Purchased from: Manufacturer
Street Price:
Amp Head $550.00 USD + Shiping
Combo Amp $750.00 USD + Shiping
(with Celestion Century Neodymium 12 inch speaker)
About:
Satellite Amplifiers® is the manufacturer of boutique hand crafted all-tube guitar amplifiers based out of San Diego, CA.
This Satellite Amplifiers® Port-A-Watty is a portable
battery powered/wall powered all tube 12 watt guitar amplifier that has two versions powered by either
6AQ5 tubes, or
with 6V6 tubes. Currently it is available from Satellite
Amplifiers® as a 1-12
combo and as an amp head.
Amp Features:
12-Watts Class AB, Power Tubes: with either 6AQ5, or 6AQ5 tubes, Gain,
and Volume controls. The Combo version features (1) Celestion Century Neodymium 12 inch
speaker. Both the Amp head and the combo have a built in rechargeable battery
power supply system that gives the player up to 5 hours of playing time on a
full charge.
Sound:
Guitar used:
Adam Grimm’s 1970’s Gibson Les Paul
Reliability & Durability:
I was one of the lucky ones that had a chance to play the
uncased prototype at the NY guitar show on June 3rd so I did not
have a chance to abuse the product like I have others in the past. I have
only heard good things about Satellite Amplifiers® and from the construction of their other amp models at the show, they look like they can take a beating.
Impression:
I
have played many different amps and for the most part they
are very close in design and the tonality is what separates them. This
amp has
a nice warm vintage sound that complements the guitar but it has
something that
the other guys don’t: portability with tonality. There are a few amp
manufactures that offer a portable practice amp, and they work well but
you
would never (or at lest I would never) use them to play a venue. What Satellite
Amplifiers® has done is turn their attention to detail in this portable
product. This amp not only sounds better than the Fender Blues JR III,
Marshal Haze,
and Vox ac15, but you can unplug it and bring it with you. If you're like
me, you
like sitting on the porch on a warm night with an acoustic playing the
blues,
but with this amp, you can also piss off the neighbors a little with some Hendrix if you feel like it. This amp is a great amp overall and it would be on my wish list
just
for its overall sound, but the fact that it is portable makes it just amazing.
My advice:
This Amp is a great buy. If you are in the market for a studio or small amp I would get it. If you wanted a portable all tube guitar amp this is the best I have seen to date.
Contact:
Satellite Amplifiers®
1322 Gertrude St.
San Diego, CA 92110
(619)275-2255
