NAD -- Hovercraft Andromeda :: PICS

Joined: 03 Sep 2009 Posts: 1129 Location: Atlanta, Ga

Been following these guys (Portland, OR) for quite a while....time I pulled the trigger!

In a nutshell, Hovercraft makes recycled/custom amps.
Mixing/matching different voicings/preamps, power amps, tubes, etc.
(mostly older/vintage/rare amps...ie: Hiwatt, Sunn, Matamp/Green, Orange, Laney, etc)

Andromeda KT88 Sn33

2 channel footswitchable amp with:

Ch1 - non master volume Sunn Model T / Laney Supergroup mix

Ch2 - high gain Orange OR/Matamp GTO/GTL growl

Switchable EQ controls (TMB/Baxandall)

Tube driven spring Reverb (channel assignable)

1/2 power switch on the back 90/45 watts

Premium matched duet of Sovtek KT88's

Sunn Model T BIG bass output

100% ALL TUBE -- NO DIODES Twisted Evil

FAC switch for more preamp modification voices (bit of Hiwatt and Plexi voicing/tweaking available)

Double depth mod to go from classic Sunn Model T to modern 'harder' power tube response, and depth to bring up massive low
end on tap.

Matamp green tolex with white piping and mixed big and little Orange OR style fluted knobs.

Quote:

"Tons and TONS of overtones and deep sleep throaty roar all over
this amp. I gave up after 20 minutes of playtesting, trying to find
*all* of the sweet spots. this amp will be a stoner/doom/heavy
blues tweakfest for someone..

Push in the EQ button (baxandall mode) and roll the treble control
down, and dial the presence knob higher.. HELLO ANGRY 1974!!!

Oh, and its got channel assignable reverb. You like reverb, right?
one big secret: this amps gain channel? its one of those "fun"
amps where master volume goes from not enough > almost
enough > TOOO MUCH MY EARS HOLY DAMN all between 1-3.
Consider this as a top fuel dragster with the kiddie bumpers
removed. You will come to love the control of large diameter
knobs for keeping this scary monster under a bit of control.
Best you go gig with it. keeps the neighbors from throwing
+1 magic axes at your head."

More pics to come....the anticipation is already killing me....I'm just
gonna go hit the bowl and jam out to some Sleep Cool

Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2013 1:26 am

interesting

Joined: 03 May 2008 Posts: 6629 Location: Minnesota

Tehy have been making some KILLER Jet City mods lately.

Joined: 04 Jun 2012 Posts: 349 Location: South-West Ohio

wow, that sounds super cool... and the specs read awesome sauce... any chance of getting some clips of that? I would LOVE to hear it!

Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 10202 Location: New Jersey USA

Thanks for firing up my amp GAS. Dick! Wow, been on their website for a half hour. must... resist... tempatation. aRGh!!!!

\m/

Joined: 03 Sep 2009 Posts: 1129 Location: Atlanta, Ga

Joined: 03 Sep 2009 Posts: 1129 Location: Atlanta, Ga

BradWorld wrote:

Thanks for firing up my amp GAS. Dick! Wow, been on their website for a half hour. must... resist... tempatation. aRGh!!!!

\m/

lol

Check out their site and Facebook page

Joined: 09 Mar 2004 Posts: 3072 Location: Frozen North

grats, and its green lol ( in 2 ways recycled and color Cool

)

Joined: 10 Feb 2006 Posts: 1370 Location: Lutz, Fl.

I really dig it. It has that Big Muff Pi vibe about it.

Joined: 03 Sep 2009 Posts: 1129 Location: Atlanta, Ga

Jeepster wrote:

grats, and its green lol ( in 2 ways recycled and color Cool

)

Always been a big fan of Green Matamps ..... couldn't go any other way

Now all I need are these:

Joined: 04 Jun 2012 Posts: 349 Location: South-West Ohio

that guys clips are SUPER distorted. It was hard for me to make out what exactly he was oing for there.

