Molecular - Diode Clipping & The "Jose Mod"

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[@89ji76]

I don’t need...I don’t need it...I really don’t need it.... I NEEEEEEEED IT

[@StuartBridson]

I absolutely love clipping diodes in amps - that's why I bought a JCM900 years ago (sadly had to get rid of it) because it had so much gain on top without having to crank the volume. Lovely saturation at reasonable volumes. So much snobbery about these things because they aren't "all tube".

[@StuartBridson]

AND I LOVE YOU FOR BUSTING OUT COLD SWEAT TOO.

[@artsal]

Omg sounds great it nails the Jose mod so tight

[@courtney2018]

I love that amp. I'd be willing to bet the newcomers won't know who Jose was and what roll he played in developing the sound we listened to in the 80's and really progressing the art of amp design to today.

[@LeonTodd]

He's the Nikola Tesla of guitar tone

[@marlinshanklin-ww7em]

If you were a hard rock metal guitarists in the 80's you knew the name Jose and the location of his shop.

[@SatanClaus69]

Gotta love the Ceriatone. Nik makes the amps about a half hour drive from my place. He has an awesome facility and he's an awesome guy. Highly recommended. Epic in every way.

[@johnnyb3987]

I love it when a dummy complains about clipping diodes...then puts a pedal with clipping diodes in front of his amp.

[@bengirard1984]

Same! 🤣

[@danny8134]

Finally... the amp shown with guitar volume dynamics. Thanks Leon!

[@MaxCarton]

Sounds amazing man! I don't mind the ability to add the diodes but it's always cool like on this amp to be able to remove them out of the circuit for headroomy Marshall rhythm tones... This amp is a really cool initiative from you and ceriatone essentially giving us the epitome of 80s modded Marshall tones that Marshall refuse to give us...

[@LeonTodd]

It pulls some wicked djenty tones when you crank the depth and girth too, versatile beast.

[@gingersteve]

Just for anyone curious to what is going on at about 3:45 onwards with the clean sounds. The diodes (or, MPSA06) in simple terms clip the signal because they have a threshold voltage - any signal which passes that threshold will be clamped or "clipped" to that voltage. In an overdriven JCM800 preamp, the gain stage (tube) before the clipper will be very likely outputting a signal with a voltage swing above that threshold and will be noticeably clipped - hence the volume drop (from being clamped/clipped) but the increase in "distortion" due to the waves becoming more square. Now, if we go to a clean sound, the gain stage before the clipper is outputting a signal with a lower voltage swing - meaning that more of the wave is within the clipping boundary, so less is clipped off. This results in less volume drop, and only a slight hint of distortion that you hear when Leon plays with the guitar volume all the way up. When the Leon lowers the volume from the guitar, the signal at the gain stage is reduced further and eventually until the entire signal (or the vast majority of it) is within the threshold voltage. A stupid analogy might be putting your thumb or finger over a running tap. The water from the tap is the signal, and the amount of the tap opening covered by your thumb is the clipper! Run the tap fast, put your thumb over it, and shit goes everywhere.

[@LeonTodd]

Perfect analogy!

[@MarkPritchardGuitar]

Thats a cool amp you got there Leon! I'm seeing more and more of Ceriatone amps lately.

[@LeonTodd]

Nik at Ceriatone does amazing work at a great price.

[@matthias7455]

Great tone, Leon! My favorite tones I've heard from you are with that amp. The diodes sort of give a cranked amp saturation at low volumes to my ear. Great tones, love the channel!

[@guitarexpert2245]

Marshall Silver Jubilee is one example of using diodes correctly. JCM 900 DR is an example of using it Incorrectly! Do love that Ceriatone. Would never had heard of Ceriatone without watching your videos! Fun stuff.

[@adriancummings3625]

Thanks Leon a great insight into how amps get the hi gain tone and how they all have there own character

[@binface9]

I've been looking for a description of this for some time and by crikey you've delivered. Thanks Lt!

