We’re incredibly grateful to have two stunning RD Amplification amps in the studio, courtesy of owner Rob Dix.
As well as being an accomplished electric guitarist, Rob is a fully qualified electronics engineer with over 30 years of experience designing and building bespoke vintage-style valve amplifiers. Over the past few years, he’s been refining his own designs and creating custom-built amps for musicians across the UK, earning a reputation for exceptional craftsmanship and tone.
The Custom 8-BALL employs just the ‘Single’ mode circuit from their flag-ship DUALIST Custom amp, and they have produced a beautifully voiced singing Reverb amp. Utilising touch sensitive and dynamic Cathode Biased output stages, the Custom 8-Ball mirrors the tonality and response of the DUALIST Custom, just without the overdrive stage and FX loop since it doesn’t need one. Great for players who want a clean musical touch-sensitive amp without the preamp overdrive stage, and a very good pedal platform. Using a limited quantity of N.O.S. original and cared for, 102 3 series PULSONIC cones, this recreates late 60s G12H. Finished in period correct hammered silver, the 75hz cones are married to a 1.75” voice coil, heavy magnet and Kurt Mueller suspension and caps. Rated at 60w the Pulsonic 60 8ohms is a great drop into a 1×12, or a pair wired for 4 or 16ohms nicely copes with a 100w head.
The DUALIST XL replaces the early stage tonestack with a fixed response EQ network, and moves the operational tone controls to the end of overdrive circuit which results in a more aggressive gain response. The ‘Voice’ switch changes the values of the tonestack circuit components to choose between classic British and American voicing. The DUALIST XL is pitched at heavier rock drive but is still cable of achieving classic clean to crunch response by having the Master volume full up, keeping Gain2 off and using just the Gain1 as your volume control. The XL also has a Buffered FX Loop as standard and an optional tube reverb can be fitted. Output stage employs the options of twin 6L6, EL34 or KT66 tube sets as standard, but other power tube configurations and options are available on request.
Come down and visit us to take a closer look at Rob’s work.
