Sommatone

[cr8z4life]

Picking up my Sommatone Roaring 20 Today!!! Cant wait.....review to follow.....I think this is going to be amazing to use with the vodoo amp selector and a/b with my Top Hat Super Deluxe! :dude

[tedwoods]

Can't wait to hear what you have to say!

Ted

[Tom CT]

The Sommatone amp at the last NYC Tonefest was, IMO, one of the best sounding of the entire group. I don't recall which model it was, but it was chock full o' tone. Congrats!

[cr8z4life]

He only has one right now, the roaring 20

I know we have all heard the this amp is better than that amp rederick over and over again......but I will tell you after an hour on this with a strat (havent even gotten to the humbuckers yet) That this is the tightest, best sounding, most versatile, 1x12 combo I have ever heard or played!!! What you guys heard at the tonequest was nothing because he didnt get to show the versatility it has......

You want fender....its in there
You want Vox cleans......its in there
You want Vox dirty ....its in there
You want marshal cleans....its in there
You want marshal dirty.....its in there
You want Thick overdrive...its in there.....you want
Van Halen brown sound......just throw a BB over the
OD tones and your there!!

This is going to make it easy to decide what I want to take to go out and jam! Its also great at 20 watts because its all usable power.....Basically for most of these tones I just keep the master dimed......and I know this is a big statement, but, this amp cleans up better with the guitar volume than ANYTHING I have ever tried!! Oh yea, and an incredible reverb to top it off!

These amps need more recognition. They are definately sleepers....but Jimmy is a great guy and he has definately found a believer and future customer in me!! Damn, cant even imagine how good the 40 watt 2x12 model he is coming out with is going to sound!

[hansoloist]

Congrats on the amp. Jimmy really knows his shit and builds one of the best amps I've ever heard. I can't wait to hear the 40 watt version. Enjoy it!!!

peace
-jeff

[tedwoods]

...and his chassis work is incredible too!

Nice!One more amp to check out.
I guess these will be my famous last words or at least what I'll keep saying over and over when the men in white come to take me to the lunatic asylum, in the "ampofreniacs" room.

Ted

[Chi]

That amp was INCREDIBLE!!! I know, cause I was there when Keith was there to pick it up! I hear that amp and it did EVERYTHING...Tweed, Marshall, Vox...Jimmy hooked yup Keith's Xotic BB pedal to it and that amps was smoking...

Without the pedal that amp still did everything, and Keith is right...the demo for the amp at the tonefest did nothing for it...

PLUS Jimmy, IMHO is one of thenicest, most competent tech out there

That Roaring is one dfinitely on my short list if I can sell some of my guitars...or may be I'll wait for the 40 watter!!!:dude

[trisonic]

I love the "Roaring 20". You can even get a convincing "Beano" type tone with a Strat.....
Perhaps Jimmy can come on with details of the proposed 40 watter?

His pedals are very good too. Really I should keep my mouth shut, he's central NJ's best kept secret......

Best, Pete.

[hansoloist]

Yes, Chi, Jimmy is indeed a peach. But don't let his calm demeanor and soft-spokenness fool you...when he picks up his Strat and plugs in, he's a friggin' monster!!!

Pete,
I'm all done with my student teaching, so I have plenty of free time on my hands. We should set up a day to meet up at Jimmy's....that is....errr...if that's ok with you, Jim.:D

peace
-jeff

[Vlad]

Fantastic amp and a totally great guy! Jim's done some work for me and it's always been top-notch! I'm picking up a Mojotone 4x12 from him tomorrow.. :)

[Dennis Rayburn]

Sound clips sound great. There's no price listed on the website (that I can find). What does the 20W head cost?

[cr8z4life]

The soundclips dont even touch what it sounds like in person.......as far as pricing, just contact Jimmy. He is a great guy to deal with....pretty damn good guitar player too!!

[Vlad]

Originally posted by cr8z4life
The soundclips dont even touch what it sounds like in person.......as far as pricing, just contact Jimmy. He is a great guy to deal with....pretty damn good guitar player too!!

I agree...

The clips sound great, but the amp sounds awesome in person! It's got a vibe all its own. Great chime.

[Dave LaP]

Originally posted by hansoloist
Yes, Chi, Jimmy is indeed a peach. But don't let his calm demeanor and soft-spokenness fool you...when he picks up his Strat and plugs in, he's a friggin' monster!!!

Pete,
I'm all done with my student teaching, so I have plenty of free time on my hands. We should set up a day to meet up at Jimmy's....that is....errr...if that's ok with you, Jim.:D

peace
-jeff

Hey Jeff,

I might be up for that too, depending on how far into NJ it is. I've been wanting to hear a Sommatone too-and your 9/15 of course...;)

[trisonic]

Originally posted by Dave LaP
Hey Jeff,

I might be up for that too, depending on how far into NJ it is. I've been wanting to hear a Sommatone too-and your 9/15 of course...;)

Hee, Heh, That's five of us in Sommatone (incl. Jim and Eric).....can you imagine it? Dave I'll let jeff explain....

Best, Pete.

[Blueser]

I would love to compare the Sommatone to a Cornford Hurrican 20 watt combo. The Hurricane was the best sounding 20 watt combo I have ever heard, and it has reverb, and an effects loop.

It was very versatile as well, and had a great master which got rockin' tones and whisper volumes when needed!

[trisonic]

Dave, The "Roaring 20" has a very good two knob reverb that still sounds great when the amp is being overdriven - Jim explained why, technically but it went in one ear and out the other.....
It also has an incredibly useful "boost" function (the amp, I mean).

