Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I got this amp about 6 months ago, and I've used in numerous times in live situations--mostly in small clubs and bars playing loud rock in the vein of AC/DC, Motorhead or TurboNegro (yeah I put those three together). This is a single channel Master-Volume style 50-watt tube amp, with 2 EL34 power tubes 3 ECC83 preamp tubes, and another ECC83 additional drive stage tube.
While the amp really only has one channel, the foot-switchable (footswitch was not included with the amp) drive stage with it's own separate gain level allows you to replicate one of the most common uses of a 2-channel amp (getting a switchable boosted overdriven lead tone)with the simplicity of a single channel.
The controls on the front of the amp include: a common bass/mid/treble tone stack; Presence (an output stage tone control allowing you to boost the "sparkle" high end as needed); a Resonance switch to adjust output tube damping which can effect your bass response, a gain control, and a Master Volume.
Other cool features include a range of output impedance possibilities that will let you use the amp with a number of different speaker types and configurations, an FX loop ( I have no need for this myself) and a switchable bias control that will allow you to use 6L6(5881) tubes instead of EL34s should you so choose.
On to the actual review. As a master volume amp, the common use is to turn up the gain to a level of distortion one likes, and then use the volume control to match the overall volume to the room. I used it this way for awhile, but found I was never really satisfied with the tone I was getting. Compared to other Master Volume type amps the tone when used this way is actually fantastic, but it's still preamp distortion we're talking about. Now I run the amp with the gain turn down pretty low, and the Master volume cranked. The result is that the amp is producing all it's harmonics and distortion out of the output EL34s, and it sounds like pure tone heaven. A 50 watt amp with the master volume cranked all the way tends to be too loud for most venues I play--especially with a little gain in the mix, and a lot when I hit the drive switch--so I put a THD Hot Plate Power Attenuator between the amp and my speaker ( a 410 fender cab with 4 25-watt greenbacks) and reduce the output to the speakers by 8 DB, or only 4 in bigger rooms.
This setup sounds crazy good to me, and while the idea of replacing this with an old plexi or a blackface bassman is still in my head, I feel like the tone improvement over what this amp can produce that I might get out of going vintage wouldn't be noticeable to my ears. I'm certain there are purists who are itching to call me out on that but I really think this amp sounds fantastic.
Beyond the killer tone I'm getting out of it, the amp has been rock-solid reliable, and produces none of the irritating hums, buzzing and noises my bandmate's JCM 800 puts out. It took me a while to figure out how to get the sound I like out of this, and during that time I was constantly looking for a replacement, but once I got it dialed I fell in love. Now you can't pry this amp away from me.
For people who want a more high-gain metal tone, this amp is everything you need (I'm just not using mine this way). The gain stage can go a ways past what a JCM 800 does, and the additional drive stage can add the sustain your looking for. I only use the drive for leads, but in the right type of music it could bring a real metal edge to the tone on rhythm parts as well.
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