Nolatone Tango 22 amplifier demo with '69 strat, no effects.....

[Bobby D]

Well, I am proud to say I am a Nolatone Endorser!

After talking to several companies and considering quite a few options -- I happened to stumble upon Paul at Nolatone Ampworks.

He is a fellow ex-Navy electronics guy, and someone who has owned MOST of the boutique amps on the market.

So....after talking with him and checking out the design and philosophy of this amp, I decided to DO IT.

This is the Tango 22 -- and it is amazing. Has the most headroom and sparkle I have ever heard from ANY 2 6v6 based amp.

This is due to the use of a JTM45 style output tranny, and a BEEFY power tranny. Switchable "boost" and "bright" switches on front panel, as well as a "sag/firm" switch to go between SS and tube rectifier on back panel. 2 8 ohm outputs. And "boost" is also footswitchable, if you so desire.

Cabinet is made by Mathers, and is SOLID PINE.....not some pressboard plywood stuff.

This amp is ROCKING.......the "rocking lamp" is a sort of joke.....in the Navy, when it was time for a smoke break, they would announce that "The smoking lamp is LIT"

As you can see......the ROCKING LAMP is LIT!!!! :)

This is just a quick initial "let's see if UPS broke anything" test right out of the box -- I will do a better one this weekend, using the various features.


http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y32/lvxnova/t2.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y32/lvxnova/t3.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y32/lvxnova/t4-1.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y32/lvxnova/t5-1.jpg

youtube demo is at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaF5NpLAeNI

[Dana Olsen]

Sounds great Bobby. I tried one at the NY Amp Show - loved it, but the Chimey Limey stole my heart.

Sounds great, thanks, Dana O.

[fyrwyr]

Very cool looking AND sounding amps!

[Bobby D]

Sounds great Bobby. I tried one at the NY Amp Show - loved it, but the Chimey Limey stole my heart.

Sounds great, thanks, Dana O.

that doesn't surprise me -- paul says everyone loves the new Chimey Limey!

while i DO love a good ac-30 -- the Tango was right up my alley.

thanks for checking it out....better demos to come this weekend!

[Bobby D]

little more Tango 22 with my pedalboard, nuthin' fancy....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KssegSVVxck

[Bobby D]

another one, using the Soulsonic Folk Driver and the Mad Professor Sweet Honey OD pedals:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVqMP3uc7n4

[bilbal]

Nice Bobby. I dig the Sweet Honey with the Nola!!!

[Tonefish]

Nice Bobby. I dig the Sweet Honey with the Nola!!!

my thoughts too

[Bobby D]

Nice Bobby. I dig the Sweet Honey with the Nola!!!

yes.....i do too.....there's something kinda special about the SHOD into the 22 Tango!

the Tango can dance all by itself pretty darn well, with no pedals. but i like to set my amps to a slightly overdriven breakup, then use some pedals to get them over the top for solos.

the Sweet Honey really likes this amp, or vice versa :beer

Taking the Tango out dancing tomorrow, got TWO gigs to do, will be playing from 6 pm - 2 am tomorrow, so I will have some more input on the Tango tomorrow!

I also did a set of demo videos for Tonefactor tonite, using the T.Rex Tremonti Phaser, the Mojohand Luna Vibe and Huckleberry v2, and a really cool NEW Mojohand pedal that is a prototype :YinYang

i could honestly go do a gig with this amp, a cord, and a footswitch for the boost.......and my guitar.

but the pedals always make things more fun. however, i will probably use some of my dirt pedals LESS now :rolleyes:

[BryanMatthews]

PTP or PCB ?

[Bobby D]

PTP or PCB ?


luckily, it's PTP, handwired with great parts, by Paul Sanders, a boutique amp hound who owned most of the good amps over the years and decided to do his own amps. ex Navy electronics guy.....so you KNOW he knows how to solder. :YinYang

since i do a LOT of gigs, i am hesitant about using PCB amps, unless they are REALLY heavy duty, like my Soldano was.

PTP is just a HECK of a lot easier to work on, in case of failure.

here's a gut shot of the amp:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y32/lvxnova/nolatonechassis1.jpg

[Shnook]

Nice demos! I had been G.A.S free for a few months...till NOW! :hide
Excellent playing thru some awesome pieces of gear!

[Nolatone Ampworks]

luckily, it's PTP, handwired with great parts, by Paul Sanders, a boutique amp hound who owned most of the good amps over the years and decided to do his own amps. ex Navy electronics guy.....so you KNOW he knows how to solder. :YinYang

since i do a LOT of gigs, i am hesitant about using PCB amps, unless they are REALLY heavy duty, like my Soldano was.

PTP is just a HECK of a lot easier to work on, in case of failure.

here's a gut shot of the amp:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y32/lvxnova/nolatonechassis1.jpg

Bobby's amp is an earlier one. I tweaked it a bit since. Here's the latest layout:

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r22/leftys-bbq/Nolatone/guts2.jpg

[Bobby D]

Yes, mine is lucky #003 :)

I fully realize I am "honeymooning".....but here's the gig report.

Yesterday being the 4th of July, we were double gigging. First gig was a larger outdoor venue at the beach, then later that night a more intimate venue at a casino.

At both gigs, the amp shined. I was able to open her up at the outdoor gig, crank that master up to 6, and let her breathe.

Sparkling, yet buttery tone. I found myself playing 75% of the nite with no effects. I would use the Sweet Honey or Snow White Fuzz for solos, or for songs that had "heavy" rhythm parts.

