Introducing the LegendaryTones HOT MOD V2 EVO, a plug-in dual tube module specifically engineered to dramatically increase gain in Marshall and other amps. The HOT MOD V2 EVO requires NO chassis cutting, drilled holes, or wiring modifications to your amp – it simply and easily installs in place of the appropriate cathode follower (often V2) position. The circuit within harnesses the power of an additional gain stage now running an additional tube.
Want your classic Marshall to sing with increased sustain and pure vacuum tube tone? Your tube high-gain solution is here. No solid state tricks or clipping diodes. 100% pure tube gain. The HOT MOD V2 EVO circuit was carefully designed to give you gradual increases of gain when using the amp’s preamp control. From adding a touch of sweet sustain, to full on metal, your Marshall will now have greater flexibility and deliver a wider range of tones.
With the HOT MOD V2 EVO (HMV2E), because the increased gain is created inside the amp rather than through an external pedal booster running in front of the input, the noise level of the HMV2E is dramatically reduced even at higher gain settings compared to when using an overdrive or EQ pedal used as a clean boost. Additionally, because of the HMV2E design focus was articulation with sustain, your signal can still clean up well by rolling back your guitar’s volume control. And if for some reason you still wanted more gain from an external pedal to shape or increase the signal gain further, you can still do it. You likely won’t need to, but go ahead and hit the front end of your amp with a hotter signal and the HMV2E will take it just fine!
Now, there’s no need to cut up or permanently alter your amps. The HMV2E is a simple plug-in device that injects more gain and FUN into your Marshall! Isn’t that what it’s all about?
BASS BOOST/CUT WITH 2-STAGE GAIN SWITCH
The original Hot Mod V2 introduced in late 2019 was a hit and we greatly appreciate the great customer response! And now we’ve refined it further and renamed it the HOT MOD V2 EVO as it is the evolution of the original Hot Mod V2.
The onboard Bass boost/cut switch is a customer request for those players who wanted to have a tighter low end. In the down position, the note articulation stays tight. When in the up position, a nice range of low-end resonance.
The 2-stage Gain switch gives high-gain boosts in both positions. In the down position it has more note clarity and attack, in the up position, even more sustain and compression. The down position is based on the tuning of the original Hot Mod V2.
We are excited to offer these updates in the HOT MOD V2 EVO.
Paypal link below accepts all major credit cards. For all other order inquiries or questions, please email [email protected].
HOW TO ORDER $249.00
Direct orders below or visit our authorized dealers page.
For direct orders, the current expected ship time is 4-6 weeks from the time orders are placed. Demand has been great and as soon as the lead times come down, we’ll adjust this notice accordingly – thank you!
There are two different models currently available:
The Hot Mod V2 Evo Standard Wired: For original JMP and JCM 800 series 2203/2204/1959/1987. The standard wired model also works for the early reissue 1959/1987 models without the factory-installed effects loop. Choose the standard wire option if you use the new Marshall studio series SC20H/SV20H heads as well!
The Hot Mod V2 Evo Reverse Wired: For JCM 800 2203x reissue and JCM 800 2203zw, as well as 1959SLP/1987X plexi reissue models w/factory effects loops (from years 2002 onward) use reversed triode wiring. JCM 2000 DSL/TSL 50 and 100 amps use reverse wiring.
Please visit this page before ordering for compatibility so you know which Hot Mod V2 Evo to order. Other amps that have been tested and validated outside of Marshall including Mesa Boogie, Soldano, and Friedman and are listed there. Some amps require socket extenders (e.g. Mesa Badlander, Marshall JCM 2000 DSL/TSL) so we now supply one with every order. Order options below for either USA or International include flat rate shipping. Thank you!!
