Amp Maker P1800

It is a tube amp kit to assemble yourself.
All electronics are provided, and the frame 2 and the faceplate. No box where you have to manage.
Not bad wiring to do, I would advise against someone who does not usually use the soldering iron. The procedure for getting started is very well documented in the manual (available on the website ampmaker)
The circuit is that of a conventional 18w (push pull of EL84), but with the addition of some very thoughtful and useful features.
Front was from left to right:
2 input (normal and high), volume, treble, bass switch, bass, output, power, switch on / off
Rear: 2 hp outputs 8 and 16 ohm fuse access and taking alim

UTILIZATION

Configuration is very simple, you plug it up the volume and it sounds
To expand a bit settings:
The power is a VVR, and it's very effective to play at low volume and enjoy the crunch, much better than attenuator AMA
The output is a rotary switch with 4 positions:
- Mute (corresponds to stand bye)
- SE (Single Ended, the receiver only works with 2 EL84 and so down to 5w)
- PP (push pull, it's normal position 18w)
- PP + Not yet tested, according to the designer is like PP, but the sounds a bit more hi-fi
The treble knob is actually the tone knob on the amp, the bass will be active qu'uen times the bass switch engaged.

SOUNDS

I use it with a Strat and a LP in a more rock repertoire at large, so need to clean like big crunch.
The sound is right there, no need to tamper with the 10 minutes it sounds knobs on. I leave the tone at noon and it's perfect!
With the LP is rapidly obtained a big crunch from 4-5 to volume. Cranked, the crunch remains highly dynamic, open and do not collapse, as can be seen on many other amps. that's really a highlight for me.
on the other hand for a real clean with the LP faces an acoustic drum is a bit tight, but you do it anyway by playing the volume knob of the guitar.
With everything happening strat nickel, clean his big thick and hairy in the neck position.
The high between still adds a good layer of volume and saturation

OVERALL OPINION

I ended up there a couple of weeks, and I did two rehearsals with before writing this review.
The main strength of this amp out of his is the presence of the VVR and the output switch, which allows to play and enjoy the crunch as well as in group quietly at home, it does really well as low volume.
I would not say no to a bit more clean headroom (hence the 9/10) but it is doing very well anyway.
QP report is really great, components (including transformers) are of good quality, the faceplate are beautiful.
A choice again without hesitation