THE ULTIMATE
GUITAR POWER AMP
Price: $4,000
FLEXIBILITY DOUBLED
The STUDIO was the first variable-power production amplifier and it still outperforms all others in sheer flexibility and tonal range. All of the sonic textures available from previous versions of the STUDIO are here - twice! STUDIO POWER AMP is a dual amplifier with two complete amplifiers in one low-profile 2U chassis.
The STUDIO model was the first production guitar amp with Power Scaling. That simple 0-10W amp was – and still is - unusual in that the player has control over every parameter - things that only the amp designer used to see or choose. London Power empowers the player to configure the circuit however it sounds best to the player. Considering the tonal versatility of a single STUDIO amp, having two in the same chassis is a mind-boggling proposition - and a wonderfully useful tool in the recording studio!
POWER WITH FINESSE
STUDIO POWER AMP has the usual array of unique power amp controls that London Power originated. Of course, the POWER SCALE control governs output power. There is BODY, which accesses single-ended tones: dial up tones from the tiniest "champ" to the largest push-pull amp. Single-ended power is 1W clean and 3W distorted. LIMIT is used along with POWER SCALE to maintain a given sound when dialing up or down; stay at the cusp of compression from whisper to wail.
STUDIO POWER AMP provides over 25W continuous both channels driven, or one channel driven and the other dialled down. With this much power, clean headroom is not a problem in the recording environment. With Power Scaling, being "too loud" is not a problem either, and accessing power tube compression and distortion at low-SPLs is easy. Over 44dB of dynamic power range is available: this is London Power's standard loudness range going from "unusably loud to unusably quiet". The LIMIT control is used along with POWER SCALE to maintain specific output stage effects. Stay at the cusp of compression or distortion while dialing down to whisper levels. The sound is solid and dynamic.
Our unique T-U-P switch (Triode/Ultra-linear/Pentode) allows different operating modes for the output tubes. Pentode sound is punchy and loose and is the sound of nearly every guitar amp ever made; triode sound is tight and restrained; ultralinear is in between. SHAPE acts as a low-frequency contour, and SPARKLE is like a 'presence' control.
The bias method and level can be set with the TWEED switch: providing pure fixed-bias, pure cathode-bias or a mix of both. Access the sound of true class-A performance - not what others claim to be class-A.
Each path has its own set of tubes and controls, so it really is like having separate amplifiers. Any octal power tube with the standard pin-out can be fitted in pairs or in any combination: 6CA7, 6L6, 6V6, 5881, 6550, EL-34, KT-66, KT-77, KT-88, or any variant. Bias adjustments and meter test jacks are on the rear panel, right beside the associated tube.
UNRIVALED INPUT ADAPTABILITY
The input accepts signals from anywhere you wish to derive them: from a guitar, from effects, from a preamplifier, even from another amp's speaker output. The INPUT control regulates whatever signal is presented to STUDIO POWER AMP so that nothing within the amp is over-driven unless the player wants it to be. A maximum signal size in excess of 50Vrms can be accepted.
DRIVE actively controls the gain that follows, from unity up to 80db, depending on the preamp tubes fitted.
You don't really need a preamp with STUDIO POWER AMP. It can do it all. But... it also works well with any preamp you wish to connect to it. Note that STUDIO POWER AMP's low noise and wide bandwidth will reveal surprising noise output from certain brands of preamplifier.
The low-level stages use standard pin-out dual-triodes: 12AT7, 12AU7, 12AX7, 12AY7, 5751, 7025, ECC-81, ECC-82, ECC-83, or any variants in any combination. Optimal clean headroom is obtained with two 12AT7s per channel. The tubes are easily accessed on the rear panel.
OUTPUT FLEXIBILITY
In the tradition of London Power's STUDIO-family, speaker matching is left to the MATCH switch. Set it for whatever sounds best to you. Our output transformers are rugged and will not be hurt by impedance "mismatches". Like all Power Scaled amps from London Power, you can operate STUDIO POWER AMP without a load and simply go direct into a board.
Each path has its own transformer-isolated line output. The LINE control sets this signal level after the rest of the amp is configured. The line signal is derived at the speaker output, so everything except the speaker frequency shaping is captured.
SYSTEM FLEXIBILITY
STUDIO POWER AMP can be used as a channel-switching guitar amplifier into one cabinet, or as a channel-switching amp into separate cabinets. Use front-loaded effects and guitar speaker cabinets - just play. For further versatility, each channel can have its own cabinet while alternately playing through the switched cabinet.
STUDIO POWER AMP can be used just as one would use a stereo power amplifier, either through guitar cabinets or full-range monitor speakers. Each channel can be used independently for different functions or for different instruments.
The topology allows independent use of the two paths, or lets the unit be used like a channel switcher - all while driving a single cabinet or separate cabinets. The Switching Mode switches control channel activity and program how STUDIO POWER AMP responds to foot-switch inputs. Set Mode to A for that channel to be active; set Mode to B for that channel to be active; set Mode to A+B for both to be active alternately or independently. Here, the second mode switch comes into play allowing one foot-switch to toggle alternately between A and B with “1-channel on” at a time, or for “2-channels on” where each channel's foot-switch acts like a mute just for that channel independently.
STUDIO POWER AMP IS A 'GREEN' PRODUCT
STUDIO POWER AMP is an ecologically friendly device, in that there are no stand-by circuits that remain powered when the unit is turned off.
