©2011 Bruce Clement, BC Audio, San Francisco
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hand-
Video Review
Excerpts:
...I plugged my Epiphone Sheraton loaded with Tom Holmes PAFs directly in and cranked the Bright Volume up all the way, Presence set at noon. Right there in front of me came a whollop and kerrang that I’ve never experienced from a little 6V6 amp. To me, 6V6s are a great tube but traditionally suffer from a flubby bottom end. In this amp’s case there was none of that, just a pure and gorgeous saturated tone that reminded me of a mix of a Superlead and an AC30. To say that the tone was sweet would be doing it a disservice. I can’t put my finger on it, but it’s like the amp just blew the guitar up without adding anything but good stuff to it: superb, thick power tube gain with no artifacts or anything else getting in the way, and a pick attack that was downright explosive. It totally felt like a 100-watt amp with all the headroom you’d ever need, just by rolling back the guitar’s volume. The sustain was ridiculous, and along with the Sheraton it bloomed into a gorgeous feedback that was perfectly musical. It felt like a magic blend of muscle, tone and pure rock and roll.
...I pulled back the Bright volume all the way and cranked the Normal Volume. ...I was treated to a thick, wailing tone on the neck pickup and a great, blooming sound. A little less edge at first, but I pushed the Presence up to nearly full and it brought out more AC30-like chime to the tone. Beautiful rock and roll.
Moving on, I plugged in my ’08 Fender Strat and dimed every control. Rolling the Strat’s volume back while in the neck pickup setting conjured tones similar to Hendrix’s cleaner sounds, all the while threatening a serious sonic assault with a roll up of the guitar’s volume knob. I backed off both amp volumes to around noon and was able to pull up some fantastic clean and semi-clean/dirty tones. The
...I plugged my Epiphone Sheraton loaded with Tom Holmes PAFs directly in and cranked the Bright Volume up all the way, Presence set at noon. Right there in front of me came a whollop and kerrang that I’ve never experienced from a little 6V6 amp. To me, 6V6s are a great tube but traditionally suffer from a flubby bottom end. In this amp’s case there was none of that, just a pure and gorgeous saturated tone that reminded me of a mix of a Superlead and an AC30. To say that the tone was sweet would be doing it a disservice. I can’t put my finger on it, but it’s like the amp just blew the guitar up without adding anything but good stuff to it: superb, thick power tube gain with no artifacts or anything else getting in the way, and a pick attack that was downright explosive. It totally felt like a 100-
...I pulled back the Bright volume all the way and cranked the Normal Volume. ...I was treated to a thick, wailing tone on the neck pickup and a great, blooming sound. A little less edge at first, but I pushed the Presence up to nearly full and it brought out more AC30-
Moving on, I plugged in my ’08 Fender Strat and dimed every control. Rolling the Strat’s volume back while in the neck pickup setting conjured tones similar to Hendrix’s cleaner sounds, all the while threatening a serious sonic assault with a roll up of the guitar’s volume knob. I backed off both amp volumes to around noon and was able to pull up some fantastic clean and semi-
thing that blew me away was that at every setting the amp had a presence about it that felt both familiar and new at the same time. It’s like having a handful of your favorite classic tube amps at your fingertips but still hearing something new and fresh. This is an amp that you can play for hours and never get bored with. I must have played straight for three hours before I took a break.
...Honestly, if the Presence were fixed at noon and there were no Normal Volume, this amp would still produce more nuance and tone than most amps I’ve played and I’d never miss not having more to twiddle with. It wakes up your guitars and exposes them for what they are, which was refreshing to my ears. I could really hear the qualities of my Les Pauls, Strats, Danelectros and Teles so clearly it made me wonder why I’d ever need anything else. Sure there’s no FX loop, channel switching or boost, but it never came up as an issue. And, if you’re a pedal freak, you’ve got nothing to worry about as this amp takes them like a schooled pro. I ran a variety of boxes ranging from a Mutron Octave Divider to a Hartman Octave Fuzz to an old Boss SD-1 with great results. The No. 7 handles pedals just like guitars— it lets their quality shine through. I ain’t Eric Johnson, but there was a minute there where I could almost tell what type of battery was in the pedals!
It takes a lot to stand out above the others and proclaim something is “better.” Better is also subjective, as we all know. That said, this reviewer places the No. 7 firmly in the “Better” category, if not the “Best.” It just does everything I would ever ask of an amp, and it does it with style, grace and total rock and roll abandon.
...Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner!
...Honestly, if the Presence were fixed at noon and there were no Normal Volume, this amp would still produce more nuance and tone than most amps I’ve played and I’d never miss not having more to twiddle with. It wakes up your guitars and exposes them for what they are, which was refreshing to my ears. I could really hear the qualities of my Les Pauls, Strats, Danelectros and Teles so clearly it made me wonder why I’d ever need anything else. Sure there’s no FX loop, channel switching or boost, but it never came up as an issue. And, if you’re a pedal freak, you’ve got nothing to worry about as this amp takes them like a schooled pro. I ran a variety of boxes ranging from a Mutron Octave Divider to a Hartman Octave Fuzz to an old Boss SD-
It takes a lot to stand out above the others and proclaim something is “better.” Better is also subjective, as we all know. That said, this reviewer places the No. 7 firmly in the “Better” category, if not the “Best.” It just does everything I would ever ask of an amp, and it does it with style, grace and total rock and roll abandon.
...Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner!
Excerpts:
Bruce Clement [is] a serious builder and accomplished guitar player on a mission.
...The moment we fired up Amplifier No. 7, it was abundantly clear that Clement’s amp is one of the best sounding compact and moderately-powered rigs we have ever reviewed. Yes, we said that, without reservation.
..No. 7 is a deceptively big, lush sounding rig armed with Clement’s brilliant secret weapon… dual 6SL7 octal preamp tubes. Mr. BC has crushed a home run with this setup, producing an amplifier that combines adequate levels of clean and extraordinarily clear tones from 1-5 on the volume control before gracefully ascending into the kind of beautifully rich, elegantly musical distortion that very few modern amplifiers possess. Oh, sure, there are lots of amps that sound good, but they’ll wither pretty damn quick compared to No. 7, and as you know, the quest for tone is all about ‘compared to what.’ What is hip? This is hip.
Bruce Clement [is] a serious builder and accomplished guitar player on a mission.
...The moment we fired up Amplifier No. 7, it was abundantly clear that Clement’s amp is one of the best sounding compact and moderately-
..No. 7 is a deceptively big, lush sounding rig armed with Clement’s brilliant secret weapon… dual 6SL7 octal preamp tubes. Mr. BC has crushed a home run with this setup, producing an amplifier that combines adequate levels of clean and extraordinarily clear tones from 1-
...Clement makes a comment in his owner’s manual that bears repeating: “There are only three knobs so you won’t have a hard time dialing in your sound. And like the great amps of yesteryear, you can’t really get a bad tone out of Amplifier No. 7.” We completely, totally agree with Clement’s observation, and this is not something you should take lightly.
...It seems to us that the sheer quality of No. 7’s sound – the honest, unadorned simplicity of its organic, hand-wired tube tone is remarkably appealing simply because it offers so little for anyone not to like. Its exceptionally rich, deep voice is endowed with adequate power (especially with a 2x12 cabinet), beautiful clean tones and graduated levels of distortion and musical clarity that allow rich harmonics to be fully experienced rather than obscured by zizzy grit, which also makes No. 7 the perfect ‘pedal amp.’ Clement’s Amplifier No. 7 may be small in size, but in all other respects it casts a very large shadow over many similarly powered alternatives. If 15W- 25W is in your wheelhouse and you relish both lush clean tones and gorgeously endowed, bluesy distortion in an eminently portable package, get yours now. $1795 shipped and worth every penny.
...It seems to us that the sheer quality of No. 7’s sound – the honest, unadorned simplicity of its organic, hand-
Excerpts:
...Plugged into a 4x12 cab with Celestion Vintage 30 speakers, we tested the amp using a PRS Singlecut 245 with (very!) PAF-inspired humbuckers and a PRS 305 with PRS’ Strat-inspired 513 single-coil pickups.
Running humbuckers and with the Bright Volume turned to halfway, the No. 7 produces a clean, punchy sound with just a hint of overdrive and a fairly thick midrange. Taking the Volume up brings about some power-section sag, overdrive increases, and overtones thicken up to produce a very musical, crunchy overdrive. Dialing in some Normal Volume on top of the Bright not only increases sustain and overdrive, but fattens up midrange. Note-separation stays consistent, even with both channels cranked. And though the volume it makes is easily loud enough for most gigging situations, it’s not at all hard on the ears.
...Plugged into a 4x12 cab with Celestion Vintage 30 speakers, we tested the amp using a PRS Singlecut 245 with (very!) PAF-
Running humbuckers and with the Bright Volume turned to halfway, the No. 7 produces a clean, punchy sound with just a hint of overdrive and a fairly thick midrange. Taking the Volume up brings about some power-
The No. 7 has no Tone control, and you never miss it; the two distinct voicings produced by the Bright and Normal channels, combined with the Presence control, get you wherever you need to go, tone-wise. Blending the Bright and Normal volumes, you can dial in as much brightness or thick midrange as needed to compensate between humbuckers and single-coils. And because the amp’s front-end cleans up nicely as you tweak the guitar’s Volume controls, you also won’t really miss channel-switching capabilities. The No. 7 does a great job of maintaining overtones even when the guitar’s Volume knobs aren’t running wide open.
Funky and maybe even somewhat esoteric, BC Audio’s Amplifier No. 7’s...heart, soul, and guts are 100 percent solid. This is a straightforward amp with a thick, crunchy tone, and it’s built with top-notch components, assembled right.
