Premier Guitar features affiliate links to help support our content. We may earn a commission on any affiliated purchases.

Komet Amplification Unveils the K.O.D.A and the AmbiKab Junior

The K.O.D.A is a full-featured “amp-in-a-box” with a discrete preamp, active tone control section, and a switchable power amp output stage.

Baton Rouge, LA (January 25, 2018) -- Following up on the success of its groundbreaking, patent-pending AmbiKab stereo effects-amplification guitar cabinet, which enables the addition of ambient guitar effects while maintaining the tone of a guitar amplifier, Komet™ Amplification has introduced the AmbiKab Junior.

​Often, when applied time-based effects such as reverb or delay are applied before distortion, the sound becomes “washed out” and indistinct. Many amplifiers employ an onboard effects loop for this, but this design only works if the amplifier’s output stage does not contribute to the overall tone. Effects loops don’t work well with many classic vintage amplifiers, which don’t have a master volume and employ output-stage distortion to attain greater responsiveness and a rich sound.

Intended to be used with combo amplifiers that have internal speakers for the dry guitar sound, the AmbiKab Junior’s 16 ohm speaker input connects to the combo amp’s second speaker output. The AmbiKab Junior routes the signal to a line-level output that patches to your effects input. An Effects Send Level control enables the AmbiKab Junior to accommodate a variety of effects, from floor pedals to studio-quality rack units. The wet signal is returned to the AmbiKab Junior’s Left/Mono and (for stereo effects) Right effects inputs. An Effects Bass Cut knob and Effects Volume knob let you shape your wet signal and mix it to taste. The amplified wet signal then drives the AmbiKab Junior’s 12-inch Celestion speaker. An Effects Kill jack admits a footswitch (not included) so you can instantly switch to an all-dry mix.

​In this way, the AmbiKab Junior expands your amp into a full stereo wet/dry/wet effects rig without altering the amp’s tone and response. In addition, because the AmbiKab Junior is physically separate from your main amp and its speakers, you can place the amp’s dry sound and the AmbiKab Junior’s wet sound in different locations for greater stereo separation, enhancing your sound-imaging possibilities.

AmbiKab Junior is also a great choice for guitarists who already own a favorite amp/speaker cabinet combination. Simply run your amp through your preferred cabinet and plug the AmbiKab Junior into your amp’s second speaker out jack for instant stereo effects.

Known for meticulously hand-built guitar amplifiers and cabinets featuring no-compromises quality, supremely musical sound, and attention to detail, Komet™ Amplification has never been a “me-too” company. Designed in collaboration with Scotty Smith of ProAnalog Devices, the company's new Komet OverDrive Amplifier pedal, or K.O.D.A., continues the company’s tradition of unique designs: a full-featured “amp-in-a-box” with a discrete preamp, active tone control section, and a switchable power amp output stage.

Komet’s first pedal, the K.O.D.A. can be operated with the output stage switched on or off for distinctive tone and response characteristics, delivering a level of versatility not found in other “amp-like” pedals. A three position hi-cut switch enables you to fine tune K.O.D.A.’s treble content to your amplifier, and you can EQ the low and high ends separately.

The result is a massive sounding, versatile pedal that’s remarkably tunable and offers an amp-like overdrive structure. Gain staging can be controlled anywhere in the circuit, allowing for anything from a fat, clean boost to edge-of-breakup overdrive—or go all in for searing, high-gain distortion.

K.O.D.A.’s natural response is full of rich harmonics, yet the unique characteristics of your favorite instrument are never masked. The pedal has a remarkable amp-like feel and response and reacts well to changes in picking dynamics and guitar volume. And like everything from Komet, it’s made in the USA with top-quality parts and workmanship.

For more information, please visit Komet Amplification at Winter NAMM booth 3346.

For more information:
Komet Amplification

Pedals, pedals, and more pedals! Enter Stompboxtober Day 13 for your shot at today’s pedal from Electro-Harmonix!

Read MoreShow less

John Mayer Silver Slinky Strings feature a unique 10.5-47 gauge combination, crafted to meet John's standards for tone and tension.

Read MoreShow less

For the first time in the band’s history, the Dawes lineup for Oh Brother consisted of just Griffin and Taylor Goldsmith (left and right).

Photo by Jon Chu

The folk-rock outfit’s frontman Taylor Goldsmith wrote their debut at 23. Now, with the release of their ninth full-length, Oh Brother, he shares his many insights into how he’s grown as a songwriter, and what that says about him as an artist and an individual.

I’ve been following the songwriting of Taylor Goldsmith, the frontman of L.A.-based, folk-rock band Dawes, since early 2011. At the time, I was a sophomore in college, and had just discovered their debut, North Hills, a year-and-a-half late. (That was thanks in part to one of its tracks, “When My Time Comes,” pervading cable TV via its placement in a Chevy commercial over my winter break.) As I caught on, I became fully entranced.

Read MoreShow less

A more affordable path to satisfying your 1176 lust.

An affordable alternative to Cali76 and 1176 comps that sounds brilliant. Effective, satisfying controls.

Big!

$269

Warm Audio Pedal76
warmaudio.com

4.5
4.5
4.5
4.5

Though compressors are often used to add excitement to flat tones, pedal compressors for guitar are often … boring. Not so theWarm Audio Pedal76. The FET-driven, CineMag transformer-equipped Pedal76 is fun to look at, fun to operate, and fun to experiment with. Well, maybe it’s not fun fitting it on a pedalboard—at a little less than 6.5” wide and about 3.25” tall, it’s big. But its potential to enliven your guitar sounds is also pretty huge.

Read MoreShow less