Legendary Tones George Lynch Mr Scary Mod Plug-In High Gain Tube Modification Module - Standard Wire

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Legendary Tones Mr. Scary Mod – Handmade in USA, 100% Pure Tube, High Gain Module for Marshall Amps (and more!)

This listing is for the STANDARD WIRE version (***more info below)

Created in collaboration with George Lynch, the Mr. Scary Mod is a custom-modified version of the Hot Mod V2. Want to supercharge your classic Marshall amp with more gain without applying a permanent modification? Then read more below and welcome to the Mr. Scary Mod!

George tried the original Hot Mod V2 (HMV2) in his Marshall and enjoyed it, so Legendary Tones decided to collaborate and do a custom-voiced version specifically for him. So instead of the HMV2’s two-position Hot Switch for two pre-set gain stages, they added a gain knob that goes from unity gain all the way to scorching hot on the Mr. Scary Mod. And just like the original HMV2, all the clarity and low-noise characteristics have been retained. They also added a Deep switch to help provide a bass boost when desired or when using a guitar that might otherwise be a little thin. With the Deep switch off, low end is tightened and it serves as a slight bass cut for clarity.

Originally released as the Lynch Mod in February 2021, the updated Mr. Scary Mod features the same circuit as the Lynch Mod but is now equipped with a tube mix combo of 12AT7/12AX7 per George’s preference as well as a facelift in a newly redesigned electro-galvanized steel enclosure.

The Mr. Scary Mod adds an adjustable 100% pure tube gain stage on top of the cathode follower V2 position, keeping note definition and articulation while further increasing sustain. Each Mr. Scary mod is meticulously built and wired by hand in the USA, one at a time, and tuned using high-grade components. Equipped with a single ECC81 (12AT7) in the first position and ECC83 (12AX7) in the second, the Mr. Scary Mod can clean up beautifully when rolling down your guitar’s volume, and still adds scorching gain when you roll it back up. This is a gain stage that’s been tuned and approved by the ears of the maestro George Lynch himself and is incredibly dynamic and touch-responsive.

***There are two different models currently available. This listing is for the Lynch Mod 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!

Will my Hot Mod V2 or Lynch Mod work in my amp?

HOT MOD V2/LYNCH MOD STANDARD WIRED COMPATIBILITY LIST:

Marshall (vintage, JMP):
1986, 1987, 1987T, 1959, 1959HW (reissue), 1962,1968, 1992, 2203*, 2204*, 2104, 2103, 1989, 2245 (JTM 45)

Marshall JCM 800:
2000 (V3 position), 1987, 1959, 2103, 2203, 2203KK, 2104, 2204, 2205 (1981-1983 models only), 2210 (1981-1983 models only), 4010, 4103, 4104, 4210 (1981-1983 only), 4211(1981-1983 only), 4212 (1981-1983 only)

Marshall JCM 900:
2500, 2501, 2502, 2100, 2101

Marshall Vintage Reissue:
1987x (pre-2003 without Marshall factory effects loop), 1959 (without factory effects loop), 2245THW (handwired JTM 45 reissue), 1959 YJM

Marshall Studio:
This new series of mini 20 watt heads require the removal of the L bracket and thumbscrew so that the units can fit into the PCB-mounted socket in the amp which does not use a base tube shield.

SC20H/SV20H (Heads only)

Friedman Amps:
BE-100, BE-100 DLX, BE-50 DLX, Small Box, PT-20**, Twin Sister

**NOTE 2: While the Friedman PT-20 is sonically compatible with the HMV2E and Lynch Mod, the head enclosures are too shallow and don’t have enough depth to fit the HMV2E chassis without FIRST removing the amp chassis from the head box. So if you would like to use the HMV2E with these amps, you first need to remove the chassis bolts, slide out the chassis, install the mod, and then slide the chassis back into its head box and retighten the chassis bolts.

Orange Amps:
OR50

Peavey Amps:
VTM-60, VTM-120 and Butcher (original 1980s version)

Sovtek Amps:
Mig 60, Mig 100

Jet City Amps:
JCA5212 standard wire V4 position

NOTES ON OTHER AMPS

Clones:
The Hot Mod V2 has been found to work well in a variety of Marshall 1959/1987/2203/2204 clone and similar circuits including: Ceriatone, Germino, Mojotone, Wangs, and Bugera (Bugera needs reverse wired model and is compatible with pre-Infinium 1960 model only. Bugera Infinium 1960 does NOT work).

Other Amps:
The Hot Mod V2 is designed to work with amps which use a cathode follower design into the tone stack. It adds a gain stage essentially on top of the cathode follower. As a result, the HMV2 will function in other classic amps like Fender Pro, Super, Twin, etc. as well as others like Vox AC30 or certain Traynor amps, etc. However, the circuit of the HMV2 has been tuned and optimized for Marshall circuits, so LegendaryTones generally recommend they be used for the models in the list above only. If they were to make a design for a Fender for example, it would be tuned differently just like it would also be tuned differently for a Vox.

Popular amps that the HMV2/Lynch Mod/Mr. Scary Mod DO NOT WORK with include: Marshall Silver Jubilee series, Marshall Origin series, Marshall Vintage Modern Series, Mesa Boogie Mark series amps, Bugera 1960, and Hiwatt DR series.

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 and Lynch Mod do, 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 and Lynch Mod, which function in much the same way as the original, but now have additional circuitry that further stabilize the design, provide more clarity, and deliver a wider, more controllable range of gain on the preamp control of the amp rather than coming onto high-gain territory too quickly. And of course the HMV2E and Lynch Mod now also uses a 12AX and 12AT7 tubes that are commonly available.