Frequently Asked Questions

Valve amps are often perceived as being louder than solid state amps – this is because they actually are

Let me explain…..When you measure wattage on an amp, it is measured to the point of distortion (sound break-up). So, you turn up your solid state amp and it begins distorting at say 10Watts. If you turn it up any louder, there is a fast onset of odd-order harmonics, which sound dis-harmonious and hard on the ears.

So, do the same with a valve amp….turn it up so you get up to signal distortion (say this is about the same level in Watts as the solid state amp). Now what happens when you turn it up, is that the gradual onset and addition of even-order harmonics makes the original signal sound warmer, fuller, louder and in beautiful harmony with the original signal. This is the revered sound that guitarists strive for when playing Blues, Jazz and Rock ’n’ Roll.

Therefore, because of this natural phenomenon, a 10-15W valve amplifier can sound as loud as a 40-50 watt solid state amplifier.

This is a simplified explanation, because factors such as, quality of components, manufacture, speaker efficiency, etc., also play a part in overall sound.

Are the SA-10C and SA-10S loud enough to gig with?

Yes. Small, and even medium sized venues shouldn’t be a problem. Just “mike up” for larger or noisier venues.

Lots of professional musicians will gig with the amp they practice on. It is miked-up when they gig with it, but essentially the volume, tone and breakup sounds like it does at practice.

How often should I change the valves?

With normal use, pre-amp valves and the rectifier valves will typically last for 4-5 years and the output valve around 1-2 years.  They are a lot like guitar strings, where they gradually lose their brightness and “edge”. If you change them and they don’t sound any different, then swap the original ones back in. It is a very subjective thing….influenced by, eg., how often you play and at what volumes.

Do I need to adjust anything when changing the valves.

No. Because the amplifier is cathode biased (self-regulating) you can change any of the valves without having to adjust anything

What is the difference between a Speaker cable and an Instrument cable lead?

An instrument cable is made in a co-axial configuration. What this means is that the “hot” wire is in the centre of the cable and the ground is a braided “mesh” specifically constructed like that to “protect” the inner core from interference which can cause buzz or hum.

A speaker cable consists of two same sized wires for the “hot” and ground wires, using much thicker wires due to the higher voltage and current they need to handle. Typically the instrument cable only needs to handle a fraction of a Watt, where a speaker cable needs to handle the Wattage of your amplifier – a large difference.

How should I clean my two-pack timber finish?

The best way is just with a damp cloth. If you keep the dust covers on as much as possible, you probably won’t need to clean the amp or speaker box very often.

To enhance the radiance of your natural timber cabinets, you can apply an Australian product called Mirotone 738 Wax (free sample provided) – The online description says, “An environmentally friendly wax polish designed to clean, seal and protect while providing a protective, heat and alcohol resistant coating.”

Mirowax Technical Document

Can I use pedals with the amplifiers?

Yes you can. We have tried dozens of different pedals in the front input chain, including Loopers and Pods without coming across any that caused problems or didn’t work.

The SA-10S has a built-in Effects Loop which is normally used for time-based pedals such as Delay, Chorus, Reverb, etc.,. Same as the pedals at the front end, we have tried dozens of pedals in the Effects Loop without any problems.

What are the essential differences between the American Oak and the Australian Oak?

American Oak is a native hardwood of North America. It has a coarse, open grain texture with large distinctive growth rings and a figured grain pattern common only to genuine Oak species. It’s colour ranges from a pale to medium golden brown tone – it is a very sought after and strikingly beautifully and robust furniture timber.

Australian Oak is not really an Oak, but a mixture of two Eucalypt species. It is also commonly called Victorian Ash and Tasmanian Oak. It is straight, open and even grained with a uniform texture, light in colour and varying from straw to reddish brown in colour with intermediate shades of cream to pink.

Although selected to be clear, it is prone to having slight imperfections, which I personally think, just adds to the appeal.

Are the Valve Amps and Speaker Boxes in stock?

We will endeavour to hold as much stock on hand as we can, but due to the detailed nature of the products given they are handmade and often using quality overseas sourced products, we advise to allow a 6-8 production time from order just to be safe. Please contact us if you’d like to confirm if we have stock on hand.

Will multiple items arrive at once?

Due to the size and weight restrictions with Australia Post, if you purchase an Amp and a Speaker, they will come in separate deliveries, but sent at the same time.