Joined: 03 Sep 2009 Posts: 1129 Location: Atlanta, Ga

pariah2 wrote:

that guys clips are SUPER distorted. It was hard for me to make out what exactly he was oing for there.

Which one? (There are multiple)

Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2013 3:26 am

I have been eyeballing the 20 watters they have been doing. Guess I should thank you for reminding me again about them...just what the neighbors want lol. I pop in to see what they have going on and if the right one pops up I'm going to snag one. On a side note I'm finally bumped up to July when my Anderson amp is going to be built. Can't wait!

Joined: 13 Feb 2004 Posts: 5603 Location: phoenix az.

stoner metal amp so now theres orange,green whats next pink?black?

Joined: 03 Sep 2009 Posts: 1129 Location: Atlanta, Ga

RobBouchardDeanml wrote:

stoner metal amp so now theres orange,green whats next pink?black?

...Matamp's been around since the 60's.
First there was Matamp, then there was Orange/Matamp, then they went their seperate ways.
The Matamp brand has been sold over the years... Original Matamp owner Mat Mathias passed
away and company is now owned by different cats (Jeff Lewis, owner/cab builder, Dave Green, designer).
Original Orange head Cliff Cooper still owns Orange, though their current amp building philosophy
differs from the early years...
Examples of early Matamp and/or Orange/Matamp users are Wishbone Ash and Jimmy Page.
Originals are really fine amps.
Current Matamp make fine amps though they are moving away from the original Matamp/Orange
type build to their own designs (lower power, master volumes, etc.).
Current Electric amps lean towards the big, loud, old head design that current Matamp is sort of moving away from...
Current Orange amps are also much different than their old school predecessors - higher gain, channel switchers, etc...

Matamp History

Then there's what is now known as Electric Amps, which was formerly Matamp USA, and due to some supply
chain problems and ideological differences, the US counterpart became known as Electric Amps (they have Black,
Green, Blue, Purple, White, etc, etc. -- mostly aesthetic differences tailored to the customer)

Joined: 03 Sep 2009 Posts: 1129 Location: Atlanta, Ga

Exit13 wrote:

I have been eyeballing the 20 watters they have been doing. Guess I should thank you for reminding me again about them...just what the neighbors want lol. I pop in to see what they have going on and if the right one pops up I'm going to snag one. On a side note I'm finally bumped up to July when my Anderson amp is going to be built. Can't wait!

DO IT!!

So sexy:

Crappy mic but good idea of the Dwarvenaut's tone:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlj2uClieKQ

Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 10202 Location: New Jersey USA

Those Dwarvenaut 20 watters are totally kick ass. The sound clips are great. And they look cool too. I may have to buy one. they are so reasonably priced. $550 to $650 depending on the config. Really good prices.

Joined: 04 Jun 2012 Posts: 349 Location: South-West Ohio

Frogman wrote:

pariah2 wrote:

that guys clips are SUPER distorted. It was hard for me to make out what exactly he was oing for there.

Which one? (There are multiple)

Well, l listened to the first three. He's a got what sounds like abad mic placement, so I don;t think that helps, but its SUPER distorted - and maybe thats what hes going for but it was difficult for me to make out is all I'm saying.

The specs on these read awesome. I just wish I could hear a better sound clip and/or a clip with a band to really get a feel for it.

Joined: 03 Sep 2009 Posts: 1129 Location: Atlanta, Ga

pariah2 wrote:

Frogman wrote:

pariah2 wrote:

that guys clips are SUPER distorted. It was hard for me to make out what exactly he was oing for there.

Which one? (There are multiple)

Well, l listened to the first three. He's a got what sounds like abad mic placement, so I don;t think that helps, but its SUPER distorted - and maybe thats what hes going for but it was difficult for me to make out is all I'm saying.

The specs on these read awesome. I just wish I could hear a better sound clip and/or a clip with a band to really get a feel for it.

