New Amp Day - Todd Sharp JOAT 20 RT

bigtbluesman

Terryy1
Messages
168
Hi Guys,

I'm finally ready to write a review of my new Todd Sharp JOAT 20RT. It is 20 strong watts, and powered by two EL 84's. I wanted to play it for a few weeks before I would write a review, so I would get over the "honeymoon stage". This also allowed me time to plug into it with a '95 Historic 59 flame top, a Lentz Tele & Lentz Strat, a Custom Shop '59 ES-335, PRS 513, PRS Soap Bar, as well as a 1981 Martin D-28H and Goodall Rosewood Concert Cut -a -Way acoustic. I played many pedals thru it; it really shines with pedals. I also had a dear friend who is a killer player, sit and pick, while I could concentrate on setting / switching inputs and control settings. Gary is an owner of a JOAT 30, so I valued his playing and comments.

It is a Head / 2x12 bottom set up, with one (1) Celestion Greenback M and (1) one Celestion Blue. The cabs are made in solid cherry wood, and stained in a dark - deep red. All joints are finger jointed, and the quality is superb!!!! In fact the build quality of all aspects of this amp is top shelf. I am 62 years old and over the years I think that I've owned and played out with everything except a real Dumble. I do have a Bludo-Tone HRM that I really enjoy, but the Todd Sharp really stands out. I have a real 1959 Bassman, a real Marshall 2x10 18 watter, a Marshall JTM 45 Off-Set (#47), as well as many other fine amplifiers, The Todd Sharp is "it's own dog" in a music room full of "really big dogs"!

At 20 watts, it is not the loudest amp that I own, but it is more than powerful enough to play most of the rooms in the Orlando /Daytona Beach/ Tampa area. The "Disney", "Universal" gigs, and "high - end clubs" such as B.B. Kings, or House of Blues, will be a pleasure to play with this rig. Most sound men are always bitching that it is too loud, so at 20 watts, it is ideal and it gets a big fat sound without peeling paint or getting you fired!!!!

The amp gets full and "chewy" as you turn it up with wonderful overtones that I don't hear in other amps in my collection. Very responsive to dynamics and pick attack. It is not an amp for metal heads, but for many styles, it delivers the goods. This is one amp that I enjoy just plugging it straight , without out pedals. The tone is that good!

It does loves pedals though. Sounds great with a clean boost or Zen Drive, all the way to a Thorpy "Gun Shot", or Bogner "LaGrange". With a small pedal board, I could play every gig from weddings/Real Book gigs, to out door rock shows, ( if miked properly).

The hardwood cab is very resonant, and works well with the Greenback / Blue combination. It seems to be an excellent match to the amp's power. The whole thing "works". It is the very best amp for single coils that I've owned! Humbucker guitars also shine as well. Todd has voiced each input; one for single coils, one for humbuckers. Depending on how you set the front end and select inputs, you really can some very outstanding tones from this amp.

I cannot say enough on how pleased I was by the whole experience of getting this amp. From start to finish, it was great. Todd is a "pro's pro", who has been there and back. He reflects that experience in how he deals with the customer. I got real world advice on the amount of amp power, type of cabinet, type of speakers, type of woods/ coverings, etc. He delivered the amp "in time" and "on date", as promised. It was packed for shipping better than any amp that I've ever purchased. It came with a beautiful set of Tuki covers, extra long heavy duty power cord and speaker cable. Also, a spare set of power tubes was included. Todd also sent along a T-Shirt, as well as a hand-written thank you card for buying the amp. What a sincerely nice touch!

In closing, I would buy another Todd Sharp amp without any hesitations or reservations. ( The next one foe me will be the 45 watt). On a scale of 1 -10, give this amp and amp company a 25!!!!

Thanks for reading,



 
Last edited:

JKjr

Member
Messages
1,053
Todd "rescued" an old black Bassman that had been hacked in Texas. Basically told me that all the work that had been done was "like putting Sears tires on a Ferarri". That was over a decade ago, and it's still one of the best Piggyback Bassmans I've ever heard. Sounds JUST LIKE IT SHOULD, only better. It holds it's own in a house full of old Marshalls, Voxes, etc...very nice!!

Talking to Todd is like talking to the old guy at the garage...He already KNOWS because he's been there lots. I would have been surprised if you DIDN"T love the amp. Congrats!!
 

lastrat

Gold Supporting Member
Messages
98
Sounds like a killer amp --- Todd has a good ear for tone and the JOAT 20 is a monstrous tone machine - congrats on the new amp.
 

Blueswede

Double Platinum Member
Messages
2,667
I inquired and was told that the cost is between $2795 and $2995, depending on the speaker choice. Has tremolo but no reverb. Everything else is the same.....
 

