Amptweaker 50 watt head.

[amptweaker]

Ok, I get it now and yeah the angled board does make sense from a 2x12 or half stack point of view, great idea. James I really like the look of your pedals, they just look rugged and heavy duty, I would think of using a similar look for the head? Slow day at work, was experimenting with photoshop

Yeah, it'll be a little more metal, although I'm trying to walk the line on that so guys who aren't into that will still like it. I like the idea of using the handles somehow and one of our reviewers gave us a cool suggestion.......we're planning to do a metal handle on top that's like on my pedals, but bigger diameter, and slides down into the top flush(so you can still stack them). Maybe 1/2" to 5/8" diameter. And it'll be on a metal cup that extends to the back with holes in it for cooling.

Also working on a metal grill with some sort of cool factor...this was just some punched grill I had.

Oh by the way....here's some tones I recorded at NAMM:

James B
amptweaker.com

 

[iggs]

Oh by the way....here's some tones I recorded at NAMM:

James B
amptweaker.com

Sounds crushing ... That Jayden kid tho ...

 

[squank]

Ok, I get it now and yeah the angled board does make sense from a 2x12 or half stack point of view, great idea. James I really like the look of your pedals, they just look rugged and heavy duty, I would think of using a similar look for the head? Slow day at work, was experimenting with photoshop

Yeah, it'll be a little more metal, although I'm trying to walk the line on that so guys who aren't into that will still like it. I like the idea of using the handles somehow and one of our reviewers gave us a cool suggestion.......we're planning to do a metal handle on top that's like on my pedals, but bigger diameter, and slides down into the top flush(so you can still stack them). Maybe 1/2" to 5/8" diameter. And it'll be on a metal cup that extends to the back with holes in it for cooling.

Also working on a metal grill with some sort of cool factor...this was just some punched grill I had.

Oh by the way....here's some tones I recorded at NAMM:

James B
amptweaker.com

Very cool, James. I dig (and own) several of your pedals (tightrock and tightmetal), and they are amazing. The amp sounds great, too. Really heavy tones.

 

[jabps]

Sounds good but why risk it with the looks.

Lets face it, looks are important regardless of what everyone says. Pedals are one thing but it's been proving time and again that amp heads are a different story. People will gravitate to the familiar. There is a reason many of the new guys amps share something in common with certain old manufacturers.

I loved James Peavey designs, played the 5150 for years, still one of the coolest looking heads out there. Again, why risk it. That look works.

 

[Jeff Hilligan]

What bums me out? Putting Blades amps in the discussion of an amp designed by one of the most respected designers of the high gain amp era!
Come on guys!!!!

 

[errrrrl]

Yeah, it'll be a little more metal, although I'm trying to walk the line on that so guys who aren't into that will still like it. I like the idea of using the handles somehow and one of our reviewers gave us a cool suggestion.......we're planning to do a metal handle on top that's like on my pedals, but bigger diameter, and slides down into the top flush(so you can still stack them). Maybe 1/2" to 5/8" diameter. And it'll be on a metal cup that extends to the back with holes in it for cooling.

Also working on a metal grill with some sort of cool factor...this was just some punched grill I had.

Oh by the way....here's some tones I recorded at NAMM:

James B
amptweaker.com

The amp sounds awesome, Jason Frankhouser is probably my favorite gear demo guy when it comes to how he dials in tones and plays . And somehow incorporating the metal handles sounds cool, can't wait to see a finished product

 

[slyym]

It's an ugly beast but does sound good!

i was thinking the same thing. it wouldnt put me off from buying the thing if i really liked it but it is terrible looking

need I remind you guys...

thats a different kind of terrible lol. im sure blades actually put a lot of thought into that disaster, it doesnt look like amptweaker put any thought into it

I think it's rather unconventional, since the controls are midway up (or down) in the head chassis. That's what I think is throwing most people off. Other than that is pretty standard fare.

Sorry you guys don't like my prototype amp's look....It wasn't obvious on my initial quick video, but the chassis is angled, not just stuck in the middle. I did put quite a bit of thought into that, but didn't have time to explain it before I threw it out there at NAMM: Since most people run half-stacks now, I felt like the bottom knob approach is too difficult to read on stage, especially on a very short 212 cab....so I tried something different by angling up the chassis a little bit. This also keeps the tubes pointing up, rather than hanging down and heating up everything inside the chassis. This will be particularly nice in the combo version, since you can have a closed back cabinet, and still have the knobs on the front so they're easy to read/access, and the tubes will be pointing up. Combos are always a big pain in the ass because of that tube heat, and you can't do closed back unless you make them very tall.

I'm also working on a new knob that'll be 'heavier' as well as a metal handle on the top and a tweaked grill for the top, and the chassis part won't be as tall, and the whole cabinet will be about an inch shorter....that chassis was from a combo I had that used my typical power amp design I've used in the last 10 years, so it was a good proto platform to use to get folks' feedback on the sound and the feature set.

Anyway, if you have any suggestions about details on the amp, or even about things like how bad you hate the way it looks, feel free to send them in on my website so I can put that altogether and work this out.

Incidentally, I got a similar reaction back in 2010 when I showed my pedals for the first time....a bunch of guys criticized them for not being rectangular like everybody else. This time, the amp's look has about 50/50 on love and hate....and I don't ignore the haters, so thanks for your 'feedback'.
Here's a picture that shows the angled back deal:
https://www.facebook.com/amptweaker/pho ... =3&theater

I'll be adding a video to my site later today with some players from NAMM to show off the tones.
thanks
James B
amptweaker.com

Hey aren't you the guy who designed the original 5150? You sir are awesome!!!!!!!!!

 

[JerEvil]

It's an ugly beast but does sound good!

i was thinking the same thing. it wouldnt put me off from buying the thing if i really liked it but it is terrible looking

need I remind you guys...

thats a different kind of terrible lol. im sure blades actually put a lot of thought into that disaster, it doesnt look like amptweaker put any thought into it

I think it's rather unconventional, since the controls are midway up (or down) in the head chassis. That's what I think is throwing most people off. Other than that is pretty standard fare.

Sorry you guys don't like my prototype amp's look....It wasn't obvious on my initial quick video, but the chassis is angled, not just stuck in the middle. I did put quite a bit of thought into that, but didn't have time to explain it before I threw it out there at NAMM: Since most people run half-stacks now, I felt like the bottom knob approach is too difficult to read on stage, especially on a very short 212 cab....so I tried something different by angling up the chassis a little bit. This also keeps the tubes pointing up, rather than hanging down and heating up everything inside the chassis. This will be particularly nice in the combo version, since you can have a closed back cabinet, and still have the knobs on the front so they're easy to read/access, and the tubes will be pointing up. Combos are always a big pain in the ass because of that tube heat, and you can't do closed back unless you make them very tall.

I'm also working on a new knob that'll be 'heavier' as well as a metal handle on the top and a tweaked grill for the top, and the chassis part won't be as tall, and the whole cabinet will be about an inch shorter....that chassis was from a combo I had that used my typical power amp design I've used in the last 10 years, so it was a good proto platform to use to get folks' feedback on the sound and the feature set.

Anyway, if you have any suggestions about details on the amp, or even about things like how bad you hate the way it looks, feel free to send them in on my website so I can put that altogether and work this out.

Incidentally, I got a similar reaction back in 2010 when I showed my pedals for the first time....a bunch of guys criticized them for not being rectangular like everybody else. This time, the amp's look has about 50/50 on love and hate....and I don't ignore the haters, so thanks for your 'feedback'.
Here's a picture that shows the angled back deal:
https://www.facebook.com/amptweaker/pho ... =3&theater

I'll be adding a video to my site later today with some players from NAMM to show off the tones.
thanks
James B
amptweaker.com

Hey aren't you the guy who designed the original 5150? You sir are awesome!!!!!!!!!

He is indeed. Very cool cat as well!

 

[Beyond Black]

The looks don't bother me at all. I think it looks cool in an ugly and unusual way. At first glance it's like "what the fuck?" Then I heard the clip and I was like "who gives a fuck?!!!"

 

[MetalHeadMike]

Yeah, it'll be a little more metal, although I'm trying to walk the line on that so guys who aren't into that will still like it. I like the idea of using the handles somehow and one of our reviewers gave us a cool suggestion.......we're planning to do a metal handle on top that's like on my pedals, but bigger diameter, and slides down into the top flush(so you can still stack them). Maybe 1/2" to 5/8" diameter. And it'll be on a metal cup that extends to the back with holes in it for cooling.

Also working on a metal grill with some sort of cool factor...this was just some punched grill I had.

Oh by the way....here's some tones I recorded at NAMM:

James B
amptweaker.com

The amp sounds awesome, Jason Frankhouser is probably my favorite gear demo guy when it comes to how he dials in tones and plays . And somehow incorporating the metal handles sounds cool, can't wait to see a finished product

^^^ Jason is a monster player and one of my favorite demo guys as well. He's got pure thrash running through his veins

That kid on the SG is something! Damn guitar is bigger than he is. Love the little guys facial expressions.


This amp sounds really cool James

 

[JConstantineLV]

It's an ugly beast but does sound good!

i was thinking the same thing. it wouldnt put me off from buying the thing if i really liked it but it is terrible looking

need I remind you guys...

thats a different kind of terrible lol. im sure blades actually put a lot of thought into that disaster, it doesnt look like amptweaker put any thought into it

I think it's rather unconventional, since the controls are midway up (or down) in the head chassis. That's what I think is throwing most people off. Other than that is pretty standard fare.

Sorry you guys don't like my prototype amp's look....It wasn't obvious on my initial quick video, but the chassis is angled, not just stuck in the middle. I did put quite a bit of thought into that, but didn't have time to explain it before I threw it out there at NAMM: Since most people run half-stacks now, I felt like the bottom knob approach is too difficult to read on stage, especially on a very short 212 cab....so I tried something different by angling up the chassis a little bit. This also keeps the tubes pointing up, rather than hanging down and heating up everything inside the chassis. This will be particularly nice in the combo version, since you can have a closed back cabinet, and still have the knobs on the front so they're easy to read/access, and the tubes will be pointing up. Combos are always a big pain in the ass because of that tube heat, and you can't do closed back unless you make them very tall.

I'm also working on a new knob that'll be 'heavier' as well as a metal handle on the top and a tweaked grill for the top, and the chassis part won't be as tall, and the whole cabinet will be about an inch shorter....that chassis was from a combo I had that used my typical power amp design I've used in the last 10 years, so it was a good proto platform to use to get folks' feedback on the sound and the feature set.

Anyway, if you have any suggestions about details on the amp, or even about things like how bad you hate the way it looks, feel free to send them in on my website so I can put that altogether and work this out.

Incidentally, I got a similar reaction back in 2010 when I showed my pedals for the first time....a bunch of guys criticized them for not being rectangular like everybody else. This time, the amp's look has about 50/50 on love and hate....and I don't ignore the haters, so thanks for your 'feedback'.
Here's a picture that shows the angled back deal:
https://www.facebook.com/amptweaker/pho ... =3&theater

I'll be adding a video to my site later today with some players from NAMM to show off the tones.
thanks
James B
amptweaker.com

James for me the selling point is the tone and feature set. As for the look i think with a shorter cabinet like you said by about an inch, and doing something cool in the grill area would really appease those bitching about the look.

 

[JConstantineLV]

And here is an idea of what it would look like with a shorter Chassis

https://imgur.com/a/gpbar

 

[squank]

Sounds good but why risk it with the looks.

Lets face it, looks are important regardless of what everyone says. Pedals are one thing but it's been proving time and again that amp heads are a different story. People will gravitate to the familiar. There is a reason many of the new guys amps share something in common with certain old manufacturers.

I loved James Peavey designs, played the 5150 for years, still one of the coolest looking heads out there. Again, why risk it. That look works.

I agree.

It's an unfortunate reality that guitarists are, as a group, very resistant to change. Why else would we be playing guitars designed 70 years ago? And don't give me any of that vintage mojo BS - it's because we venerate the classic designs. We can't separate our love for the golden age of rock with the shape of the gear that made it.

The Amptweaker 50 head's slanted design is functional and would be advantageous on stage. And it will really hurt its curb appeal in stores. The only way to overcome that is to get a big name guitarist (if you can find one anymore) to play it so our lot of stodgy curmudgeons would consider embracing something new. And even then, it might not work.

 

[MetalHeadMike]

^^^
Everybody's different huh. I could care less if an amp was a straight up rectangular box with with zero character as long as it has the tone, feel and features I'm after. I'll be honest and say if it looks cool on top of that all the better, but it won't drive my decision to buy a whole lot. For example, if Kyle's amps (KSR) looked like absolute dogshit (Which they don't; very good looking amps) I would still own one or more because I absolutely love the tone and the way they play.

No offense to anyone who buys based on aesthetics if that's your bag.

 

[Beyond Black]

Ok, I get it now and yeah the angled board does make sense from a 2x12 or half stack point of view, great idea. James I really like the look of your pedals, they just look rugged and heavy duty, I would think of using a similar look for the head? Slow day at work, was experimenting with photoshop

Yeah, it'll be a little more metal, although I'm trying to walk the line on that so guys who aren't into that will still like it. I like the idea of using the handles somehow and one of our reviewers gave us a cool suggestion.......we're planning to do a metal handle on top that's like on my pedals, but bigger diameter, and slides down into the top flush(so you can still stack them). Maybe 1/2" to 5/8" diameter. And it'll be on a metal cup that extends to the back with holes in it for cooling.

Also working on a metal grill with some sort of cool factor...this was just some punched grill I had.

Oh by the way....here's some tones I recorded at NAMM:

James B
amptweaker.com

Jason really brought out the be(a)st in that amp. It sounds rude, pissed, and nasty as fuck! I would DEFINITELY score one of those.

 

[squank]

^^^
Everybody's different huh. I could care less if an amp was a straight up rectangular box with with zero character as long as it has the tone, feel and features I'm after. I'll be honest and say if it looks cool on top of that all the better, but it won't drive my decision to buy a whole lot. For example, if Kyle's amps (KSR) looked like absolute dogshit (Which they don't; very good looking amps) I would still own one or more because I absolutely love the tone and the way they play.

No offense to anyone who buys based on aesthetics if that's your bag.

I wouldn't say everyone's different...but certainly there are people (like you and others on this board) who wouldn't be swayed just by looks.

My point is that buying trends in the guitar music industry have proven that the masses of buyers are usually put off by innovation in design that looks different. The fact that it's an improvement in the design is often unimportant in the buying public's mind.

 

[amptweaker]

OK....I resisted as long as I could, but sometimes guitarists do accept things that are quite different:

James B
amptweaker.com

 

[slyym]

OK....I resisted as long as I could, but sometimes guitarists do accept things that are quite different:

James B
amptweaker.com

What is that toaster doing on top of your cab?

 

[riffermadness]

The amp sounds awesome..its the sound,tone that reels me in,looks only partially unless it is obviously the ugliest thing of all..I have a Tight Metal pedal and it sounds great,and the build quality is top notch..

 

[squank]

OK....I resisted as long as I could, but sometimes guitarists do accept things that are quite different:

James B
amptweaker.com

LOL great! I love my KPA, too.

James, I'm a fan. I really love the tight rock and tight metal pedals on my board. I'm rooting for you and your amp to succeed.

My post was more of a negative commentary on us as guitarists being so damn conservative when it comes to new things. The KPA was in a class by itself when it came out (still is, IMO), so I'm not sure that is a fair marketing comparison. But even Kemper bowed to pressure to make a more 'normal' looking rack version. And they also bowed to pressure to make one with darker colors (like the one in your picture), all to satisfy the desires of guitarists who expect their gear to look a certain way.

I do hope I'm wrong, and you get orders for 1,000 of your amps this year. They sound great.