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By Request...Nick Greer CAM18 Review

Big Mike

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 31, 2005
Messages
290
Location
Northern California
Okay..by request of our friend Norrin Radd...

here's the lowdown on my Nick Greer Cam18.

Nick is a small builder in Athens Ga. Only sells through dealers (I tried to go direct, no avail). Pedalgeek , MakenMusic and Revolution guitars are stocking dealers.

The skinny.

18 Watts Cathode biased.

Master volume
Tone (more like a cut knob)
Volume

2x6v6 tubes
1 Ecc83
1 12AX7
1 Rectifier (can't remember)

When I called Nick, I told him I love my marshall 20 watt RI, but it could use some more clarity and a tighter low end. WIth my Z28, (Dr Z) I wished it was more brit and again, had a tighter lowend and more mids.

Essentially, I wanted a 20 watt Marshall with chime and clarity like a vox or Z amp. With a good solid punch, and took pedals well. I also told him I needed to have 'david grissom' type tone. (Mellencamp, Storyville, Joe Ely www.davidgrissom.com he's my biggest influence)

He didn't hesitate, and said Cam18. Trust me. So I ordered one from a friend who was a dealer at the time (out of biz now).

He delivered in Spades. It's got CHIME which you'd NEVER think could happen from a pair of 6v6's. It's got a tight and focused punchy low. Lots of tones available with the tone knob. NOTHING is unusable. It's the most touch sensitive and versitile one channel amp you'll every play. Takes pedals like a champ. I push it with a Klon and or a Greer Sonic Boom. Just a stunning amp. It never fails to draw compliments from other players and listeners. In fact, I sold my Marshall, AND DrZ since aquiring it, and have a greer Thunderbolt on order now.

I don't know what else to say.. It's amazing. TOns of tones with just the volume knob on the guitar.

Now, the master volume is intriguing. It's NOT a typical master. Doesn't work like you think. It's VERY interactive with the channel volume. I still occasionally use an attenuator.

clips on my .mac website http://homepage.mac.com/big_mike click on 'sounds'
the clips entitled 'Dethscourge' are the ones. PRS' direct with an evidence cable into scumback speakers. That's it.

Here's a pick of my rig with a Ken's cabs 2x12 and a matching Pumaboard pedalboard.


camrig1-2.jpg
 
Thanks Big Mike!

That thing sounds great. Wow! Have you played it much with single coils? Just curious how an AL might eventually sound through one of those. What sweet tone! Love how it cleans up with volume knob. That kind of responsiveness is worth a good chunk of change (at least to me). I love my amp (also 6v6s) but it's not nearly as responsive as yours. Hmmmm..........
 
I can't recommend the greer enough. My Telecaster and Esquires sound amazing through it as well. obviously much cleaner. I bet an AL would RIP through it.

My Fernandes Superstrat with duncan SC's sounds damn good through it too.

Tell ya how a Luke sounds next week. :D
 
By the way, here's the pedalboard.

boardtop2%2320.jpg


Pedalboard Junction A == Tuner
B--> Dunlop Crybaby I modded for true bypass ==>AC Boost ->Klon - > Nick Greer Sonic Boom --> BYOC Tremolo -->Lovepedal Magicboy Vibe ---> Homebrew (HBE) CPR Compressor. All powered by a voodoo labs pedal power under the board.

Honestly, I don't use the top row much.
 
I'll see what I can do.

Had a buddy record these for me, cause I have NO clue.

For the record, the actual 'songs' are a couple years old and not the greer.
 
Norrin Radd said:
Thanks Big Mike!

That thing sounds great. Wow! Have you played it much with single coils? Just curious how an AL might eventually sound through one of those. What sweet tone! Love how it cleans up with volume knob. That kind of responsiveness is worth a good chunk of change (at least to me). I love my amp (also 6v6s) but it's not nearly as responsive as yours. Hmmmm..........


BTW they sell for around 1500 IIRC? so not too bad. Loud little sucker too.

Damn I love it!
 
Great review and some great clips Mike! Thanks for taking the time to post them - very cool! You get the "cool rocker" award this week!

rocker.gif

_Big Mike_

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