They said that's impossible...
The Sky SE3 SP defies the imagination and truly creates the amp they said couldn’t be done: one amp that does authentic American cleans, true AC30 style chime, the nuances of a D style amp and pure raw energy of a vintage Plexi.
The reason is simple. We created a huge palette of tones that capture the best example of these amplifiers as a launching point to create an amp that surprises a player every time you plug in. One amp that seamlessly blends at matched volume a Plexi’s growl into the pristine American cleans with a simple switch of the channel.
In Depth Demos
Short Demos
5E3 Channel
The 5E3 harkens from the well-known and highly collectible ’58 Tweed Deluxe amp, with the famous “5E3 Circuit”.
We took the spirit of that circuit and used it as a spring board, adding a number of features that makes it behave better than its distant forefather while still retaining the heart and soul.
Where the original 5E3 might have been able to put out around 12 Watts, on a good day with a tailwind, our 20 Watt Amp comes with 45W & 50W power and output transformers. That means it can get LOUD clean or overdriven. We also added a dedicated master volume control for the channel to let you choose how much you want your 5E3 to break up or not break up at all. Imagine playing clean, tasty, ringing Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers licks while keeping up with your favorite, but most likely, loud drummer.
Using our proprietary overdrive, in conjunction with our 5E3 channel, you will get an elevated version of that exciting British tone that a very famous British amplifier company developed based on the original tweed Bassman Circuit. It is not a coincidence that our 5E3 channel gets this level of performance, the circuit was engineered to deliver punchy R&R tones with tight low-end with the help of big iron and premium components. The right parts at the right place make the difference.
Sky Channel
The Sky Channel is, in some ways, the opposite of the 5E3.
While the 5E3 is a relatively simple preamp, the Sky Pre Amp is much more sophisticated with a broad tonal palette and unique options to create the tone you are searching for.
When we started our R&D for the Sky Channel we initially turned to Blackface amps from the early/mid ’60s as a reference point. We also extensively studied Alexander Dumble’s approach to circuits for inspiration.
The Sky Channel will get you the sweetest, Blackface type clean tones you’ve ever heard. Also, the SPTB mode (accessible in real time via the Foot Switch) shifts the overtones in the amp into a place that you normally only find in VOX top boost amps from the sixties, with unprecedented chime, sparkle, and clarity. Serious cleans in this Puppy. The Sky is a good example of our philosophy: “There should always be somewhere to go”.
With its tight low end and beautiful tone, the Sky channel creates sounds, with the overdrive, that comfortably live in the Ford/Santana/Carlton realm. But not just that. With our multitude of internal proprietary circuit designs, you can get those late ‘60s early ‘70s, non-master volume, 4 hole, Plexi tones made famous by the likes of Kossoff, Page, and the Pie. Dynamic, powerful with tight tracking at any volume.
Overdrive
Our Proprietary, High Performance Overdrive Circuit (with its dedicated tube) can be applied to either of the Sky 5E3 SP’s channels and modes, in real time, via the Foot Switch. There is a Drive Control (amount of OD) on the Front Panel of the amp and a OD Trim knob on the back panel of the amp to tweak an internal gain stage in the circuit for even more flexibility. There is WAY more gain and compression on tap than any mere mortal needs. Just because your guitar of choice has lower output pickups, does not mean that you don’t deserve to have stellar overdrive tones coming out of your favorite Sky 5E3 SP amp. You do and it does.
Our High Performance Overdrive is one of the very best parts of our entire amp design.
BSC
This OD mode works on either amp channel and places a UK-style tone stack after the OD Section. The fully user adjustable tone stack for this mode is tucked away in the back of the amp.
This mode is distinguished by singing lead tones and chewy, yet clear chords. Crank it up and you will get a ridiculous amount of sustain.
Tube Effects Loop
The Parallel Fx loop allows the unadulterated tone to remain inside the amplifier and the Mix control lets you gradually mix the return signal from your outboard effects unit with the dry signal. That way the original tone remains pure. This is important because sometimes we use a piece of gear that doesn’t provide an unaltered dry signal path.
The effects loop is buffered, it has a very low output impedance, which means practically no loss between the amp and the effects unit.
The Effects master in the back of the amp, acts as the overall master volume of the amp. The 5E3, Sky, OD and BSC masters can be looked upon as effects send levels for the individual channels, or to simply balance the levels between the different channels.
Footswitch - In Real Time
While most amplifiers use 1 or 2 relays to change channels ours use 7. This is to create the most versatile on the fly changes one could ever ask for out of a single amplifier. In real time, seamlessly switch channels, turn on the overdrive, engage the BSC mode, add mid boost and or turn on the SPTB function to the Sky channel all in one control.
Words from customers & Friends
Two Rock Sterling Signature * Two Rock Bloomfield Drive * Two Rock BI-Onyx * Red Plate Tweedy Drive * Fuchs ODS * Bludotone ODS * Amplified Nation ODS
What have all these amps in common? They are all “clones” of a Dumble amp. I have also played a Dumble Overdrive Special. The Dumble Overdrive Special and the other amps listed above have basically two or three “sound options”: In my opinion the Dumble Overdrive Special is by far the best amp of these amps.
What has this to do with the 45 RPM 5E3 Sky SP amplifier?
The 5E3 Sky SP has the versatility that no other tube amp can offer today. The clean on both the 5E3 and the Sky is excellent. The clean sounds big. It is room filling, especially if you use a little reverb. It is the best clean sounds You can get out of any amp. Period.
The overdrive sounds of this amp are the best you can get. I have never been able to get this type of quality sounds out of a guitar and an amplifier and no pedals in front of the amp.
The 45 RPM 5E3 Sky SP is the best amp I have had in my whole life and I have played many in 50 years.
Keep up the good work – Leif
