Alessandro/Working Dog Working Dog 112 Combo

Everything about this amp is perfect to me. Perhaps the ultimate piece was having George include an AT7 to exchange with the AX7 so I could get amp super clean and still have great strength. The character change is really cool and I like the amp with both tubes for different uses. I loved it from the beginning and have been gigging with the amp for over a year now...good time to look back. I have used the amp miked outdoors, indoors at reasonable volumes, indoors for rehearsals at middle volumes and wide open in club gigs. I have owned almost everything except perhaps a boutique amp. I was attracted by the low weight but I am hooked on the concept now. Nothing goes to waste and there is flexibility to do just about anything. My simpler world meant get something with one GOOD channel and then work that sound from a pedalboard or floor processor. That has worked great for me. The voicing is just so perfect it creates versatility.

I have used the amp with American Deluxe Strats, a Hamer USA Duotone, and mostly with a Parker Fly Mojo since that guitar became available about 10 months ago. It sounds great with all of them. There is no noise and the amp can roar or go jazzy. The tube switching idea came from George...who is really cool by the way because he listens. I don't know about the rest of you, but that was really pleasant for me. He listened, and because of that I have exactly what I want. The amp will rip with the AX7, and that probably is the most versatile tube to have in the amp, but he option to switch out easily has served me well and given me great versatility.

I am writing now because I want to report over a year of great service by the amp. I have great confidence....because it is so simple and well built. And I know if something happens George will help me in real time. Amps are not worth much if you have them sitting in a shop for two months. George wouldn't let that happen and his designs lower the chance for something bad happening.

I have mentioned the service in each category. I just realized that is so important. It doesn't get better than this.

This is the bomb. I don't see ever buying anything else. Needs a cover. I got one from Tukki that is great.

My amp was made in june/july 2004. I ordered the amp and George had it on my doorstep in a week. This amp is awesome. I play Blues and Blues Rock and this amp is perfect. I have owned Mesa Boogies, Fenders and 2 Jim Kelley handmade amps.... not a one of them holds a candle to this amp. George is amazing. This amp has a multitude of tonal possibilities... every one a treat to the ears. I use this amp out on gigs and it is more than enough of everything.

Godlike tone! Bell like clean tones, round warm fat tones and sweet creamy distortion... everything I need.
This is the first amp I have owned that makes NO NOISE what so ever when it is idleing... no hum no cracks and pops just silence until you play the guitar.

George backs his products and even though you will probably never need to send it back to him, he will back his product.

The absolute best, bar none... I emailed George back and forth for months before I bought the amp, asking questions and requesting info. Always a reply within 24 hrs... always with the answer to me questions.

I rate this the best amp I have ever owned ... PERIOD.
I have had Boogies, Fenders, Jim Kelley and this beautiful amp.
I would ONLY buy another Alessandro amp... no more searching. This amp is IT!!!
I love that the reverb is not all or nothing like fenders... it is subtle and sweet. I just wish it came with a slip cover cause I don't want to damage it in anyway transporting it... I got a slip cover from http://www.studioslips.com I bought a slip from Susan before and it kept my Boogie looking new for the last 10 years.

The features have been well covered in the two previous posts. I'm giving them a ten because these are real, interactive controls. The output power control really works well; much better than other amps so called Master Volume controls etc. The treble, mid and bass controls are very interactive- subtle changes produce a variety of results, all of which are pleasing to my ears. At first I was slightly disappointed with the reverb- it didn't seem to add much to the sound. But after experimenting with it, I've come to appreciate it sublety; the added resonance and depth it adds to the sound. Besides- I don't really use or appreciate "surf type" reverb anyway. The amp was made for me in December 2003. I play blues and classic rock style, and this amp fills the bill to a "T". Power wise- c'mon! 40 tubes watts! At it's lowest power setting it'll rattle the windows. At full tilt it sings and screams. Should be plenty enough for small to larger gigs. Bass response is outstanding. Plenty 'o chunk if you want it. I spoke with Geroge Alessandro early on about switching to a 2x12 configuration. He offered to do it for me at cost, but requested I give it some time and experiment with various settings. He was right- 1x12" is perfect for me!

