Amt Electronics M1 Marshall JCM800

I know these Legendary Series pedal are supposed to be preamps used in an effects loop. This review is based off of running in front of an amp like most pedals are intended.

This pedal is attempting to sound like a JCM 800 tone but it comes up way too short. At best it is a lousy Boss pedal tonal look a like. This unit sounds so bad through any amp. AMT has many good sounding pedals and this is not one of them.

- The AMT Legend Amp Series guitar pedals provide excellent dynamics, nuances, and characteristics similar to that of tube driven amplifiers.
- Tube-like range of volume control provides great sound density, playability, and power when playing at full volume and also in conjunction with your guitars volume knob.
- TRUE BYPASS. The preamps of the Legend Amp Series pedals use passive true bypass circuitry, therefore no loss of guitar signal is noticed in your pedal chain. Similar to if no pedal was there at all when bypassed.
- Features high level of output signal (+10dB in extreme position of Level knob) corresponds to the output levels similar of tube preamps. Thus, you have adjustable signal level allowing to hook up your preamp AND direct input of a power amplifier.
- Controls include LEVEL, GAIN, LOW, MID, and HIGH.
- TWO signal outputs: DIRECT AMPLIFIER OUT for guitar amplifier use and CAB SIMULATION OUT for mixer, or studio use.
- Power saving mode. When the speaker simulation output jack is not in use, the pedal automatically switches to power saving mode. Current consumption (from 9V power unit) is less than 6mÀ (in power saving mode it drops to 4mÀ).

UTILIZATION

This pedal is easy to use with only five control knobs. The tone from this pedal is just terrible! I wouldn't play this pedal if you paid me.

There is nothing to this pedal as it has the basic EQ controls with high mids and lows. The levels and gain are the other standard controls as you see on most distortion boxes.

There is no need of a manual as no preparation will get you able to make this box sound good.

SOUND QUALITY

This pedal is better suited to stay with AMT then for it to make an appearance on anyone's pedal board. I hate the way this thing sounds. It tries to be a Marshall JCM 800. It doesn't really matter which guitar or amp you play with it, it is going to sound bad. If you get this pedal free somewhere and you have to try it then I would use a humbucker style guitar because with single coils it sounds its worst. It is very thin and the tone is brittle. Unlike most AMT pedals this one sounds exactly like a pedal and nothing like an amp.

OVERALL OPINION

This pedal is garbage and you would be better off never owning it. It doesn't sound anything like a Marshall JCM 800. I'm sure there will be people who say it is amazing and great but take it from me a guy who has owned several JCM 800 from various years....it sounds nothing like one.

I would not recommend this pedal to anyone. Save up a few more bucks and buy a used real JCM 800. The price is around $130 new which is in the high end for AMT

Well, do short: AMT M1 is a preamp pedal MXR format, using JFET technology.

Read PREAMP well, eh? So it is made to plug into a PowerAMP, not in front of an amp / preamp else!
That said, it is possible to still use the front panel, using the output cabinet simulator, and the results are drinking on a clear sound.
Connectivity simple and complete: input, direct output (for connecting to a return of PowerAMP or effects loop), cabinet simulator (for plugging in directly into a console, or in front of an amp for the more adventurous).
Detail: the M1 requires a 9V DC power (12V, it is even better), at an intensity of 6 mA (not greedy), negative center ... or a traditional 9V ^ ^.
Cosmetic level / strength, the pedal is well built, the switch is very strong and soft, the paint is good quality.
The interior is in the same vein: the circuit board is very clean, the interior as well as exterior machined.

Little bonus at the end: the pedal is Made in Russia, made in the city of Omsk, West Siberia ^ ^. It is even signed by its designers, gentlemen Kampf Marichev and Chernyaev. Long live the eternal Russia!
На Здоровие!

UTILIZATION

The general configuration could not be more simple: three knobs for EQ (bass, mid, treble), 1 volume knob, 1 gain knob.
I never looked at the manual, we do not really need.
It is very, very easy to find beautiful sounds: just dose level gain, restore volume, then even according to his tastes. The knobs are very effective.

