January 2022 - New Developments

Been a very busy fall at the Speed Shop with lots of work and some very cool new things happening.

RecPro Tweed-era capacitors are in stock and now available. After [too] much research and patent searches, there is finally a range of signal capacitors made available to builders that are assembled using the correct materials delivering the correct tone and response. Like all else at the Speed Shop, the reason it is created is because it does not already exist.

In other cool news, on the bench is the new Speed Shop 5F6a Bassman which is available in a 2x10 or 4x10 (A10Q) configuration with multi power-tube compatibility. This amp really rocks, and dimed with a pair of Genalex Gold Lion KT66 you're in serious early Van Halen territory. Beautiful cleans as well. Built by Rondo (JTM tuning) with all the best NOS stuff and Speed Shop know-how, this new flagship 5F6a Bassman amp is now available and built to order. The Speed Shop 5F6a Bassman is a very rare amp series offered in limited numbers.

Please note: Lead times for all amp builds is currently 15 weeks.

April 2021 - Introducing the RecPro Audio Vintage American Channel 'VAC' Mic Preamp

Rondo demos his new Vintage American Channel (VAC) microphone preamplifier. A boutique and faithful recreation of a vintage 1960 tube preamp console module used on countless hit recordings throughout the 1960s.

Late August 2020 - New Video Demo: Rondo plays the Speed Shop 5F4 Tweed Super w/5881s & Stock Tele

Cranked 5F4 Tweed Super Amp by Rondo and the Speed Shop. NOS tube set featured with NOS Tung-Sol 5881 power, RCA 5U4 rectifier, 12AX7 and 12AY7 preamp tubes. 2x A10Q Speed Shop AlNiCo speakers. Amp is mildly tuned by Rondo for best tone and performance. All NOS vintage components and vintage output transformer.

RecPro Audio customers span the globe, hailing from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Italy, Montenegro, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Venezuela, and beyond.

Custom hardwood 5E3 head with heavy-duty (but light-weight) dove-tail construction / hardware and TY Yellow finish with lacquer top coat.

May/June 2020: New! Speed Shop 5F4 Tweed Super / 5E7 Bandmaster

Fantastic Speed Shop Tweed Super 5F4 Heavy Relic Combo featuring 2 brand new A10Q AlNiCo speakers. This amp sounds amazing and is fitted with all the best componentry from Rondo's stash. NOS everything (where applicable) and the very best new production parts everywhere else. NOS tube set (featuring micro-matched vintage Tung-Sol 5881s available). The star of the retro show is a very rare vintage output transformer that adds the extra swagger. This new Speed Shop amp was in development for several months and is essentially a stock - but carefully tuned and dialed-in - 5F4 Super. Much more versatile than vintage/stock while retaining the great Tweed cleans, but with a JTM45-style overdrive that was always in its DNA waiting to be set free. Big, bold, and in-your-face 5F4 Tweed Super / 5E7 Tweed Bandmaster tone. You can truly get lost for hours playing this Super with every guitar, pickup selection and guitar/amp settings. The Speed Shop Super will accept 5881, EL34, 6L6GC and more. Currently running EL34s @ 42 watts RMS. One-off custom build prototype (featured in the demo videos and photo below) is available. Also taking new orders. Contact Rondo for more info.

June 2020: RIP Paul "Tonka" Chapman, June 9, 1954 - June 9, 2020

Paul Chapman died yesterday - it was his 66th birthday. Very sad. He was a really nice guy and a truly great player who will remain an inspiration to many. I was in his band and lived with him (and Cheryl) over the summer/fall of '84 - between his stints with UFO and Waysted. Lots of laughs and fun and work with him. I'm proud to have known and played with Paul. We never knew him as "Tonka," so... Ta, Chappy!