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Read the review: http://bit.ly/BCAudioBelAir40
The latest creation from San Francisco amp designer Bruce Clement is a fresh take on that classic Fender recipe: a 40-watt amp powered by a quartet of 6V6 tubes. Okay, I’m lying. Fender never made such an amp. While the company used dual 6V6s for small combos such as the Princeton, they opted for pairs of tighter, brighter 6L6s in their midsized models. But modern builders such as Victoria, Carr, and Dr. Z have run with the 6V6-driven-medium-wattage concept, producing amps that combine the power of dual 6L6s with the 6V6’s softer, warmer, and quicker-to-distort character. Despite such predecessors, BC’s Bel Air 40 breaks new ground with a distinctive blend of Fender and Marshall attributes and an innovative and inspiring control set.
Point/Counterpoint
The Bel Air 40 resides in a Marshall-style head cabinet. The solid wood cab is flawless, and Clement’s signature “racing stripe” design is eye-catching without being cheesy. But the real beauty lies within. Clement is justifiably renowned for his immaculate point-to-point wiring. Here, the fastidiously routed wires with their sharp 90-degree angles suggest an aerial view of some modernistic metropolis. It’s clean enough to eat from, though doing so may invalidate your warranty. This is masterful work.
The amp’s most newsworthy features are its unconventional controls. In Clement’s words, these “allow you to reach inside the amp, so to speak, and re-wire the power section in multiple ways.” And guess what? It’s true. (Details below.)
Fundamentally Solid
The amp’s core tones are punchy and ultra-present. Thanks in part to a pair of hefty ClassicTone transformers, the fundamental note frequencies feel as grounded as bridge piers. Single notes are clear and powerful. Chords ring harmoniously, with superb string-to-string separation. The frequency response is vast. Bel Air can move serious lows, while the top end shimmers with animation.
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