Okay I hear ya.

Keep in mind though that every amp will sound a little different.
He will voice the amp to your liking (Laney/Hiwatt/Orange/Sunn/Matamp/Marshall, etc)

The Falcon is really awesome too.
It has a "bump" switch on channel one that allows 2 voicings, and
a I-O-II switch on channel 2 that also linked to the bump switch, which basically allows 8 different voicing combinations.
That one has KT66s and a tube buffered FX loop.

Posted: Sat Mar 16, 2013 7:39 pm

He has that green one- with the fenderish voicing available. Sounds intriguing. Cool

Joined: 03 Sep 2009 Posts: 1129 Location: Atlanta, Ga

Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 6:51 pm

You're gonna have a lot of fun with that bad boy!!

Joined: 03 May 2008 Posts: 6629 Location: Minnesota

Looks like fun!

I'm a bit put off by the sharpie every where. I would think for what these amps cost, they would be a bit more visually appealing.

Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2013 1:06 am

I get a kick out of the scribbles and crossing out of the old stuff. I think in the past he combined some old amps with some jet city parts too.

Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2013 10:28 am

Back at 2008 NAMM I asked Laney to reissue the KLIPP model. They wouldn't do it. Thank Goodness some one (other than Laney) out there is listening.

Joined: 03 Sep 2009 Posts: 1129 Location: Atlanta, Ga

Played it last night at rehearsal through my old USA Randall XL
cab with WGS ET65's & Retro 30's in an X pattern.

It's awesome!!

And with the FAC control, independent/interactive eq, baxandall
control, depth mod and power voicing, this thing is SUPER versatile.

I can easily and equally get a massive stoner tone or an old
british orange type rock and roll flavor and everything inbetween.

FAC control is I-O-II

I is like an Orange OR (most vintage)

O is like a Matamp GTO

II is like a Matamp GTL (most "modern")

And HOLY SH*T, I've never had an amp with KT88's. Wow they
are so punchy!

Posted: Sat Mar 23, 2013 3:04 am

A special green monster hovercraft is headed to Rhode Island. Billy mod and all.
Twisted Evil

I asked him a bazillion and one questions and he was right back with answers and direction about exactly what I was looking for. Can't wait!

Joined: 03 Sep 2009 Posts: 1129 Location: Atlanta, Ga

Exit13 wrote:

A special green monster hovercraft is headed to Rhode Island. Billy mod and all.
Twisted Evil

I asked him a bazillion and one questions and he was right back with answers and direction about exactly what I was looking for. Can't wait!

Sweet!!!

Which model? Specs?

Posted: Sat Mar 23, 2013 5:33 pm

Duarvenaut 20. Green. Billy mod. If you pull up the clips it's at te top of the list. He's going to sludge it up too

Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2013 8:36 am

https://www.facebook.com/Hovercraftamps

Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2013 12:12 am

Mine has arrived today!! Duarvenaut20 mentioned above.
Gotta do the upload image thing here in a bit after I crank this puppy up!!!

Twisted Evil

Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 10202 Location: New Jersey USA

Is yours a Mk 1 or MK 2?

I ordered an Orange Mk 2 today. Waiting for payment instructions.

Congrats on the new amp Bro.

Joined: 03 Sep 2009 Posts: 1129 Location: Atlanta, Ga

Exit13 wrote:

Mine has arrived today!! Duarvenaut20 mentioned above.
Gotta do the upload image thing here in a bit after I crank this puppy up!!!

Twisted Evil

Amazing huh? Cool

I'm LOVING mine....God KT88's are awesome.
I'm getting the most massive, raunchy, "air-pushing"
Matamp/Orange OR grunt and grind. Twisted Evil

And man it is so versatile too. I can go from stoner
madness to Marshall "bark" and anything inbetween.

