Todd Sharp Amplifiers offer new JOAT 30RT
The latest boutique amp from the USA...
Todd Sharp JOAT 30RT amplifiers. With Reverb and Tremolo. · Source: http://toddsharpamps.com/
Todd Sharp JOAT 30RT amplifiers. · Source: http://toddsharpamps.com/
Todd Sharp JOAT 30RT with 6L6 and EL84 output section · Source: http://toddsharpamps.com/
Todd Sharp amplifiers are built in Nashville, USA and are the latest boutique company to acquire a cult following after finding favour among reviewers. The company is also building quite a reputation with some big name players. The JOAT 30RT is the latest model in the lineup and is based on combination of EL84 and 6V6 valves.
The company is still really young, only starting up in February of this year, so you may well have missed them till now. Todd himself was a session player and has been seen with many famous acts including Fleetwood Mac, Hall and Oates, Bonnie Raitt, Eric Clapton, Glen Clark, David Crosby, Al Stewart and Steve Winwood. So, he has a long history playing live and in the studio.
Todd Sharp with his amps · Source: http://toddsharpamps.com/
The company’s flagship model has until now been the 20RT model, a 20 Watt amp that won the Guitar Player Magazine’s Editors Pick Award this year. This new 30 Watt model is the one that they are launching at the Summer NAMM Show and is designed to give a bit more clean headroom and more power. I’m a big fan of 20 – 30 watt valve amps, as I find they can get to power amp distortion a lot easier than a 50 watt model, but with 30 watts that extra clean headroom is also really useful at gig volumes as well. That makes for a really versatile range for club gigs.
Todd Sharp JOAT 30RT amplifiers. · Source: http://toddsharpamps.com/
The output section consists of a matched pair of EL84 plus a matched pair of 6V6s. The two outputs are then blended together at the speaker output section, which combines the cleaner EL84 character with the more rounded warm characteristics of a 6V6 output section. Hopefully this will offer the best of both worlds. The custom-wound output transformers and other high-spec components are all hand-built in the USA, which should mean these boutique amplifiers will stand up to heavy use both in studios and in gigging situations.
The JOAT 30RT also has an onboard Reverb and Tremolo circuit which adds to appeal of the amp to me, as both are classic effects and can help to achieve great tones when used sparingly. The core sound is based on the 20RT and so if it’s as popular as that model I can see this one being popular with players that like classic guitar tones.
You can buy the amps finished in either a Blueberry tolex or in natural stained Burnt Orange, Midnight Blue or Cherry Red finishes. Matching 2×12 cabinets are also available separately with a choice of speakers, either Vox/Celestion Blue 12″ on the 30 Watt models or Eminence/Jensen 12″ combination on the 100 Watt models.
The real clincher for me will be the price point, of course, and I don’t expect they will be cheap. Hopefully prices will be announced at the NAMM Show later this month. The company have said they will be doing special prices for the duration of the show for people attending their stand.
RRP TBC
JOAT 30RT Specifications: Todd Sharp Amplifiers
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