USA AND INTERNATIONAL ORDERS: US $249 +$8.60 or INTL $249 +$28.40 S/H (note as of 9/12/21: High demand has caused an approximate 3-week lead time)
USA ORDERS HERE
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ORDERS FOR INTERNATIONAL SHIPMENTS OUTSIDE OF THE USA
$249+ $28.40 shipping. Use the button below to select your Hot Mod V2 Evo for locations worldwide outside of the US. Note: Shipping is USPS 1st class international and provides only limited tracking and can take anywhere from 4-12 weeks (and sometimes longer! Please be patient if you want the cheapest ship rate for International as it is SLOW and not trackable. If you want faster shipping, Priority USPS (average 2 weeks) is available but is $60. Contact [email protected] if this is the service you want and I can invoice your total. THANK YOU!
Order questions or support e-mail to: [email protected]
Customer Testimonials and Videos: Check out what our wonderful Hot Mod V2 customers have said here.
SOUND SAMPLES
Scott Gailor (scottgailor.com) demos the HOT MOD V2 EVO through a Marshall 2204 and runs through all the settings first using Celestion G12T75 and then Vintage 30 speakers. Use headphones or high-quality speaker to hear the nuances.
Recording Artist Jeremy Von Epp from The Watchers talks about the Hot Mod V2 before showcasing it with a familiar classic Ozzy riff.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do you make a Hot Mod for the Studio series of Marshall heads like the mini JCM 800 model SC20H?
A: Yes, the new HOT MOD V2 EVO is now fully compatible with the SC/SV Studio Series Heads. Make sure to select the Standard Wired option for this application.
Q: What’s the difference between the HMV2E and the Lynch Mod?
A: George loved the tone of the original Hot Mod V2 but then requested a special version with further customization just for him. The core drive circuit itself is identical, but the potentiometer on the Lynch Mod (LM) provides more control over how much secondary gain stage drive you can choose. When the LM is full up on gain, it is equal to the HMV2E Gain switch in the “up” position. When the LM gain is set to about 1 o’clock, it is equal to the Gain switch on the HMV2E in the “down” position. The bass switch on the HMV2E offers slightly more bass cut than the Deep switch on the LM which is tuned for slightly more warmth.
The LM is our flagship and is also fully handwired point-to-point, which raises the cost. The HMV2E is designed on a thick double-sided PCB and uses full-sized through-hole components. Both are custom designs and built in the USA by actual humans rather than machines :).
Q: Does it ship with Tubes?
A: Yes, it is equipped with tubes. As of 7/8/21, we now ship with one 12AT7/ECC81 in the first position and 12AX7/ECC83 in the second position. This update provides a better sounding “cleaned up” signal when the guitar’s volume is rolled back, while still providing plenty of high-gain output. If you desire to have even more gain by using two 12AX7 tubes, simply replace the included 12AT7 with the 12AX7 you removed from your amp.
Q: Can I substitute the ECC83/12AX7 tubes for lower-gain 5751, 12AU7, etc.?
A: Absolutely! You can substitute tube types for 5751, 12AY7 and 12AT7 and 12AU7. We prefer a combination of 12AT7/ECC81 in the first position and a 12AX7/ECC83 in the second of the HMV2E.
Q: Will the HMV2E work in other amps besides the JMP/JCM 800 2203/2204 models?
A: Yes, while the HMV2E will technically work in some other amp models, we’ve optimized and tuned this design specifically for Marshalls’ with master volume controls such as the 2203/2204 amplifiers. Like the original Soldano Hot Mod, it could be used in a number of other amps that use a cathode follower circuit. Note however that some amps may not have physical clearance plus they aren’t tuned sonically for the Hot Mod V2 Evo. Visit this page for a complete list of currently compatible amps.
Q. My 2203/2204 has a light squeal when I turn up the preamp gain past 6 using the HMV2E/Lynch Mod. Is there a way to correct this and why is it happening?
