Ark Aviator review by Brian Wooten

[fyrwyr]

A note from Bill: The Aviator and Model A both contain the same circuitry...




Trace Adkins guitarist and TGP member Brian Wooten has been touring with the Ark Aviator prototype for a few months now and here is the first official review for the public:

"I've been using an Aviator prototype for a few months now. I'm on the road constantly with Trace Adkins. Although Trace is a country artist I am a rock player. When I heard a clip of the Aviator I contacted the company directly to get more info on it and as it turned out we were playing near them and they were nice enough to bring their prototype out for me to hear. I was blown away by it and eventually talked them into letting me take it out on the road to hear it in a real world application for awhile. I've been using an FTR37 for a few years and love that amp. It works perfectly for the Trace gig so so the standard was set very high from the outset. When I heard the Aviator I considered it a high gain amp and wasn't sure it would be able to clean up enough for the few tunes that required that. But after tweaking on it for awhile at the house I was pleasantly surprised at how well it cleaned up. With Trace I plug into the "low gain" input and use pedals with it just like I do when using the FTR37. While the FTR37 is more like a big, fat Fender Deluxe the Aviator is more Vox/Marshall/Trainwreck. More harmonically complex and notes go into feedback more easily. The controls are very interactive and the bright switch and bass boost are very useful. There's also a knob that lets you bypass the tonestack altogether or dial in just as much of it as you want. It's also quite useful. I think this amp is perfect for studio guitarists. I think one of the best sounds on tap is to plug into the "low gain" channel and crank the preamp about halfway and engage the bright switch. Very Bryan Adams/Keith Scott trainwreck tone. No pedals needed! There's plenty of gain in the "low gain" input but if you've got to have more you can plug into the high gain input and you'll have more than you'll ever need. And I play a Tele almost exclusively!
I've got the amp at home right now so that I can use it for some recording and just to put it through it's paces since I'm not restriced by Trace's set list. I haven't had a chance to record with it yet because we've been so busy but I hope to have some clips by the end of the year.
As far as "boutiques" go I've played Alessandros, Komets, Divided By 13's, Ceriatones, Carol Anns, Exxits, etc. and the Aviator is as good or better than any of them. I can't wait to hear the other models."

[trisonic]

Is that the amp model that Hansoloist was blowing thru at the NYCAmpShow?
The one that was naked?

Best, Pete.

[fyrwyr]

Originally Posted by trisonic

Is that the amp model that Hansoloist was blowing thru at the NYCAmpShow?
The one that was naked?

Best, Pete.

No, this is it's bigger brother with EL34's, but the same basic preamp and over all tonality/response.

We are getting ready to make a batch of A28's for our dealers -(like Hansoloist demo'ed) real soon...

[trisonic]

Originally Posted by fyrwyr

No, this is it's bigger brother with EL34's, but the same basic preamp and over all tonality/response.

We are getting ready to make a batch of A28's for our dealers -(like Hansoloist demo'ed) real soon...

D'oh! Yeah the A28. Very Tasty Tones, indeed...........

Best, Pete.

[Loni Specter]

Good going!

[fyrwyr]

Originally Posted by trisonic

D'oh! Yeah the A28. Very Tasty Tones, indeed...........

Best, Pete.

Thanks my friend, here it is with clothes on

[fyrwyr]

Originally Posted by Loni Specter

Good going!

Thanks Loni, at least this next NY Amp show will have an A-28 with clothes on

[trisonic]

Very nice. Remind me why the second knob from the left is different............?

Best, Pete.

[fyrwyr]

Originally Posted by trisonic

Very nice. Remind me why the second knob from the left is different............?

Best, Pete.

Master volume, get it???

Left to right: Presence, Master, Bass, Mid(wide sweep to almost full bypass),treble, gain

[Reason]

A testimonial like that can't hurt! Congrats, Bill!

[StoneAge Cabs]

That's fantastic, Bill ...way to go.

[fyrwyr]

Thanks fellas, both of you Rock in a big bad way

Keep up the great work my friends!!!

bc

[Nolatone Ampworks]

GREAT review! Well done on the great amp AND on having a high profile review, one is almost as special as the other!

[fyrwyr]

Originally Posted by Nolatone Ampworks

GREAT review! Well done on the great amp AND on having a high profile review, one is almost as special as the other!

Thanks, we have been fortunate to have some great players review our stuff, means much more to people than the builders own self boasting

Best wishes for your amps my friend

[fyrwyr]

Originally Posted by 'StoneAge Cabs'

That's fantastic, Bill ...way to go.

Thanks John, I am pretty happy having Brian on board, admired him for a while now...