04/30/2026
Introducing: The Big Kid Amp – Pure Class A Power in a Heavyweight Chassis
After the success of my "Kid Kronic"—the popular sub-5W combo—I felt it was time to create something for the player who has grown up, but hasn’t lost their edge.
Enter The Big Kid Amp.
Small Footprint, Massive Soul
Don’t let the dimensions fool you. This amp is built on a compact 12 x 8” steel chassis and stands just about 10”. But when you pick it up, you’ll immediately feel the build quality. Weighing in at over 20 pounds, this is a dense, overbuilt machine. That weight comes from the iron—specifically the oversized transformers I've hand-selected to ensure a bottom end that sounds like a freight train.
The Heart of the Beast: Handwired Class A
The Big Kid is a Single-Ended (SE) Class A design. I've handwired every single connection, utilizing top-tier, hand-selected parts throughout. In a Class A circuit, the power tube is "on" throughout the full signal cycle, resulting in zero crossover distortion and a harmonically rich, touch-sensitive response. When you dig in, it growls; when you back off, it cleans up with a bell-like clarity that feels "alive" under your fingers.
Precision Tone-Shaping: Variable "Voice" and "Raw"
I designed this for the player who wants surgical control over their gain structure. Beyond the standard Volume, Treble, and Bass, I've included two specialized, fully variable controls:
- The VOICE Control: This is a variable cathode bypass on the input stage. It allows you to tailor the gain and frequency response of the 5654W pentode in real-time. You can tighten up the lows for a modern, percussive punch or let the gain bloom for a thick, vintage feel.
- The RAW Control: This is where the amp finds its teeth. It is a variable tone-stack lift. As you dial it up, you are gradually bypassing the EQ section, sending a pure, unadulterated signal straight to the power section. It allows you to find the perfect "sweet spot" between sophisticated tone-shaping and a raw, mid-forward roar that pushes the 6550 into glorious saturation.
Technical Specs and Performance
- Power Output: This is a "grown-up" output. Delivering a stout 14 Watts of pure Class A power, it has the headroom to stay clean at volume or the muscle to drive a 4x12 cab with ease.
- Pro Features: It features switchable output impedance (4, 8, and 16 ohms) feeding a pair of parallel output jacks.
- The Glass: I’ve utilized a military-spec 5654W pentode, a specialized Russian 6N2P dual-triode, and the legendary 6550 powerhouse for a sound that is as deep as it is wide.
The Current Build
Until today, it was being offered au naturel - sans a pine cabinet. But now it is housed in a finger-jointed pine head cabinet covered in a cool "black-tweed" Tolex (17½" wide, 9½"deep, and 10" tall).
As always, it's waiting for you at Cumberland Guitars in Jamestown, KY.
The "Kid Kronic" was the start; the Big Kid is the destination. Come hear what "Huge" really sounds like.