I play exclusively single coil pickups, a G&L Legacy with vintage alnico pups, and a 52RI American Vintage Tele. These guitars sound sweet through the amp. The break up nicely at higher volumes. Thye soud is Fenderish, but there's a little Marshall and perhaps Vox going on in there too (how'd you do that George?). Clean settings are bell like and are just what they're supposed to be. The only time I use a pedal with this amp is when I have to check volume levels. Having said that, my Boss Keeley modded Bluesdrivere and lower settings and my Carl Martin stereo chorus sound sweet through this amp. The amp is fairly quiet- more so than most of the Fenders I've owned. Of course, I'm used to single coils, and thus am used to some hum and electronic noise. The amp itself is fairly quiet as stated. Absoultely one of the best amps I've ever played through- including the (admittedly limited) vintage amps I've used throughout the years.

This amp is built like something you'd stake you life on. One of the first things I did was remove the back panel. Geroge's fastiduous care and placement of components is amazing. He's got silicone (or a substance like it) between the caps, the components are aligned perfectly. Everything is heavy duty and tight. Ceramic tube sockets. I realize anything can break down- but I'd put my money on this amp in any situation. I've only had it four months, and no probalems whatsoever. Mr. Allesandro stands by his products too. A phone call to him will reassure you, not that you'll have any doubts. (I asked him about warranty? He said if I ever have any trouble just bring it in.) I'm fortunate to live close by, but I fully believe the only reason to make the trip will be to buy vintage tubes or another amp!)

See the above under "reliability". The man is a pro- talks the talk and walks the walk. I'm comfortable, and I'm picky.

Been playing on and off for 30 plus years. Playing seriously for the last 6 years. I've owned Fender tube amps (I like them), a Blues Pearl (liked it too) and an old Vox (wish I atill had that one). This is the best amp I've ever owned relative to tone / sound, and build-wise. Period.I love just about everything on this amp. My complaints would seem foolish to mention, but I'll do it anyway just to show how freakin' anal I am. I don't like the power light- it's a red plastic dealie- I'm sure it's fine and I certainly wouldn't change it, but would prefer a glass "screw in/ out" lens model. Also the logo- now...it's funky, and sorta cool in a way. But a glow in the dark sticker that says "Working Dog", while I'm sure it's good advertising, is not me. Yet, for some weird reason I have not peeled it off from the speaker grille though...and I'm not usually superstiitous. I've thought about having a small brass plate made up tha says "Working Dog" on it, and mounting it to the front. Like I said- no biggies. I looked at Dr. Z, THD, Mesa and Fender amps before buying this one. In the end, it's a vintage sounding amp thats built like a tank, and it gives me all the tone, clean and overdriven, I need and desire. If it were stolen- not likely- I don't let it leave my sight. Besides, I'd see the glow in the dark sticker from about 600 yards away and chase down the crook. Seriously, heck yeah I'd replace it. With one just like it!

This is a single channel, but very versatile combo. Multicolor chickenhead knobs including Volume, Reverb, Treble, Middle, Bass, and an output control which goes from 0% to 100%. On/Off and Standby switch. Also, my favorite, a 'Jangly/Creamy' switch which optimizes either 'jangly' Fenderish sounds or 'creamy' Gibson sounds. Don't stop there though. Using the jangly setting with humbuckers also produces a great sound. This is a hand wired amp with top notch components and suprisingly lightweight. It has basically enough power for small gigs and you can also get a cover for it from Alessandro High End Products. My purchase price included a cover.

It's hard to get a bad sound out of this amplifier. I was all ready to buy a Fender Deluxe or Vibrolux, but when I tried this little guy at a guitar show, it's versatility was very appealing, and really made Gibson guitars sound incredible. It was one of those amps that just 'felt good' to play through. I can play great blues tones through it (tube screamers sound good cranked through this thing), and it is also capable of producing great jazz tones, which is what I originally bought it for. (Jimmy Bruno used a similar Alessandro amp on his 'Midnight Blue' CD and that tone speaks for itself.)
The output control offers a large curve (not to much too soon) and provides just the right amount of breakup if you want it. This is not heavy metal territory, folks, just sweet , clean tone with useable breakup if you need it. It seems to like most types of guitars, it is not an amp that requires a certain guitar to sound good. I've used a PRS Custom 24, Les Paul Custom, and L4CES with great results.

