September 2024 - Quick Speed Shop 5F4 Super Demo - Strat - Clean then Hot

Quick Super demo using (Canon) camera audio (exaggerates compression). Rondo plays the white [stock] Strat straight-in. Settings: Clean Set - Amp controls about 6. Pickups - Middle, Bridge, Neck. Overdrive Set - Amp controls at 10 Vol & Treble, 2 Bass. Pickups - Neck, Bridge

September 2024: 1957 5E3 Service

1957 5E3 on the bench. Chassis came in for a three-prong power cord and general evaluation. Amp had a cap-job (electrolytics only) some time ago (by an unknown party) and one cap was installed backwards. Also, a '69 Blackface Deluxe OT had been subbed in (probably a few decades ago). Amp is all original otherwise and those old yellow Astrons are still holding on! Amp sounds absolutely fantastic.

August 2024: Gerald Weber

Just noticed that Gerald Weber of Kendrick Amplifiers passed away earlier this year. Gerald was a legendary figure in the amp world; one of the first boutique builders and an author/writer. His amps are renown for their tone and Gerald will be remembered for them, as well as for being a mentor/guru to many aspiring amp builders. Gerald was also a really nice guy. I never met Gerald but did correspond with him many times over the years. He would always write me right back whenever I'd reach out to him about a technical issue I needed help with. A very kind person who was always quick to share his knowledge. Thank you, and 'Ciao,' Gerald.

The Weber family is asking for donations to be made in Gerald's honor, to preserve his legacy and continue his dream of Kendrick Amplifiers remaining groundbreaking and iconic: Gerald John Weber Jr, Founder of Kendrick Amplifiers

August 2024: 5F4 Super NOS Relic

Just completed and headed for burn-in and auditioning. 5F4 Tweed Super NOS Relic, built like a 'swiss watch' by Rondo, with custom A10Q speakers also coned in-house by Rondo. Features relic cab, custom iron, NOS tube set, RecPro/NOS caps, resistors, etc., mild tuning.

July 2024: Power Champ!

The amp on the left is a Speed Shop 5F1 Tweed Champ clone, build using new and NOS components; basically a time capsule. The one on the right is a new Speed Shop Power Champ, slightly modded and outfitted with 5881 power. The stock Champ is a lot of fun to play, rather quiet (about 5 watts), and somewhat restrained in attitude. The Power Champ, on the other hand, can rip your face off! It's noticeably louder (about 10 watts) and overdrives as good (or better!) than a 5E3, and the clean tones are fantastic as well. Which is better? The stock version delivers the classic Tweed experience, while the revamped version provides response more akin to a JTM or Plexi. The choice is yours and price is the same for either. More info here. More on the Power Champ: This is not your grandpappy's Champ! After months of circuit tweaking and speaker shootouts, the Speed Shop Power Champ is here. Featuring 5881 power, "contour" control, vintage-size cab and 8" speaker. About 10 watts of Rock awaits - cleans are great, too. Really fun with all guitars and no pedals are necessary. This is a serious amplifier.

June 2024: Speaker Research Continues

Speaker reconing, custom coils, cones, etc., A/B testing, Vintage Jensens...

May 2024 - 5E3 "Eldo" Combo, Fingerstyle!

Rondo plays fingerstyle on a Gibson R0 though a new Speed Shop 5E3-Eldo combo. B12 speaker, RecPro capacitors, TD58 OT, NOS tubes, etc. Smooth transients and clipping with musical harmonic distortion.

May 2024 - 5E3 "Eldo" Revision, B12Q Speaker, Quick Demo

Quick demo of the new "Eldo" revision Speed Shop 5E3 Combo. This latest iteration represents a further refinement of the Studio-Series tuning that results in a 5E3 that works and sounds like a vintage 5E3... only better. Lightly re-arranging the stock circuit DNA (along with a couple of subtle adjustments) provides a slightly smoother transient response, while the B12Q speaker shifts the response toward the midrange (much like a vintage P12R). Great setup with a sweet spot way down on the volume dial - around "3" in this demo... with a stock Tele. Cleanish, spanky response here, yet with enough compressed "get up and go" to provide fast and smooth tracking. (Audio captures the sound in the room very faithfully.)

April 2024 - 5F4 Super, Quick Demo

Quick demo of the overdrive response of a new Speed Shop 5F4 Super by Rondo. 2022 Gibson Custom Shop 1960 Les Paul Reissue (R0). Amp is largely stock, but with some tone circuit mods to modernize the response and increase the tonal range across different guitars/pickups. Easy/liquid leads and Who's Next tight/focused rhythms. Dead quiet. About 40 watts output. Two vintage-spec A10Q AlNiCos smooth out the overdriven tone and are slightly less efficient (than modern ceramics) making the amp good-and-loud - but never earsplitting. All NOS tubes including 5881s and ST 5U4. (EL34s also sound great.) Mercury power and custom output transformer. Hand built using only NOS sockets and resistors, NOS and RecPro yellow capacitors, and the best of new production pots and switchgear. Only 38 pounds! Demo features guitar straight into the amp - no effects, pedals, or processing of the signal. Settings: normal channel, about 80% volume, 40% bass, 90% treble, presence off. I did my best to capture the tone in the room, but it's even better in person - a really fun amp!

February 2024: Just Baked!

Real deal, vintage-spec TD58OT output transformers - made by Rondo. These are just out of the oven after several hours of varnish bake out.