From L-R: inputs (normal and bright), volume (preamp), bass, middle, treble, monster (master vol - geddit?!), lamps: loud (peak warning), standby, power.
Often, you can't buy something that you want for love nor money.
I needed a jolly loud amplifier, and there was nothing available that was any good at any price.
So I designed one and had it built!
Before you start thinking that I'm an electronics boffin, I didn't build this amplifier - my part in the design was to dream up the specifications, both visual and aural. So I came up with the following specifications:
A tall order you may think, especially with regard to the last requirement. But we have the technology™, and you'd be surprised about that last requirement...very reasonable...
Someone locally had already developed a good sounding reliable poweramp which could deliver 500 watts without using IC chips. I would have loved my new amp to be of an all-valve type, but that would contravene my specifications for supreme reliability and reasonable cost. It would also have been bloomin' heavy - my existing valve amps weighed a ton!
My desire for that valve sound was met by allowing a valve into the pre-amp circuit with the tone controls. This is where most of the sound shaping occurs, and so was a favourable compromise - a hybrid amplifier, valves and transistors living happily side by side...
The pre-amp/tone circuits were 'based' on those in my favourite amp, a Jansen Bassman 75 which has a particularly deep sound. I'm still not entirely happy with the tone of the Monster though - close, but no cigar. Yet. The Jansen still sounds bestest :-)
The front of the Monster I eventually chose to base on a HiWatt amp (à la The Who and others). This I did for many reasons, but in the end it just looked right, and I could easily have the word Monster in lights!
And now, the moment you've all been waiting for:
Every Rock'n'Roll star needs an outfit made from velvet Tiger-print material, surely...;-)
My Sister made the suitably outrageous very-flared-trousers, and Katie and I made the top. (See the b/w photo on the 'Monster sells out' page)
However, phase two is upon us - Katie recently made me a shirt of mirrors, and where there's a shirt, trousers must surely follow :-)
It needs a bit of development, because the mirror material is quite scratchy and uncomfortable, but fear not... lining of some sort is being investigated.
A more recent addition is a pair of.... wait for it.... Platform Boots!
Heh heh heh - that's Rock'n'Roll :-)
The Music division of the Fantastically Huge Monster Group™ conglomerate is currently looking into the feasibility of an effects unit, based on the style of the Monster Custom 75-500 which would adhere to the following specifications: