The Hoff
Active member
Okay, so my honeymoon period with this amp has most definitely passed. I have had it for nearly six months now. It continues to blow me away every time I plug it in. As most know, I have owned many amps, probably too many.... But I honestly can say, I have found my number one. It is unbelievably versatile. Its versatility competes with a JVM (which in my opinion is a fantastic amp) but with better tones. To demonstrate how much I love the tones I get from the AKA-just to try it out I bought a used production CCV after owning the AKA for about 3/4 months. At first I liked the CCV a little more so I ended up not playing the AKA for a few weeks. But then when I plugged it back in I thought, "wow, really!?....why did I stop playing this!?" Not to say the CCV is not a winner, no denying its greatness, but the AKA just does it for me (if only I could justify owning both).
Clean: It is very rich, fat, and smooth. For whatever reason, it reminds me of the clean channel on a Mesa Mark V. However, it also has a pull switch. Pulling it activates its "hot" function which really brings it into a slightly driven vox-esque clean sound, really usable function.
Crunch: I absolutely LOVE this channel. There is a push/pull which pulling activates a "smooth" function. I personally prefer a smoother overdriven sound so I typically have this pulled but keeping it pushed in gives you that crunchy goodness that is necessary for certain tones. So again, you just have to adore the versatility. Either way, the gain channels are just so articulate, smooth, big, and mean at the same time. The voicing, dynamics, and general feel of it is just great.
Lead: This is a solo boost so it isn't in reality a traditional third channel but nonetheless, it only adds to the versatility. The lead channel has a separate EQ too which is great. I have this channel set as another rhythm sound but with more gain and a little more of a compressed feel.
What really sets this amp above the rest in my opinion is its versatility. Not only with the channels and the tweakability but it also takes pedals like a champ. Likewise, it allows each guitar (with its wood/pickup/etc differences) have its own voice as well.
Criticism: Really doesn't excel at anything past Metallica-esque. I mean, it makes it to the modern territory but doesn't excel at it (never really expected it to either though). Still have to keep my 5150 around for that. Also, the effects loop can be a little noisy. However, I put an ISP decimator in there and it is now silent.
Disclaimer for the clip:
This amp, more than most I've owned, allows the guitars volume/tone knobs to do a lot of tone shaping. It responds really well to it. That is what the clip is really showcasing. It is all recorded on the same channel (crunch channel-no separate EQing, push/pull, nothing), the only difference is the guitar's volume knob. Did it with one take, should have tried some others but you should get the idea:
(all the electric playing is me: first part is with the volume knob at about 3, second part at about 5, and the third at about 8.5)
http://soundcloud.com/elhoff/ramble-on
Clean: It is very rich, fat, and smooth. For whatever reason, it reminds me of the clean channel on a Mesa Mark V. However, it also has a pull switch. Pulling it activates its "hot" function which really brings it into a slightly driven vox-esque clean sound, really usable function.
Crunch: I absolutely LOVE this channel. There is a push/pull which pulling activates a "smooth" function. I personally prefer a smoother overdriven sound so I typically have this pulled but keeping it pushed in gives you that crunchy goodness that is necessary for certain tones. So again, you just have to adore the versatility. Either way, the gain channels are just so articulate, smooth, big, and mean at the same time. The voicing, dynamics, and general feel of it is just great.
Lead: This is a solo boost so it isn't in reality a traditional third channel but nonetheless, it only adds to the versatility. The lead channel has a separate EQ too which is great. I have this channel set as another rhythm sound but with more gain and a little more of a compressed feel.
What really sets this amp above the rest in my opinion is its versatility. Not only with the channels and the tweakability but it also takes pedals like a champ. Likewise, it allows each guitar (with its wood/pickup/etc differences) have its own voice as well.
Criticism: Really doesn't excel at anything past Metallica-esque. I mean, it makes it to the modern territory but doesn't excel at it (never really expected it to either though). Still have to keep my 5150 around for that. Also, the effects loop can be a little noisy. However, I put an ISP decimator in there and it is now silent.
Disclaimer for the clip:
This amp, more than most I've owned, allows the guitars volume/tone knobs to do a lot of tone shaping. It responds really well to it. That is what the clip is really showcasing. It is all recorded on the same channel (crunch channel-no separate EQing, push/pull, nothing), the only difference is the guitar's volume knob. Did it with one take, should have tried some others but you should get the idea:
(all the electric playing is me: first part is with the volume knob at about 3, second part at about 5, and the third at about 8.5)
http://soundcloud.com/elhoff/ramble-on