[@LeonTodd]

Bloody oath, cheers cobber!

[@stevenmgyori3826]

Well done Brother! Great to revisit this Choice Amp! Thanks for sharing Leon! Be Well All!

[@daveesco1]

Modeling is fun. But there is nothing like a valve head. I have a 50 watt 2205, greenback 4x12 cab moving air, old Italian crybaby half cocked, and a gibson V. Armed and Ready lol! Your amp sounds awesome. I'm getting gas lol!

[@LeonTodd]

I'm just glad we have both options and that they sound better than ever. Armed and ready, locked and loaded!

[@fullmetalsal]

Imagine in the year 2100 we are going to see a clip from a future generation Leon Todd making a video about an infamous product from back in the day called the Fractal Axe FX3.

[@LeonTodd]

"Can you believe these things couldn't simply translate what you hear in your head?! You had to dial them in?!"

[@fullmetalsal]

@@LeonTodd I'm sure Elon can figure that out for us, as a matter of factm look up Neuralink and Elon Musk. Hes working on brain implants for patients who have brain damage and our brains would even have a recovery point you can revert back, kinda like the brain getting its own firmware that you can upgrade or downgrade do. Joe Roegan's podcast is where all this is at about Elon and Neuralink

[@fullmetalsal]

@@LeonTodd kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJS8m4uYiK91hJo

[@seventhsealhere]

Dude I genuinely enjoyed this episode. That Ceriatone sounds more full and nasty than a traditional Marshall JCM800. I like it! 👍

[@LeonTodd]

The era switch takes it to a whole other level.

[@jamesfrisa2043]

@@LeonTodd i prefer this to the friedman based amps ,the character of this comes across better in every way,at least through you tube.

[@jasonsheppard7428]

Love your picking! I have a half chupa half yeti. Watching this video makes me want to mod it to be closer to the molecular!

[@akrmfk]

Im ashamed to say that i discovered ceriatone amps was from my country through foreign reviews

[@SatanClaus69]

Aiseyman. Camne ni haha. Memang padu ah amp diorg.

[@akuajelaa]

Yg lebih menyedihkan co aku ade hantar brg g10 utk papan litar ingt dorg repair2 jerr..

[@canaan_perry]

I love clipping diodes especially LEDs.

[@astro2069]

You’re on a roll buddy, keep it coming! 😎🤘

[@RockWeller]

Great explanation! Love the tone!

[@peterschmidt9942]

Hey Leon, You sure the amps engaging an MPSA06 - that's a small signal transistor? Maybe they're only using the diode part of it. ...Never mind, I looked up the schematics for that mod and there's: - two IN4947 diodes back to back for one style of clipping - two MPSA06's back to back (base/emitter) as well using only their diode parts. All that's just before the master volume control between that and ground. They do similar sorts of things in a lot of overdrive pedals (using smaller voltage diodes) like tube screamers, rats, DOD250 etc.Although I've seen some clean boost pedals use transistors & mosfets in that way.

[@flobeeonekinobee2353]

Sounds effing glorious

[@johanhansson4574]

I would have compensated for the volume drop if I were to build that.. The volume drop doesn't add something to the sound it's just irritating to have to adjust the volume when flicking the switch. It can easily be done by adjusting the post eq voltage divider by using a dual switch.

[@scottdunn2178]

You're basically building a distortion pedal into the front of your amp. Guys spent thousands back in the day having their Marshall "hot rodded" with an extra tube gain stage... only to find out in the long run... they get better results with a $50 stomp box 🤣

[@kalejoe6599]

Infamous? I don't think the Jose mod is well known for some bad quality or deed, as a real Jose modded Marshall is quite Legendary and worth 30$ and up because of the Tone.

[@dw22509]

That amp is awesome dude!

