American Dream 1x12
3rd Power Amplification
clean to dirty just by digging in harder with
the pick—and this amp likes hard picking!
Like many vintage brownface amps, there
is less headroom and the mids bark a little
more. But the triangular internal design
and side vents open up the sound and give
it a wide, dimensional quality that feels
like full-blooming stereo compared to the
highly focused and compressed projection
of a normal, closed-back cab. Removing
the triangular back panel lets the amp
breathe even more, and the tone opens
up accordingly. Engaging the Bright switch
adds more top-end spank and chime, while
the Tone control, though somewhat subtle,
offers plenty of range.
As I explored this channel, I found the
global Presence control becomes more
effective as the amp revs up in volume.
This control is voiced in such a way that
the tone never gets harsh or brittle, just
fuller and more cutting in the mids.
Clear as Black
Moving to the Blackface channel gave me
more headroom and clarity, making the
American Dream perfect for mating with
pedals. The combo revealed the full character of just about every pedal I threw in
front of it. If you’re a guitarist who favors
pedal textures, this amp makes a perfect
blank slate.
Switching guitars to a Fender Stratocaster
made it clear why the combination
of Strat and Deluxe has always been
so revered. From the first chord, the
American Dream was bold, chimey, clear,
and powerful. The response of the amp
252 PREMIER GUITAR NOVEMBER 2010
felt like an extension of my nervous system. It was both immediate and springy,
giving me the feeling of the guitar being
played back from the amp. Typically when
I play with this clean of a setting, my amp
feels a little too unforgiving, but in this
case it was positively inspiring. At full volume, the American Dream gave way to a
beautiful, blooming gain that was warm,
detailed, and willing to get rude with a
little force from my right hand.
When I switched to the 10-watt output
setting, I experienced an apparent, but
not huge volume drop. The most obvious
change was in the response. It became a
little darker in tone, but there was also a
spongier feel and faster breakup in the
tone. I liked this setting for pushing the
amp and getting some grit without killing
everyone in the house with volume, and I
could see the effectiveness of this option
for clubs. It’s a great feature and adds
useful tonal variety to what seems like a
very simple amp, when you look at the
front panel.
The Verdict
The American Dream reminds you how
much you can do with simplicity, and how
a few knobs can offer a wide world of
tone. The innovative cabinet design opens
up a new dimension in sound dispersion,
and the amp makes you never want to quit
playing. For all its clarity and richness, it
makes pedals sound terrific. And while it
isn’t a small combo, it doesn’t weigh a ton.
It’s easy to see myself taking the American
Dream along with a few pedals to just
about any gig and getting every tone
under the sun. One can dream, right?
Rating:
you love classic American tones
and want a perfect blank slate for
exploring pedal tones.
Buy If...
Skip If...
you need a Swiss-Army amp to feel like
you’re getting your money’s worth.
3rd Power Amplification
Street $2499
3rdpoweramps.com
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clips of the
guitar at
premierguitar.com/nov2010
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