NAMM 2010: Lunchbox amps are all the rage
This is just what a guitar player needs — full-blooded, warm, bright and dandy tones from a pint size amp. Well, that was the dream. Until, of course, today. British amp producers Orange may have kick-started the “lunchbox amp” phenomenon. At the NAMM Show — the annual music gear lover’s orgasm where companies trot out their newest stuff — in Anaheim, California this year, the floor was just littered with all these tiny guitar boxes.
Orange started it out with the Tiny Terror — a 15-watt guitar amp that debuted 2 years ago. Now the phenomenon is spreading like a California wildfire.
Just what is a “lunchbox amp“? These small monsters are compact vacuum-tube amps, they usually have between two and six tubes inside. They run very well at low power, usually between 5 and 15 watts. Priced between $400 and $800, they are very inexpensive as compared to most tube amps. Just plug one into a speaker cabinet (or two, or four) and you’ve got a full guitar rig capable of producing a wide variety of sounds and tones.
The real beauty of these small things is that, even at low wattage, you are still able to get the warm, beefy tone of players like Hendrix, Slash or Clapton. Any self-respecting guitar player knows that you can do this by pushing an amp to its limits. But playing big, fancy amps cranked all the way up is hardly a practical solution for your bedroom. Or to carry around from one gig to another.Low-powered amplifiers reach their limits at much lower volumes, and when they get loud (don’t be fooled by the size, these things can get really loud, enough to cause genuine pain) they maintain the rich and full sound, comparable to a much more powerful — and more expensive — amp.
Most mainstream manufacturers like Mesa, Blackheart, and Vox already have their own version of the “lunchbox amp“. And for good reason, too. Most guitar players agree that you don’t really need that much wattage on gigs that have proper mic-ing. All you really need is your guitar, your effects chain, and a 15-20watt amp. Heck, you can even carry them around from one venue to another.
The “lunchbox amp” also makes a case for a solid home recording amp. This fits your room and your equipment. Whip out your trusty old Telecaster, plug in, record, and save through your external optical burner, or save the data to your portable hard drive, and you’re good to go.
So are you buying one yet? We sure are thinking very hard right now, blowing our savings for that Taylor guitar and just get one of these babies. HotMusicGear out!
Single Chain CAM drive system. Rocker Hub with hook and bearing with easy Key access hoop clamp. ROCK plate with Velcro base and dual Surface Beaters.
Single Chain CAM drive system. Rocker Hub with hook and bearing with easy Key access hoop clamp. ROCK plate with Velcro base and dual Surface Beaters.
Gibraltar Avenger 6611 Single Pedals are equip with CAM Drive. Adjustable spring tension. Improved rocker hub, hook and bearing transfer system. Adjustable beater angle and pedal board height. Dual surface/self-aligning beater with hardened steel beater shaft. ABS hinge support eliminates pressure on hinge. Adustable bass drum hoop tongue.
Double Chain CAM drive system. Two bearings per drive system. Easy key access hoop clamp. Dual surface/self-aligning beater with hardened steel beater shaft. Adjustable spring tension, ROCK Stabilizer Plates with Velcro and Dual Surface Beaters.
The 9611DC bass drum pedal features a Double Chain Cam Drive for a solid and powerful feel. Other features include the new Stealth design balanced pedal board and a curved frame with a fixed stabilizer plate for added rigidity and increased feel. You can also adjust the height of the footboard without affecting the spring tension or beater angle. The stabilizer plates comes with Velcro straps to prevent any slippage during playing. The beaters are dual surfaced and self-aligning with non-slip memory locks.
The 9611DC-DB pedal features a Double Chain Cam Drive for a solid and powerful feel. Other features include the new Stealth design balanced pedal board and a curved frame with a fixed stabilizer plate for added rigidity and increased feel.You can also adjust the height of the footboard without affecting the spring tension or beater angle. The stabilizer plates comes with Velcro straps to prevent any slippage during playing. The beaters are dual surfaced and self-aligning with non-slip memory locks.
The 9611DD pedal features a Direct Drive for a fast and responsive feel. Other features include the new Stealth design balanced pedal board and a curved frame with a fixed stabilizer plate for added rigidity and increased feel. You can also adjust the height of the footboard without affecting the spring tension or beater angle. The stabilizer plates comes with Velcro straps to prevent any slippage during playing. The beaters are dual surfaced and self-aligning with non-slip memory locks.
The 9611DD-DB pedal features a Direct Drive for a fast and responsive feel. Other features include the new Stealth design balanced pedal board and a curved frame with a fixed stabilizer plate for added rigidity and increased feel. You can also adjust the height of the footboard without affecting the spring tension or beater angle. The stabilizer plates comes with Velcro straps to prevent any slippage during playing. The beaters are dual surfaced and self-aligning with non-slip memory locks.
Strap Drive is like playing on air, a simple, fast feel. Pedal board height adjustment independent of spring tension or beater angle. Fast Rocker hub spring assembly with die cast bearing “Spring Ring”. Fixed Aluminum Rock stabilizer plate with rubber non-skid surface. Dual Surface, balanced, self-aligning beater with non-slip memory lock mechanism (Pat no 117,437). Case hardened U-joints on double bass pedals. Comes with fully padded carrying bag (GSPCB).
The 9611DC-DB pedal features a Strap Drive for a simple and fast feel. Other features include the new Stealth design balanced pedal board and a curved frame with a fixed stabilizer plate for added rigidity and increased feel. You can also adjust the height of the footboard without affecting the spring tension or beater angle. The stabilizer plates comes with Velcro straps to prevent any slippage during playing. The beaters are dual surfaced and self-aligning with non-slip memory locks.
Cardioid pickup pattern rejects off-axis sound and provides superior gain before feedback
Frequency response tailored for vocals, with brightened midrange and bass rolloff
Condenser cartridge for studio quality sound
Frequency Response: 50 to 20,000 Hz
Contoured frequency response for clean, instrumental reproduction and rich vocal pickup
Wide dynamic range
Type
The DMK57-52 Drum Mic Kit is a conveniently packaged selection of microphones and mounts, designed to offer a complete core package of microphones for recording and performing drummers at a great price. The Drum Mic Kit includes three SM57 microphones, one Beta 52 microphone, three A56D drum-mounting systems, and a lightweight and durable carrying case.