TWO ROCK TYPE 3 is in the house.
We have never been as impressed with a channel-switching amp as we are with the new Two Rock Type 3 that has arrived at the G25 tone lounge. The unit is extremely versatile. We have been able to pull sounds from this piece ranging from Robin Ford and Eric Johnson smooth overdrive and chiming cleans all the way to raging Modded Marshall tones with ease.
The amp has a very detailed sounding clean channel with Treble, Mid, and Bass controls. A bright switch, mid boost and eq shift switch come standard on the front panel. The amp also features a contour control for both the clean and lead channel that really fine tune the response of the amp from tame to very aggressive.
There is a separate FET section with variable gain knob that can be introduced into the signal path in the clean or gain channels that adds a whole other dimension to this already hefty tone palette. When used in conjunction with the clean channel and a Strat the FET section adds that SRV push that is reminiscent of Stevie’s Steel String Singer tones.
If this wasn’t enough the gain channel features a contour control of its own, and an input sensitivity control on the back panel of the amp. You can also adjust the amount of negative feedback that is introduced into the circuit allowing for a very tight and Fender like response, all the way to zero negative feedback which causes the amp to be super touch sensitive and nearly out of control as far as feedback and harmonics.
Think Train Wreck, or Dumble ODS on the verge of explosion. I prefer the amp right on the edge and run it with zero negative feedback. It oozes vibe and the notes just seem to jump off of the strings in this mode.
Of course Two Rock included a very usable master volume control on each channel as well as a separate input gain for the lead channel. Both input gain controls interact and make the amp all the more versatile. One can tweak for hours with the input gain controls and achieve countless variations on the amazing tonal palette that the amp offers.
Of course there is an effects loop as well, and an addition of a half power switch which makes the amp all the more sweet and useable. Did we mention dual tube rectifiers? YES…. The amp has tube rectifiers and they add to the throaty, meaty lead tones that emanate from the Type 3 in spades. All in all, a big winner and an amp that we are proud to sell at G25.
Michael Koski is the founder and owner of XITS Sound, an Iowa City, Iowa-based designer and manufacturer of tube amplifiers that manage to combine superior quality and peerless attention to sonic and visual detail into something that feels at once classic and boldly innovative. That’s no accident. Koski says he was inspired by influences as diverse as mid-sixties mod and late seventies punk culture, as well as architecture and industrial design, to develop what he describes as the “total design” of the XITS amp. We recently talked with him to learn more about the XITS amp, and all the passion that goes into creating it.
Guitar 25: When did you first get into music?
Michael Koski: I’ve been playing guitar—I don’t know how long—a long time. I guess it’s been about 25 years. I started out as a bass player, but everyone I played with was like, “Dude, you're playing guitar on that thing—not bass.” I eventually got a guitar, and ever since then music’s been my true love.
G25: How did you develop your passion for amplifiers?
MK: It all happened when I was about five years old. I saw this TV show or movie about the Beatles in the early seventies, and it totally captured me. Amps have been part of me since then.
G25: When did you start working on and building amplifiers of your own?
MK: Probably around ’92. I started out repairing and modifying two amps, and it just sort of took off from there. There have been periods since then my job or career would take me away from music, but I’ve always come back to it. Around three years ago I got serious about building something out of the desire to have something I couldn't find. I wasn't planning on forming a company. It just sort of snowballed. Everything took hold about two years ago, and it’s going full steam now.
G25: You’ve described the Vox AC30 as being “pure magic.” What do you think sets it apart from all other amps?
MK: It's the sound of a really good AC30 that captivates me. It's percussive, sort of bell-like. It distorts in a way no other amp does. It's the one amp you can plug any guitar into and it sounds great—that sound has always given me goosebumps. It’s the way electrons move around and take vibrations created from the guitar and make into something so beautiful. It’s pretty cool. And the visual aspect has always blown me away as well. The sight of a Vox on stage has always told me this is going to be pretty good, and it usually is.
G25: How has it inspired the XITS amp?
