An updated take on the other green dirtbox.
RatingsPros:Expansive palette of voices. Great dynamic range. Impressive low-end resonance and sustain. Slinky playability. Tuning stable. Virtually indestructible. Cons: Highs can get a bit harsh depending on your setup. Awfully pricey compared to similar new-model ODs. Street: $225 Karma MTN-10 karmaguitaramps.com | Tones:  Ease of Use:  Build/Design: Value:  |
The MTN-10 is producer Greg Droman’s take on the other green distortion box from Ibanez. Over the last few years, the original Mostortion MT10 Mos-Fet Distortion has gained popularity among tone hounds, and the price has gone up to near $400. Droman decided to create a sturdier and more affordable solution. His MTN-10 mimics the same controls found on the Mostortion and uses the same CA3260 IC that’s found in the original.
I’ve always dug MOSFET-style distortion. When done right, it gives you just the perfect amount of compression and dirt without sacrificing feel. The MTN-10’s 3-band EQ is wildly interactive and really requires minimal tweaking. Simply start at noon and season to taste. I found the MTN-10 to also be an excellent clean boost. It had plenty of full-range response and was incredibly reactive to dynamics. Once the gain knob went past 1 o’clock, there was a high-end sizzle which could be useful for ripping leads or long, sustaining parts. Without a doubt the Karma MTN-10 is a worthy torchbearer that surpasses the original in build quality, price, and availability.
Test Gear: Schroeder Chopper TL, Gibson Les Paul Custom, Fender Hot Rod Deluxe IV
The dual-channel amp is available as a kit or pre-built head.
Healdsburg, CA (July 13, 2018) -- Designed for the studio but ready for the road, the Karma 20T is a pure, handwired tube amp kit that is not a clone. Four years in development, Karma 20T started life when a top session musician called his Gibson GA-20T from the late ‘50s “the best rock and roll amp ever.” The producer on that session agreed and set to work refining the circuit that enabled that sound.
Karma 20T features:
- Designed by a Grammy-nominated, award winning producer/engineer/guitar player
- 12-25 watts of cathode-biased 6V6GT or 6L6GC power - no biasing needed with tube change
- Channel 1 – Cascaded triodes – lots of grit here – like a quieter, growling 2204
- Channel 2 – 5879 pentode - smooth, clear, and great with pedals
- Tube rectifier for warm, beautifully compressed tone
- Custom made, massive transformers and choke by Heyboer
- Phase inverter bias modulation Tremolo – deep and juicy
- Highest quality parts, sourced in the USA where possible
- Heavy gauge, custom made, powder coated aluminum chassis
- Combination turret board and point-to-point construction
- Tube complement: 12AY7, 12AX7 (x2), 5879, 5Y3 or 5AR4, 6V6GT (x2) or 6L6GC (x2)
- Simple but effective single-knob Tone control with channel-independent circuitry
- Inrush current limiter startup and enhanced Standby circuit
- Also available as a build to order head with optional custom speaker cab
Prices: $975 head kit, $1979 prebuilt head/cab, $527 speaker cab unloaded
For more information:
Karma Guitar Amps