Headfirst Amps: Cali 50W Plexi. Modern 'Jose' Mods.

headfirstampli...
"The Headfirst Cali is a modern take on the classic Jose Arredondo modded Marshall’s from the 80’s. It’s a footswitchable dual master volume amp, with each master (Master, Solo) giving the option to independently set the diode clipping (Gain Structure) level."
Indeed it is. This is a follow-up video to my previous one which featured a lengthy chat and demo from Headfirst Amplification's, Jason Tong. In this video I take you through some of the switching and tone options of the Jose Cali.
There's a DIY build tutorial from Jason at • Headfirst Cali/Jose Ma...
A video of Jason and myself with the Cali: • Headfirst Amps: Jose C...
Today's tools:
Guitar: 2014 Charvel Super Stock SD1 Sunset Orange Flake. Modded (Floyd removed, replaced with Schaller 'Vintage' Trem and Cilia-built nut).
Amp: Headfirst Amps Jose Cali S/n1. Fractal Audo X-Load Reactive Load and Axe-FX III running Ownhammer Friedman IR's, delay and reverb.
Cables: Various
Mic: Samson Airline77 (me)
Camera: iPhone 11 Pro and Canon D60
Soundcard: PreSonus Quantum & Fractal Audio Systems Axe-FX III (guitar, mixing and bouncing).
Monitors: Blue Sky Media Desk 2.1
Computer: 2017 Apple iMac Pro, 2.5 GHz 14-Core Intel Xeon W, 64 GB 2666 MHz DDR4, Radeon Pro Vega 64X 16 GB
Software: Logic Pro X, Apple Final Cut Pro X, Compressor.

[@jasonktong1]

Great review as always Brett, thank you for the shout out mate. I can't wait to pair my amps up with the Axe-FX III when it arrives!

[@remy333]

Wonderful hot tones. Retains more of the original Marshall vibes than a Friedman. I love both, but really love that the Headfirst just sounds like a fully optimized Plexi that can lean a bit into the 45 and 800 territories a bit without sounding like a non-Plexi. So cool. I wish I could afford one.

[@jcugnoni]

Great! Thanks for letting us discover this amp builder. I am very interested in their pcbs and kits ! Very cool!

[@rangerdoc1029]

I've got a couple of his PCBs. He's been immensely helpful with my build.

[@Burkhimself]

One of the best amps of this type I’ve seen & heard.....

[@JedNadin]

Oh man. And just down the road. I’d love an all Aussie rig.

[@toneydavis9802]

This amp is brilliant!. Amazing tone.

[@paulnagle6867]

Wow Brett, that sounds brutal! I can only imagine what it would be like to hear it feeding a big cab stack in a stadium live concert!

[@atomicslam1589]

WOW....they knocked it out of the park. That thing sounds spectacular. Not sure what they're putting in the water over in Australia, but you're making some freakish-ly good instruments. I just bought a new snare from a custom drum maker over there. Was very expensive, but it absolutely crushes anything being made in the states right now (drums being my first instrument). This was fun to watch, Brett.....cheers!

[@hopespotbrand.1725]

What was the drum maker if you may tell me?

[@batpigguitar]

Tone at 5:10 on, best I've heard on your channel. Awesome.

[@jasonktong1]

My favourite setting too, right there.

[@rangerdoc1029]

@@jasonktong1 To bad you didn't bring your MC25 to show off. You might have left with more guitars ; )

[@rangerdoc1029]

That really is the shit right there. Crunchy as kitty litter and it's got bawls.

[@jasonktong1]

@@rangerdoc1029 ha ha, indeed! Maybe next time.

[@eldarakhmetov4029]

Thanks Brett, the first Australian amplifier, really the first !!!

[@rangerdoc1029]

I think Michael Ibrahim would take offense at that (a.k.a MI Audio)

[@markkinney5030]

To me this is a Marshall needs to be! This sounds that good! His ALTA 100 sounds good too! Friedman amps sound really good too! Too me the HeadFirst has that great edge too it that really comes out very clear too me. the cali 50 just has that sound too it. I just wish i could play one! Jason is a super amp builder for sure and Dave Friedman as well!

[@mariorabottini5687]

Damn....that amp sounds awesome Brett!

[@Ron_Padgett]

Damn that sounds good!

[@vondragonnoggin]

Haha. I forgot you were in Australia. Headfirst has great amps and mods!

[@pigpog2307]

That sounds amazing !!

[@OzziePete1]

Brett, do you have any hearing left? My goodness that amp sounds MASSIVE.

[@justinroyce5943]

A tip : watch movies at Flixzone. I've been using them for watching lots of of movies recently.

[@edisonmorgan9199]

@Justin Royce Yup, have been using flixzone} for since november myself =)

[@eduardwilliams1245]

Ooooh , very nice.

[@bradleyshuppert3393]

Running some Friedman cabs...... hmmm hahaha

[@josephrusso7069]

Sounds amazing. Does it feel tight enough?

[@joeywilder9708]

Brett could you PLEASE recommend a good set of studio monitors to use with a tube amp using cab irs? I wanna get something that will sound great when recording this way

[@philiprobinson593]

Brett . Nice vid as always. how do these amps sound with the fractal audio load box. Are they different from a modelled amp. Better or the same. Also do the fractal effects sound good in this configuration.

[@mariannwatt2678]

I have a 1968 50 plxi that ive had for 45 years i just use several overdrives to push it but its ungodly loud ha ha this amp is tempting sounds super i need something to take out with me because the old marshall dont go out of the house any more ha ha how mutch is this amp

[@bradleyshuppert3393]

How does this truly compare to a Friedman BE50?? And what is the price point??

[@MyICONIC]

BE-50 Deluxe is PTP.

[@thomasfokas]

Cool amp, but I’m still looking into a Ceriatone. I just have option paralysis as to which model I want.

[@yeti1002]

Just get a ceriatone chupa or yeti 100 or a 50 . Every thing you need ....

[@thomasfokas]

Looks a bit like my Fortin Cali plugin.

[@Amp_Expert]

What did you do, convert a Ceriatone to this amp?? Photo at 3:24 in showing the transformer set with the huge Power Transformer and labels on top appears to be Ceriatone!!?!??

[@korob20080]

Brett, any chance you or Jason tone match this beast and share?

[@hq72hotmale]

Can you do the blind basxxxd mod larger lettering on the controls layout 😭

[@LawHunterSound]

Jose's Mod featured a diode clipping stage. Is it there or is it (as i hope) a total 100% Valve Amp?

[@jasonktong1]

It’s an all valve amp. 100‰ tube powered.

[@Gek_Sogen]

Ceriatone Yetti clon?

[@EdBenji]

& the price tag will give you a stroke!$$$$

[@peezzi]

Looks just like a Friedman amp, same font logo and why not name it a Cali too🤣...The use of own imagination should not be a bad thing??!!

[@0megalul309]

It's not like Friedman amps are original designs by themselves

[@peezzi]

@@0megalul309 Whos amps are nowadays original??!! Early Marshalls were modded Bassmans… My point was that Friedman has a guitar model called Cali. And his amp models have quite original names too…