The 18-watt doesn’t provide Fender’s focused shimmer or Vox’s electrifying crackle, but its big, bold distortion tones are guaranteed to flutter the hearts of classic rock fans. Still, you’d never mistake the tones of the 18-watt for those of the comparably sized Vox AC15 or Fender Deluxe. You don’t get that effect from a single speaker in an open-backed cab. Also, much of that classic plexi color has to do with the distinctive phase cancellation produced by closed-back 4x12 cabinets. The 18-watt’s tone stack is simpler-each channel has only a single simple tone control. The frequently heard claim that the 18-watt provides plexi-like tones at bedroom volumes isn’t quite true-its dual EL84 tubes yield a sound quite distinct from their larger cousins with their KT66s and E元4s. But the amp’s most oft-cited attribute is its ability to deliver big British tones at relatively modest levels. Fans of the 18-watt celebrate its simplicity, portability, and surprisingly virile volume. But first, a few words about the magic of these mini-monsters.Įighteen watts of fury. We’ll look at the parts, discuss the build experience, and evaluate the final results. The 18-watt doesn’t provide Fender’s focused shimmer or Vox’s electrifying crackle, but its big, bold distortion tones are guaranteed to flutter the hearts of classic rock fans.įor this article, I tackled two projects: Mojotone’s British 18 Watt Style 1x12 Combo Amplifier Kit ($952), and Tube Depot’s Classic British 18W Tube Guitar Amp Kit 1x12 ($849). Today’s 18-watt fan can choose between boutique spinoffs, DIY kits inspired by the originals, and handwired Marshall reissues starting at $2,499. And now, thanks to the current DIY craze, the 18-watt clone has become one of the most popular amp projects, with multiple manufacturers offering complete kits. Interest snowballed thanks to the site, whose members reverse-engineered the originals and pooled resources to source parts. When the boutique amp scene blossomed in the ’90s, builders often drew inspiration from these feisty little combos. Meanwhile, guitarists gradually realized that those old 18-watters delivered exquisite rock tones. So while a market for Magnum-sized amps remains, we’re likelier to choose our ideal wattage for tonal reasons than for sheer volume. You could never rock the Fillmore with a dinky 18-watter! Today, of course, you can rock the Fillmore with an iPhone and an amp simulator app. In that era of primitive PAs and monitors, you needed a monster amp to fill the auditorium. Nearly half a century later, things are different. Guitarists barely noticed when the 18-watt line expired two years later. Meanwhile, many of those mini-Marshalls languished in music shops, collecting dust. The 100-watt amps were instant hits, forever changing-if not defining-the sound of classic rock guitar. At the same time, the company went small, unveiling three 18-watt combos that looked like scaled-down editions of the JTM-45, Marshall’s earlier flagship model. In 1965 Marshall unleashed the first 100-watt head, the biggest, loudest guitar amp to date.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |