I Got My Madison Finally!

I had a few posts up here a while back...not about to dicide on what amp I wanted to get....I tried a bunch of diffrent amps, JSX, HD-147, XXX, 5150, 6105, Mesa Tripple and Mesa Double, just to name a few....Then TOTALLY on luck I decided to go with this amp that I had never played or heard of before....OMFG! This amp is Killer,.,...The tones are nice thick, Heavy and at the same time....very Clear as far as the notes go....I have yet to find a tone that I cannot get with this and the BBE Sonic Maximizer that i have running in the Effects Loop.....Just a word to all of those who have heard of the amp and never got any word on how it perfoms....Dude....Its one of the best amps I have ever heard....They did Take out the contour controls because they said that it was causing some issues with the tone at huge volumes. Below is a pic of me with my new baby!!!! I LOVE MY MADISON DIVINITY! The cab is a MAG-412 with symphony speakers. :eek: :eek:

never heard of madison... but damn.. either you must be crouched down or something, or that is a huge amp!!!

congrats on your new amp!

Madison from what i know of is a fairly new company but they are sweeping the deathmetal underground clean. People have been tradining in thier ENGL powerballs for this damn thing....I now know why....When I first got it i though....crap this thing sucks....then i let my Cab Break in and get rid of the "new speaker crips sound" after playing loud for 4 or 5 hours...then It just hit me like a frieght train....god....this thing is killer. Here are the specs on the head:

3 Channel 100 Watt All Tube head
4 Electro Harmonix EL34 Power Tubes
2 Electro Harmonix 12AX7 Preamp Tubes
2 Electro Harmonix 12AT7 Preamp Tubes
Triple speaker outputs (4, 8 or 16 ohm selectable)
High and low gain inputs
Spring reverb
Effects loop in and out with slectable lvl boost
The Madison logo on the front lights up blood red when you crank this puppy :)

[U]Elegance Channel:[/U]
High, Mid, Low Lvl and boost (the boost is like a TS-7 in the front of the clean channel)
[U]Edge 1:[/U]
High, Mid, Low, Contour, Edge and Lvl
[U]Edge 2:[/U]
High, Mid, Low, Contour, Edge and Lvl
[U]Master:[/U]
Volume, Reverb

The Clean channel is named Elegance...and it is very elegant...every clean and snappy. Edge 1 sounds like a dual recto and edge 2 sounds like a tripple rectro. The boost on the clean allows you to get great blues and southern rock tones, while the edge1 is good for HEAVY Riffs and Rythem, And the edge 2 is a VERY hot lead channel that i also use for some rythem work Every aspect of this amp is VERY articulate. No matter how much gain you dial in you can hear every note clear as a bell.

Im running this with a BBE Sonic Maxmizer inthe EFX Loop and a Ibanez S1520BP with a EMG-81 and EMG-85 wired at 18-volts. And yes I was crouched down infront of my amp but it is still a beast....a standard size Cab but the head is HUGE!!!!

The whole Amp: Cab,Head and Foot switch was around 1700 but worth EVERY penny.

hmm.. sounds yummy. My favorite amp(s) thus far have been a B-52 AT100, and a Mesa Triple recto. I'll have to see if I can find one of these babys to take it for a spin.

and where did you find it at? (it is available in the US, isn't it?)

Originally Posted by: ViolentpandaThe whole Amp: Cab,Head and Foot switch was around 1700 but worth EVERY penny.

american dollars? if so, then that sounds like a pretty good deal to me!!! (cheaper than a mesa triple recto or high end marshall anyway!)

Look on www.Madisonamps.com, and also on www.Rocksolidamps.com, thats where I saw the info....And heard the clips when I first found out about it....take a look man...tell me what ya think.

I'm listening to some clips now..

*drool* I want............

I've heard a lot of great things about that amp. Never had the chance to play one, but I look forward to the day I do after reading your review.

Thanks for the review!

Nice amp!

Why a BBE sonic maximizer in the loop though?

Any amp with a sonic maximizer just is awsome....I mean it cleans up your tones so much. Better bottom end and better highs....and to can be used to boost your power amp too.

how do you mean "cleans up"? does it get rid of that muddy sound of distorted chords...?
If you can tell me of summin that does, I'd love you forever...I doubt that can be done tho

You just discribed the BBE Sonic man.....ill record some slips later with and without it

really? I need one!

what did it set you back if you dont mind me asking?

Originally Posted by: Andrew Sareally? I need one!

what did it set you back if you dont mind me asking?

just look it up!

and does it work for both studio and live purposes?

I have been checking them out right now, what do you have?
a 362? 482i? or 882i?


Obviously the 882i would be best, but what is the difference between the three (sorry didnt check them out that thoroughly)

Originally Posted by: 6strngs_2hmbkrsjust look it up!

thats what I did, but on zzounds

Yea, Iv also heard Madison amps really rock.

This is my full serup right now with the madison amp.
Ibanez S1520BP with 2 EMG-81's @ 18volts Wth a Tremol-no
Shure UHF Wireless
Madison Divinity Head
Madison Symphony Cab

[U]{In the Rack}[/U]
BBE 362 Sonic maxmizer
BBE Maxcom Comprssor
Rocktron Xpression Multi-effects Processer

[U]{On the Floor}[/U]
ISP Decimator Noise Gate Pedal
Morley Bad horise 2 Wah
Behringer FCB1010 MIDI Footcontroller

I only use Monstercable and Mogami Cables.

Originally Posted by: Andrew Sa362? 482i? or 882i?
but what is the difference between the three

The 362 is stereo, but both channels are processed identically.
The 482 is stereo, and each channel has its own controls. Inputs and ouputs are unbalanced (instrument cables).
The 882 is the same as the 482, but has balanced inputs and outputs (ex: mic cables).

For guitar, either the 362 or 482 wil do the trick.

However, sonic maximizers or aural exciters don't perform any miracles. They pretty much are glorified EQ's that let you boost bottom and top end that'll create the illusion of a "clearer/heavier" sound. A nice use for it is for when you're recording an acoustic guitar with old string that sound a bit dull.

The reason I asked why you use it on a high end amplifier like this is because I would assume it doesn't need it. I used the 482 for a while thinking it improved my sound. Dear god I hate using that thing on my guitar now.

I just find that no matter what amp I play on it just enchances the sounds....Really so on the pinch harmonics....i play mainly death metal and shred metal so...it really helps for those styles. I love the bbe.....so far i cannot stand to play without it.