Funky and maybe even somewhat esoteric, BC Audio’s Amplifier No. 7’s...heart, soul, and guts are 100 percent solid. This is a straightforward amp with a thick, crunchy tone, and it’s built with top-
Excerpts:
...This compact portable package contains a fire-breathing 15- or 25-watt amp that’s as tough and tight as Elin Woods after intercepting a sext message from Tiger.
...I tried the 15-watt version, which provides sweet 6V6 overdrive and chiming clean tones with surprisingly ample headroom and volume output courtesy of the 6SL7 octal preamp tubes. A surprising variety of tones emerge by blending the Bright Volume and Normal Volume controls. The only other control is Presence, which adds sparkle. Plugged into a 4x12 speaker cab, the Amplifier No. 7 produces lethal volume levels and killer tones that will stun any audience.
...This compact portable package contains a fire-
...I tried the 15-
From the video review:
...Make no bones about it, this amplifier sounds great.
...Amplifier No. 7 couldn’t be simpler. For this 15-watt amplifier, you can see we have three controls. Simple. Presence, Bright Volume and Normal Volume. Just like you find on the old vintage amplifiers, you kind of mix and match both the volumes to achieve your tone.
...By combining both the Normal and Bright volumes, you can get some really pristine clean tones as well a s some nice and soft grind. If you really want to get some crunch, you gotta crank both.
Needless to say, the BC Audio Amplifier No. 7 is build like a tank. And as far as smoothness and tone, this is the one I’m gonna put on point. Definitely check this out.
...Make no bones about it, this amplifier sounds great.
...Amplifier No. 7 couldn’t be simpler. For this 15-
...By combining both the Normal and Bright volumes, you can get some really pristine clean tones as well a s some nice and soft grind. If you really want to get some crunch, you gotta crank both.
Needless to say, the BC Audio Amplifier No. 7 is build like a tank. And as far as smoothness and tone, this is the one I’m gonna put on point. Definitely check this out.
BC Audio Amp #7: 25 Watts of Whup-Ass...
By Thom Opal (Timbre Wolf)
...We went ahead and opened that can
Bruce Clement, of BC Audio, has made two models of the Amplifier No. 7: a 15W version is powered by a pair of cathode-biased 6V6GT and a 5Y3 rectifier, and a 25W version with a pair of New Sensor’s “Tung-Sol” 5881, with a GZ34 rectifier. Other than that, they are basically the same amp. Both sport octal 6SL7 preamp tubes (again, New Sensor’s “Tung-Sol” brand), which are larger bottles than the common 12AX7. TGP’s Rhythmrocker and I were fortunate enough to be able to meet with Bruce, and try out both versions of the No. 7.
In my retro-valve obsessed world, I’ve come to the general realization that, when it comes to tubes, the bigger the plates, the more I like the sound. For instance, given the choice between a long-plate 12AX7, and a short-plate 12AX7A, I will almost always prefer the long-plate version. This 6SL7 amp design supported that generalization. Though I did not hear the same design with a 12AX7 preamp substitution, I also did not hear any hint of the 12AX7 overdrive “sizzle” that plagues many amps. Without the direct comparison, if I had to characterize what I feel the larger-plate 6SL7 choice brings, compared to a 12AX7 preamp tube, it is a fatter, more rounded, somewhat fluid, and more dimensional sonic signature.
Of course, the preamp tube choice is only part of this amp’s design. If not for Bruce’s meticulous wiring, I’m sure the benefits of the tube choices would be moot. The pristine wiring is only rivaled by the preternatural clarity of the sound. And that is all part of Bruce’s express intent – to make an amp of simple sonic purity, while still providing versatility. Simplicity is the beauty of this amp. And, though it takes pedals very well (we tried out the excellent Suhr KokoBoost, and a Suhr Riot distortion), I got the feeling that, with the No. 7, anything added could run the risk of actually detracting from the already perfected sound. Rhythmrocker has reminded me, however, that he felt the KokoBoost combined with the No. 7 amp is all one might ever need for a clean amp/OD platform.
Bright and Normal volume knobs are akin to jumpered inputs on a Marshall. Combined with the Presence control (the only other knob on this simple design), one can adjust settings to shape the overall character from rich and fat (with Normal volume set high, Bright set lower), to lean and chimey (Bright set higher, Normal lower), with a variety of topographies in between. Tonally, the No. 7’s high end was lovely, no matter what the settings – there was nothing harsh or painful, no unwanted hiss – it was just there, sweet and natural.
...We went ahead and opened that can
Bruce Clement, of BC Audio, has made two models of the Amplifier No. 7: a 15W version is powered by a pair of cathode-
In my retro-
Of course, the preamp tube choice is only part of this amp’s design. If not for Bruce’s meticulous wiring, I’m sure the benefits of the tube choices would be moot. The pristine wiring is only rivaled by the preternatural clarity of the sound. And that is all part of Bruce’s express intent – to make an amp of simple sonic purity, while still providing versatility. Simplicity is the beauty of this amp. And, though it takes pedals very well (we tried out the excellent Suhr KokoBoost, and a Suhr Riot distortion), I got the feeling that, with the No. 7, anything added could run the risk of actually detracting from the already perfected sound. Rhythmrocker has reminded me, however, that he felt the KokoBoost combined with the No. 7 amp is all one might ever need for a clean amp/OD platform.
