Don't let the diminutive size fool you. The King Baby boasts full-size tube amp tone in small package. It weighs just 6.5 lbs and comes in a portable 11 (W) x 6 (H) x 7.25 (D) cabinet.

The pre-amp, based on the King Daddy, features two 12AX7 gain stages, Volume, Bass, Treble and Middle. Power is provided by a single EL84 pentode.

The 5W output makes it a great practice or recording amp. Hook it up to your favorite cab for big overdriven sound without blowing out your ears. But it's not just a great low power amp. The King Baby can also function as pre-amp by connecting the Slave Out to the input of another amp, or turn it into a tube overdrive by using it in conjunction with a looper pedal.

We've done a couple things to make it play nicely with other gear: when the speaker is unplugged, a dummy load is switched in. This means you can connect the Slave Out to other gear while leaving the King Baby silent. We've also included ground loop defeating circuitry to eliminate the potential for hum.

Samples are unavailable at this time.

The King Daddy is a straightfoward rock and roll amp. This original circuit features two 12AX7 gain stages that feed our unique combination of a 12AU7 cathodyne phase inverter with an EF86 driver. Output is powered by a pair of cathode biased 6973s. Controls include Treble, Bass and our new Boost knob. This control allows the player boost mid frequencies or back them out for a more scooped tone. Two Volume knobs set the overall output level and overdrive. Volume 1 controls the output of the first gain stage. Roll it down for some crisp cleans. Vol 2 is the VarioDyne control.

The VarioDyne is our take on power reduction through voltage control. Unlike similar methods that only manipulate DC voltages, the VarioDyne also controls the AC signal voltages coming into the reduced power stages. Our approach eliminates the need for an additional Master / Drive pot by reducing the input signal to suit the new DC operating point. We do this without reducing the preamp DC voltages to maintain a smooth overdrive. The VarioDyne is great for matching stage volume to a specific venue, dropping the output for the studio or even playing at home. Just turn the Volume 2 knob to adjust the power output while maintaining the amp's character and tone. Simple and effective.

A variety of speakers can be paired with the King Daddy. The sample clips were recorded with a WGS ET65, a favorite of ours and highly recommended.