Amp Specifications

The Capt. Crunch is a Class A, 10W dual channel amplifier featuring two 6V6 tubes in the output stage. The amp is a single ended design with the power tubes running in parallel. The nature of the single ended design allows for the reproduction of both even and odd harmonics, resulting in a fatter, sweeter tone than push/pull style amps which cancel the even harmonics. This results in a harmonically complex, rich tone, and doesn't sound "thin" when turned up into higher volume and gain levels. In fact, the tone gets fatter and thicker as you turn up the volume controls, while still allowing the player the option to go back to clean with just the twist of their guitar volume knobs.

There are two completely separate channels. Channel 1 controls include: Volume, Bass, Middle & Treble, while Channel 2 offers a simple Volume and Tone control. Channel 2 is capable of tones reminiscent of the finest old Fenders & Gibsons from the 50's, while offering enough gain to take you to classic rock crunch territory when turned up. Channel 1 offers even more gain, a 3 band EQ to shape your tone, and also features a footswitchable gain boost to take the amp from classic rock crunch to over-the-top singing sustain and overdrive - almost like having a three-channel amplifier.

The foot-switchable gain boost is called the NUKE mode. The NUKE works on Channel 1, and is a modified tone stack bypass gain boost, offering approximately 25% (+/-) more gain & volume when engaged. The NUKE has a very musical and cutting tone, and offers the singing sustain and thick overdrive players usually associate with a cranked stack. While the NUKE is very effective at allowing the player to "step up" for a saturated overdrive lead tone, it also cleans up to a fat clean tone when the guitar volume is turned down. A custom footswitch is available (complete with LED's, 9v battery or DC power jack) to activate the NUKE on/off, change channels, and bypass the signal to a tuner. No tone sucking switching units or PCB boards are used, only mechanical Switchcraft switches and jacks. The 9volt battery/jack operates the LED's only.

The standard color combinations are black, red and purple smooth levant tolex. Grillcloth options are Marshall style basketweave (salt & pepper), and BluesBreaker style reissue cloth.

Features include:

• All-tube signal path. Preamp tubes are ECC83/12AX7. Output tubes are 6V6.
• Front panel controls/connections: Input jack, Channel 1 includes Volume, Treble, Middle, Bass controls, and the NUKE input jack. Input jack, Channel 2 includes Volume & Tone. All controls go to 11! On/Off, Standby and a jeweled pilot lamp completes the look.
• Rear panel controls/connections: An impedance selector switch for 4, 8, or 16 ohm operation, with two 1/4" speaker jacks wired in parallel.
• Solid, finger-jointed, void-free 3/4" birch ply or pine cabinets, with 1/2 " baltic birch baffle boards used for front and back panels.
• Stout 16-gauge steel chassis, zinc-plated, and spot welded at the corners. Front faceplates are gold engraved metal for a durable, classic look that won't flake off or peel after years of use.
• All hand-wired eyelet board construction (mounted vertically to dissipate heat) using chassis-mounted tube sockets, for ease of maintenance and reliability. Built to last and to perform for years without maintenance or rebiasing, since the design employs cathode biasing. This is a significant cost savings over other amp designs, and allows you the freedom to experiment with different tubes whenever you like.
• Premium, tight-tolerance parts are used for lowest noise operation in all of the circuits.
• Superior isolation of the preamp section, and an effective, well thought out star grounding schemes allow the amp to be extremely quiet without the usual hum that is associated with an all tube amplifier circuit, even with the volume on 11.
• Output power: 10W RMS (clean) at 2 on the volume control, 15 watts at 5, around 19 watts at 11.
• Custom colors are available for a nominal extra charge, or we will cover your cabinet with the tolex or cloth you like if you supply it.

SHIPPING: Shipping Fees will be calculated after the order is placed and an additional invoice or "PayPal Money Request" will be sent. Please contact me at sales@southbayampworks.com if you have any special shipping needs, customs declaration invoices or questions. Thank you.

Click for larger image Corner Detail

The Major Crunch is a Class A, 20W dual channel amplifier featuring four 6V6 tubes in the output stage. The amp is a single ended design with the power tubes running in parallel. The nature of the single ended design allows for the reproduction of both even and odd harmonics, resulting in a fatter, sweeter tone than push/pull style amps which cancel the even harmonics. This results in a harmonically complex, rich tone, and doesn't sound "thin" when turned up into higher volume and gain levels. In fact, the tone gets fatter and thicker as you turn up the volume controls, while still allowing the player the option to go back to clean with just the twist of their guitar volume knobs.

The standard color combinations are black, red and purple smooth levant tolex. Grillcloth options are Marshall style basketweave (salt & pepper), and BluesBreaker style reissue cloth.

Features include:

• All-tube signal path. Preamp tubes are ECC83/12AX7. Output tubes are 6V6. The rectifier uses a GZ34/5AR4.
• Front panel controls/connections: Input jack, Channel 1 includes Volume, Treble, Middle, Bass controls, and the NUKE input jack. Input jack, Channel 2 includes Volume & Tone. All controls go to 11! On/Off, Standby and a jeweled pilot lamp completes the look.
• Rear panel controls/connections: An impedance selector switch for 4, 8, or 16 ohm operation, with two 1/4" speaker jacks wired in parallel.
• Solid, finger-jointed, void-free birch ply or pine cabinets, with 1/2 " baltic birch baffle boards used for front and back panels.
• Stout 16-gauge steel chassis, zinc-plated and spot welded at the corners. Front faceplates are gold engraved metal for a durable, classic look that won't flake off or peel after years of use.
• All hand-wired eyelet board construction (mounted vertically to dissipate heat) using chassis-mounted tube sockets, for ease of maintenance and reliability. Built to last and to perform for years without maintenance or rebiasing, since the design employs cathode biasing. This is a significant cost savings over other amp designs, and allows you the freedom to experiment with different tubes whenever you like.
• Premium, tight-tolerance parts are used for lowest noise operation in all of the circuits
• Superior isolation of the preamp section, and an effective, well thought out star grounding schemes allow the amp to be extremely quiet without the usual hum that is associated with an all tube amplifier circuit, even with the volume on 11.
• Output power: 20W RMS(clean) at 2 on the volume control, 25 watts at 5, around 33 watts at 11.
• Custom colors are available for a nominal extra charge, or we will cover your cabinet with the tolex or cloth you like if you supply it.
• Your choice of Scumback speakers—to be determined after placing your order.

Got the YouTube clips up from the Tone Merchants thing in July. BTW, I'm the good looking dude on the right ;-)

First up is the incredible Billy Yates playing a Major Crunch amp through Scumback H75's using a D'Aquisto hollowbody guitar with WCR Billybucker pickups. On bass is Dan Malouin, and Jake Jacobs on drums. This is a pretty hot 1-IV-V progression. Watch Now >>

2nd video is a freeform improvisation. Watch Now >>

3rd video with Jeff Jourard along with Billy, Dan & Jake. Dueling Strats on this one. Watch Now >>

SHIPPING: Shipping Fees will be calculated after the order is placed and an additional invoice or "PayPal Money Request" will be sent. Please contact me at sales@southbayampworks.com if you have any special shipping needs, customs declaration invoices or questions. Thank you.