Bright and Normal volume knobs are akin to jumpered inputs on a Marshall. Combined with the Presence control (the only other knob on this simple design), one can adjust settings to shape the overall character from rich and fat (with Normal volume set high, Bright set lower), to lean and chimey (Bright set higher, Normal lower), with a variety of topographies in between. Tonally, the No. 7’s high end was lovely, no matter what the settings – there was nothing harsh or painful, no unwanted hiss – it was just there, sweet and natural.
Mids filled out the body without being obtrusive. Lows were punchy and well-defined – even the 15W, 6V6 model’s lows did not mush out, which is sometimes a problem in other classic 6V6-powered amps. I particularly liked the Bright volume a bit higher than the Normal volume, with my Kinman neck pickup (Hank Marvin Strat set) selected on my Warmoth custom Strat-like guitar, as we played through three different 1x12 speaker cabs (EV SRO coffee-can in ported cab; Mesa/Boogie ½ open back with Celestion-made Black Shadow MC-90 and a Mesa/Boogie ½ open back with an Eminence-made Black Shadow MS-12 – thanks to Rhythmrocker, whose room and gear we used). Keep in mind that this was all with current-production tubes. Those of you who know me will recognize that this is somewhat of a revelation.
I love cleans that melt into light overdrive with playing dynamics. The No. 7’s transition to overdrive is incredibly smooth. In fact, upon a short period of reflection, it occurred to me that I don’t believe I’ve played an amp whose clean-to-slight-breakup zone is quite so captivating.
And did I mention how quiet this amp is? Bruce cranked the amp up a bit to hotter settings, played some ripping licks, and when he stopped... silence. Not to get too mystical about it, but sometimes silence speaks louder than words. What does it say? Perhaps that carefully-planned, meticulously-executed, simple point-to-point wiring has genuine value.
To top off all this rich simplicity, the amp comes in its own durable steel military ammo can. This is where my visual aesthetic and Bruce’s diverge. I would rather have a head casing of antique oak, for instance, than an object associated with warfare (which can just ruin and otherwise agreeable day). But who am I kidding – my NOS Tung-Sol 5881s were created to go into a B-52 bomber. And the can seems to be part of an overall approach of simplicity, and durability. You won’t need a case to protect your head because the amp head is the case, once the handled lid is buckled into place. Though it is not obvious from photos, there is a pair of vibration-absorbing rubber non-skid strips on the bottom side, which are great for reducing the potential for tube microphony. The whole amp head is small, lightweight, and durable.
Three final thoughts:
1)Bruce Clement is every bit as much a gentleman, in-person, as he is in writing, on TGP posts.
2)I wonder what his Amplifier No. 8 will sound like?
3)It doesn’t matter... I want to play an Amplifier No. 7 again.
I love cleans that melt into light overdrive with playing dynamics. The No. 7’s transition to overdrive is incredibly smooth. In fact, upon a short period of reflection, it occurred to me that I don’t believe I’ve played an amp whose clean-
And did I mention how quiet this amp is? Bruce cranked the amp up a bit to hotter settings, played some ripping licks, and when he stopped... silence. Not to get too mystical about it, but sometimes silence speaks louder than words. What does it say? Perhaps that carefully-
To top off all this rich simplicity, the amp comes in its own durable steel military ammo can. This is where my visual aesthetic and Bruce’s diverge. I would rather have a head casing of antique oak, for instance, than an object associated with warfare (which can just ruin and otherwise agreeable day). But who am I kidding – my NOS Tung-
Three final thoughts:
1)Bruce Clement is every bit as much a gentleman, in-
3)It doesn’t matter... I want to play an Amplifier No. 7 again.
User Comments
Feedback from Customers and Others
Bruce makes a very cool amp. His wiring and design are the best in the industry. You rarely see this kind of art in electronics.
Jon E. Love
Love/Hate, Hard Rock AllStars
What a great sounding amplifier!... Kind of a plexi Marshall, but not exactly. There's some Fender to it as well... [The] amp sounds killer. I've really enjoyed playing thru it, and I've used it on a bunch of recording dates... I've discovered a new great amp.
Kenny Greenberg
Toby Keith, Luke Bryan, Chris Young, Deirks Bently, Ashley Cleveland, Bob Seger, Trisha Yearwood, Lionel Richie, Kenny Chesney, many more.
Really digging the amp. Haven't moved much from the 6V6s because I've really been enjoying the explorations. Nice tight tones and you're right: real good with some simple pedal setups.
