that tone came from. With a sly smile, he pointed to what was a prototype Plexi 45 head and said "There - that's one of mine."

I now have that tone - and it KILLS.

Ok, so the honeymoon preiod is over and I feel I should resubmit a "re-review" if you want to call it that. The amp may not have three channels, two switchable effects loops, tone bypass switches, master volume, or mid boosts but that is exactly what I love about this amplifier. It does everything that I need it to and more.

The tone of this amp is really unlike anything I've ever heard. The sound is distilled tone. It has the most pure and ambient sound of any amp I've ever had the pleasure of playing through. Yes, I've played extensively through 50 watt plexis, 100 watt plexis, 4x10 Bluesbreakers, and the 2x12 Bluesbreaker. The Plexi 45 takes the tone of these machines and goes a step further. Gone are the hums, clicks, and maintenance issue. This is a new amp that is caught in some kind of time warp. It's as if those amps were built using today's advanced technology and Victor's extensive knowledge of vintage amplifiers. He just knows what makes these amps special and it shows. You can hear it. The clean sounds on this amp are very surprising. It's like a huge jazz archtop kind of tone. Big and fat and round. Just plain corpulent. They are not harsh or overly bright, but you can certainly dial in any flavor you like with the extnesive EQ controls. I have settled on bridging the channels to mix the stregnths of each of the channels. I really love playing the amp with my Lentz Telecaster; it just sings. The amp loves pedals as well...TS-9's, Fuzzes, Delays, etc... It loves them all.

Ditto.

Ditto.

I cannot stress enough how incredible this amp is. If you are a fan of old Marshall tones and what them in a reliable, roadworthy package you owe it to yourself to check out the Plexi 45. Because, life is too short to have bad tone.

This amp was made to order in June of 2002. It is modeled after the holy grail of all amplifiers, the elusive and ever-so-expensive Marshall JTM45. It has the standard Marshall style 4 inputs with two channels, one labelled "Treble" and the other "Bass". The controls are Vol 1, Vol 2, Presence, Treble, Mids, Bass. This is not an amp heavy on switches, boosters, loops, master volumes, reverb, blah, blah. It is a full-on, stripped down tone machine. I'd say it puts out a realistic 40 watts. It seems to be the perfect volume to me.

I play a Scott Lentz 60's Tele style, Mark Lavelle Esquire, or 1968 SG Standard through the 45. It loves each guitar and the Tele bridge pickup gets a very nice bite through this amp without ever sounding thin or harsh. It suits my style which is somewhere between 60's and 70's classic rock I guess. I am amazed at how quiet this amp is. Even on 10 there is barely a whisper audible through the speakers. I am playing the amp through a Dr. Z 2x12 cabinet loaded with Celestion G12H30 and Vintage 30 speakers. This amp does not do the Recto-type tones, but is more suited to lower gain rock. It sounds much like the Beano era Clapton stuff to me. I really couldn't be happier.

One look inside this thing and you know that you're set. It is built like a tank.

Customer support at Mojave is awesome. Roger, who I spoke to on the phone concerning the amp, was very haelpful and proffesional to the utmost degree. Indeed very high marks here. Mojave truly takes care of their customers.

I'm loving this amp. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for the sounds that old Marshalls offer but doesn't want to pay to have the darn thing fixed every few weeks. It's really a no brainer, it's the only way to go. Now I only need a 1959 Les Paul to go with this sweet amp.