[@michaelbrodsky]

Schenker never used that much drive on Rockbottom. He played a V straight through a Super Lead. So yeah…

[@erictripton]

LOL, diode S.S. rectifier in a Plexi style JMP, crank her all the way up and call it a day. Preamp gain, well if you guys like it. My Soldanos EVH are all gathering dust.

[@truescotsman4103]

I have this mod on my head. I think it's noisy and over done. I think the problem is there isn't any real control like a tube screamer would give you. Also the filtering is non-existent you can't just start clipping your signal without regard for what frequencies you're affecting. I prefer setting a Marshall/Clone to edge of breakup and fairly bright and stack clean boost and a couple of overdrives to full saturation.

[@SashaCrutaire]

I just picked up a Jet City JCA100HDM (Largely from your vids) and was thinking of doing this type of mod to it, now convinced to do so. :D

[@peterschaefer1665]

Wow sounds great! You should review the Ceriatone Plexi51. It apparently does some cool plexi things with era/circuit switches.

[@LeonTodd]

From what I understand it's basically every popular plexi mod in one box, with every one of them switchable. So keen to try one.

[@ae6927]

Have you considered doing a video on compressors? They are a widely misunderstood effect and I don't think I've seen a video of yours on this. BTW, can't wait to watch this one when I get home too.

[@LeonTodd]

Yes but it's on the "do it when someone asks for it" list. Now that you've asked - anything in particular you'd like to know?

[@ae6927]

@@LeonTodd I don't know where to start, I'm so confused by them outside of the typical country style clean tones. I know Misha Mansoor used to use a Keeley 4 knob compressor in front of his ENGL amp way back in the day, but I'm not sure how he had it set up. m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/q3ebmXV-pNBlrqs Starting at 2:45 in the above link

[@markford4587]

I’d love to see that too. Especially how compression is used in different genres

[@dan_perry]

I'm fairly sure the MPSA06 is a transistor...but transistors can be wired up to behave like a diode. Fun fact.

[@wakjob961]

Yup...my early run BE100 had that same diode/transistor arrangement (SAT switch). Never used it.

[@marlinshanklin-ww7em]

Schenker really didn't play with a lot of gain.

[@TheMrgoldie1968]

Cold Sweat!! Nice 🤘🤘

[@ukguitarnoodle]

my old Jubilee uses Diodes. love it.

[@egolee7305]

In all my 3 amps that I created I used Z- Diodes for clipping. Love that kind of sound so much! 🖤

[@LeonTodd]

"bUt It Is noT t00Bz!!!"

[@TudorAdrian]

Darn it...now I'm GAS-ing for a Molecular..

[@clintn6677]

I got an email saying my molecular will be ready in two weeks. I have a Ceriatone 2204 that has been modded so Im looking forward to shooting them out.

[@LeonTodd]

Very curious to hear your thoughts when it is done.

[@pedrolourenco2707]

I tryed a pair of green leds with my jcm 800 style Matamp gt 40, pluged in the return and worked very weel! almost sounds like the power amp section coocking.

[@Yupppi]

Pretty good mod that era switch. Doesn't sound like you lose in sound but it does sound more "turbo charged", more with less volume. I'm kinda curious what the Mark Cameron mod would be when it's said that some of his mods were mistaken as Jose mods because he got some half done amps and finished them at some point.

[@rickfeith6372]

The left position diode name almost looks like the registration number of a commercial aircraft registered in North America. November Four Seven Four Niner Alpha, you are clear to Papa Alpha Sierra, maintain flight level 340. Clear to Papa Alpha Sierra, maintain level 340, November Four Seven Four Niner Alpha

[@hexaet]

sweet PRS even without the oh so necessary whammy bar :) - and on another subject can you do something about sustain? esp. pedals (apart from the obvious big muffs)

[@kylegrossi8175]

you should do a top 5 best UFO Mike Schneker era riffs video.

[@timothymartin2137]

I think I prefer the Headfirst take on the Jose mods stuff

[@LeonTodd]

I love Jason's amps!