Used the #7 mostly for rehearsal but finally took it out last week for our gig. A 65+ seat lounge venue and it really held it's own among keys, harmonica, bass, second guitar and a hard hitting drummer at times. Used the 15 watt tube configuration thru an old Marshall 4 x 10 slant cab. This was my 4th show at this place and I've experimented with many different amps. Everything just seemed to be there when needed. My trusty Strat run thru Z-Vex boost (Box of Rocks), and either delay or reverb pedal and that was it. A great solid sound all night.
Rick Simcox
Rick Simcox & The ToneQuesters
Chicago
II love the amp.
Nick Benjamin
Pinkie Rideau & Blind Resistance
Northern California
t has a nice range of responses, I especially like how punchy it is before it begins to break up. The interplay with the three controls gives a much wider range of tones and responses than would otherwise be possible with simple gain/master/eq.
Versatile, unique, and simple. Amp No. 7 has a wide range of tones that I can get to quickly; I can really dig into the lead tones. The amp makes me look forward to playing. This is truly a must-have.
Ray Sayre
Heavy Rubber
San Francisco
This is the most beautiful amplifer that I have ever played through! It is truly an incredible piece. Every nuance of the guitar comes through, and it is as natural sounding an amp as I have ever heard...[It is] among the best that I own, if not the very best, and I have some really good ones that I've picked up over my 60 years on this rock. Thanks for making such a great amplifier.
Jesse Timmins
Baltimore, MD
It's an amazing amp that actually caught me a bit off guard as I really did not expect the revelation-like experience I had with it. It has the fattest and smoothest low watt plexi style leads I've heard, that clean up to incredibly rich and detailed cleans.
All the good 6SL7 traits are there, like fat trebles and big bold bass character but they are refined to the max in this amp. Unlike other 6SL7 equipped boutique amps that I have played in the past, this amp does not have any hi-fi flavoring but manages to adapt the 6SL7's to purely guitar amp duties and exerts their goodness to areas that make sense in guitar playing, like the huge midrange, the big bass push that is felt in the chest and the utter smoothness when pushed hard.
The amp did not show any preference for specific wood combos or pickup types. It loves all my guitars and all my guitars love it back! I've tried an overdrive pedal and a treble booster with it and the sound was excellent but the overdrive pedal, although perfectly blended and super smooth did not capture the amp's own big, fat overdrive. The treble booster on the other hand was a near religious experience! It also played quite nicely through a variety of cabs with the various Scumies that I use.
Bruce Clement, the builder, is a real stand-up guy and has been eager to accommodate my needs and help me through out the order process.
Highly recommended!
Ted Woods
Athens, Greece
I haven't been this excited about a piece of gear in years.
Tom Menrath
Petaluma, CA
Feedback from Customers and Others
Bruce makes a very cool amp. His wiring and design are the best in the industry. You rarely see this kind of art in electronics.
Jon E. Love
Love/Hate, Hard Rock AllStars
What a great sounding amplifier!... Kind of a plexi Marshall, but not exactly. There's some Fender to it as well... [The] amp sounds killer. I've really enjoyed playing thru it, and I've used it on a bunch of recording dates... I've discovered a new great amp.
Kenny Greenberg
Toby Keith, Luke Bryan, Chris Young, Deirks Bently, Ashley Cleveland, Bob Seger, Trisha Yearwood, Lionel Richie, Kenny Chesney, many more.
Really digging the amp. Haven't moved much from the 6V6s because I've really been enjoying the explorations. Nice tight tones and you're right: real good with some simple pedal setups.
Used the #7 mostly for rehearsal but finally took it out last week for our gig. A 65+ seat lounge venue and it really held it's own among keys, harmonica, bass, second guitar and a hard hitting drummer at times. Used the 15 watt tube configuration thru an old Marshall 4 x 10 slant cab. This was my 4th show at this place and I've experimented with many different amps. Everything just seemed to be there when needed. My trusty Strat run thru Z-
Rick Simcox
Rick Simcox & The ToneQuesters
Chicago
II love the amp.
Nick Benjamin
Pinkie Rideau & Blind Resistance
Northern California
t has a nice range of responses, I especially like how punchy it is before it begins to break up. The interplay with the three controls gives a much wider range of tones and responses than would otherwise be possible with simple gain/master/eq.
Versatile, unique, and simple. Amp No. 7 has a wide range of tones that I can get to quickly; I can really dig into the lead tones. The amp makes me look forward to playing. This is truly a must-
Ray Sayre
Heavy Rubber
San Francisco
This is the most beautiful amplifer that I have ever played through! It is truly an incredible piece. Every nuance of the guitar comes through, and it is as natural sounding an amp as I have ever heard...[It is] among the best that I own, if not the very best, and I have some really good ones that I've picked up over my 60 years on this rock. Thanks for making such a great amplifier.
