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 | Download Example 1 Gibson 1 - Gibson SG, Bridge Pickup, Volume 9 o'clock, Bright ON |
| Download Example 2 Gibson 2 - Gibson SG, Neck Pickup, Volume 12 o'clock, Bright ON |
| Download Example 3 Gibson 3 - Gibson SG, Both Pickups, Volume Dimed, Bright ON |
| Download Example 4 Gibson 4 - Boss DS-1, Drop-B tuned Gibson SG, Neck Pickup, Volume 12 o'clock, Bright ON |
| Download Example 5 Fender 1 - Fender Strat, Bridge Pickup, Volume 10 o'clock, Bright OFF |
| All clips recorded into an Emperor solid birch 4x12" with Weber C1265s using a Shure SM57. | |
Electro-Harmonix is a constant source
of innovation. And their effects—
from classics like the Memory Man to the
Big Muff to the more radical and recent
POG—have a reputation for inspiring creativity
and pushing the envelope of what is
possible with a guitar and a few pedals.
With the release of the 44 Magnum, a
44-watt power amp in a pedal-sized box,
Electro-Harmonix is aiming at a considerably
more utilitarian target. Nevertheless,
they’ve hit a bull’s-eye. The 44 Magnum
ranks as one of the most practical pieces
of gear for the gigging guitarist released by
anyone over the last several years. It has
potential in the studio and the practice
space, and it can work as both a backup
amp and compact front-line amp for certain
players—all for the same money you’d
pay for a typical high-quality pedal.
Packs a Punch
The 44 Magnum comes in the same ultra-small
pedal box as the Magnum’s little brother,
the 22 Caliber, and such effects pedals as
the Freeze and the Nano Clone. The unit
weighs about the same as a similarly sized
effects unit, though it does require a fairly
hefty 24-VDC adapter with an inline transformer
(this is included with the device).
Because the 44 Magnum is a power
amp, its output must be connected directly
to a speaker. But EHX had the foresight
to dummy-proof the unit to some extent,
and if you power it up without connecting
it to a speaker load first, the Magnum will
automatically disable, saving itself from an
eventual meltdown. To restart the Magnum,
you simply remove it from power, connect
a load, and reintroduce power. The optimal
configuration is with an 8Ω cabinet, but
the Magnum will push a 16Ω speaker too.
It’s deceiving and dangerous to think of
this thing as a pedal, and it’s a bit scary to
think of the poor bloke who will eventually
plug this thing into his delay pedal.
You read it here, you’ll read it on the
pedal, and you’ll read it about four times
in the manual—don’t plug it into anything
but a speaker cabinet or otherwise appropriate
load. The damage to your gear can
be significant.
The 44 Magnum’s control set is as
simple as they come. Like any non-master
volume amp, a single Volume knob takes
the 44 Magnum from quiet and clear all
the way up to loud, growling, and saturated.
The only other control is a 2-position
toggle for Normal or Bright operation—a
feature not unlike the Bright switch on
many vintage Fender amplifiers.
If It Walks Like an Amp …
I tried the 44 Magnum out with an 8Ω
Emperor 4x12 cabinet, a Gibson SG, and a
Fender Stratocaster. With the Gibson piped
through the 44 Magnum in Normal mode
at low volume, the amp generated a full,
if dark, sound with both neck and bridge
pickups. At around 10 o’clock I started
to hear pleasing hints of true power-amp
compression. And even at this relatively low
setting, the pedal was already kicking out
enough volume for a practice session or a
gig on a small stage.
Moving the volume up to noon propelled
me into sweet overdrive territory.
And with the volume at 2 or 3 o’clock, the
Gibson’s humbuckers induced both heavy,
harmonic distortion and singing feedback.
My Stratocaster’s lower-output single-coils
created a subtler saturation, but the signal
was still very cutting, resulting in a juiced,
Marshall Plexi-like tone that was simultaneously
creamy, dark, and slicing. It’s remarkable—
given its size—but the 44 Magnum
really can rock and rock heavily. And the
only limitation of the pedal, at least in
terms of gain range, is that it may not work
well by itself for certain genres of metal,
where extreme volume and preamp gain are
key, or for David Gilmour-style loud-and-clean
applications.
I also evaluated the Magnum using a
Boss DS-1, EHX Big Muff, and a Devi
Ever Legend of Fuzz. Here the Magnum’s
Bright switch proved to be a real asset, and
flipping it on helped the distortion pedals’
high frequencies shine through. Like most
guitarists, I generally run these pedals into
the front end of my guitar amp, effectively
funneling one preamp (the pedal) into
another (the amp’s preamp). It’s not often
that you get to hear your favorite distortion
pedals run directly into a power amp, and
it was definitely a sonic treat to experience
the fundamental voice and range of those
pedals so clearly.
The Verdict
There are a ton of potential applications
for the 44 Magnum. Bass players
in smaller, quieter combos can use it to
drive a cabinet. And if you like to travel
as light as possible, but need more kick
than a small-wattage combo can deliver,
the 44 Magnum and a small cabinet are a
cost-effective and super-portable solution.
For my money, though, it’s a great piece
of insurance if you’re a touring or gigging
musician. Throw the tiny 44 Magnum into
your cable bag and you’re done with worrying
about a failed amp forever. It won’t
replace your vintage or boutique tube
amp in terms of sweet tones, mega gain,
or high headroom. But it sure won’t break
your back and, at $145, it won’t break
the bank either. If your go-to amp is an
old-timer with a few quirks, you won’t be
playing Russian roulette onstage with a 44
Magnum in your holster.
Buy if...
you regularly play electric guitar in a live setting and subscribe to Murphy’s Law.
Skip if...
you don’t need anything more portable than your combo, and it hasn’t failed you ... yet.
Rating...
Street $145 - Electro-Harmonix - ehx.com |