[@paulprice6330]

Love it Leonn, could you bring out the AX8 again love your series

[@LeonTodd]

I need to borrow it back from my Dad! he's loving it.

[@paulprice6330]

@@LeonTodd tell dad I said Hi!

[@daiganzen7794]

So most of the sounds everybody likes are diode clipping rather than tube clipping. lol this make me laugh

[@LeonTodd]

The more y'know, right?

[@daiganzen7794]

Leon Todd This make me appreciate distortion pedals a bit more

[@zamourdeki]

I'm afraid you missed the whole point of the video.Diode clipping in this amp is not about adding preamp distortion,it's about dropping volume to get the saturated sound of a cranked amp in conjunction with the bright caps to shape sound.

[@97warlock]

so they took a boss OD1 & toojk the curcuit out & installed in IN the jcm800 ha basically.

[@markstoneguitar]

Hey Leon, I love the amp and the videos... Cold you please do a short vid on how does this amp take pedals? not that it needs any but for a person like myself this is an important info trying to decide wether or not to order an amp we never played in person... Simple will do: maybe a Boss SD-1 as in the front and a delay and / or a reverb in the loop. You know, pedals that most of us would have and know very well,... it would be really useful info... Thanks for all the aweseom content! Cheers!

[@LeonTodd]

Soon!

[@markstoneguitar]

@@LeonTodd Awesome! Thank you. In the mean time,... could you give me your opinion weather or not it’s a good amp to be pushed by overdrives? I’m close to pulling the trigger on ordering one. It has all I need in an amp, but since my band is playing mostly covers, I need it to be able to gain stack as needed without re-dialing the amp between songs. Not to get too geeky: I usually run decent crunch on the amp, clean up with guitar volume and/or boost the front of the amp with a SD-1 or archer for high gain,... and a boost in the loop just for some solos volume or clean headroom as needed. Also. Should I mention you or your videos in any way to Nick while ordering? Just in case you get a Kickback for it. I don’t want you to miss out. Cheers Man!

[@97warlock]

ok so the volume drops then it sounds better .............. BUT would it still be able to be used ina live band scenario??

[@OfRiffAndMan]

Thanks for the vid! Isn't it's the same as using overdrive pedal in front of the amp, those clipping diodes? When you play with era switch on, tubes are still engaged? Sorry, i'm not good at this technical stuff.

[@aaaargl]

love me some schenker tunes. düdüdüdüdü

[@LeonTodd]

Mad Mickey!

[@aaaargl]

@@LeonTodd he sure was. who else takes a moped with 25kph max from germany to spain? haha

[@Nightingale1887]

5:37 almost sound like a fuzz pedal. Listen to the decay lol.

[@EdBenji]

Mud box!

[@drloqutis2492]

Great vid, I thing it pronounced see-air-a-tone maybe.

[@jamesfrisa2043]

Wow great job you did on this amp! Really interested in getting this.Woulld you say this could do a marshall late 70's Jmp master vol. 2203/4.The Jmp 's have a warmer richer tone to me.Really into early sag of the EVH brown sound .Also could you please do a video on just the lower input tones?I find that some pedals sound better in my jcm 800 2204 's lower input.Thanks much for the video's.

[@jamesfrisa2043]

Also a "without "any diode video please.

[@IamTheDustDevil]

Hey Leon, Have you tried pushing the signal with an overdrive/tube screamer pedal & play with the diode switch by chance...better or worse results...??? Cheers...!

[@nicholastotoro7721]

Didn’t Dave Friedman say (in reference to the Jose-mod diode) that it wasn’t a diode in the sense of a Marshall Jubilee or an OD pedal? I can’t remember exactly how he described it.

[@abheceshabemuskk3531]

.

[@LeonTodd]

AFAIK they're in a different part of the circuit - Dave describes the Jose mod almost like a limiter.

