ABOUT METALHEAD ELECTRONICS
From a Small North Hollywood Shop to the MetalHead High-Gain Sound
In the late 1980s, my brother Remmie and I founded MetalHead Electronics in North Hollywood, California.
Back then, guitar players were looking for more gain, more sustain, and sounds they couldn’t get from a stock amplifier.
I started developing my own high-gain circuits and modifying Marshall and Fender tube amplifiers for guitar players.
Those modifications became the foundation of the MetalHead sound.
THE ORIGINAL METALHEAD MODIFICATIONS
My idea was simple. I wanted the high gain to come from the amplifier itself, not from a distortion pedal in front of it.
I modified the tube circuitry inside the amplifier, adding gain stages and developing circuits that produced extreme gain, sustain, and an aggressive response directly from the amp.
Over the years, I developed different MetalHead modifications, including extra gain stages, gain controls, bass boost, channel switching, master volume circuits, active tube effects loops, and high-gain noise reduction.
The goal was to get plenty of gain while keeping the sound tight, clear, and responsive.
PLAYERS AND ARTISTS
Over the years, MetalHead Electronics modified amplifiers and developed equipment used by professional musicians, including:
- Dino Cazares of Fear Factory
- Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine
- Ernie C of Body Count
- Dave Marshall of Slaughter
- Ian Crichton of Saga
- Butch Walker of SouthGang
- Armored Saint
- Randy Piper of W.A.S.P.
- Tracii Guns of L.A. Guns
- Kelle Rhoads Band
- Bruce Hornsby
And many other professional guitarists and musicians.
THE ORIGINAL METALHEAD WALL
A Piece of MetalHead Electronics History
Back in our North Hollywood shop, musicians who visited MetalHead Electronics would leave messages and signatures on our wall.
Over the years, that wall filled up with names, comments, and messages from guitar players who came through our doors.
These are original photographs from the early days of MetalHead Electronics. Some of the writing has faded, but the memories are still there.
The original MetalHead Electronics signature wall.
Messages and signatures left by musicians who visited MetalHead Electronics.
Real musicians. Real memories. Real MetalHead history.
DINO CAZARES AND FEAR FACTORY
One of the best-known examples of my original MetalHead work is the Marshall JCM800 2203 I modified for Dino Cazares of Fear Factory.
I modified the preamp section and installed my high-gain noise reduction circuitry in the amplifier.
That Marshall became part of Dino’s early Fear Factory recording rig and helped create the tight, aggressive high-gain guitar sound heard on the band’s early recordings.
Years later, original MetalHead-modified Marshalls are still being discussed by guitar players looking for that sound.
Dino also talks about his modified Marshall in an interview with Ola Englund.
FROM MARSHALL MODIFICATIONS TO THE ELAN MK SERIES
The circuits I developed for the MetalHead Marshall modifications eventually led me to design a series of all-tube guitar preamps, including the MK2, MK3, MK4, and MK5.
The Elan MK5 brought the MetalHead high-gain circuitry into a floor preamp, giving guitar players another way to get the MetalHead sound without permanently modifying an amplifier.
My designs also developed into other professional guitar products, including the Axis Excalibur EP1.
What started with modifying tube amplifiers in North Hollywood eventually grew into a wider range of guitar and studio equipment.
WHY THE METALHEAD SOUND IS STILL SOUGHT AFTER
Every original MetalHead modification was performed by hand in our North Hollywood shop.
These amplifiers were never mass-produced, and finding an original MetalHead-modified Marshall today isn’t easy.
For me, high gain was never just about creating more distortion.
I wanted gain, sustain, harmonic richness, and an aggressive response while keeping the sound tight, clear, and controlled.
That is still the idea behind MetalHead Electronics today.
METALHEAD ELECTRONICS HISTORY
1989 LA Guitar Show and NAMM Show
Watch original footage from the early days of MetalHead Electronics.
MetalHead Electronics, North Hollywood, California
THE METALHEAD STORY CONTINUES
Today, I continue the MetalHead Electronics tradition with the same approach I started with decades ago: working with real tube circuits and listening to what guitar players want from their amplifiers.
I continue to perform the classic MetalHead Marshall modifications and repair tube amplifiers.
I also continue developing guitar and studio equipment through my other projects.
The technology continues to evolve, but my goal is still the same: build real tube circuits that sound great and respond directly to the guitar player.
Real Tubes. Real Amplifiers. Real MetalHead Tone.
MORE EQUIPMENT BY ELAN MEMRAN
Explore my other guitar amplifiers, studio equipment, and audio products.