Jesse Timmins
Baltimore, MD
It's an amazing amp that actually caught me a bit off guard as I really did not expect the revelation-
All the good 6SL7 traits are there, like fat trebles and big bold bass character but they are refined to the max in this amp. Unlike other 6SL7 equipped boutique amps that I have played in the past, this amp does not have any hi-
The amp did not show any preference for specific wood combos or pickup types. It loves all my guitars and all my guitars love it back! I've tried an overdrive pedal and a treble booster with it and the sound was excellent but the overdrive pedal, although perfectly blended and super smooth did not capture the amp's own big, fat overdrive. The treble booster on the other hand was a near religious experience! It also played quite nicely through a variety of cabs with the various Scumies that I use.
Bruce Clement, the builder, is a real stand-
Highly recommended!
Ted Woods
Athens, Greece
I haven't been this excited about a piece of gear in years.
Tom Menrath
Petaluma, CA
I had the pleasure of playing both wattage models today (thanks to Bruce, and TGP's RhythmRocker), and I'll never be the same. Thick, clear, and clean sounds, transitioning smoothly into overdrive... as one who has delved deeply into clean sounds that break up with your playing dynamics, I have to say -
Thom Opal
Berkeley, CA
First sonic impression: WOW! No pedals, plugged into a 2x10 plus 1x12 pair of cabs with all the settings at about 2 o'clock is the best semi-
Thanks for a great amp!
Dave Prescott
Houston, TX/Malaysia
Its the best amp I've ever played.
No.7 is an absolutely awesome amp. I'm loving it. I haven't even dialed in any setting, I just turn it on and play, because I can't get a bad tone from this amp. I'm most impressed with the clean tones, which i didn't expect. I'm very impressed.
It's the only amp I now own, as I sold off all my others...they were getting dusty...
Adam King
Sugar Grove, IL
Your amp rocks. I played samples and [the band we are recording] kept asking "that's that little amp??"
The guitar player is falling in LOVE with your amp. We are going to do his guitar work on the CD with your amp.
Robert Iadanza
Carvel Studios
Monroe, NY
Loving the amp. Thanks for the great customer service! I tell everybody who will listen how great your amp is.
Craig Beck
Craig Beck's Guitar Studio
Santa Clarita, CA
The amp is absolutely fantastic. Having a great time.
Doug Whittaker
Yucaipa, CA
Coooool amp!
Jude Gold
Director GIT
Guitar Institute of Technology, Musicians Institute
Hollywood
I'm extremely pleased with the amplifier, the tone is phenomenal and the breakup is really sweet. Reverb, who needs it when you have 3D? It sounds fablous through my 1 X 12 cabinet with a Celestion Gold in it.
Thanks for producing such a great little amplifier. I know that I'll enjoy playing it for years to come.
Mark Dimuantes
Toronto
Just loving the amp.
Rick Lonardo
Methuen, MA
I really appreciate your great attitude and the stellar service you have provided to me in the purchase of your No. 7.
Jim Brock
Mililani, HI
Very clever, VERY nice concept, design and execution. If my friend Steve Ouimette raves about it, it must sound and feel as good as it looks. I like the way your mind works. Can't wait to try one.
Andy Marshall
THD Electronics
Excerpts:
...The ammo can is a head-turner to be sure... Amplifier No. 7’s beauty is more than skin-deep, however, as the interior of the 16 gauge powder-coated steel chassis demonstrates... Amplifier No. 7’s construct is truly a sight to behold.
...Armed with my Telecaster and Gibson SG, I ran Amplifier No. 7 through open-back 1x12, 2x12, and 1x10 cabs...and a Marshall 4x2... Simply put, Amplifier No.7 is a joy to play through every cabinet/speaker configuration. There aren’t many three-knob amps that are capable of delivering the tone, soul, and dynamics that the BC Audio does. Whether it’s gushing chime-y, bell-like clean tones that exhibit the sweet compression of a Vox AC30, or if it’s turned up and slightly grinding, imparting the toughness of a blackface Fender, Amplifier No. 7 sounds like every amp you’ve ever heard, yet
...Armed with my Telecaster and Gibson SG, I ran Amplifier No. 7 through open-
something all together different with its own character and vibe... The Normal Volume is fat and warm while the Bright Volume gives you a keening, ultra-musical-yet-extended treble slice... Even when both Volumes are cranked, the BC stays focused with a finely manicured grind and a singing, musical midrange and taught bottom end. What’s most impressive is the amount of treble detail sans any harshness.
...The amount of clean headroom is perfect, and even fully cranked, I backed off my guitar’s volume control a tad and I was right back in the clean zone.
...Amplifier No. 7 is impressive in more ways than one, but its most remarkable attribute is its tone. Bravo!
...The amount of clean headroom is perfect, and even fully cranked, I backed off my guitar’s volume control a tad and I was right back in the clean zone.
...Amplifier No. 7 is impressive in more ways than one, but its most remarkable attribute is its tone. Bravo!
Excerpts:
Following on the heels of the award-winning Amplifier No. 7, Bruce Clement's Amplifier No. 8 pumps up the gain and adds a master volume circuit to compliment the 25-watt amp's true point-to-point wiring.
