Valve overdrive

Thermionic Valves (aka Vacuum Tubes) are renowned for their soft clipping characteristics and natural overdrive. They have an almost indescribable airiness to their sound which is very hard, impossible even, to replicate with solid state devices or digital technology. Due to the naturally pleasing harmonics generated from overdriven valves, their circuits don't need to roll off nearly as much treble frequencies as in the solid state distortion circuits that you find in pedals. The result is a much more open and less honky sound.

Our unique circuit produces both triode and pentode harmonics as you would find in a traditional all-valve amp with the breakup being very gradual and smooth as you turn up the gain. The gain controls are really mid-boost controls with a very wide, tailored Q so that the tonal balance of your guitar stays even throughout their range. This contrasts sharply to simple gain/volume controls which only sound good in a very restricted range, and either sound too dull below it, or too scooped above it.

As a premium feature, we supply the preamp valve filaments with clean direct current for low noise operation.

Discrete linear power amp

Our custom discrete 50 W Class AB power amp has been designed specifically for guitar. With its beefy, stiff, linear power supply, it provides a wide dynamic range and a snappy attack that's perfect for palm muting and funky comping. Turn it up loud and the notes start to compress courtesy of a very high quality optical compressor. A unique clean clipping circuit ensures it sounds amazingly good even when pushed to the max. At this level it will be more than loud enough for any gig, however loud your drummer may be.

The power amp will clip only on very loud transients but will do so very cleanly without artifacts such as rail sticking. Its instant recovery from clipping events essentially makes them barely noticeable. Anywhere below clipping, no audible distortion is produced by the power amp. In particular, there is no audible ugly crossover distortion that plagues so many Class AB designs. This allows you to transparently hear the pure Class A tone of the valve preamp.

Another big advantage of a clean, transparent power amp like ours, is you essentially have the same tone at any volume, since all the tone comes from the preamp. This makes it very versatile: get the same great sound on stage, in the studio, and even in your bedroom.

Tour ready

This is a professional amp for working musicians who will inevitably be gigging in foreign countries. A high quality voltage selector switch on the back panel ensures you can plug in and play wherever you are.

At just 13.5 kg, this amp weighs less than some pedal boards. And being so easy to carry and transport, you can take your sound with you wherever you go.

Serial effects loop

A serial effects loop is accessible from the back with a switch to set the signal level through the loop to Instrument — i.e. regular guitar signal level — or Line for professional studio effects units.

The effects loop can also be used to run a second amp from the VOD-50 valve preamp. Simply set the level to Instrument and connect a second amp to the Send output, leaving the Return input unplugged. Or, for a wide, spatial effect, put a stereo chorus in the loop and connect a second amp to the second output of the chorus unit.

Handmade pine cabinet

Our sturdy dovetail-jointed cabinets are handmade in the UK by a highly skilled craftsman. Made out of traditional lightweight pine, covered with durable black tolex, and fitted with heavy duty fixtures, these amps are ready for the rigours of the road.