A. 2203 and 2204 amps made from 1976 until about early-1979 did NOT use shielded wire for pin 7 of the V1 tube. This wire is sensitive when added gain is put into the circuit and can cause oscillation/squeal when the preamp gain control is moved to about 6 or above. The correction, which Marshall did from the factory from early-1979 on, is to use shielded wire for that pin 7 and replace the non-shielded pin 7 green wire. This is an encouraged update that should be made to ALL earlier amps so that they will operate more quietly, with or without the HMV2/Lynch Mod in the circuit. Pictured below is a stock 2203 from 1977 with the original non-shielded (green with epoxy next to the blue) wire on Pin 7 of V1, and then a later 1979 2203 that has a factory-modified shield wire (grey) added. A tech should be able to perform this factory update very easily. Please do not attempt this update yourself unless you are skilled at working on tube amps as high-voltages are present and stored in the circuit even when unplugged.
Q: Can I use the HMV2E with a Marshall Super Lead or other Marshall amps that don’t have a master volume?
A: Yes, while the HMV2E will work in the model 1959 and 1987 and many other similar non-master volume Marshall amplifiers, we generally recommend using the HMV2E with amps that have some type of master volume added or with an attenuator – otherwise be warned it will get loud!
Q: How does the HOT MOD V2 EVO compare in tone vs. the original Soldano Hot Mod made in the late 1980s?
A: The original Soldano Hot Mod is highly compressed right out of the gate and the preamp gain control on the Marshall also loses its full functionality because it will overcompress and cause the amp to go into feedback. The original Soldano Hot Mod has a circuit tuned for aggressive compression and becomes muddy with a high amount of bass tuned in the circuit so it can tend to lose note definition for some applications. The HMV2E in contrast is carefully tuned to maintain note articulation while still adding loads of sustain/gain while also giving players a much wider range of preamp gain control. For a list of full compatibility, see this page.
Q: I get it, but can you build me a clone of the original Soldano Hot Mod using the new chassis?
A: Because the original Soldano Hot Mod has a much higher amount noise and less note definition, we don’t offer to clone it. However, when the Gain switch is in the “Up” position, the HMV2E has the same range of gain as the original but with lower noise, better definition, and more clarity/tightness in the low end.
Q. How about using the HMV2E with the JCM 900 series or other Marshalls?
A. The HMV2E will work in some JCM 900’s as well as other Marshalls. Amp designs that use a cathode follower stage by design should enable the HMV2E to work. Visit the compatibility page here to see different models.
Q: My 2203/2204 has already been modified, but I’d still like to use the HMV2E. Will it work?
A: While the HMV2E is designed around stock 2203/2204 circuits, it’s hard to know exactly how it will respond to other amplifier modifications. It’s safe to say that some of the gain will still be usable and enhanced, but you may not get the full capabilities and potential of the HMV2E when it is being used in an amp that’s had unknown modifications.
Q: Will you have other models available for different amps/applications?
A: Yes, stay tuned as further designs are being engineered and tested. We are excited to offer more designs
Q: What is the warranty?
A: The HMV2E has a 3 year warranty on parts/labor from shipping date and a 90 day warranty on the tubes supplied.
Q. Can I return the HMV2E if I don’t like it?
A. YES. Customer satisfaction is very important! You can test drive the HMV2E for 14 days. If you’re not thrilled with it, send it back for a refund. I appreciate you supporting my small business and giving it a try.
Q: Can I contact you directly for further questions?
A: Sure, e-mail me at [email protected]
Some History
Back in the late 1980s, Mike Soldano of Soldano Custom Amplification released his original Hot Mod, a design based around use of rare 6C10 (and then later 6K11) tubes. These tube types added more gain much the same way that the HOT MOD V2 EVO does, but they had limitations. The tubes were long out of production, getting expensive to find, and often would become microphonic and therefore limited in capability. The original Soldano Hot Mod had lots of gain and delivered on its promise, but it was ultimately taken out of production primarily due to the challenges with finding consistent and quiet tubes.
Still, the original Hot Mod was the inspiration for the HOT MOD V2 EVO, which functions in much the same way as the original, but now has additional circuitry that further stabilizes the design, provides more clarity, and delivers a wider, more controllable range of gain on the preamp control of the amp rather than coming onto high-gain territory too quickly.
Thank you for your interest and support!