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Power Play
ALBION TCT 35 COMBO By Eric Kirkland

VER THE PAST 40 years, Steve Grindrod has designed some of FEATURES TheAlbion's two 6L6 power
England's most classic amplifiers, includingmodels forVox and Mar- tubes run at high voltages, resulting in deep
shall. gut he wasn't given the creative control to realize his vision of tones even at extremely low volumes. If35
watts is too much power, a front-panel switch
the perfect amp-an affordable and versatile combo that produces
drops the output to 33 percent. There's also
boutique tonei-until he teamed with Wharfedale, a longtime leading maker a switch that alters the negative feedback
of audlophile-quality loudspeakers, to create the Albion brand. All of the major loop from open to closed: open provides a
componints usid inelbion's amps are custom made to Grindrod's specs, dem- looser feel and raw tonality, while the closed
onstiating his singular devotion to tone and boutique quality. The all-tube, two- loop is tighter and more narrowly focused.
channel Abion TCT 35 combo is ideally tuned and powered for the club or stu- Highs from the power amp are controlled
dio artist, with a 33-percent-power switching option, a single l2-inch speaker, with the edge knob, and a master volume sets
solid-state reverb and a crystal-clear solid-state effect loop. the amp's overall level. elthough I would

lOO curren woRLD . AUGUST 2011

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have preferred separate reverb controls

for each channel, the global control's keen
circuit integration does an excellent job of
expanding the amp's acoustic bounce without
affecting attack and projection.
Both preamp sections have identical
controls for gain, drive, bass, middle, treble EMG Pickups
and volume. The gain knob dictates the first LlsT PRTCE $1,o79.99 JAMES HETFIELD
gain-stage's level ofaggression, while the MANUFACTURER SIGNATURE SET
adjacent drive control adjusts the second and ALBION MUSICAL
third gain-stage levels, providing the user with INSTRUMENTS, The brainchild of Metallica's James
absolute control over how the amp creates ALBIONAMPS,COM Hetfield, the JH set combines the
preamp gain and making it possible to achieve clarity and punch of a passive pickup
endless textures ofoverdrive and distortion. with legendary EMG active tone. The
A front-panel power
These variances are further enhanced by set consists of the JH-N (neck) and
switch reduces the the JH-B (bridge) pickups and features
amp from 35 watts to sleek, black nickel-plated caps and
approximately 1z watts EMG's Solderless lnstallation System
ofoutput, without
The TCT gS is like having audible compression.
components. The JH-N has individual
ceramic poles and bobbins with a larger
almost all of yourfavorite core to produce more attack, higher
amps in one box. Gain and drive knobs for output and fuller low end in the neck
position. The JH-B uses the same type
each channel allow users
of core but has steel pole pieces for a
to control the saturation
cleaner low end.
of specific preamp
where the gain stages are placed relative to the LrsT PRrCE $299.99
stages.
EMG PICKUPS, EMGPICKUPS.COM
tone stack: channel A's EQ occurs before the
gain and channel B's EQ sets the tone after the THE BOTTOM LINE
gain stages. All three EQ controls are passive Albion's TCT 35 achieves
but highly sensitive, with awider than typical a mind-blowing array of
range. In particular, the midrange circuit's organic gain levels and
sweep seamlessly dials the vocal hues from tonal signatures. Gigging
scooped and snappy to creamy and sweet. guitarists will appreciate
On the backside, there's ajack for the sup- its strong build quality
plied footswitch (channel switching and and ability to replicate a
reverb on/off), a pair ofspeakerjacks with range of signature amp
an eight-/t6-ohm switch and the series effect
loop's send and return jacks with switches for
tones. GraphTech
low-/high-leve1 and bypassed operation. Guitar Labs
RESOMAX WRAP NWl
PERFORMANCE TheAlbionTCT35 BRIDGE
can be dialed from awoody and resonant
tonality to a searing modern stream of The ResoMax Wrap NWr Harmonic
distorted bliss. Although it doesn't quite Bridge System maximizes harmonic
achieve evil metal tones, there's more than content and richness, and the smooth,
want even more power ) curvaceous shape is comfortable for
enough gain for most healy styles. Its note
in a head? The ALBION L-,/ palm muting. The exclusive AutoLock
definition is omnipresen! however, so don't
TCT lOOH delivers feature magnetically secures the bridge
expect this amp to help you blur any flaws
1oo watts in a great- without tools and makes restringing
in your technique. What you can expect are
sounding dual-channel simple and quick. The system is available
familiar sounds in the styles ofblackfaces, in z4-karat gold, chrome and nickel
amplifler. $i,066
tweeds, AC30s, Plexis and others, with more finishes, with coordinated saddles.
control than you've ever had over those tonal LrsTPRTCES $149-$169
signatures. It's like having almost all ofyour GRAPH TECH GUITAR LABS,
favorite amps in onebox. GRAPHTECH.COM

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