GALLERY: L.A. Amp Show 2012

"Nace Amps debuted the new M1-18R, a twin EL84-powered lunchbox head that features a unique Baxandall EQ, and was designed from the ground up to have a unique voice in the 18-watt market. Retail is $1,199."

"Quilter Amps showcased their new extended line of the MicroPro 200 amps. This Class D, 200-watt amp now comes with two new speaker sizes: 10"" and 12"" combos in addition to the standard 8"" the MicroPro is known for. Quilter also introduced a stand-alone head version that packs all the same power and features, but only weighs seven pounds. All of the amps are hand-built in Costa Mesa, California, and are compact enough to fit in an airplane's overhead bin. Quilter's CEO Chris Parks says, ""Despite the small size, the 8"" MicroPro can still easily match a 40-60 watt tube amp twice its size, and four times its weight."""

"Arcane Pickups brought their new Phil X Signature Pickups to the Amp Show. The PX-8 features an alnico 8 magnet, and is described by Phil X as, ""a high-output humbucker, but with smooth highs."" Arcane also makes an even higher output PX-Super 8 that reads out at a whopping 16.7k (as opposed to the 9.2 rating on the standard). Retail is $150 each. "

"Echopark brought four new models to the show. From left to right: The Ghetto Bird features a Bolivian rosewood top and Honduran mahogany neck and body. The La Carne is a slab African mahogany body with a Honduran mahogany neck and Brazilian rosewood fretboard. The Clarence features a ""golden rose"" finish over a one-piece alder body with a bolt-on Eastern hard rock maple neck. The El Cavilo features a slab African mahogany body with Brazilian fretboard, and an Arcane Phil X signature P-90 pickup. All other models come with Amalfitano pickups. All Echopark guitars feature TonePros hardware, nitrocellulose finishes, and handcarved bison bone nuts. "

"Satellite Amps showcased a brand new model at the amp show but the name is TBD. Itуs a 65-watt, twin EL34-powered amp with a simple volume/tone layout that Adam Grimm at Satellite describes as ""a tonal mix between our Atom and the Mudshark."" Retail will be around $1,850."

"Based in Fullerton, California, Electroplex Amps was at the show debuting their Rocket 35-EL, an EL34-powered amp designed to put out the classic British amp sound in a 35-watt format. It also features a 22-watt ""compression mode"" that brings out a creamier Plexi tone to give players even more tonal options. Retail is $2,229."

"Newcomer FIX Pedalboards debuted their 100 percent aluminum pedalboards that are completely designed and built in the USA. Tim Mitchell says he built these pedalboards because as a guitar player he saw a niche for high-quality, affordable pedalboards that are stronger than anything else on the market. ""You'll never have to buy another pedalboard again,"" he says. There are four standard sizes, but custom orders are also available. Prices range from $125 to $200 depending on size, and all include custom-fit carrying cases."

"Southern California-based Luxxtone brought a new custom line of guitars to L.A. Each model is hand-built, one at a time, by Jerry Bizon, whose goal with is to incorporate modern playability and functionality with classic designs. Prices start at $2,499."

"Colby Amps brought both versions of their 2-channel amps: a twin 6L6, 50-watt version and a quad 6L6, 100-watt version. Both feature two independent channelsяone is designed for huge cleans and the other is a higher-gain channel designed to bring a player's preferred distortion voicing in reach. Retail for the 50-watt is $3,800 and the 100-watt head is $4,200."

"Evil Robot's new C30 is the same design as the original Evil Robot, but more affordable. This quad 6V6-powered, class A amplifier is switchable between 18 and 30 watts and features two channels that are now foot-switchable, as well as a tube-buffered effects loop. Other new features include a standby switch, a master volume, and a hand-selected 12"" speaker. Retail is $999."

"New to the U.S., Matrix Amplification debuted the new GT 1500, a 3-channel, rackmounted class A/B MOSFET power amp for guitar, designed to give players that use rackmounted effects (such as Fractal Audio's Axe-FX II) a transparent, high-powered, and compact alternative to a standard guitar amp. Retail is $1,150."

"Described as the ""perfect studio amp,"" Egnater's new Detroit 5 head is switchable between 5, 2, and 1/2 watts. It features two channels and an effects loop, as well as a record-out XLR jack with five selectable speaker emulation settings, from an open-back 1x12 to a 4x12. Pricing is TBD, but Egnater estimated it at $400 or less."

