WHAT PLAYERS SAY ABOUT METALHEAD
Real Owners. Original MetalHead Gear. Decades of Tone.
Long after the original MetalHead Electronics shop in North Hollywood
closed, guitar players continued searching for Elan Memran’s amplifiers,
modifications and all-tube preamps.
Here are comments, recordings and discussions from musicians who have
owned, played or encountered original MetalHead and ELAN equipment.
HEAR AN ORIGINAL METALHEAD MODIFIED MARSHALL
A player demonstration of a Marshall MKII 50 watt amplifier modified
by Elan Memran of MetalHead Electronics.
AXIS EXCALIBUR EP1 OWNER
One owner described repairing an original Excalibur EP1 and getting
its built-in noise gate working again.
“It has the heaviest tone of anything I’ve tried and is the closest
thing I’ve heard to the Demanufacture tone.”
The same player described the preamp as particularly effective with
low-tuned guitars and high-output pickups.
“It’s a unique preamp though. If you want metal it’s quite impressive
with the right tubes and paired up with the right guitar.”
ORIGINAL METALHEAD MARSHALL OWNERS
“I have 2 Metalhead Marshalls and they’re awesome! They definitely
bring something different to the table.”
Decades after the original modifications were made, surviving
MetalHead Marshalls continue to appear in guitar communities.
In 2024, an owner documented a rare 1983 Marshall JCM800 2204 carrying
the original MetalHead modification and shared recordings of the amp.
ELAN ALL-TUBE PREAMP OWNER
One owner who acquired an original ELAN preamp described a design
that was unusually sophisticated for its era.
Features discussed by the owner included multiple tube gain controls,
a built-in noise gate, tube-buffered effects loop, clean, crunch and
lead switching, and the ability to blend channels.
“This preamp is very ahead of its time for sure.”
“Ever since I heard that amp… I wanted this tone, and finally after
many years I’m glad I have it!”
The owner also connected the sound with the aggressive guitar tones
associated with early Fear Factory.
PLAYER REACTIONS
Other guitarists reacting to demonstrations of the rare ELAN preamp
posted comments including:
“That sounded AWESOME!!”
“Killer sounding preamp man, I don’t suppose there are many of those around.”
“Killer tones, thanks for uploading!”
ORIGINAL METALHEAD AMPS ARE STILL BEING PLAYED
A 2024 discussion brought together owners and players of surviving
MetalHead-modified Marshalls.
One owner posted a raw recording using a 1972 Gibson SG Custom
straight into his MetalHead Marshall. He described the recording as
raw guitar and drums with no EQ or processing at that stage.
Another owner demonstrated his MetalHead JCM800 using Fear Factory
riffs, giving modern players a chance to hear one of these rare
original amplifiers.
WHY THESE COMMENTS MATTER
Many original MetalHead amplifiers and ELAN preamps were produced
decades ago and exist today in very small numbers.
The comments and recordings preserved by their owners provide a
window into how these amplifiers and preamps actually sound and feel
in the hands of guitar players.
They also show that musicians are still discussing, recording and
searching for original MetalHead equipment many years after it was built.
ABOUT THIS ARCHIVE
The comments on this page come from independent guitar forums,
equipment owners and musicians discussing their personal experiences.
Individual comments represent the opinions and experiences of their
respective authors. They are preserved here as part of the historical
record surrounding MetalHead Electronics and ELAN equipment.
EXPERIENCE THE METALHEAD SOUND
Elan Memran is once again offering MetalHead Marshall modifications,
including the classic high-gain modification and the new removable
external MetalHead modification system.
