London Power's SUSTAINOR Tube Amplifier

SUSTAINOR is two complete amplifiers built into one chassis. There are two inputs, two outputs, two effects loops, two sets of tubes, and two signal paths. You can plug two guitars in and play through two cabinets. Create the perfect sound. And then another.

Since each channel is a completely separate amplifier, each path can be fitted with tube complements that are quite different, providing extreme tonal variation. Create classic sounds or new ones that never before existed. Go tweed. Go metal. Go metal-tweed. Your rhythm and lead sounds no longer have to be compromises - SUSTAINOR lets you build each sound independently and then lets you switch between those sounds effortlessly.

Both channels have identical controls, allowing the player to set up sounds that are identical, similar or wildly different. Each channel has familiar controls with an organic "feel". DRIVE sets the distortion saturation and the basic sensitivity to the guitar signal. HIGH and LOW provide 2-way EQ that is more powerful than most 3-way EQs. LEVEL sets the preamp output prior to going to the effects loop. Twelve voicing switches alone provide over 4,000 distinct sounds, allowing the player to configure the gain and frequency response of the amp - things that the amp designer usually does!

Within the preamp, the player can set up pristine or warm clean sounds; mild to wild overdrives; or saturated distortions like a hot-rodded amp. The preamp accepts any dual-triode with standard pin-outs in any combination: 12AT7, 12AU7, 12AX7, 12AY7, ECC81, ECC82, ECC83, 5751, 7025, or any variants. Each preamp can use entirely different tubes than the other channel.

SEND and RETURN set the signal level to external effects and the return gain needed for proper effect balance. The loop can be set to 'series' mode using the S switch. The loop can be turned on and off remotely using a foot switch. Both the 'send' and 'return' jacks are transformer isolated and ground liftable to eliminate ground loops with external devices.

LOUD, BODY and POWER are continuous controls, with a familiar feel. POWER is Power Scaling, providing continuous power control from 25W down to tens of milliwatts - a 44db dynamic power range. The lowest setting is "unusably quiet" - no one can dispute that this is quiet! BODY lets you warm up the sound just a bit, or dial all the way to single-ended tones. Use the SE switch to reconfigure the output stage for true single-ended performance - and BODY still adds harmonic enhancement. Master-volume and non-MV sounds are easily accessed.

Compression or distortion from the power amp can be used to smooth the distortion from the preamp. You can run either section clean with the other dirty, or both clean, or both dirty. SUSTAINOR's controls give the player ultimate freedom of choice and extreme breadth of tonal textures to explore.

The power section can be operated with one or two tubes, any type of standard octal tube, and any combination of types, including: 6CA7, 6L6, 6V6, 6550, EL-34, KT-66, KT-77, KT-88, or any variants. Each power section can have entirely different tubes.

MORE THAN A CHANNEL-SWITCHER

SUSTAINOR can be operated like every other two-channel amp with the sound of amp-A or the sound of amp-B going to the speaker cabinet. Each amp can have its own speaker cabinet, so SUSTAINOR becomes an integrated multi-amp stage system unto itself.

You can split SUSTAINOR at the effects loops. This allows the two power amplifiers to operate just like a stereo power amp into separate cabinets while the preamp channels are alternately selected. Or, switch the power amps instead with the preamps mixed into whatever is chosen.

CONTROL OPTIONS

A single-button foot-switch can be used to control the effects loop of one channel, while another single-button foot-switch controls the channel output, alternately enabling sound or muting.

An optional 4-button foot switch allows direct random access between channel and loop combinations: A, A+fx, B, B+fx.

When used in the STAGE LINK system, the player can choose that either amplifier or both be a part of that amp selection system. The front-panel Linking switches allow programming of the input and output connections, along with SUSTAINOR's response to foot-switch input controls.

FLEXIBILITY

SUSTAINOR continues the evolution and tradition of London Power's amplifier line. Versatility is unparalleled. The independent signal paths allow one amp to be set up, say, like a Champ but with an 800-ish preamp, while the other channel is set up like a big Hiwatt amp. Each channel can have its own effects plugged in, as there are separate loops for each channel. So, that 800-Champ can have a little delay, while the big Hiwatt has a touch of chorus added. The possibilities are endless!

Some players may set the two paths to be identical except for loudness. Others may set the sounds to be similar except for crunch levels. SUSTAINOR is one of the few amps in which two players can plug in and have individually idealized sounds that do not interfere with each other! Try that with your favourite mass-production amp.

Each channel has a line output that tracks its speaker output. This is transformer isolated and ground liftable to avoid ground loops. As with all London Power amplifiers, the speaker can be disconnected and the line output used for silent recording.

4U chassis with front tube access and front access for bias adjustment and testing.

See the list of features common to the new line of London Power instrument amplifiers.