Best, Pete.

[hansoloist]

Originally posted by trisonic
Hee, Heh, That's five of us in Sommatone (incl. Jim and Eric).....can you imagine it? Dave I'll let jeff explain....

Best, Pete.

Haha, yeah, Jimmy's a bit pressed for space. Every time I stop by his shop is brimming with amps and guitars. And what you see is about half of his workload...the rest is waiting in another room.

Unless you guys don't mind getting reeeeeeeally friendly, 5 might be a bit much in there.

peace
-jeff

[Jimmy Somma]

I love the "Roaring 20". You can even get a convincing "Beano" type tone with a Strat.....
Perhaps Jimmy can come on with details of the proposed 40 watter?

The 40 watt version will have the same preamp as the Roaring 20 but larger transformers and 4 EL-84's and a 1/2 power switch. Options will be 2X10, 2X12 combo w/reverb or a head version no reverb. It will be available in the late summer. More details to come...

sommatone.com (http://sommatone.com)

[walrus]

Originally posted by cr8z4life
Picking up my Sommatone Roaring 20 Today!!! Cant wait.....review to follow.....I think this is going to be amazing to use with the vodoo amp selector and a/b with my Top Hat Super Deluxe! :dude

How does it compare to the Top Hat?

[cr8z4life]

They are different animals.....the Super is 6L6 so it is a totally different sound than the Sommatone which is EL 84....the closest Top Hat to this is the King Royal....but that will be closer to the 40 watt model he is coming out with.....

[walrus]

Yeah, another better comparison would be to a Club Royale.

[John II]

Keith:

Congratulations on your purchase. I am so jealous. :dude

~John II

[michaelg]

is Jimmy located in Totowa???

[John II]

Somerville.

~John II

[michaelg]

Keith,
combo or head??? do you still have your /13?

[John II]

Originally posted by cr8z4life
He only has one right now, the roaring 20

I know we have all heard the this amp is better than that amp rederick over and over again......but I will tell you after an hour on this with a strat (havent even gotten to the humbuckers yet) That this is the tightest, best sounding, most versatile, 1x12 combo I have ever heard or played!!! What you guys heard at the tonequest was nothing because he didnt get to show the versatility it has......

You want fender....its in there
You want Vox cleans......its in there
You want Vox dirty ....its in there
You want marshal cleans....its in there
You want marshal dirty.....its in there
You want Thick overdrive...its in there.....you want
Van Halen brown sound......just throw a BB over the
OD tones and your there!!

This is going to make it easy to decide what I want to take to go out and jam! Its also great at 20 watts because its all usable power.....Basically for most of these tones I just keep the master dimed......and I know this is a big statement, but, this amp cleans up better with the guitar volume than ANYTHING I have ever tried!! Oh yea, and an incredible reverb to top it off!

These amps need more recognition. They are definately sleepers....but Jimmy is a great guy and he has definately found a believer and future customer in me!! Damn, cant even imagine how good the 40 watt 2x12 model he is coming out with is going to sound!


I had the good fortune of demoing the amp and agree with Keith's assessment. What most impresses me is the tightness/articulation you get even with the gain dimed. Zero flub. Just incredible. Jimmy said this is the result of using a solid state rectifier.

This amp is a monster, folks.

~John II

[cr8z4life]

I actually bought the 1x12 combo and Jimmy has been nice enough to agree to order me a 2x12 cab and swap it over......As great as it sounds...(best 1x12 I have heard to date) it is just going to be that much better IMHO in a 2x12 combo....

Oh, and yes, I still have the /13 .....I think whats gonna happen is I will wind up keeping the sommatone-/13- and my Barber and selling everything else....

[Blueser]

Originally posted by cr8z4life
I actually bought the 1x12 combo and Jimmy has been nice enough to agree to order me a 2x12 cab and swap it over......As great as it sounds...(best 1x12 I have heard to date) it is just going to be that much better IMHO in a 2x12 combo....

Oh, and yes, I still have the /13 .....I think whats gonna happen is I will wind up keeping the sommatone-/13- and my Barber and selling everything else....

It would be nice to get together and compare the Sommatone to my Tophat Club Royale 1x12 combo! ;)

[cr8z4life]

That would be cool.....if you feel like a trip to jersey sometime...I would be up for it! I did compare it to a King Royale head in a studio.....kind of unfair because the king is 36 watts and the roaring 20 is.....18? But we a/b them through the same cab and it was interesting.....they both had a great but a little different quality when comparing to the same tones.... but the sommatone is more versatile IMHO.....I have heard and love the Club Royale....but I think the same thing would be.....the Sommatone is going to be more versatile tonewise....

[jokerjkny]

oh crap,

i dont need another amp...i dont need another amp...i dont need another amp...i dont need another amp...i dont need another amp...i dont need another amp...

[trisonic]

Originally posted by jokerjkny
oh crap,

i dont need another amp...i dont need another amp...i dont need another amp...i dont need another amp...i dont need another amp...i dont need another amp...

You need THIS amp!
(But at least you can drive only 20 miles to actually hear it and make up your mind)

Best, Pete.

[cr8z4life]

Lets talk incredible customer service.......not only did Jimmy agree to swap out the 1x12 cab for a 2x12 cab at a nominal difference.....but I am custom making the cab size!! I like the size of the Top Hat Super Deluxe but think by going a hair larger the tone will fill out more so I am going 2 inches wider...2 inches higher, and about an inch deeper......cant wait to hear this thing with a 2x12! :dude