For clean sparkly funk and americana....this amp really sounded great.

Second gig was indoors, smaller venue.

I cranked her down to 2 on the master, and cranked preamp UP. Did not use ANY pedals, just guitar>cord>amp.

Amp was on a wood floor, and I could FEEL it as much as hear it. Nice little "thump" to the lower notes. And it just sounded GOOD. Even at a much lower stage volume.

One thing I really dig is the way it SMELLS......Weird, I know. But that pine cabinet just smells GOOD.

I used the "sag" setting both gigs, and liked it, although I am usually a SS rectifier guy. This amp may change my taste in that.

My bandleader REALLY dug the amp. All the bandmembers saw it, and everyone was busting my balls...."Oh yeah, that's a NICE amp...obviously you are making TOO MUCH money....hey man, how much are you getting for these gigs"...etc.......lol.

i am waiting on a custom compressor next week, and i think the combo of the compressor and Sweet Honey will really make this amp SING.

[Bobby D]

Nice demos! I had been G.A.S free for a few months...till NOW! :hide
Excellent playing thru some awesome pieces of gear!

thank you very much for the kind words!

i have an audition this week for a touring act in the country/americana style......and this amp is really gonna shine for that gig!

also -- for anyone interested -- here's the link to the new review of the amp:

http://nolatone.com/gp_review_1.pdf

[LP51122]

That clean sounds made me drool! Loved the stuff with the wammy at the end.

[Bobby D]

here's another one......this is Eric Johnson's "East Wes"

i am using the BJF pine green compressor for just a little compression.

bjf snow white fuzz for solo section.

mad professor deep blue delay for ambience.

22 Tango in the dark........:stir

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDooFbe40lQ

[hawkeyeinexile]

thank you very much for the kind words!

i have an audition this week for a touring act in the country/americana style......and this amp is really gonna shine for that gig!

also -- for anyone interested -- here's the link to the new review of the amp:

http://nolatone.com/gp_review_1.pdf

caught the 5-way comparo in the latest GP and congratulations to Paul for coming out near the top (sounded like a tie with the other top amp)

:cool:

[Nolatone Ampworks]

caught the 5-way comparo in the latest GP and congratulations to Paul for coming out near the top (sounded like a tie with the other top amp)

:cool:

Thanks Hawkeyeinexile. I was pleased with that outcome. Funny thing though, instead of selling 22 Tangos from contacts I've received from that, it's the Chimey Limey and Junebugs that folks have been buying! Hey, as long as they are buying :aok

[Bobby D]

Thanks Hawkeyeinexile. I was pleased with that outcome. Funny thing though, instead of selling 22 Tangos from contacts I've received from that, it's the Chimey Limey and Junebugs that folks have been buying! Hey, as long as they are buying :aok

i think the Junebug is REALLY gonna take off, there's a huge market for amps right now that are less than 10 watts, yet sound amazing.

praise and worship guys......small clubs....studio work.....many gigs these days are LOW VOLUME.

Junebug seems REALLY interesting to me....several gain stages, plenty of tube gain and saturation if you want it, and only 5 watts? :phones

[OliverGuitars]

I played one for an hour, and was quite impressed. Not just another relabeled can of coke!

[eddieb]

Great sounding and I love the color of the strat.

[Mondoslug]

Great job Bobby D. I had the pleasure of having Greg Jenning's Tango 22 & 1x12 cab at my place for the past several days. Really, really fat sounding amp. I'm a new fan.

[princeton]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wjq3jADFvOk

Love this one, the Junebug from Nolatone.
Wish there was a dealer here in the Netherlands !

[Bobby D]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wjq3jADFvOk

Love this one, the Junebug from Nolatone.
Wish there was a dealer here in the Netherlands !


thesegoto11.se will be a dealer in Sweden soon :)

i am still loving the Tango, and am past the honeymoon period. have done both LOUD outdoor concerts, as well as quiet indoor gigs, and the amp sounds good BOTH ways.

here's a quick vid, shot last nite at the South Florida Tattoo Expo, camera was sitting on top of my amp, so you can hear it pretty good.

Tango is on 5 master volume, boost switch ON.....and mad professor sweet honey overdrive with a touch of Deep Blue delay.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_THRfLzAsbA

[Bobby D]

Great sounding and I love the color of the strat.

thank you eddie! my poor old '69 strat was a pawnshop find years ago, it had already been "hotrodded" in the 80s with a Floyd and big frets and hot pickups.......and refin surf green.......so she's NOT a collector, she's a PLAYER :stir

http://i985.photobucket.com/albums/ae333/bobbydevito/bobbydpedals.jpg

[Bobby D]

and another fresh demo of the 22 Tango.....from Key West on the studio houseboat!

don't mind the other boat leaving the harbor :-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVJeqbA2rvY

[Bobby D]

gonna have some more demos of this soon.

this weekend, i am loaning it to a well known key west musician, "Capt" Carl Peachey, who has been the house guitarist at Captain Tonys for over a decade.

he is a dyed in the wool Fender Deluxe Reverb guy, and has one that was modded and rebuilt by joe Barden years ago.

i will be quite interested in hearing what Capt Carl thinks of the amp, he has great ears and is a fantastic player.

i'm still loving this amp, well past the honeymoon phase of our relationship. i still think it's the finest 6v6 combo amp i have ever heard :bow