The amp is very simple, and very well built. It is hand wired and definitely can be used without a backup.

The amp initially produced some rattles, but were quickly diagnosed and cleared up by the manufacturer. I'm convinced that this was an aberration and not something that every one of these amps would do. You can't find better support on the planet. George is a top notch and knowledgeable builder of amps, and he made an affordable winner with this amp. His turnaround is extremely fast, and aims to please. I might also say that he has incredible cables as well. If you haven't tried an Alessandro instrument cable, get one!

I've been playing guitar for 34 years and I could see myself buying one of these again if I had to because the tone is just outstanding. I also own a Boogie MkIIC+ and a Marshall JMP-1 powered by a Boogie 20/20. This rounds out my amplification needs. I love the retro look, and the logo even glows in the dark. Anyone wanting an amp to that is convenient, versatile and produce an overall great tone should check one out.

The Working Dog single 12 combo amp is the latest amplifier introduced by Alessandro High End Products located in Huntingdon Valley, PA. They also build the high gain Houndog boutique amps. While I own a Houndog and find it extremely well made and great sounding, it is the Working Dog that has simply blown me (and everyone who hears it) away. This 30 watt, single 12" speaker combo amp was prototyped in 2000 and is just now becoming available. I am proud to say that I own one of the first ones built and have thoroughly tested it both on live gigs and in the studio. The results are amazing. Let me put it another way. I own a black panel Super Reverb (my main amp for the last 20 years), a Vibrolux Reverb, a 1958 Super, a '61 Concert and an '85 Boogie and I haven't used any of them for the past 6 months that I've owned the Working Dog. I am a working professional player averaging 4 gigs plus weekly and have used the Working Dog exclusively. I play mainly blues/rock and though the WD fits my style perfectly, it is not limited to any one genre of music or player. It does a great job on its own in small clubs and in larger venues, all it needs is one
mic and it sounds great through the system. This past week I used only the 30 watt Working Dog on a large outdoor stage with 7 other players including a 3-piece horn section. With the help of some great sidefills, the WD was killer! No problem hearing it loud and full, both with a '64 Strat and a '60 ES345, my regular working guitars.
The amp is single channel but has a toggle switch labeled "Jangly/Creamy." I find the Jangly mode works very well with both
Fender & Gibson guitars and the Creamy mode is especially suitable for Gibson(Clapton woman tone). The amp comes with a great sounding reverb. At first, the reverb was in a position in the circuit where it was just barely audible. George Alessandro has since repositioned the actual placement of the reverb in the circuit and it sounds much better and there is no feedback from the reverb tube. 2 6L6 tubes coupled with a 50 watt 12" Jensen speaker drive this amp. The Jensen speaker has held up very well. It puts out just the right amount of distortion but also cleans up very well. This amp also sounds great when I use my TS-808 with it, but I don't set the amount too high.
The Working Dog only weighs 30 pounds! This is great for an aging player for whom the Super Reverb seems to be getting heavier with each passing year. Trust me though, if the WD didn't sound great and wasn't reliable, I'd be using the Super even if it weighed in at 100lbs.
You may contact me with any questions regarding this amp.

Thank You.

I think I covered this in the first section above.

I have been fortunate that I have not had to use a backup amp while I've been using the Working Dog however, I do always have a second amp with me. I'd be a fool not too. Anything can happen to electronic equipment no matter how good it is. But I've been very lucky so far.

Alessadro offers fantastic customer support. Their electronic repair abilities are second to none, whether you own one of their products or a Marshall, Fender, Vox -- anything with tubes.

I have been playing professionally since the mid '70's.
I would be lost if this amp were damaged or stolen and would
replace it ASAP.