I have worked hard to design a line of amps that cover the needs of today's working guitarist. You will find that I have built in all of the vintage magic along with many improvements that modern players have been wanting for years.
For those of you who need a little more....I still offer one of a kind custom shop creations built to your specs.
The Kingsley circuits are pure valve(tube) and complicated electronics are kept out to prevent any loss of pure tone. They are based on the classic guitar amplifier circuits that we know so well and have been enjoying since the early days of rock'n'roll, but they are carefully tweaked for the ultimate in response and tone. In addition they incorporate the kind of useful features that todays guitar players require, both for recording and live performance.
The Kingsley amps are designed to produce a rich warm sound with lots of sustain without getting overly distorted. This results in a touch sensitivity enabling clean sounds with soft picking, and long singing sustain with harder picking. This is achieved by allowing both the pre-amp and power amplifier sections to work together to produce the resultant tone rather than the pre-amp stage alone.
Each model in the Kingsley line, while being very versatile, does not claim to be everything to everyone. It is our point of view that no one amplifier can do it all, just as no one guitar can do it all. Therefore, rather than build overly complicated, multiple channel amplifiers which try to cater to many or all styles, we build amplifiers that do one or two things very well ...
Tech 21:
In 1989, after ten years exhaustive research and development with world-class guitar amplifiers, a tired but victorious B. Andrew Barta launched his unique SansAmp. This revolutionary pedal-sized tube amplifier emulator enables musicians to dial in monster tones and patch them directly to a studio mixer or stage PA. Its discrete 100% analog circuitry uses a hyper-realistic tone structure that includes mic and speaker simulation with pre and power amp distortion characteristics. Finally, it was possible to get stunning, consistent tones without brutalizing amps, heaving speaker cabs or futzing with microphones to find that elusive ‘sweet spot.’ Instead, the SansAmp delivered all of its mammoth sounds from a pocket-sized pedal.
A decade and a half later, the SansAmp technology has developed into an impressive line of products to cover every application. Each product is still hand-built in the USA using the best possible materials and exclusive components, such as our smooth custom actuators which are licensed to other major manufacturers. Tech 21’s range of products are developed with a critical ear for tonal perfection and an open ear to our customers’ needs ...
The Smokey Amp is the world's smallest and least expensive guitar amplifier, proudly made in the USA. It is also the single biggest selling guitar amplifier ever made! The Smokey Amp will also power any 4, 8 or 16Ω speaker cabinet, including 4x12s, and can even be used on the input of another amp as a fuzz box (watch the demo on this page!). It is available in three different styles shown above: a real recycled cigarette pack (brands vary), a translucent polycarbonate box, or the custom artist series. Visit the "Dealer Finder" page to find the Smokey Amp dealer nearest you. If you do not have a dealer in your town you may call us to purchase one.