Headfirst Amps: Jose Cali 50W Plexi - Jason Tong interview

headfirstampli...
The moment I saw Jason Tong's teaser video of his Jose Cali amp I went into lust overdrive. I touched base with Jason and he was kind enough to bring the amp over for a look and a chat. He left without the amp and I'm one Charvel Super Stock less. This amp is KILLER! No, it doesn't do cleans. Just means. Three types of means and they're all great. The build quality is just as solid as the sounds. Jason is a fantastic bloke full of cool stories and the work he does is stellar. If you're an amp-building type you might want to check out his site just for his pre-fab PCB's.
I will make a clinical demo of the Jose Cali in the coming weeks to show its sound and mod switching options, but in the meantime, please enjoy this lengthy (but engaging, I hope) video that also features my long-time friend, Dave Leslie, at the end. Dave was unceremoniously ambushed when he dropped in to say hi. (Sorry mate!)
This video was made as a favour to Jason to help spread his very good word around the planet. The amp does belong to me now as a result of a trade. (Yahoo!)
Today's tools:
Guitar: 2009 Music Man Ernie Ball Axis (my intro); Charvel Super Stock Sunset Orange San Dimas (Jason and Dave) That guitar now belongs to Jason.
Amp: 2020 Headfirst Amplification Jose Cali SN#1. For my intro I used the Fractal X-Load to feed an Axe-FX III running OwnHammer Friedman IR's and some delay/verb. The longer part of the video was made using the Boss Waza Tube Expander and their own V30 IR.
Cables: Boss
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.

[@toneydavis9802]

Admittedly I don't understand the engineering part but I fully understand the tone part and he nailed it with this amp! Well done! Bring both of these gentlemen back for some more duscussion and playing. Seems like you three get along great.

[@BrettKingman]

Thanks, Toney. Yes, we're all new friends. Good fun. I'll try to do as you suggest.

[@vamito3070]

So glad to see this. A bit late but, Kudos Jason! Glad it's taking shape for you!!

[@MrTDembinski]

Wow. That’s a power gun. Really enjoyed the walkthrough and, as always, the tones. ✊🏼

[@BrettKingman]

Thanks Tom!

[@MarkPritchardGuitar]

This amp looks and sounds awesome!!! Cheers Brett.

[@BrettKingman]

Cheers, Mark!

José has an accent over the e, José. Here in Hollywood California, Australia and in China. For your information. Love the channel!

[@nickm.9474]

That sounds incredible!!

[@Docksidestudio1]

When you said a special guest at the end, I thought it might be Dave Friedman on a video call saying “what’s all this then?!”

[@BrettKingman]

Haha. I wish! I don't think Dave's much interested in my antics. Love his, though!

[@univalve1]

i have a superlead plexi and that thing you built is a Hulk Plexi.

[@BrettKingman]

😂

[@jasonnoonzio3473]

Whole amp. Add to cart 🛒

[@chopperdeath]

Beautiful.

Wow! Great explanation on the internals of this amp. Jason you did great! Better than Dave Friedman. He would have skipped over and glossed this or that! Thank you!!

[@jasonktong1]

Thank you!

[@philipdonovan6510]

I find that a controllable NFB is a very useful adjustment to have, a very good "electronic texture" adjuster. It can be really good for pedals that benefit from a very clean amp presentation as not to cause a harshness to an already gainy pedal. I use it all the time on my 20 watt Marshall plexi. Yeah, I would want that right on the front panel ! especially when I build my Cali.

[@guitarghost1]

Great sounding amp !! Lucky fir you to get one !! Can't wait to see what you will come up with next !! He should make some AXE FX presets or IR's !!

[@BrettKingman]

I might try to do that - create some Tone Match profiles. Shouldn't be too hard. Either that or we could have the schematic sent to Cliff for serious modelling. Leave it with me.

[@guitarghost1]

@@BrettKingman thank you sooo much !! I already sent an inquiry about this amp and pricing . This sounds amazing !! Thank you again for all the videos you do !! One of the best channels out there !!

[@jasonktong1]

Thanks for the feature Brett, very much appreciated mate.

[@BrettKingman]

@@jasonktong1 No worries. Thank YOU! Hope you're ready to strap a few Cali's together... 😄

[@jasonktong1]

@@BrettKingman Ha, 100% mate. Serial #2 coming right up!

[@davidberner1625]

Sounds amazing

[@glenn3914]

i thought his other amp was killer,....omg this one is just as great,... wish he was in l.a. so i could go to him to get my amps

[@giancarlopaolini7529]

It seems great stuff indeed ... worth of full attention and consideration ...a new threat to Friedman's amps ? :-)

[@BrettKingman]

I don't think Jason does this to compete. He just wanted to tweak his own amps and was fortunate enough to have the skills to do so. Now he shares his talents with us so we're fortunate too.

[@rangerdoc1029]

This was the god-tone

[@warrendoudle7927]

Very nice Amp

[@mikeroadblock]

Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaamn.

[@Find-A-Band]

Holy shit that is a fine sounding amp. I now have a Masters in Electrical Engineering after watching this video which I wasn't expecting nor particularly wanting but that's fine.

[@Deetschify]

man i want this amp so badly…… 😱

[@myuncle2]

great amp, but apart from the same old EVH sound, it would be nice to hear it with a Gibson SG, no delay or effects.

[@BrettKingman]

Yeah, fair call. I can do this and will try to around late Feb/March. On tour at the moment so not happening for a few weeks. Cheers.

[@myuncle2]

@@BrettKingman great !

[@sugameltpastriescoffee7186]

He's built a hi-gain lover's paradise

[@kevrochlin4544]

What a great sounding amp... pcb board looks terrifying ;-(

[@donewithmodernlife]

Wow!!! 😵

[@hawg427]

Awesome sound.Brett, does Jason build complete amp heads?

[@BrettKingman]

He does indeed. You'll have to get in the queue quick, though!

[@murrayguitarpickups9545]

Hey Brett, I once owned a 50w el34/Marshall style amp that Mick Brierley sold me. It was built in Adelaide by ADI sound....have you ever heard of this company? My research has come up with nothing. It was basically a plexi head with only one input and a master volume, badge on the front simply said VT50. I believe Mick found it in a pawn shop, any clue?

[@BrettKingman]

I've never encountered ADI Sound, AB. You should give Mick a bell and ask him. He may well remember its roots.

[@murrayguitarpickups9545]

Mick was the first person i asked, it was a fantastic amp but you know what they say, its better to have loved and lost etc. I only hope its in the hands of someone who appreciates it.

[@dBoogieNights]

what is doing response control? what kind of schematic? what is the difference from Depth?

[@conjering]

It's Cali not Kelly. Cali= California.

[@jaykafcas4342]

After watching you Aussie dudes for a while.. You’re Gunslinger roster..freakin’ everybody’s double barreled.. Y’all are desperate for the Jedi who brings the art of fighting without fighting..Silverchair were on to it….. We need characters.. Y’all don’t have a Kurdt’ down there?

[@EdBenji]

Diode clipping...YUCK!😩