[@peterschmidt9942]

@@LeonTodd Yep, that's exactly what they're doing. Basically pulling the headroom down and helping the signal to distort earlier.

[@PariahVSGear]

Don't mind me, here doing research...

[@rangerdoc1029]

Blasphemy! Until you play a Friedman or Wizard.

[@johnhenderson3136]

Heph333 Because Friedman and Wizard amps defined the sound of generations and wrote history

[@reinaldokingg]

Eu tbm tenho o habito feio de roer a unhas!!

[@mmarrinan]

Hey man! Do you get a different level/feel of enjoyment playing through an actual amp, rather than through a modeller like the Axe FX (or in my case the Atomic Amplifire 12)?

[@LeonTodd]

Apart from the smell, not really

[@vamito3070]

Your opinion sir please. I have owned a Yeti 50 and loved it. Question is: molecular or a splawn competition 50 el34? Thanks for anything you might offer.

[@LeonTodd]

I love the Molec - if you liked the yeti the vibe is very similar!

[@wea69420]

That sounds like pure filth, it's amazing

[@LeonTodd]

Juicy goodness

[@Ninuzzo]

Are you micing or is your ceriatone plugged into an reactive load + ir?

[@chrishastings]

Is it based of the JCM800? I thought it was based around a plexi?

[@liammagowan5185]

Jose mod was on plexis as they were cheap and available at the time. But the master vol mod by Jose effectively made them into master volume 2203/2204 amp circuits

[@dougleydorite]

5:35 was medageth? I was just listening to that song

[@christopheranderson2158]

“Cold Sweat” by Thin Lizzie.......covered by Megadeth on Super Collider

[@AngusClarkGTR]

great sounding amp! Do you know which diode is used in the 2205/2210 and the Silver Jubilee?

[@LeonTodd]

From what I can gather the 2210 uses the 1N4007 diode to add extra clipping in the preamp, while the Jubilee uses a combination of 1N4007's and LED's in an asymmetrical fashion. In both cases they're used to generate preamp distortion so they're slightly different to the Jose master volume mod.

[@AngusClarkGTR]

@@LeonTodd copy that. I was not a fan of the "clipping" switch on the Jubilee. But the 2205/10 sound great.

[@stevemagana8803]

Rock Bottom

[@Jml1866]

You are plugged into the Lo input according to the video. Is that true? What happens when you plug into the Hi input?

[@Jml1866]

Sorry, my bad, upon closer look, you are plugged into the Hi Input.

[@FabrizioPeretti]

I first red "why clapping diddes"

[@LeonTodd]

Hahahaha

[@89ji76]

Same

[@hoobastanker9]

This is what my Krank1980 sounds like, super rare amp these days, don’t think I’ll ever sell it!

[@LeonTodd]

krank! Now there's a company everyone forgets about.

[@rccampbell460]

That's a cool switch its like one side is Ratt and the other side is Caught in a Mosh by Anthrax

[@LeonTodd]

I like that description!

[@edmondong5208]

is that on low input?

[@DanielGonzalez-mb9hg]

I love how ugly that thing sounds! It sounds like you're destroying the amp every time you really dig in

[@davidmiranda7937]

Jcm 900 4100 brah

[@LeonTodd]

I have an old JCM900 MK III - never had much of a chance to gig a Dual Reverb.

[@davidmiranda7937]

@@LeonTodd it's a reliable amp

[@krudler406]

ive had a 4100 for years it'll chew your face right off don't understand why people get their panties in such a wad over the diode (and then go buy pedals to stick in front of their tubes lol)

[@giorgioghilardi9726]

Very disturbing distortion

[@abheceshabemuskk3531]

Cherrytone?

[@christophermcdonald6471]

It's more like chur-ee-ah tone according to Nik the owner.

[@theariesexperiment4642]

This "Jose mod"?? Does it mean Ed had that mod with the Variac???