Adam Stark Guitars Fire Amp Head

2003 Custom Order
The Fire amp is a hand built, all tube 40w tone machine. It has two channels, but does not channel switch unless you attach an outboard device. There is no reverb or FX loop, or anything else that would get in the way of the tone and response.
Everything about the Fire amp is very straightforward and intuitive. The chrome-plated chassis has white silkscreen control labels with black chicken head knobs. The controls labels are faced to the back of the head, which is conventional for retro style amps. From left to right there are 4 input jacks associated with two channels, Normal and Bright. Each channel has two inputs. Input 2 associated with each channel has slightly reduced sensitivity for higher output instruments. Adam also recommends experimenting by using a jumper to connect the two channels. Next is Volume1, Volume2, Treble, Middle, Bass, Presence, Standby, Power, a red dome light, Ground. All knobs go to 12. There is a generously long grounded power cable that is hard wired to the cab. Internally, the cab is spacious with ample room to tuck the wire. There is one speaker input with a 4/8 ohm switch.
The cab is professionally covered in red tolex with a gold thread wheat grille cloth front. There is a sturdy black leather handle on the top, and large rubber feet. It is not heavy and is well balanced. I could see myself easily getting to a gig in one trip with a gig bag, head in one hand, and small cab in the other without breaking a sweat.

I have played electric guitar for 43 years, and had more than my fair share of gear. I confine my playing to the genres am comfortable with and enjoy, so I am fairly limited in range. I guess bluesy rock with a harder edge would describe my style pretty well. I am a big fan of early and middle period Clapton and Billie Gibbons if that helps.
The bottom line is how delighted I am with this amp. With my Frankenstrat Partscaster it does everything from clean to mean. The Normal channel from about 3 to 5 has a really great old Fender vibe, but with much more definition. This amp has a real 3-D quality of filling the room with sound. It?s very rich tonally. At low settings there is already quite a bit of crunch if you dig in just a bit harder. Once you go above 6 you start to get into the meat of the Channels, and something else starts happening (more on that in a minute).
Channel 2 is called Bright, but it?s a misnomer. Nasty would be more to the point. That?s where the ?bad boy? hangs out and where I started to enter the ?Zone?. What do I mean by the ?Zone??

Touch responsiveness.
Mercy Miss Percy! Notes jump off the strings. They bloom, they swirl. Controlled overtone feedback? No problem. Harmonics? All over the place, That is the Zone. Its real- it exists in this amp. In spades. It is very organic feeling, very connected, and electrifying to play through. I get hypnotic, sort of trance-like playing through the Fire. The tone and presence controls are not drastic, but totally effective. I plugged a number of different guitars into the Fire- a 335, Goldtop with vintage P-90's, PRS with 9's (screaming!), Tele Thinline. Each guitar maintained its character, but in fact the amp accentuated the personality of each instrument. Each change required a minor tweak of the tone, presence, and sometimes the Volume pots, but then I was right back in the Zone. On a guitar-to-guitar basis, once the Fire amp is tweaked for that instrument, I could easily play a whole night without ever going back to the amp- the volume knob on the guitar and touch would be all I?d need.
I mentioned earlier that Adam recommends using a jumper across the channels, for good reason. It makes the amp even bigger sounding. And more responsive, which is kind of ridiculous, but true nonetheless. This amp is rated at @ 40w, but that is a very BIG 40w. I can?t imagine having any problem being heard in any small to medium sized venue. After that I would mic it. But it gives it all up at low volume too, so you don?t have to hurt yourself or your band mates to get into the Zone.
The Fire does like Pedals. I fed it a Klon, an Analogman Boss DT1 conversion, a TIM and a Rat, an MM4, I ran it through my Alex for Delay and reverb. It liked them all. If you are into high gain stuff, the Fire will go to that place with an OD pedal, but that is not where it lives. Interestingly, different speakers also had similar results. I started with a single Weber Blue Alnico 15w, then a Weber Blue Ceramic 50w, then a pair of well broken in Celestions- a Vintage 30 and G12K85. They all sounded distinctive and true to their characteristics. The Celestions had a tighter bottom and more grind, but the Blues have more of that Fendery spank or sparkle. Point is, nothing sounds bad, just different. Adams favorite are 25w Greenbacks. I have to locate a half stack just to check it out again.
If you were waiting for me to compare this amp to any other amp brand or builder in particular I really can?t. I think it has its own voice. There is no problem conjuring up classic rock voicings that we have all heard, but the Fire does have its own unique flavor and texture.

This amp was hand built, tested, and burned it before shipping. I have no doubt that if it ever developed a problem Adam Stark would take care of it personally.

The Fire amp was completed on schedule, about 10 weeks after my order was placed. Shipping was included (classy). It was securely packed, double boxed and the tubes were removed and wrapped separately. Once unpacked, I only had to install the tubes, screw on the top strap handle, and it was ready to go. Adam supplied a matched pair of Svetlana 6L6's and a NOS RCA 5AR4. Adam had taken the trouble to enclose a brief instruction manual with some suggested settings. There is a production sticker inside the cabinet signed and numbered #01.

Now that the Fire amp has been officially ?launched? the most difficult part will be getting hold of one to play through it to see if it suits your style and needs. I do understand that this will be challenging with a builder as small and un-commercial as Adam Stark. I am sure that it will not be for everyone. The Fire did get me to a place I wanted to go and couldn?t get to previously.
If you have a chance to play though a Fire, I don?t think you will ever forget it.
I am not clip enabled at this time, but I highly recommend that you check out Adam?s video Fire amp clips at
http://www.adamstark.com
If you have broadband, go for the hi-res download.
Oh- and turn it up!

Barry. 05/16/03