In the world of design—be it watches, furniture or architecture—many swear by the less-is-more ethos. But in the world of guitar amplifier design, few put that philosophy into practice quite like Bruce Clement—the BC behind BC Audio. With their point-to-point wiring and no-frills control sets, his amps couldn’t be much simpler. But as the performance of BC Audio Premier Gear Award winning Amplifier No. 7 attests, these simple circuits can be capable of a startlingly wide spectrum of sounds.
...the 25-watt, Class A Amplifier No. 8 gives the player this same versatility with a lot more gain on tap and a capacity for overdrive that’s stunning for an amp of such simplicity.
...Like all BC Audio amps, it’s clean, simple, and elegant—inside and out.
...Moving from clean to a more aggressive tone was as simple as varying my pick attack. By pushing the amp volume to nearly full, I had access to as much sustain as I needed that bloomed gorgeously with overtones and dovetailed into beautiful harmonic feedback. Pick articulation and clarity was stunning at these overdriven levels. And
Following on the heels of the award-
In the world of design—be it watches, furniture or architecture—many swear by the less-
...the 25-
...Like all BC Audio amps, it’s clean, simple, and elegant—inside and out.
...Moving from clean to a more aggressive tone was as simple as varying my pick attack. By pushing the amp volume to nearly full, I had access to as much sustain as I needed that bloomed gorgeously with overtones and dovetailed into beautiful harmonic feedback. Pick articulation and clarity was stunning at these overdriven levels. And
as the 5881s were pushed to the point of breakup, the tone remained dense, thick, and detailed.
...BC’s use of octal preamp tubes which give the No. 8 a rounder, thicker character than any of my Marshalls, which tend to cut more and have less bass.
...With bright single-coils pushing the BC, it was easy to capture chiming clean tones. And with just a little push of the Drive, I found myself in an ideal zone for lead work. One of the big benefits of simple circuitry is that each guitar’s voice comes through loud and clear. And the complete sonic signatures of the Epiphone’s humbuckers and the Stratocaster’s single-coils were audible in stark detail. While some modern and modeling amps I’ve played through tend to “homogenize” the sound and erase the fine characteristics of the guitar, No. 8 did just the opposite.
...Bruce Clement has another winner on his hands with Amplifier No. 8. Not only does it offer huge tone in a small package, the simple amp enables a player to add heaps of high gain with style. It works well with a variety of cabinets (BC now offers both 1- and 2x12 Celestion-loaded cabs) and can easily keep up with a full band—even with a 1x12. The workmanship and build quality is worthy of a museum piece. And while features are few, it’s easy to get a great tone with any guitar you choose to plug into it. Whether you’re gigging or recording, the No. 8 is an amp you can count on.
...BC’s use of octal preamp tubes which give the No. 8 a rounder, thicker character than any of my Marshalls, which tend to cut more and have less bass.
...With bright single-
...Bruce Clement has another winner on his hands with Amplifier No. 8. Not only does it offer huge tone in a small package, the simple amp enables a player to add heaps of high gain with style. It works well with a variety of cabinets (BC now offers both 1-
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REVIEWS
Excerpts from Magazine Reviews, Web Reviews and User Comments
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User Comments -
“I build amps for people who appreciate things that aren’t meant to be something for everyone, but everything to someone.”
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Capable of a startlingly wide spectrum of sounds.
A capacity for overdrive that’s stunning for an amp of such simplicity.
Pick articulation and clarity was stunning.
Chiming clean tones.
As much sustain as I needed that bloomed gorgeously.
A rounder, thicker character than any of my Marshalls.
Huge tone in a small package.
The workmanship and build quality is worthy of a museum piece.
An amp you can count on.
A joy to play.
Bell-
A finely manicured grind and a singing, musical midrange and taught bottom end.
Like every amp you’ve ever heard, yet something all together different with its own character and vibe.
A whollop and kerrang that I’ve never experienced from a little 6V6 amp.
A pure and gorgeous saturated tone that reminded me of a mix of a Superlead and an AC30.
A magic blend of muscle, tone and pure rock and roll.
A great, blooming sound.
Fantastic clean and semi-
Takes pedals like a schooled pro.
The amp had a presence about it that felt both familiar and new at the same time.
More nuance and tone than most amps I’ve played.
It made me wonder why I’d ever need anything else.
One of the best sounding compact and moderately-
A deceptively big, lush sounding rig.
Clean and extraordinarily clear tones.
Beautifully rich, elegantly musical distortion that very few modern amplifiers possess.
Exceptionally rich, deep voice.
What is hip? This is hip.
The two distinct voicings produced by the Bright and Normal channels, combined with
the Presence control, get you wherever you need to go, tone-
Its heart, soul, and guts are 100 percent solid. This is a straightforward amp with
a thick, crunchy tone, and it’s built with top-
Sweet 6V6 overdrive and chiming clean tones with surprisingly ample headroom and volume.
Killer tones that will stun any audience.
Build like a tank.
