"Powered by a pair of KT66 tubes, the Texas Blues head from Longhorn Amps kicks out 50 watts of burly tone. The rear panel provides dual 10-turn pots that allow players to individually bias each output tube. This is especially handy for using non-matched, vintage tube sets. Using the amp's test points, you can quickly re-bias the head for 6L6, 6V6, EL34, KT88, and 5881 power tubes. In addition to a standard input jack, the Texas Blues offers an alternative FET input that adds a clean boost to either the Clean or OD channel."

On the weekend of August 21-22, amp builders, musicians, collectors, and tone fanatics from far and wide convened in Music City for the second annual Nashville Amp Expo. The organizers—Creation Audio Labs—reserved the entire Hyatt Place hotel in nearby Brentwood, Tennessee, for the event.

Hundreds of attendees roamed the hotel hallways, stopping at exhibitors' rooms to hear and test drive some of the world's finest boutique amps, and also ogle guitars, pedals, and related accessories. There were seminars too, including a guitar recording workshop led by Michael Wagener (Ozzy Osbourne, Alice Cooper, Extreme, Metallica, Skid Row, Dokken, Mötley Crüe, Megadeth). Our photo gallery brings you a hint of the wild sounds and beautiful gear that made this year's Nashville Amp Expo such an exciting experience.