"With this amp, Dave Davies wouldn't have had to shred his speaker to get his 'You Really Got Me' guitar tone." Mitch Colby resurrects the amp that gave Paul McCartney his start and put the Kinks on the hit parade

The original Elpico AC55 played a significant role in what's commonly regarded as the first distorted guitar sound in a British rock and roll recording after Dave Davies used one to record his famous track on the Kinks' 1964 hit "You Really Got Me".

Sets a new benchmark for sound in classic rock music.

If there's anyone who can take a vintage circuit from the late '40s or '50s and transform it into the best possible version of itself with optimal tone and performance, that'd be the perfect scenario, imagine that.

The pictures accompanying this text show how much larger the reworked Colby Elpico AC55 is compared to the original surf-green AC55. The size of essential components such as the cabinet, speaker, and transformers has all increased, giving a big boost to the format. Overall, the new amp keeps the distinct characteristics that set the original apart from other vintage amps, making it sound unique.

According to Colby, "The original AC55 had a lot of preamp gain with a lot of negative feedback in the output stage, a relatively unusual tone stack, and an ultralinear power stage with a transformer that has two 4-ohm secondaries. In the new design, I utilize both of these features all the time – in parallel for the 4-ohm setting, and in series for 16-ohm." The tone stack Colby is referring to is essentially a passive version of the active Baxandall circuit sometimes used by Orange, Ampeg, and more recently, Dr. Z, with wide-ranging bass and treble controls.

Among the updates for versatility are a mid control, a master with bypass option, separate three-way bright switches for each channel, a switch to combine the two channels with added gain, and a line out with adjustable volume and a choice of full or muted response. Notably, Colby dropped the original's third channel, "Gram," as it was largely ineffective for guitar, and has reworked the second of the original's two identical mic channels to offer greater tonal options.

The Colby Elpico AC55 is a high-performance amp that draws about 16 watts from a set of EL84s, featuring preamp tubes, a phase inverter tube, and an EZ81 rectifier tube. It's paired with a 12-inch Celestion G12H-25 Greenback speaker installed in a 22 by 19 by 9-inch solid-pine cabinet weighing 34 pounds. The new model retains the distinctive personality of the original, but with more powerful capabilities. Its sleek design features black vinyl covering with white piping, complemented by a rich EC Collins Bluesbreaker-style pinstripe grille cloth surrounding the speaker, all of which evoke the timeless styling of the classic amp.

Inside, it's clear that Colby's expertise in crafting high-quality work shines through. A sturdy, heavy-duty aluminum frame, welded together with precision, houses a robust circuit board made up of high-grade components, such as Mallory coupling capacitors, top-of-the-line MOD electrolytic capacitors, and a blend of high-performance carbon-comp and carbon-film resistors.

Here is the paraphrased text:
When tested with a Fender Telecaster and a Gibson ES-355, the Colby Elpico AC55 provided a robust tone with a rich, full-bodied midrange, differentiated from the typical British sound of its dual-EL84 counterparts, yet not resembling a Marshall. Its unique voice also features a distinct articulation alongside a smooth, manageable compression, creating a harmonious interplay in its response to playing.

Even at the intended Normal mode, you'll notice a noticeable grind or distinct sound when you turn up the volume beyond a certain point, especially on channel two, which sounds thicker and a bit more muted. However, channel one produces a brighter and cleaner tone, with both channels effectively maintaining a high volume, up until the point where you've reached their respective maximum volume settings in Normal mode – a remarkable feat for a speaker that's only 16 watts when the master volume is turned up to its maximum.

In a nutshell, I'd say either channel has a solid, transparent sound, making the AC55 sound like a powerful amp overall, exceeding what many 16-watt amps can achieve. Switching to Cascade mode, which links the first channel's gain stage to the second, makes the AC55 a whole different beast - a fierce, aggressive lead sound, though still rooted in vintage tones, and a lot of fun to play.

In comparison to a pristine 1960s era AC55 that was tested alongside it, this re-creation has a much more comprehensive set of features and is an infinitely more practical mid-sized amplifier for contemporary musicians. Nevertheless, it still captures the distinctive voice and character of its vintage counterpart, producing a warm, full-bodied tone at much lower volumes, making it a valuable tool for recording purposes.

I wonder if Dave Davies would have agreed with it. I'd like to think so, and it's possible that with Colby's version available in the studio back in 1964, Dave might not have had to go through so much trouble to get the "You Really Got Me" signal chain just right. In fact, he once shared his thoughts with me during a conversation over tea and scones at a hotel in a trendy neighborhood in London.

I had grown tired of the guitar's dull sound, or rather, the lack of an exciting sound, when I stumbled upon a small radio parts shop nearby that had a tiny green amplifier called an Elpico. I rummaged around and found a single-edged razor from a Gillette, and using it, I carefully cut a pattern of slits around the cone of the speaker. The result was a torn and shredded cone, but surprisingly, it held together. I was struck by the unique sound it produced, and I felt like I had stumbled upon something creative and innovative. We captured the close-mic sound of the guitar in the studio, as well as feeding the speaker output directly into the Vox AC30, which added a nice layer of noise and distortion to the overall sound.

With the Colby Elpico AC55, you won't need tricky configurations - just flip the Cascade switch, turn it up, and you'll get the thick, distinct tube overdrive you need without blowing a speaker. However you use it, this new amp should spark your creativity and offer a unique sound that sets you apart from others.

SPECIFICATIONS

colbyamps.com

$3,350 direct

This product consists of several components: Volume 1 and Volume 3 settings, two Bright settings labeled 1 and 2, as well as controls for Treble, Middle, and Bass frequencies, and a Master volume with an on/off switch, plus a Cascade switch.

16 watts

Three 12AX7 preamp/power gain tubes, two EL84 power output tubes, and an EZ81 rectifier tube

The output features dual speaker connectors, which can switch between 4 ohms, 8 ohms, or 16 ohms, a ¼" direct output with a level control, and a switch to choose between a full or compensated response.

22"x19"x9"

34 lbs

USA

A masterful recreation of an underrated classic, boasting exceptional craftsmanship and a refreshingly diverse flavor.

Its high price may restrict its availability, but that's somewhat to be expected for an amp of this caliber.