Do y'all's Dwarvenauts have reverb?
The reverb on my Andromeda is sick...from subtle to
spacey trippiness Laughing

Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2013 12:01 am

Mine is a MK1. Serial number 56 with added depth controls on back as well as an added mod which gives the amp three voicings. No reverb. I have it hooked up to an Orange 2x12 closed back cab with 30's in it. I have another cab that I switch speakers in and will try a bunch out once I spend more time with the amp. Really really nice amp that has it's own character and is very responsive.

Posted: Sun Apr 07, 2013 9:14 pm

Man oh man is there some nasty in this set up. There's some dark stuff that lives in those tubes

Pre-mod

'bout to cook some eggs on this bad boy!!

Posted: Mon Apr 08, 2013 12:15 am

Mother of god.

Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 10202 Location: New Jersey USA

Mine is shipped! And the gods are smiling down on me... as mine is s/n # 69. Fuck yeah!

Orange Dwarvenaut 20 Mk II. Should be here within a week.

Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2013 11:03 pm

BradWorld wrote:

Mine is shipped! And the gods are smiling down on me... as mine is s/n # 69. Fuck yeah!

Orange Dwarvenaut 20 Mk II. Should be here within a week.

Is it here yet, is it here yet, is it... lol just teasin! You're down the road from me so I bet it's to you on Friday or Monday. I cannot wait to hear how yours is.

Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 10202 Location: New Jersey USA

[quote="Exit13"]

BradWorld wrote:

Is it here yet, is it here yet, is it... lol just teasin! You're down the road from me so I bet it's to you on Friday or Monday. I cannot wait to hear how yours is.

Yeah, its due in on Monday. I find the communications response time from the guy to be excellent. But when I ask him questions about the amp, he always seems to skirt the question and not give me a full answer. So I don't know what features my amp will have. I hope it has the F-A-C control and the other stuff. And I asked him what exactly is "recycled" in the amp, what parts are new, what parts are recycled, and how the amps are made, and he gave me a bunch of lip service without answering the question. So we will see. I figured for these prices, there is really no risk involved. Very inexpensive, and the tones are killer. So here is to it getting here and being a killer tone machine! \m/

Joined: 03 Sep 2009 Posts: 1129 Location: Atlanta, Ga

^^ Yeah his responses tend to be pretty vague...I attest this to him being pretty much a one man operation and probably getting a thousand emails a day.
Plus he's in Australia right now.

But HAVE NO FEAR! You are going to love it.
My band did some pre-production this past weekend for our
upcoming LP and I used it....sounded killer!

Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 10202 Location: New Jersey USA

^^^^^

I have no fear that it will be awesome. I am pretty sure I will be putting a bunch of amps up for sale once this one arrives.

My only concern is that I was able to have a conversation with him about what I wanted before he built the amp. So he supposedly built mine based on what I indicated I wanted. I know there is a double depth control of some kind, and this F-A-C control. Some amps have them, and some don't. And I am not even sure what they are! Smile

But I know I want all the tone shaping options I can get in there. And I hope he didn't exclude any of those things because the basic tones I asked for were nailed without them. You know the way one can speculate and worry while waiting for something to arrive that is a bit fluid, and not set in stone? Well that has set in pretty well. LOL. If I would have bought something off the shelf, I would know exactly what I was getting. But with this thing, every amp is different, so it is very exiting. But the risks that it wont sound the way I want it to are higher.

I was going to buy an Orange OR-15 until I discovered the Hovercraft. I hope I did the right thing.

Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2013 7:31 pm

He certainly keeps his cards close to the chest Laughing

He listens though so I'm sure you are going to enjoy the amp. Mine is way more than what I expected. Looks like we all jumped in at the right time too. They go fast.

Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 10202 Location: New Jersey USA

I read there was a guy that ordered an amp, and paid for it. Then he requested some build photos of the circuit. Hovercraft then sent him a refund and refused to send him the amp. Can not vouch that it is true, but I wouldnt be surprised. Did you open up your amp and look inside?

Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2013 8:06 pm

Yeah in looking for info about the builds I saw that too. Haven't opened mine up. Been enjoying it too much.

Posted: Sat Apr 13, 2013 3:59 am

Holy Smokies and Raviolies what a cool amp. Just swapped speakers today and had time to go at it. It's quiet too which is nice.I asked for a bruiser blues machine and it has it.

Posted: Mon Apr 15, 2013 10:08 pm

Is it there yet? Curious to hear your take on it. Especially from the bass perspective.

Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 10202 Location: New Jersey USA

Exit13 wrote:

Is it there yet? Curious to hear your take on it. Especially from the bass perspective.

Got it today. Mine is a guitar amp, not a bass amp. So far, it sounds great. Mine does indeed have the F-A-C control and the dual depth bass controls in the back of the amp. I am not sure what the F-A-C control does. It seems to be a little flaky. When I play clean in the center settings it sounds good. When I play in the left or right setting it sounds a bit wonky and glitch. When I play dirty, really dirty, all three settings sound good. So I am not sure what is going on there. Not sure what that control does, except it seems to provide some kind of filter. Not sure if there is something wrong with it? Anyways, the tones right out of the box are just killer. It nails that Hiwatt sound with the gain on low. And it totally kills that vintage Orange/Matamp sound on the higher gain settings. Tons and tons of gain. Tons of bass. and not much mush. Nice and tight so far. the HF drive control is great. So far so good. Not sure what is going on with the F-A-C control. If you could shed some light, that would be great.

Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 7:13 pm

FAC control is I-O-II

I is like an Orange OR (most vintage)

O is like a Matamp GTO

II is like a Matamp GTL (most "modern")

Hope that helps a little bit. I've found it really depends on the guitar, pickups, etc. Sometimes I like it centered and the amp sounds clearer or more open to me. When you say flaky does it sounds like the switch is loose? I am going to mine out through another 2x12 later this week.

Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 1:37 am

Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 1:38 am

Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 1:42 am

lol Saw that on his site

Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 1:44 am

Exit13 wrote:

lol Saw that on his site

He needs to name a model "Das Limpet."

Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 1:45 am

BradWorld wrote:

Exit13 wrote:

Is it there yet? Curious to hear your take on it. Especially from the bass perspective.

Got it today. Mine is a guitar amp, not a bass amp. So far, it sounds great. Mine does indeed have the F-A-C control and the dual depth bass controls in the back of the amp. I am not sure what the F-A-C control does. It seems to be a little flaky. When I play clean in the center settings it sounds good. When I play in the left or right setting it sounds a bit wonky and glitch. When I play dirty, really dirty, all three settings sound good. So I am not sure what is going on there. Not sure what that control does, except it seems to provide some kind of filter. Not sure if there is something wrong with it? Anyways, the tones right out of the box are just killer. It nails that Hiwatt sound with the gain on low. And it totally kills that vintage Orange/Matamp sound on the higher gain settings. Tons and tons of gain. Tons of bass. and not much mush. Nice and tight so far. the HF drive control is great. So far so good. Not sure what is going on with the F-A-C control. If you could shed some light, that would be great.

Sound Clips Brad,,, please...

Posted: Thu Apr 25, 2013 11:08 pm

Just used another Tele, Panzer Caddy, and a SG with mine. Some really really great strat sounds with it. It sounds "swatty" if that makes sense. Crisp clear Vaughn right back at you with gnarly Cantrell if you use it right. Such a great amp. Don't forget it's organic the thing will howl at you if you walk out the door and don't treat it right Wink

Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 10202 Location: New Jersey USA

http://www.deanguitars.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1495612#1495612

Cool

\m/

Joined: 21 Jul 2007 Posts: 1474 Location: Helsinki, Finland

Man I'd love an andromeda but the shipping and custom prices would probably double the actual price...
Anyone tried the Ionostrofear Fuzz?
The sample sounded really beefy but I'm worried it won't be able to cut through in a band setting...