Klonz Labs guitar amp... looks great to me.

They are using Kickstarter. I am not sure what all the implications are, will they still make and sell the amps if they don't reach their goal, is the price for investing through Kickstarter a great (or good) deal on an amp? IDK... but still the thing looks impressive. From their website:
"The circuit configuration, signal path and components value are changed through a total of 27  remotely controlled relays, giving a total of
134 million different combinations."
That should take some time to go through! I thought the Mark V had a lot of sounds, whew!
It is a tube amp that is controllable by a smartphone, tablet, or MIDI... comes in vintage or modern single channel or dual channel. Has a loop option. You can by anything from just a preamp to a full amp head with a cabinet (or without), kit or fully tested amp. With or without tubes. I really like the whole concept. According to Klonz you have access to thousands of sounds, I would say amp models but I don't think that is quite what they are. 6L6, EL84, EL34.. cool stuff. The option I like is a full kit, single channel vintage with no tubes. I have tubes.
The kit goes together with no soldering. It is modules, just a screwdriver. Take a look and if you've seen one, maybe at NAMM or Musikmesse.. I'd LOVE to know what you think. They are an Italian company.
 
 

 

 
YEAH... I am going to take a chance on this!!!
 
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/870918342/guitarists-heres-the-real-thing
 
IDK, but it does not look like they are going to meet their goal on Kickstarter but who knows. Maybe if I jump into the KS effort they will cut me a deal on an amp, I won't be paying over 2,500 USD for one but I'll def jump for a bit under 800 bucks, which is what the EU to USD comes to for what I like.
If you like amps.. sign up, it's a good deal. Spread the word!
 
 
Julien
 

 
I'd like the hear a report from a real guitarist who's used to playing through real tube amps.  Not being one myself, my intuition is that such a person can enter into a relationship with an amp that gets the amp to sing the music, and for that I think you'd want the fewest, most robust parts possible with solid connections between them.
 
Imagine a violin that has been broken down into separate parts interconnected with mechanical relays.  I don't think the contraption would vibrate as elegantly as a solid violin.  I get the same impression for this amp in which the signal (apparently) goes through countless tiny contact points of questionable conductivity.
 
The power supply filter caps look awfully small and I bet a toroidal transformer doesn't feel the same as a traditional one (even if might perhaps be electromagnetically 'better').
 
If voltages are up as high as they're supposed to be, I can't see selling such a kit to a person of unknown electronic experience (everyone has a screwdriver lying around).  Kind of like selling an ACME bomb kit to the general public.
 

True all...
I have too many amps already and the Mark V will do almost anything... but, I have a weakness for new amps. I am having a hard time setting up my music room because the walk in closet is full of amps and speakers, I have two 1x12 combos within reach of my chair and a bass amp I need to get fixed sitting in the other room... I know, but still, it looks cool! Combination amp and gadget... I can't stand it!
 
Thanks, I probably should think about it some more. It is hard. I get GAS and want to just JUMP.
 
Julien

Paul P

jbow
True all...
I have too many amps already and the Mark V will do almost anything... but, I have a weakness for new amps

How I would like to have a room full of amps !  I could deal with such a weakness
 
I'm still looking forward to the day that I can waste a few hours playing with my single tube amp and not feel guilty that I should be doing something more usefull.  I used to think that would happen at retirement, but the idea of retirement seems to have disappeared from our way of life.  Maybe in the next life...
 

I know what you mean... I hate to say it but I've seen it. Our parents generation spent all they inherited from their grandparents and their parents... then they spent all they saved, sat by and let SSI be stolen by politicians, and started working on our money... but they lived a charmed life. Retired at 63, hit the road in an RV, lived it up. Now the grandkids wont work and our generation will take the blame be resented when young people are expected to pay an exorbitant amount for our SSI.
I was blessed to marry up. I married a country girl who was taught to work. She went to college in her 40s and became a CPA. I worked hard to see her through school, now she makes more than I ever did... but the way things are going I will never be foolish enough to put my trust in money. I live one day at a time and try to enjoy it. I don't fret over it, that does no good. Live and laugh while you can. Spend your money before it is worthless.
Boy... am I a ray of sunshine or what??? LOL.
 
J