Aiken Amplification Intruder 30W Head

This head has a pretty basic layout with a few twists. It's got the plexi / Ali switch for a voicing shift. It's not a channel switcher but it's super versatile with the number of tones available. At 30 watts it's really the perfect amount of power - nothing lacking. Very unique TRS effects loop, voltage switching for international use. the build quality is out of this world. I give it a 10 in the features dept. because it's got everything it needs.

I'm using a Les Paul standard with WCR Goodwoods in it, an anderson Cobra, a couple of GMW Strats and a stock Fender Strat or two. The cleans with single coils rival any clean amp I've ever owned or played. The bucker grind and singing tone is astounding.

This amp runs the gammut of the most awesome EL34 cleans ever to the best of Marshall style hard rock tones. Not a gain monster, but a very articulate monster. Takes pedals very well, but I find myself seldom using them. The amp does the Lizzy, Page, Schenker thing to a T....really pretty amazing how killer this amp sounds. I run it through a Bogner OS 2x12 with Greenbacks and a Z Best 2x12 with a Celestion Blue and Heritage Greenback - awesome tones.

I will say that this is an incredibly touch sensitive amp - run it wide open and pick soft with your fingers and it's clean as a bell, them hit it with a pick and it will grind. This is not a very forgiving amp as there's no syrup or fizzy fuzz to hide behind - it will reward your efforts you put into playing and learning how to make the most out of the controls at hand with your guitar and amp.

No problems whatsoever....if ever anything did go wrong Randall Aiken is one of the best in the biz. Amp runs dead quiet at all times.

Randall Aiken is one of the most knowledgablr and approachable people in the amp business. Always courteous when on the phone, and generally super prompt with email reponses. I've owned three different Aikens and never had a single issue with them,but always lots of questions which have been promptly answered.

I've been playing for over 26 years and have owned a boat load of amps, including just about one of something from every boutique and big box builder out there. I actually bought this very amp back after selling it once (won't make that mistake again...)I've also owned an Aiken Sabre and a Tomcat. For my needs, this may be one of if not the best amps I've ever owned. It's beyond versatile even with a single channel. There's nothing I don't like about, and everything to love about it. I would highly reccomend this amp.

You can get detailed specs on this amp from the aiken website, but in summary it is an EL34 based, 30W head with:
- master volume that is equivalent to an attenuator
- a warm and bright volume to set the tonal color of the amp
- a Plexi-Ali switch to go between two styles of rock amp tone
- a 3 range EQ and
- a presence control really works
- an integrated effects loop
- 4, 8 or 16 ohm output and 2 output jacks

This isn't a complete list. The difference between this amp and any other I have used is the two tone plants adjusted by the warm and bright volume controls and the ability to select a plexi or ali type overall quality. All the other controls are very active and self explanatory.

The plexi mode is a bit darker and looser in feel. The distortion in this mode comes in a bit earlier and has a full sound. In the ali mode the distortion is tighter and comes in a bit later as the volume goes up.

With the warm and bright volume controls you can tweek your sound to match just what you want to hear. For those who play mutlitple guitars this will allow you to dial in the tone you want even when you change axes.

The master volume is as good as any attenutator I have tried. I've used the Weber MASS (the best stand alone), Marshall Powerbrake and THD Hotplate and this Master Volume just nails what an attenuator should be. I run through a Marshall 4x12 and an Avatar 2x12 and the MV allows me to use those cabs in the house and get the fuller air movement without cracking the windows or getting ear bleed.

I've swapped tubes - this uses EL34's but can easily be adapted to about any octal tube. It is easy to bias with the adapters that Randall built into the design.

Build quality is exceptional. It is a small size, which I really like, but has some weight to it because the components are top quality.

This is a rock oriented amp, thus the plexi/ali modes. It has a wonderful clean tone and can get jazzy tones very easily. No amp does it all, but this is the only amp I have now - I sold the others because this does what I want it to.

I play a Les Paul Standard with the stock burstbucker pro's. I like blues and rock, but will dabble with country and other genre's depending on my mood. What I like about this amp is that by adjusting the guitar volume and the warm/bright volumes, I can get very nice tone from clean to dirty.

I discovered a while back that the speaker makes a big difference. This amp brings out the best in every speaker I tried. Tone is very personal. I like this amp with a combination of Greenbacks and Weber Silver Bells. I've tried V30's, G12 Heritage, G12's, and Weber Blue Dogs. They all sound good, but to combo on Green and Silver hits the nail on the head for me.

The amp is very touch sensitive. The good thing about that is you can control a lot of the sound of the amp by the way you play - soft is cleaner even in an overdriven setting. It makes you a better player because you get immediate response from how you play. My technique has improved just by playing through this amp (I still suck, but I'm getting better).

So, with the Intruder dialed in (warm at 9 o'clock and bright at 1 o'clock) I use my guitar volume to get the following:

- 2/3 clean tone. Neck or both for jazz, and adjust the guitar tone for more country
- 5/6 blues with clear articulation and crunch in double stops. Ease up and you'll get a full clean sound on chords
- 7/8 more distortion but still articulate for leads with sustain and a mind clearing resonance
- 10 full on tube distortion with articulation of single notes.

The distortion is not Zack Wylde level. This amp takes pedals nicely, so you can get that distortion. The overdrive on this amp is a wonderful tube sound that just makes your ears curl it is so sweet. And because it is touch sensitive, you can subtley change the level of distortion by the aggression of your attack. There is a lot to explore here

So, isn't that what it's all about? You need a guitar and amp that make you want to play and when you do play, you worry about how you sound, not what you need to change in your setup to get that sound you've been chasing. And when you do play your style generates the tone.

The Intruder is builit like a tank. I took the back off to swap some EL34 tubes and took the time to look at the craftsmanship. Everything from the tolex detailing to the components were top notch. Then I took the amp electronics out of the housing and looked at the construction. Randall uses a turret board construction that meets mil spec. You ought to see the solder joint and layout on this puppy. I am quite impressed and doubt that the amp will ever have to come out of the housing again. I'll have no problem gigging with this amp - take tubes and fuses, cause those are volatile - but this amp will run for a long time.

It is a quiet amp, too. If there is any problem here, it is because the power in my house is a bit dirty. My next investment will be a power conditioner.

I originally had an Aiken Invader and then swapped out for the Intruder. In both cases Randall and the Aiken team were just great. I emailed questions and always got good input and thoughtful responses. Go to the website and read Randall's resume and you know he loves this stuff and gigs with his own equipment.

Been playing acoustic for a while and electric off and on for about 5 years - more seriously the last 18 months. This is the amp I have been looking for. I had Fenders, Peavey's, Marshall's, and the THD Univalve. I had a Marshall DSL50 that was the one to beat and it had lasted through a lot of comparisons. I used the Invader and Intruder against the Marshall for about 4 months and finally sold the Marshall. What can I say. I'm gonna make a 1x12 cab for a Silver Bell and that'll give me a full compliment of cab's, but I only need the Aiken Intruder as an amp.