On August 19-22, hundreds of amp makers, luthiers, stompbox builders, guitarists, bassists, collectors, tone freaks, and gear fanatics converged on Music City for the third annual Nashville Amp Expo. Organized by Creation Audio Labs, the smooth-running event was held at the Hyatt Place hotel in nearby Brentwood, Tennessee. The Expo took over the entire hotel for three nights and two days of high-decibel glory, and the show’s slogan—Blow It Out Your Amp—proved totally apt. Roaming the hotel hallways, gig-bag schlepping attendees stopped at exhibitors’ rooms to audition and test drive inspiring boutique amps, guitars, and pedals. Seminars on amp and guitar maintenance gave players of all stylistic persuasions useful info to take home, and at least 10 concerts covered a wide range of music from fiddle-driven bluegrass to skull-crushing rock. Our photo gallery brings you a taste of the new, beautiful, and sometimes outrageous gear that made this year's Nashville Amp Expo such a success. |
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Little Walter 50/15 Designed for studio players who need both clean and distorted tones in a session, the Little Walter 50/15 is actually two separate amps in a single cabinet. One chassis houses the Little Walter 50—a clean head favored by such Nashville players as Vince Gill, Brent Mason, Dann Huff, Joe Perry, and Reggie Young. Its mate, the Little Walter 15, is known for its sweet breakup. The 50-watt side has 6L6 power tubes, a 5U4 rectifier, and 6SC7 and 6SL7 preamp tubes. Offering a 5Y3 rectifier tube and a pair of 6SC7 preamp tubes, the 15-watt side is powered by 6V6s. “Both amps have no circuit, tag, or turret boards,” says Little Walter’s Phil Bradbury, “and they employ true point-to-point wiring.” |
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Peter Malinoski Moon Guitar The 24 3/4"-scale Peter Malinoski Moon guitar has a 3x3 straight-pull headstock and a custom pickup system with three humbuckers and a passive piezo bridge transducer. “I designed the Moon to be gigging guitar that’s loaded with function and tone,” says Malinoski. “Its shape is reminiscent of a traditional flattop, and its round center pickup plate houses all of the electric components. The Moon’s tones range from sparkle and chime to pure spank, and its series-wired settings capture the acoustic details of the ringing strings. With its silky neck, the guitar is a picker’s dream. It’s becoming a real favorite here in Nashville.” Moon models feature a Spanish cedar body and pickup plate, a flame maple neck reinforced with carbon fiber rods, a 14"-radius padauk fretboard, a cherry headstock, alnico 5 neck- and middle-position humbuckers, a ceramic magnet bridge humbucker, a Hipshot bridge, and Sperzel tuners. The wood is finished with acrylic lacquer and oil. |
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Jack Deville Electronics CL3 : AUX and [: tap tap :] Jack Deville Electronics debuted two innovative devices that expand on their successful Click-Less True-Bypass product line. One is the CL3 : AUX, a 3-button switcher for all Eventide pedals, twin pedals from Boss and DigiTech (including the Jam Man, Expression Factory, Jimi Hendrix, and Brian May), loopers, and more. By putting functions at your feet that are otherwise buried in menus or require programming, the Deville CL3 : AUX offers musicians hands-free operation of their most sophisticated boxes. The CL3 : AUX, which contains three Click-Less True-Bypass switches, has a $59 street price. The tiny Deville [: tap tap :] works with any device that provides tap tempo, and gives you immediate access to a dedicated tap-tempo button via its single CLTBS switch. According to Deville, the $29 box is perfect for Boss DD series pedals. |
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Ark Model D-24 Ark’s Model D-24 (perched above an arresting Model A piggyback) is a 24-watt, point-to-point wired “brown tone” head with two 6V6s running in a fixed-bias configuration. EL84 power tubes are an option, as is the Arkaic cosmetic package, which consists of distressed barn wood. The D-24 is designed to provide a variety of tones from clean Fender- and Vox-inspired twang and chime to gnarly-yet-defined high-gain grit. The amp comes with a custom soft case, and prices start at $1599. |
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