"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

An original Elpico AC55 was also instrumental in creating the first distorted guitar sound in a British rock and roll recording, specifically when Dave Davies plugged into one to record his signature track on The Kinks' 1964 hit "You Really Got Me."

This performance has set a new benchmark for the iconic, guitar-based sound of classic rock.

If someone can take an outdated circuit from the late 1940s or 1950s and optimize it to be its best version, where every amplifier is superior and provides the most desirable tones, then that would be perfect.

The photos demonstrate that Colby's revamped Elpico AC55 is larger in size compared to the original surf-green model, not only in terms of the cabinet, but also other essential components, such as speakers and transformers.

According to Colby, "The original AC55 featured an excessive amount of preamp gain with high levels of negative feedback in the output stage, a distinctive tone stack with some unique characteristics, and a power stage powered by a transformer with two 4-ohm secondary windings. In the redesigned amp, I've incorporated these elements simultaneously – both in parallel for the 4-ohm setting and in series for 16-ohm operation." The tone stack referred to by Colby is essentially a passive version of the Baxandall stage, commonly used by some manufacturers, which offers broad control over bass and treble frequencies.

Among his upgrades are features that enhance versatility, including a mid control, a master with bypass switch, separate three-way bright switches for each channel, a switch to combine the two channels for increased gain, and a line out with a level control and switch for either full or tone-corrected response (a simulated speaker cabinet tone). Note that the original's third channel, "Gram" for gramophone (record player), was practically useless for guitar, so it's been removed. Additionally, Colby has re-voiced one of the original's remaining two mic input channels for a wider range of tonal options.

A bit about the Colby Elpico AC55: it's a high-power amp that rivals its original predecessor in output, producing about 16 watts using four tubes, including two EL84s, three 12AX7/ECC83s, and an EZ81 rectifier tube. The amp is paired with a Celestion G12H-25 Greenback speaker, housed in a 34-pound cabinet made of solid pine with a birch-ply baffle, measuring 22 by 19 by 9 inches. The Colby Elpico's stylings have been tweaked to give it a unique look, featuring a black vinyl covering with white piping, a EC Collins Bluesbreaker-style grille cloth, and a nod to the original's design in the trapezoidal speaker cut-out.

Inside, the circuit showcases Colby's exceptional craftsmanship. The sturdy, aluminum frame contains a turret board carefully wired with premium components, such as high-quality capacitors made by Mallory, reliable electrolytic caps, and a combination of high-quality carbon-composition and carbon-film resistors.

The Colby Elpico AC55 was tested with a Fender Telecaster and a Gibson ES-355, bringing a classic EL84 tone with a punchy voice distinct from the British-inspired amps in its class. It sports a somewhat bass-heavy midrange, avoiding the strong Marshally flavor, and surprisingly pairs articulate, sharp attack with fairly gentle compression, yielding a pleasant playing response.

Even in normal mode, there's a significant volume boost when you exceed a moderate level, particularly noticeable with channel two, which has a richer, slightly more muted tone. In contrast, channel one offers a brighter, more energetic sound, yet both channels provide ample volume reserves, quite remarkable for a 16-watt amplifier at maximum volume setting.

Reduced to a three-word takeaway, I'd describe both channels as "stout, refined," which gives the AC55 a more prominent big-amp sound than many other 16-watt amplifiers. Switching to Cascade mode, where the gain stage of the first channel is connected to the second, the AC55 becomes a more intense, aggressive lead performer with a nostalgic, yet still highly enjoyable, sound.

Compared to the original 1960s AC-55 that Colby sent for testing, the re-made amp has significantly more features and capabilities overall, making it a much more practical and usable mid-range amp for modern musicians. Despite this, the recreation still manages to capture the distinctive sound and character of its vintage counterpart, producing a delicious, full-bodied sound at lower volumes, and one that could still be very effective for live recordings and studio use.

I'd like to think Dave Davies would have approved of this, and maybe, given the chance to work with Colby's setup in 1964, he wouldn't have ended up using such complex signal chain techniques to create the signal for "You Really Got Me", as he explained to me during a conversation over tea and scones in a hotel in West London many years ago.

I was getting really frustrated with this guitar sound - it just wasn't interesting enough.

You won't need any gimmicks with the Colby Elpico AC55. Just flip the Cascade switch, turn it up, and you'll get rich, thick tube overdrive without worrying about blowing speakers. No matter how you use it, this new amp from a renowned British tone expert will likely spark your creativity and provide unexpectedly versatile options while setting you apart from the crowd with its unique sound.

SPECIFICATIONS

colbyamps.com

$3,350 direct

Here is the paraphrased text:
Volume Control, Volume 2, Loud 1, Loud 2, High, Balance, Low, Main Control with Power Button, Mix Override Switch

16 watts

Three 12AX7 audio preamp/equalization tubes, two EL84 output amplification tubes, and an EZ81 rectifier/diode tube

The speaker source has two outlets that allow you to choose between 4Ω/8Ω or 16Ω configurations, and it also includes a ¼" direct output with a level controller, plus a switch to select between full response and compensated response.

22"x19"x9"

34 lbs

USA

A brilliant and remarkably well-crafted reinterpretation of an oft-overlooked original, with a remarkable range of its own capabilities.

While its hefty price tag may make it less accessible to some, that's to be expected from an amplifier of this caliber.