Components
We state what components are used in our custom builds and take pride in our construction methods. Why? we have taken the time to research, experiment, and listen as to how each individual component shapes the tone! we have worked with musicians, producers, and engineers both in house and abroad both on new and vintage amplifiers to understand what makes an amplifier sound great! to insure that with the various component manufacturers we have chosen, we can consistently repeat the tonal capabilities, build quality, and longevity of our amplifiers using quality components and our artisan construction methods.
Cardas Audio solder
Cardas Solder was created by George Cardas of Cardas Audio - “George created our ultra pure, Quad Eutectic solder for the perfect joining of connector to conductor. Quad Eutectic solder contains a proprietary blend of silver, copper, tin & lead.” Cardas Solder
Wire
For our chassis wire we use (MIL-SPEC) Mil-W-16878 aerospace grade silver plated copper hookup wire. This material is manufactured to the U.S. Department of Defense military specification for the aerospace / defense industry.
For the clearest, noise free input and signal path, we use wire made by Mogami® The World’s Best Cable.
Turret Boards
We custom build each of our turret boards based on circuit configuration using 3 1/8 inch wide flameproof rated 1/8" thick glass epoxy circuit board material with USA made Keystone model 1540-4 tinned solid brass turrets.
Chassis
Our chassis are available in both steel and aluminum, depending on the application and the customer specification. we custom build each chassis based on customer spec.
Capacitors
Our signal path and tone stack capacitors are manufactured by SoZo. We use both the SoZo NexGen Vintage Mustard Capacitors™ as well as the SoZo BlueMolded Vintage Capacitors™
The sound of vintage Fender™ and British tone monsters Captured…
Per the SoZo website - the SoZo BlueMolded line of capacitors are retrofits for Astron or Blue Molded caps used in vintage tweed, brown, and blackface Fenders™. These capacitors amazingly capture vintage fender tones of the Blackface era, and the famous 1959 tweed 5F6-A Bassman era; which is so musical and good, Marshall™ modeled their amps after them! -
We also use Sprague Atom, F&T Germany Electrolytic Capacitors, SunTan electrolytic capacitors, JJ Radial can capacitors, and TAD Bipolar capacitors as needed.
Resistors
We populate our circuits with precision Vishay / DALE CMF60 / 65 MIL-SPEC 1% resistors and Metal Oxide Power resistors. We also use NOS and new construction Carbon Composition 10% tolerance resistors as requested by our customers.
Transformers
We only use Mercury Magnetics Transformers for our Power / Choke / Output , period. These transformers are built like a tank, have consistent high quality, and SOUND great! Depending on the customer’s request, we pull from the various lines that Mercury Magnetics offers:
ToneClone® Series Transformers
Radiospares® Series Transformers
Partridge™ Series Transformers
APS® (American Pro Series) Transformers
Speakers
We only use the original and the best Hemp cone speakers on the market… ToneTubby
Depending on the tone characteristics and power you're after, we use either a Alnico magnet or Ceramic magnet hemp cone from the ToneTubby speaker family. For an amazing tone it's hard to beat a ToneTubby H-bomb with one 40/40 ceramic Hemp Cone and one Alnico Red Hemp Cone!
Per the ToneTubby website regarding the Alnico Red and 40/40 Ceramic -
“The Original Tone Tubby®, the favorite of Carlos Santana and many others. Rock-solid bottom end, silky rolled-off highs, and midrange that speaks to you. With ample clean headroom and plenty of power, this is a superb all-around speaker.”
“The ceramic 40/40 has a very large 50 oz. ceramic magnet, larger than most 12” ceramic speakers. Our proprietary magnetization techniques, cone surface geometry, and voice coil design, allow us to dial in the power and strength of the 50 oz ceramic magnet. This gives the speaker a very fluid response to the players touch and great technique dynamics. The 40/40 has bite and fluidity unequaled by other ceramic speakers.” - https://tonetubby.com
Mojotone® Cabinets
All of our custom cabinets are made by Mojotone® out of their state of the art wood shop located in Burgaw, North Carolina. This allows us to focus on what we do best… which is to design and construct solid, reliable, tour worthy, dripping with tone.. tube amplifiers with the best parts available.
All of our American style cabinet shells are made out of solid pine with hand made 1/4" finger joins. The baffle board and back panel are made out of baltic birch ply.
All of our British style cabinet shells, baffle board, and backpanels are made out of baltic birch ply with hand made 1/4" finger joins.
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