SOUND QUALITY

The guys at AMT us understand that the AMT M1 is a simulation Marshall JCM800.
Never having tried a JCM800, I could not tell you if this is true, but what is certain is that this pedal sounds really good.
Contrary to what some have said before, the AMT M1 gives warm tones, full and dense. It responds well to volume knob on the guitar, and shines with its beautiful dynamic. The resulting sounds are really realistic sounds like a real amp, this is clearly not a gadget digital sounds "squeaking" (Notice to manufacturers cheap multi-effects).
In addition, the pedal has a good versatility, allowing the clean sweep a bit dirty, good bass distortion almost hard rock metal (depending on your mics, obviously).
The best big crunch sounds were very powerful, or the powerful distortions Rage Against The Machine. Obviously, cleans and high gain distortions were less convincing.
Note that the AMT M1 gives the best of itself in DC 12V power: the sounds are more vivid, fuller, with a little more dynamic. But it already sounds very well 9V.
So I do not absolutely negative reviews may have had this wonderful pedal. Either people do not connect, or they do not know a preamp plugs before PowerAMP (and not another preamp!), Or they do not know a pedal set with 5 knobs, or they have a defective model ...

3 chainings I used most often:
- Guitar = AMT M1 preamp direct out = PowerAMP Brunetti Rockit = Orange PPC112 V30, the sound was excellent, one of the best Marshall sounds I could have at home!
- Guitar = AMT M1 preamp direct out = PowerAMP EHX 22 Caliber = Orange PPC112 V30, the sound was very good, a little less realistic than the Brunetti Rockit, but it gave already want to play all day ^ ^ .
- = Guitar preamp AMT M1 cab sim = Peavey Nano Valve, the sound was better than the distortion of Peavey Nano Valve, but it was a lot lower treble to the sound is correct. Somewhat expected given the speaker's tiny Peavey Nano Valve. I also tested in front of a Marshall MG15CDR and height of height: AMT M1 gives a better sound than the typical Marshall MG15CDR poor boy!

I used it with several different guitars: Vigier Excalibur Indus, Fender / Warmoth Telecaster NAS-Kotzen, Teisco Spectrocaster, Ibanez 540PII. It sounded great every time!

OVERALL OPINION

Since November 2011, I used it for 28 months.
I've used other preamps before M1: AMT P1 (good for metal / high gain modern), ENGL E530 (excellent, but it is a machine with a higher range) Damage Control Demonizer (a little disappointing this pedal).
What I love most: the sound quality, the realistic sounds, lovely crunch, manufacturing quality, small size, price, Made in Russia Omsk West Siberia.
What I like least: nothing.
The value is very good: 90 € new, used 50-60 €. Win this brand really be known.
Is what I would do this choice? Obviously yes!

NB: for practical reasons, I sold the AMT M1 (which I will miss), so I can buy AMT D2. Yes, I am in AMT!
However, I consider buying a M2 AMT.

Effect pedal or preamp voicing JCM800
Equa 3 bands, volume, gain

Mode preamp is on paper, nice.

UTILIZATION

Easy to use but average equation and gain ubiquitous

SOUND QUALITY

mode effects pedal (frontage or effects loop) is UGLY. Honeycomb, cold, too much gain, impossible to have a crunch

I tested it with a Laney VC15 and a Yamaha THR10.

Mode preamp (VC15) is a bit better (less bad) but it is little exploitable apartment because it directly addresses the power (not dosed for a cool sound at low volume because the equation of the amp does not work anymore (logical!))

on THR10 mode effects pedal is just horrible. However, this little wonder accepts pedals very well ...

OVERALL OPINION

Never really been able to use since it is poor.
I appreciate the principle mode "preamp" ...
I tested a lot of distortion pedal and I almost always been disappointed (apart from the Satchurator VOX, not bad)

To summarize:

- Mode preamp with tube amps: quite ugly, too much volume, gain and too cold

- Mode effects pedal in tube amp / transistor: throw it out the window.


Bought blindly on the net because occaz good advice in general, I would not.