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August 2007
Diamond Spec Op Head
Sporting four Svetlana EL34s and no less than seven 12AX7
Tung-Sol tubes, this amp is tailor-made for high-octane rock. The
Spec Op’s tones range from scooped-out modern to metal’s
biggest hair days. The Spec Op’s overdriven sounds are loud,
punchy and unflinchingly honest, always served with a tight
low-end. There’s a massive amount of gain on tap here with an
inordinate amount of headroom (even the neck humbucker on
our Gibson kept its definition). Combined with tone controls that
actually work and a solid-as-a-tank build, this amp is a definite
recommendation for anyone who dabbles in the heavy.
Diamond Amplification
$2699
diamondamplification.com
See the video review online at
premierguitar.com!
January 2007
Chicago Blues Box Buddy
Guy Signature Amp
Dan Butler [owner of Butler Custom Sound] was asked to sonically re-create
Buddy’s 1959 Bassman, which had been through a flood and had seen the original
speakers and chassis replaced. Through a careful dissection of Buddy’s original,
Butler discovered the electrical mojo that makes this amp tick, resulting in a
sparkling clean sound and a tight midrange that lets the highs just slide off the top.
If you’re looking for that classic Bassman sound, done better than the average old
Bassman, look no further.
Butler Custom Sound
MSRP $4800
chicagobluesbox.com
June 2007
The Ultimate Tube Amp
Essentially a full tube amp in a svelte 13-pound package, this
amp delivers 100-watt non-master volume Marshall tones that
you can crank up and turn down (with the built-in attenuator) to
your heart’s content. With the master levels at about 12 o’clock,
the Ultimate Tube Amp has all of the touch sensitivity, dynamics and note definition you’d find in a Marshall, and cleans up
beautifully with the help of your guitar’s volume knob. Guitarists
searching for that ‘80s “Brown Sound” will also want to check
this thing out. Despite a somewhat austere appearance, this
amp is for real.
Magus Innovations, LLC
Starting at $1400
ultimateattenuator.com