MK: Well, for one thing, the circuitry of XITS is based on real early Vox circuitry designed by Dick Denny. But more than that, it was just that everything I was playing through and hearing didn't have the sound I was hearing on early sixties recordings. There’s a gap in there—the original equipment is so different from anything out there today. I feel like my products are in same family as Vox products. A lot of times in this industry the word clone is used. But that’s impossible—you can't create an exact duplicate. What you can do is move forward and embrace what’s cool about old stuff, but take into account how modern players use an amp. I think that what the XITS amp does. It’s in the same lineage as early Vox.
G25: You’ve also said XITS is the first amplifier to embrace the concept of total design. What does that mean?
MK: What I've seen out there with just about every manufacturer is they create electronics and put them in a standard wooden box. For the most part they’re just marrying two parts together. But for the XITS amp, I’ve looked at the relationship between every component and zeroed in on what will promote the best sound. It’s all built up around that and married together. Every component used is unique—a lot of the hardware is manufactured to specifications, or else I make it myself. For example, I’ve designed cabinets out of all solid hard wood. I built and evaluated lots of thicknesses of materials to determine what would resonate best, and solid wood has a special thickness that works really well to enhance loudspeakers. Solid wood seemed to have a soul where plywood sounded like wet blanket. Those cabinets come alive, vibrate—you can feel them pulsate like they’re alive almost. It’s those subtle enhancements that add charm and a little magic.
G25: What do you consider your greatest achievement with XITS so far?
MK: It might not be an achievement in the traditional sense, but I feel I’ve created something really good players can plug into, and it’s just an amazing thing to hear really good players dig into it and find something totally their own from something so simple. All of my designs are totally simple, really the opposite of the whole industry in terms of their simplicity. It puts a smile on my face—I’m making music, and I don’t know how I can top that.
To see Michael's products on G25, go to the AMPs page and browse XITS amps.
What do you get when two men with 30 years of experience in the speaker re-coning/repair business decide that they are tired of offshore build quality of guitar speakers?
You get knowledgeable and passionate people building the best guitar speakers possible.
These two men (they want to remain mysterious), have dissected and studied the best 60’s British guitar speakers and have now developed something new with a familiar flavor.
Our access with these gents has allowed Guitar25 to offer a 70hz and a 60hz 12” speaker that is reminiscent of your best 1960’s British speakers with two wonderful differences; these are not 40-year-old speakers and each of these units will handle 80 watts each!
This build and design allows us run a 100 watt head into a 2-12 cab with no issues. Imagine 160 watts of power handling capability that will handle anything you can throw at it! What’s more, the speakers have a tight bottom end, and will withstand the most incredible amount of abuse.
Each speaker is hand built by 1 artisan; the “kits” are constructed on site. Testing is done during the process to insure there will be no problems. Any sign of tonal coloration or dreaded cone cry and the speaker is scrapped. Scrapping is rare due to the fact the cone tolerance is precise with a 2% margin. Then, after application of the Dust Cap and Edge treatment, they are tested for the 4th time. Only then are they ready to ship. This process and the passion of these men, leads me to believe that it would be impossible to mass produce such quality units.
Lucky for us, these crazed Audio Mavens didn’t stop at guitar speakers. Exclusively on Guitar25.com, we are offering their new line of bass speakers as well. Due to the sale of St’ Louis Music and the general lack of quality to the original Ampeg SVT speaker, a new design for the 10” Bass driver was more than necessary. These mystique musicians started by dissecting original CTS 10” SVT speakers, made circa 1968. Besides being 32 ohm and hard to get, these speakers had a nice warm tone to them. The duo researched many cones and spiders finally settling on a compliance that gives an extended low end and an extended high. On top of this, they upgraded (due to current adhesive and voice coil formers) the power handling capability. Once received, the edges of the speakers and the dust cap are treated with a private formula, and then individually tested again. These bass speakers are offered in 4, 8. 16, and 32 ohms and are in stock now. Rated at 200 watts.
And that boys and girls, is where incredible speakers come from.
To see these speakers, select speakers from the left navigation menu.