"Newcomers Falbo Guitars introduced a new line of acoustics that incorporate Falbo's ""Intension"" bridge design (patent pending) that eliminates rotational torque on the guitar's top. This gives it more highs, lows, and overall volume. Retail?"

"Bray Amps introduced their new 4550, a super-versatile 50-watt head designed to give players a modern take on a Marshall Plexi. It offers a full range of classic Plexi soundsяfrom the vintage brown sound all the way to a modern high-gain tone. Pricing starts at $2,500."

"Kasha introduced several products at the show. The First Aid modulation series features built-in reverb as well as their main effect. The Rockmod distortion preamp is designed to deliver a JCM 800-style '80s tone in a small and affordable package. The GM-P power supply can power up to eight pedals and incorporates a unique ""short protection circuit."" The GM-8 programmable pedal switcher is capable of both pedal and amp switching, and can hold up to 32 user-programmed presets. Prices range from $145 to $385."

"Voodoo also introduced their new Iso Cabs, designed to reduce volume by 30 dB. They feature front and rear doors to get both open- and closed-back sounds. Voodoo says: ""Unlike most iso cabs, the back pressure has been relieved, so the bottom end remains full and tight up to 115 dB."" They've also incorporated a dual mic'ing system and two parallel speaker jacks for even more studio and stage versatility. Retail is $1,295. "

"Bogner unveiled production-ready versions of the new line of guitar pedals we first saw at Musikmesse. All three are inspired by specific channels from some of their best-selling amps, and offer everything from over-the-top gain in the black ├berschall, to a natural crunch in the Ecstasy Blue (the Ecstasy Red is a hot-rodded, higher-gain version of the Blue). All feature class A gain stages, with no op-amps or diode clipping involved, and true-bypass switching. They will be released in early November and cost between $250 and $300."

"Friedman brought two brand new models to the show: the Steve Stevens signature SS-100 (left), and the Pink Taco (right). The SS-100 features quad EL34s, runs at 100 watts, and is described by Dave Friedman simply as ""beastlyяvery beastly!"" The lunchbox-sized but huge-sounding Pink Taco is 20 watts, runs off of twin EL84s, and sounds like a hot-rodded Marshall Plexi, but only weighs 15 pounds. Retail on the Pink Taco is $1,299 and the SS-100 is $3,600."

Pigtronix Philosopher's Rock and XL Fat Drive

"Pigtronix showcased their new XL Fat Drive, as well as the recently released Philosopher's Rock compressor. The XL is a double pedal that incorporates the company's Class A Boost clean boost and Fat Drive overdrive into one enclosure with an effects loop placed between the two circuits to give players the option of putting additional pedals between them. The Philosopher's Rock is a simplified, two-knob version of the Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone. Retail on the Philosopher's Rock is $149, while the XL Fat Drive is $250 (available exclusively from Sam Ash Music)."

"Voodoo Amps introduced their ODS-60 head at the L.A. Amp Show. Powered by twin 6L6s, it features a tube-buffered effects loop and is described by Voodoo as ""Dumble-esque, but will also do a Marshall-meets-Dumble in higher gain settings."" Retail is $2,395. "

"EarthQuaker Devices brought the HoofReaper, a double pedal that incorporates EarthQuakerуs Hoof and Tone Reaper fuzzes into one enclosure with an octave-up circuit between the two. It won't officially be released until Black Friday in November, but the company had a limited number available for sale at the show. Retail is $295."

"Hovercraft also brought this one-off Dwarvenaut 20 that's based on a vintage Sunn Model T amp. It's voiced as a high-gain, 20-watt amp and powered by twin EL84s. Nial McGaughey of Hovercraft has incorporated both new-old-stock and replica components to make this amp look and sound just like an original Sunn Model T, but has tripled the preamp gain, and uses a non-ultra-linear output transformer to give the bass and low end more feeling and expressiveness. Retail on this special edition amp is $600."

"New to the amp market, Apex amps introduced the Manhattan Amplifier. It's a single-ended, handwired, 10-watt combo loaded with a 12AX7 in the preamp, a 5Y3 rectifier tube, a 5881 power tube, and a 12"" Celestion Heritage speaker. It features a select hardwood cabinet, and is described as a ""Deluxe on steroids that'll look equally great in the studio or the living room."" Retail is $1,250."

"Hovercraft debuted the new Goliath. The lunchbox-style amp can switch between 5 and 2 watts, and is self-biasing, so it can take every kind of octal tubes on the market. Tone-wise, Nial McGaughey at Hovercraft describes it as being in the Orange/Hiwatt territory. Retail is around $600."