As far as smoothness and tone, this is the one I’m gonna put on point. Definitely check this out.
What I feel the larger-
I did not hear any hint of the 12AX7 overdrive “sizzle” that plagues many amps. The high end was lovely, no matter what the settings – there was nothing harsh or painful, no unwanted hiss – it was just there, sweet and natural.
The pristine wiring is only rivaled by the preternatural clarity of the sound.
I love cleans that melt into light overdrive with playing dynamics. The No. 7’s transition
to overdrive is incredibly smooth. In fact, I don’t believe I’ve played an amp whose
clean-
Excerpts:
While you can milk ‘clean’ tones from No. 8, they are clean in the style of a plexi amp at moderate volume levels rather than Fender ‘clean.’ In our opinion, No. 8 is all about crank and drive. Imagine a 25 watt dual 5881 vintage Marshall that sounds much bigger, richer and less compressed than any 18 or 20 watt Marshall or clone you may have heard, and that’s Amplifier No. 8. Like No. 7, there isn’t a bad tone to be found in this amp.
...Why does Clement’s No. 8 sound so thick and juicy? Well, you’ll notice there is no tone stack to speak of… The Presence control works in the power section to create a sharper tone at higher settings, or a darker, heavier sound set low. The 5881 Tung-Sol
While you can milk ‘clean’ tones from No. 8, they are clean in the style of a plexi amp at moderate volume levels rather than Fender ‘clean.’ In our opinion, No. 8 is all about crank and drive. Imagine a 25 watt dual 5881 vintage Marshall that sounds much bigger, richer and less compressed than any 18 or 20 watt Marshall or clone you may have heard, and that’s Amplifier No. 8. Like No. 7, there isn’t a bad tone to be found in this amp.
...Why does Clement’s No. 8 sound so thick and juicy? Well, you’ll notice there is no tone stack to speak of… The Presence control works in the power section to create a sharper tone at higher settings, or a darker, heavier sound set low. The 5881 Tung-
output tubes create a bigger, more open and less compressed tone than EL-84s or EL-34s, and the 6SL7 octals develop intense distortion and vivid overtones.
...The sounds pouring forth can be described as huge and magnificent with tremendous low end, mids, and a super smooth treble voice. No. 8 is a fatty, pure and simple, and you could literally throw it in a carry-on bag for your next festival gig.
...Add a great guitar, some decent chops and an effect or two (you won’t need any help with distortion) and you couldn’t possibly do any better for totable, easy-on-the-ears hard rockin.’ Rock forth...
...The sounds pouring forth can be described as huge and magnificent with tremendous low end, mids, and a super smooth treble voice. No. 8 is a fatty, pure and simple, and you could literally throw it in a carry-
...Add a great guitar, some decent chops and an effect or two (you won’t need any help with distortion) and you couldn’t possibly do any better for totable, easy-
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Much bigger, richer and less compressed than any 18 or 20 watt Marshall or clone.
There isn’t a bad tone to be found in this amp.
So thick and juicy.
Intense distortion and vivid overtones.
Huge and magnificent with tremendous low end, mids, and a super smooth treble voice. No. 8 is a fatty, pure and simple.
Excerpts:
Featuring a meticulous point-to-point circuit inside a 16 gauge powder-coated steel chassis, Amplifier No. 8 is a beautifully slick, streamlined tone machine. The Class A design, with its dual-5881 power section and octal preamp tubes, aims to offer clean chime, gutsy grind, and all-out scream. But rather than buttons, boosts, and other bells and whistles, Amplifier No. 8’s ticket to total titillation is its interaction with your guitar and your dynamics as a player.
...With its red/black color scheme, Amplifier No. 8 doesn’t just look like a racecar running to redline, it sounds like one too. The amp sports a ton of frothy gain, and even in extremely high settings its tones never smear into an unruly, unmusical mess. In fact, Amplifier No. 8 will take
...With its red/black color scheme, Amplifier No. 8 doesn’t just look like a racecar running to redline, it sounds like one too. The amp sports a ton of frothy gain, and even in extremely high settings its tones never smear into an unruly, unmusical mess. In fact, Amplifier No. 8 will take
the gnarliest, mashed-up dissonant intervals you can muster and make sense of them—not an easy feat when running a lot of gain. Clean to mean, Amplifier No. 8’s string-to-string clarity is breathtaking, and every tone contains a rich, musically compressed, chimey treble and upper mid response. And it does this with single-coils and humbuckers, which is pretty sweet.
Amplifier No. 8 is very touch sensitive, a must for a single-channel beast such as this.
...If highly manicured clean and lead tones are what you’re looking for, Amp No.8 is a slam-dunk.
Amplifier No. 8 is very touch sensitive, a must for a single-
...If highly manicured clean and lead tones are what you’re looking for, Amp No.8 is a slam-
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A beautifully slick, streamlined tone machine.
[The] ticket to total titillation.
A ton of frothy gain.
String-
Rich, musically compressed, chimey...sweet.
Very touch sensitive.