Ugly amps that actually sound good

Winny_Pooh · September 2023

I love the look of most valve amps made up to 1980 and new boutique stuff.

This thread is about the opposite of those:

Yorkie · September 2023

I was going to post a picture of my Bandit but the novelty factor is gone.

How about this one:

ICBM · September 2023

I’ve never thought the red stripe Transtubes are ugly at all - quite the opposite, I really like the ‘art deco cinema’ styled end pieces and the graphics. I did change the original ‘spiky’ Peavey logo on mine for the smaller ‘round’ one, admittedly - although the ‘modern’ one there is better still.

The Dual Rectifier isn’t pretty, but it is iconic - hard as nails, brutal and uncompromising. (Actually more so than some of the more subtle sounds it can do, they’re surprisingly versatile.)

The Tuck ‘n’ Roll Kustoms are what they are - unique, slightly tongue in cheek, but cool.

The Hughes & Kettner is ugly, I’ll give you that…

Gibson Goldtones probably top the list of ugly but still sound good. Absolutely hideous!

Image: https://www.vintage-guitar.de/img/vintage/2640/Gibson-Goldtone-GA30-RV-Amp-015.JPG

Dave_Mc · September 2023

^ That Gibson one there is really the only one I don't like. The recto especially is a total classic.

Dominic · September 2023

I really like the look of the Goldtone ,they are great amps once you change the plastic valve seats but I really like the 1940s radiogram style of it........also reminds me of 1970s Television cabinets and 'Music Centres '

Nerine · September 2023

Sorry, OP, you’ve had a mare with the inclusion of the Dual Rectifier.

They’re hard af.

Aidanspaghetti · September 2023

I remember being blown away when I first saw the dual recs. Iconic as someone said. Cool as.

fretfinder · September 2023

Ugly amps that sound good? Most Tone Kings.

rlw · September 2023

Seem to remember something about fireplaces and stoking the fire........

lustycourtier · September 2023

Ugly was a Decent boutique brand a good few years ago. They did a wonderful bluesbreaker type

digitalscream · September 2023

Just because I'm contrary, how about a handsome amp that sounds like ass* and breaks all the time?

Image: https://www.gak.co.uk/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down,width=651,height=621,format=auto/https://58eca9fdf76150b92bfa-3586c28d09a33a8c605ed79290ca82aa.ssl.cf3.rackcdn.com/randall-nb-king-100-nuno-bettencourt-signature-head-334123.jpg

* in the hands of anybody other than Nuno

DartmoorHedgehog · September 2023

digitalscream said:

Just because I'm contrary, how about a handsome amp that sounds like ass* and breaks all the time?

* in the hands of anybody other than Nuno

That looks like somebody's built an amp out of an old oscilloscope then covered the hole where the screen was with the lid of an ice-cream tub painted black. (In other words, not sure I agree with you on the "handsome" part

)

punchesjudy · September 2023

Bandits look wicked.

Especially that bottom one.

As for ugly amps that sound good… Dunno.

goldtop · September 2023

I always thought the Wallace amps looked like an electronics engineer forgot to get advice from a normal human on what it should look like:

Image: https://tfb-user-images.eu-central-1.linodeobjects.com/3d573e5d3f98ff562a01833bc06e7f589a191e2231660a8d15

Does it sound good? A friend swore by them, and I think there's a Jimmy Page connection, so maybe.

punchesjudy · September 2023

goldtop said:

I always thought the Wallace amps looked like an electronics engineer forgot to get advice from a normal human on what it should look like:

Does it sound good? A friend swore by them, and I think there's a Jimmy Page connection, so maybe.

I think that looks awesome ha.

Maybe I just like ugly amps?..

Winny_Pooh · September 2023

goldtop said:

I always thought the Wallace amps looked like an electronics engineer forgot to get advice from a normal human on what it should look like:

Does it sound good? A friend swore by them, and I think there's a Jimmy Page connection, so maybe.

EricTheWeary · September 2023

Quilter have a name and logo that suggests 1970s folk rock band and the amps seem to have no attempt at aesthetics at all but people seem to really like them as amps.
The original Yerasov GTA15 I think deserves an honorable mention for looking like a side table from 1972 whilst garnering rave reviews.

prlgmnr · September 2023

What's that one that looks like a dehumidifier?

ryanverbena · September 2023

I'm sure this won't go down well with some, but the aesthetics have always kept me from buying Carr amps. They just lean a bit too hard into the quirky vintage look for me. Bartel, for example, have a similar vibe but get it right. Despite them sounding bloody great.

Image: https://tfb-user-images.eu-central-1.linodeobjects.com/5c3655dc1dbfd288b9ab4126488dd28e4e37c72ea3d5429a75

Image: https://tfb-user-images.eu-central-1.linodeobjects.com/dd22cf194bf690419a383c154dcb8ee10d73fa4fd42d3ff82e

RickLucas · September 2023

Selmer Treble and Bass. The croc ones are cool, but they went to an ugly aluminium panel in the 70s.

thermionic · September 2023

I guess these must sound pretty decent, but they look like a kitchen appliance from Fritz Lang’s Metropolis (1927).

https://i.imgur.com/nLDSbCZ.jpg

Probably a right fingerprint magnet as well.

57Deluxe · September 2023

not so much ugly but a ridiculous association to Speed Boats - Fender 57 Deluxe with speed boat handle...

Image: https://cf1.zzounds.com/media/productmedia/fit,2018by3200/quality,85/8150600000v6_hi-c4db0d265631587e98924463e5a0b71f.jpg

Yorkie · September 2023

The great thing about this thread is that those who find amps like the Bandit too plain and boring looking will likely love some of the more… quirky? designs being posted, and viceversa

ICBM · September 2023

Yorkie said:

The great thing about this thread is that those who find amps like the Bandit too plain and boring looking will likely love some of the more… quirky? designs being posted, and viceversa

I love the tweed Carr, but not the black one. I also like the Fender speedboat as a design, but not for a 5E3.

Yorkie · September 2023

ICBM said:

Yorkie said:

The great thing about this thread is that those who find amps like the Bandit too plain and boring looking will likely love some of the more… quirky? designs being posted, and viceversa

I love the tweed Carr, but not the black one. I also like the Fender speedboat as a design, but not for a 5E3.

And I love the Dickinson one... for a Mac Pro inspired computer!

soma1975 · September 2023

digitalscream said:

Just because I'm contrary, how about a handsome amp that sounds like ass* and breaks all the time?

* in the hands of anybody other than Nuno

I thought it was known that live he had his DSL40 behind the cabs for these. Not sure he ever really played them.

soma1975 · September 2023

thermionic said:

I guess these must sound pretty decent, but they look like a kitchen appliance from Fritz Lang’s Metropolis (1927).

https://i.imgur.com/nLDSbCZ.jpg

Probably a right fingerprint magnet as well.

Seeing one in real life at his work shop it's a thing of beauty but yeah I don't fancy cleaning it.

Sassafras · September 2023

I love that Dickinson amp but I wonder what effect the metal box has on the sound, especially at high volume. It must vibrate like a kazoo.

richardhomer · September 2023

Apart from hardwood cab Mark series Boogies, are any amps actually ‘pretty’?

Nerine · September 2023

richardhomer said:

Apart from hardwood cab Mark series Boogies, are any amps actually ‘pretty’?

Yes. I think some of the custom colour suede Two Rocks look sublime.

Sassafras · September 2023

richardhomer said:

Apart from hardwood cab Mark series Boogies, are any amps actually ‘pretty’?

Some must be because apparently "stage look" is a crucial deciding factor.

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Ugly amps that actually sound good

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