The new C.M. 50 from Surreal Amplification is a boutique style tube amp with some interesting and unique features.
Westminster, CA (October 12, 2009) - Surreal Amplification’s new C.M. 50 Triple Stage is an all-tube signal path, 50-watt amplifier armed with EL34 tubes.
Here's the information on the amp's features from Surreal Amplification:
Prices
Heads $1400
Combos $1600
Quarter Stacks (head over 2-12 cab) $1800
Half Stacks $2200
Amps come standard with footswitchable boost. Add $300 for 3-function footswitch circuitry.
Amps come stock with Weber Blue Dogs. Substitutions available.
For more information:
SurrealAmplification.com
Non-Master Volume Stage
No compromise. No simulations. When you are running this amp in the non-master volume configuration, you have only two tube gain stages just like the original Marshalls® and Fenders®. Mix resistors and bypass caps can be customized to suit your needs. Amp comes stock with values chosen after many test runs with many different values. As with the original non-master volume amps, this setting gets nastier as the volume is cranked. Low to medium levels provide a relatively clean bluesy tone. Maxed out is brown tone city with EL34's. There is a Post Phase Inverter Master Volume that can be used in this setting to create additional overdrive. Clean players will love the Jazz Boost option for a smooth, warm, smokey jazz tone perfect for ES335 type guitars.
Master Volume Stage
This setting adds a tube gain stage and a master volume. The non-master volume control is removed from the circuit and a gain control is added. Your amp is now running three tube gain stages and the overall effect of this setting is a little hotter than a stock master volume amp. The Post Phase Inverter Master Volume works excellent in this setting to add power stage distortion into the mix. It really fattens up the overall sound without adding fake bass and mush.
Surreal Stage
dThis setting adds yet another tube gain stage to the party. Now you are entering the realm of hot-rodded and modded, boutique amp heaven. It's called the Surreal stage due to the fact that the classic rock tone is retained but the gain is over the top. The clarity is there. The note definition and punch is all there. The preamp control now covers an extremely wide range of gain settings. This is an extremely detailed and well thought out gain circuit that has come about after years of reading and experimenting with different resistor capacitor combinations. It's not some add a tube and hope it works out kinda thang, like the mid-eighties amp hacker days. The integrity of your instrument is retained even when using huge amounts of the available gain.
Expanded Tone Network
The tone network is familiar. There is treble, middle, bass and presence. There is a Slope control that sweeps through the mid range. Using this control in conjunction with the Resonance control, almost any tone you can dream up is at your fingertips. The presence control has a slightly wider range than most presence controls just in case you need more bite. The half way point on this control is equivalent to the full position on most.
Classic / Modern Switch
This switch offers two different voicing/gain structure options. Classic being the more traditional tone that is as familiar as so many classic rock recordings. Modern has more gain and a thicker, smoother tone for dialing up a more complex sound, rich in harmonics.
Smooth / Bold Switch
If you enjoy using a tube screamer type pedal or a diode driven preamp to slightly buffer your signal, then you will like this mod. Smooth adds a touch of diode clipping and slight compression. Bold is no diodes, pure tube signal chain.
Resonance
The Resonance control allows you to customize the bass response but later in the signal chain than the bass control in the preamp. As gain and overdrive is added to the traditional tube amp circuit, the signal becomes clipped more and more and the actual sound wave thins out. The Resonance control allows you to replace the bass that seems to get lost in the search for high-gain perfection.
Post Phase Inverter Master Volume (optional)
This is an additional master volume added after the phase inverter section (the presence circuit) of the amp. This feature brings the Phase Inverter into the gain structure of the amp and allows a completely new range of overdrive flavors. You can get a thicker, richer tone using this feature. Works best with EL34's. Technically, the phase inverter is part of the power section and when people refer to power section distortion, they aren't just talking about the power tubes. Although the power tubes do offer a small amount of breakup, and they create a feel that can't be made in the preamp, the majority of the overdrive effect that you hear is still from the preamp and the phase inverter section working together.
Line Out (optional)
This is a standard line out tapped off the output transformer. An additional control may be added upon request. The line out is a great feature for using your entire amp as a preamp. Then send it to an effects processor then and additional stereo power-amp and you have a killer wall of sound.
Effects Loop (optional)
This effects loop is the most professional sounding, useful effects loop I have ever heard. It's an all tube, parallel loop with a send level and return level. The send level acts like a blend control. More clockwise, more effects. Less Clockwise, more dry signal. There is no change in volume just the effect level. Optional add $250. Solid State version, extremely transparent $175
Prices
Heads $1400
Combos $1600
Quarter Stacks (head over 2-12 cab) $1800
Half Stacks $2200
Amps come standard with footswitchable boost. Add $300 for 3-function footswitch circuitry.
Amps come stock with Weber Blue Dogs. Substitutions available.
For more information:
SurrealAmplification.com