Voodoo Amps Plexi 112 Mod

Recent mod on a earlier (mid 70's?) combo Trace had in stock at the time. 18 Watts. El84 tubes. Four inputs, Bass & Treble Volume, Bass, Mid, Treble, Presence, Master. Has a "mode" switch with a Superlead and a Plexi position. Also has a "feel" switch with three options. None of the abouve really do much of anything to my (or anyone else I've asked) ears.

After about two months, I still haven't been able to use anything but Les Pauls with this amp. One with '57 Classics and one with Burstbuckers. At first, I was pretty disappointed with it. The combo it was housed in was beat to hell, the handle was just "hanging on", and it just looked bad. I was also living in a damn apartment and I couldn't make much noise. At "bedroom levels" the combo was grainy-sounding and, as alot of people told me, "muffled". I wrote Trace an email and he replied promptly, "Try it with a cabinet & if you wanted a pretty amp you shouldn't have told me you didn't care what it looked like." Well, I waited until I moved out into a house and he was right (on both counts).

Plugged into a Marshall 4x12 with the stock 75-watt speakers, this bad boy is a COMPLETELY different animal. I told Trace I wanted Jimmy Page's live tone and this thing is nuts-on.

I jump the channels. If I want a cleaner sound, I have to set the amps volume controls way down and back off my guitar's volume. And then it is just "clean-er". But what do you want that for anyway? I can't notice the tone or presence controls doing anything (maybe you can kind of tell when you turn the mid all the way down, but not much). I also can't notice what the "feel" or "mode" switches do either. It doesn't matter. Turn them all up and turn the master up as loud as you can get away with. Once you get this moving some air there is no better tone in the world if you ask me. No compression, no buzzy gain, just pure, classic overdriven tube tone. Listen to "How the West was Won" and you are hearing what my little ugly beast can do. If you want more gain, this thing loves overdrive pedals. It takes to distortion and fuzz boxes well also but they tend to mask the true character of the amp. A Ibanez greenie (TS9/808) should be enough--if it isn't, this isn't the amp for you.

I would love to try my Strats or my Tele through it but how on earth can I plug anything except sunburst Les Pauls into it? Just doen't seem right.

Nice work, Trace.

The combo that houses this little monster has got to be the ugliest damn thing I own. But after seeing Trace's work on the inside of the amp I am pretty confident it is not going to break down on me. If I wanted a prettier amp, I'm sure Trace would have made sure I was happy--at a higher price. For what I paid, I am confident I got more than my money's worth. In three months, I have had no problems.

I asked Trace if he could build me an 15-25 Watt Marshall Plexi. He told me no problem would I rather have a head or a combo. I asked if it was possible to have a combo that could be used as a head. He said "no problem, I have a 1x12 right here that will work nicely." Cool beans. I was told about two weeks or so shop-time. Now, when you are told that you are going to get Jimmy Page's "The Song Remains the Same" tone in an 18 watt inexpensive package you count the days. While I was counting, Trace was going through some terrible personal issues in his shop. The amp was late; Trace threw in some tubes to make it good, everything is cool. The man listens to what you want and truly cares for his clients. He is not in this to sell amps--he seems to be into forming relationships. My amp wasn't on time and it isn't pretty but it rocks like all hell and didn't cost me alot of jack. Keep it up, Trace.

I have played guitar for about 15 years, off and on. I plan on eventually asking Trace for more of his magic but I think I might have to wait and get on his good side. I have a Vibro-King and this beast right now and I think that's all I'll need for awhile. Trace is a great guy who will listen to your needs and serve up exactly what you ask for. If he's late, he will make it right. We would all rather get something a little behind schedule than a poorly made product, I think everyone will agree on that.

Go to Trace when you know EXACTLY what tone is in your head. He will deliver.