History of the Fortin Evil Pumpkin High Gain Amplifier

All you ever wanted to know (or not!) of the history of the Evil Pumpkin amplifier.
The first videos I ever made of the Evil Pumpkin:
• Fortin Hulk Modded Mar...
• Fortin Hulk Modded Mar...
• Fortin Modded Marshall...
First video after the final rebuild in 2012:
• Fortin Evil Pumpkin - ...
First Killer Kali++ Video made:
• Fortin Killer Kali ++ ...
A couple More KK++ Vids:
• Gibson Flametop Les Pa...
• Gibson Flametop Les Pa...

[@seanfrankhouser2163]

Kicking A since 1973, indeed! Great story. Thanks for the history!

[@scarem84604]

I remember the day you posted on "that" forum about your custom made Evil Pumpkin. Loved it from the beginning! So much so that I sent a Marshall JCM800 and he built me a custom Fortin with the first dedicated clean channel. Loved that amp and still have my clips on my channel. Happy for you, Jason!

[@killertone]

Thanks, man! I remember your clips from back then as well!

[@jmar482]

This is my bucket list amp. Since the first time I saw and heard it being played at NAMM I’ve lusted over this amp.

[@joeylizotte7537]

You mentioned SOD, Anthrax, and Fear Factory... For me, it was Rich Ward's tone on Stuck Mojo's "Rising" (and partly Fear Factory's "Obsolete", as well as Dime's tone on F.B.D.). I didn't know until years later that my favorite tones were all modded Marshalls (and a solid state "knockoff" of a modded Marshall). I really wish Fortin still did mods, because I'd love to at least have the "Girth and Grind" mod on my EVH Stealth heads!

[@krn1p4n1c]

I saw you play the original Pumpkin with Sad Wings a couple times. Great sounding amp. Glad the new one is even better.

[@CodyBarnette-GNARK]

Had to watch this for a second time because there’s so much history behind it. Happy to see you healthy and happy about the amp brother!

[@hyperbolekid]

The current Evil Pumpkin sounds fantastic!! 🤘🤘🤘 Great history recap brother👍

[@noizfx]

I was there at NAMM 2020 and interviewed you guys ;) One of the sickest amps on earth!

[@LambChopper678]

Very cool man, great story to hear. Love to nerd out with this 🤘🏻

[@dwhyte6697]

Awesome sounding amp!!

[@Bash_Man]

Jason.. the amp is well deserved. Looks and sounds amazing.. and your skills on the guitar is just amazing. keep the great content coming.

[@MalcaratMartinez]

Very happy for you Mr. Killertone !! Looks awesome !!

[@vanespedals1023]

Love this history! :) Sick amps!

[@lucwilson1]

Pretty cool to hear the back story. Thanks for sharing!

[@killertone]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@CIRCLEOFTONE]

Very cool man. Iconic amp.

[@austinnph]

Very bad ass. Happy for you man.

[@johnlux6905]

Great to hang with you at NAMM in the past. You were alway generous with your time. Congrats on the new amazing production EP. You absolutely deserve to have your own head. That machine of a right hand, your big ears (for tone; no one has ever seen the actual ones, LOL), amazing sense of time, and killer riff-sensibility has earned it. 100%

[@blackwaterpark011]

Awesome as always man. Congrats on a well deserved win with that amp!!

[@killertone]

Thanks a lot!!

[@jww732]

I absolutely love the discourse and information! Keep it going brother.

[@JockeLundgrenTV]

So much fun hearing all the stories. Badlands ruled. You’re a great speaker. Awesome job Jason. Thanks!! 🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@randynelson9961]

Great insight on evolution of that amp! I’ve wanted one of these amps since the 7 String Brutality Video you put out years ago! Hopefully I can get one someday. 🤘

[@killertone]

Man so glad someone saw that video haha!

[@PaulDeMaio]

Big congrats brother. Much deserved... 🤘

[@killertone]

Thanks my brother!

[@NinecoreNeil]

Those old videos were so awesome…. I’m not sure my channel would exist if it wasn’t for those early videos of yours I can remember you Mike and Lasse in those old forums back in the day ha

[@vogtgrant1]

It truly is a great time to be a guitar player! Congrats on the Awesome amp, well derserved Jason!

[@killertone]

Thanks so much!

[@samizdat113]

Zoomers have no idea what it was like trying to get good tone in a budget for us Gen X kids.

[@BrianClem]

Yeah man! Right on. Things like crate, gorilla, line 6, it has been rough. Unless you had mad $$$ for a marshall or mesa. Oh yeah... The old 80s peavey (that wasn't cool like the 6505)

[@joselozano7585]

Do a shootout...OG vs the new fortin pumpkin

[@killertone]

Maybe at some point I will!

[@draper858]

Those original evil pumpkin Marshall vids with the splawn 212 cab were the reason I started following you, and fortin

[@BenBreard]

Cool amps! I've never played a Fortin. One day!!

[@cmd_f5]

Awesome story, great amp! Hoping to play/own a Fortin Natas or Cali one of these days. \M/

[@corrupted650]

Awesome, tone monster\,,/

[@RezaMatix]

I need one!

[@Earth-Worm-Tim]

Wait, are you saying the origin of the name Cali for the Fortin Cali comes from a mod you had done that you called the Kali based on one of the most badass movie Kalifornia? If I'm understanding that correctly then HOLY #$%* that's awesome. Tell Mike we need a Natural Born Killer next!

[@killertone]

Mike was already doing a mod for Marshalls called the Cali mod back then but this was an expanded version of it and was a little more aggressive so I named it the Killer Kali.

[@martingriffin6294]

Fuck yeah!! Monster amp.

[@DerekBratescu]

Serious question. Are these going to be in production indefinitely? I get that they will have batch periods where they release a certain amount at a time and that’s perfectly understandable, and I also understand it depends on how well they sell etc. With Fortin gear it’s almost unattainable after they sell out because everyone wants to get a Fortin amp then turn around and try to sell them for 7-10k plus. I would like to get an Evil Pumpkin one day just would hate to see them sell then everyone sells them for super high collectors prices.

[@YsAbTones]

Curious to ear this amp thru the randall 412

[@killertone]

I don't think I've even done that yet haha. Sounds so good through the front loaded cab. I'll definitely do it though that's for sure.

[@VadikRamm]

Would you ever give permission to Digital Amp Modeling companies such as Neural DSP create a plugin for this beast?

[@huntergalloway3944]

Have you ever checked out a Peavey VTM60/120?

[@killertone]

Of course! Cool amps from back in the day.

[@phatho6901]

Why not mention the artist you do front of house for ?

[@trevorphilips9484]

Bob Dylan, so I've read.