 |
 |
~ Retro King Amps ~ Retro King was founded on one simple principle - tone. A guitarist for most of his life, Chuck Dean has owned and/or played through nearly every style, type and model of classic tube guitar amplifier. He has also been repairing and modding guitar amps for more than 20 years. A former co-founder of Spirit Amps in the late '90s, Dean, with Nick Cappogreco, offered the Harp Pro and Studio Pro.
When Spirit Amps folded in 2002, Dean launched Retro King. A lover of the '60s Marshall, he wanted to build amps with that true Marshall plexi tone, but that were more consistent and reliable, all the while allowing customers the ability to shape their tone and have options in terms of cosmetics. If customer feedback is any indication, Retro-King is fitting the bill. Time and time again, customers reply, "This has exceeded my expectations."
Aside from using the best parts available, Chuck Dean has tweaked and shaped Retro-King into much more than another amp company. Unlike some other builders, his designs are based on experience; even today he is a player first. And with a desire to continue building a name on reliability, performance and tone, this predominately one-man operation focuses on customer respect and working on one amp at a time. In Dean's words, "The definition of 'vintage tone' or 'plexi' means something different to each person, so in many ways each model is one-of-a-kind. The bottom line is, you can buy a lot of good amplifiers today, but I think we build great amplifiers." 
Retro King Models:
|
|
|
|
Retro King 18-Watt Combo
The Retro King 18-Watt Combo is a replica of the hard to find 1966 Marshall™18 Watt Lead Combo amplifier, with two channels (4 inputs) and a tremolo unit operating on channel two. This amp can be ordered with an optional rectifier switch which allows you to switch between the tube rectifier and a solid state diode rectifier. The 18 Watt Combo is for the player who needs vintage tone and reliability in an amp...
|
 |
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
|
|
Retro King 45-Watt Combo
The 45 Watt Combo is a replica of the famed 1960's Bluesbreaker 2x12 combo. Unlike the reissue, this amp is hand wired point to point on a vintage style turret board and is built to the exact specs of the original. The output tranny built by Heyboer with the 6.6k primary plate load is optimal for the kt-66 power tubes. As in the original, the filtering in the first cap is a double 32mf cap and the second is a double 16mf cap. This amp uses the early "plexi" tone control values along with the standard preamp values...
|
 |
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
|
|
Retro King 50-Watt Combo
The 50 Watt Combo is a replica of the 1960's 50 watt plexi with a solid state rectifier (you can order this with a GZ34 rectifier tube if you want) in a combo version. It uses two EL-34 output tubes and a Heyboer 50 watt plexi output transformer. The output tranny built by Heyboer has the correct 3.4k primary plate load. Unlike the 45, which uses a shared cathode, the 50 watt uses a separate cathode arrangement on the first tube, which adds pre-amp gain...
|
 |
|
|
Read more...
|
|
Retro King Plexi 18
This replica of the hard to find, 1966 Marshall™ 18 watt lead combo amplifier, but in a head version, has two channels (4 inputs) with a tremolo unit operating on channel two. You can order this amp with an optional rectifier switch that allows you to switch between the tube rectifier and a solid state diode rectifier. The 18 watt is for the player who needs vintage tone and reliability in a amp that every sound man will thank you for...
|
 |
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
|
|
Retro King Plexi 50
The Plexi 50 is a replica of the 1960's 50 watt plexi with a solid state rectifier (you can order this with a GZ34 rectifier tube if you want). It uses two EL-34 output tubes and a Heyboer 50 watt plexi output transformer. The output tranny built by Heyboer has the correct 3.4k primary plate load. Unlike the 45, which uses a shared cathode, the 50 watt uses a separate cathode arrangement on the first tube, which adds pre-amp gain. A .68 bypass cap on the second stage 33k slope resistor and 500pf cap gives it that classic British midrange crunch of the original...
|
 |
|
|
Read more...
|
|
Retro King Plexi 100
The Plexi 100 is a replica of the famed late 60's Marshall™ 100 watt head with solid state rectifier, four EL-34 power tubes, three 12AX7 pre-amp tubes, and Heyboer 100 watt plexi replica transformers. All hand wired point to point on a vintage style turret board, just like the originals, this is the monster that created legends...
|
 |
|
|
Read more...
|
|
Retro King RK 45
The RK 45 is a replica of the mid 60's JTM 45™. Unlike the reissue, this amp is hand wired point to point on a vintage style turret board and is built to the exact specs of the original. The output tranny built by Heyboer with the 6.6k primary plate load is optimal for the kt-66 power tubes. As in the originals, the filtering in the first cap is a double 32mf cap and the second is a double 16mf cap. This amp uses the early "plexi" tone control values along with the standard preamp values...
|
 |
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
|
|
|
Retro King