ItJustRocks

Platinum Supporting Member
Messages
2,672
Question for those who have one of these. How does the amp sound for classic rock stuff? I've heard a lot of light-playing, bluesy clips, but very few examples of say a power chord. I don't expect this amp to be a marshall, but curious how driven it can get.
 
Messages
124
Hi Guys,

I'm finally ready to write a review of my new Todd Sharp JOAT 20RT. It is 20 strong watts, and powered by two EL 84's. I wanted to play it for a few weeks before I would write a review, so I would get over the "honeymoon stage". This also allowed me time to plug into it with a '95 Historic 59 flame top, a Lentz Tele & Lentz Strat, a Custom Shop '59 ES-335, PRS 513, PRS Soap Bar, as well as a 1981 Martin D-28H and Goodall Rosewood Concert Cut -a -Way acoustic. I played many pedals thru it; it really shines with pedals. I also had a dear friend who is a killer player, sit and pick, while I could concentrate on setting / switching inputs and control settings. Gary is an owner of a JOAT 30, so I valued his playing and comments.

It is a Head / 2x12 bottom set up, with one (1) Celestion Greenback M and (1) one Celestion Blue. The cabs are made in solid cherry wood, and stained in a dark - deep red. All joints are finger jointed, and the quality is superb!!!! In fact the build quality of all aspects of this amp is top shelf. I am 62 years old and over the years I think that I've owned and played out with everything except a real Dumble. I do have a Bludo-Tone HRM that I really enjoy, but the Todd Sharp really stands out. I have a real 1959 Bassman, a real Marshall 2x10 18 watter, a Marshall JTM 45 Off-Set (#47), as well as many other fine amplifiers, The Todd Sharp is "it's own dog" in a music room full of "really big dogs"!

At 20 watts, it is not the loudest amp that I own, but it is more than powerful enough to play most of the rooms in the Orlando /Daytona Beach/ Tampa area. The "Disney", "Universal" gigs, and "high - end clubs" such as B.B. Kings, or House of Blues, will be a pleasure to play with this rig. Most sound men are always bitching that it is too loud, so at 20 watts, it is ideal and it gets a big fat sound without peeling paint or getting you fired!!!!

The amp gets full and "chewy" as you turn it up with wonderful overtones that I don't hear in other amps in my collection. Very responsive to dynamics and pick attack. It is not an amp for metal heads, but for many styles, it delivers the goods. This is one amp that I enjoy just plugging it straight , without out pedals. The tone is that good!

It does loves pedals though. Sounds great with a clean boost or Zen Drive, all the way to a Thorpy "Gun Shot", or Bogner "LaGrange". With a small pedal board, I could play every gig from weddings/Real Book gigs, to out door rock shows, ( if miked properly).

The hardwood cab is very resonant, and works well with the Greenback / Blue combination. It seems to be an excellent match to the amp's power. The whole thing "works". It is the very best amp for single coils that I've owned! Humbucker guitars also shine as well. Todd has voiced each input; one for single coils, one for humbuckers. Depending on how you set the front end and select inputs, you really can some very outstanding tones from this amp.

I cannot say enough on how pleased I was by the whole experience of getting this amp. From start to finish, it was great. Todd is a "pro's pro", who has been there and back. He reflects that experience in how he deals with the customer. I got real world advice on the amount of amp power, type of cabinet, type of speakers, type of woods/ coverings, etc. He delivered the amp "in time" and "on date", as promised. It was packed for shipping better than any amp that I've ever purchased. It came with a beautiful set of Tuki covers, extra long heavy duty power cord and speaker cable. Also, a spare set of power tubes was included. Todd also sent along a T-Shirt, as well as a hand-written thank you card for buying the amp. What a sincerely nice touch!

In closing, I would buy another Todd Sharp amp without any hesitations or reservations. ( The next one foe me will be the 45 watt). On a scale of 1 -10, give this amp and amp company a 25!!!!

Thanks for reading,




Do you or your friend (or anyone else) have any comments on the 20 v 30 watt version - would expect a little more clean headroom on the 30 with a little tighter bass and the 30 being better if you like big clean/edge of breakup and use a boost for lead but want roughly same volume as a cranked but not dimed 20, yes?
 

badbear

Member
Messages
12
I have to say that I was quite happy with my 66 Pro Reverb, a MAZ 38 and a Valvetrain Bennington Pro for all my gigs(about 150 per year). At least until bigtbluesman called me and said that I had to check out his new amp. I was(and still am) blown away by the responsiveness, the complex harmonics, the creamy sustain. He kept handing me one great guitar after another and they all sounded incredibly detailed and amazing. I think I heard my fingerprints! So, I bit the bullet and now have a cherry JOAT20RT being built. Same amp as T's, the only difference is that I ordered two Celestion Blues. Now I just have to wait 11 looong weeks playing my now not-so-great amps. Thanks, T! Every time you call me my music life takes a turn for the better.



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