Brown Note 18 Watt IIB Lite

It's really a straight forward amp: two alternative inputs (HI & LOW, with a gain level of about 6dB between each other), 2 knobs (Volume and Tone). The look is vintage flavoured, I bought the Super Deluxe Head Kit, with the vintage style small head cabinet in solid black with gold piping in perfect Marshall style. It's got no send-return, no reverb, no trem... Just SOUND (see below...), nothing more, nothing less. There's one more feature that I need (I have the kit, but I haven't wired this thang yet), and that's the Bown Power-Full Power switch: it's a switch that actually reduces the voltage running through the Power tubes and thus is supposed to calm down a tag this little beast, since (I haven't said this, yet) it's LOUD!!!!
You might think this amp is a one-trick-pony...Well, you're absolutely right, but WOW, what a pony!!!!
Anyway, if you're into multiple effect chains, reverbs and/or metallish stuff this is definitely not your amp, but if you love the old school rock or blues or southern rock (like myself) you're gonna love it helplessly.

Plenty loud for its 18 Watts (but this is the way class A amps behave), it looks like an old lady but screams like a teenager...
The sound is amazing, really: think of the best you can imagine concerning touch responsiveness, harmonic contents, sustain and dynamite (whops, I meant DYNAMICS, but it's right!): you got it! You finally know what your guitar sounds like, since the amp itself does not colour the sound; so it's your fingers and your guitar that produce the sound, while the Lite 18 does the job that a good amp is supposed to do: exhalts the character of the sound it receives in its input jack, translating it into the finest, sweet vintage energy.
I play it with a PRS SE Singlecut or with a self-built strat with Kinman Woodstock> T-Rex Dr.Swamp> Tech 21 Boost DLA. Sometimes during the gigs I catch myself wandering how can my sound be soooooooooooo good, can't believe it's me playing: my quest for "THE" sound ends here!

Well, the components are top-notch, I made the PTP wiring work, so I know how it's done. I do believe it's reliable as far as tubes won't die, but I never gig without spare tubes (you never know...).

Moss Hudson is a nice guy, but may be over-busy; he answers to e-mails in a very long time, but once you finish the assembling job you don't need support anymore. You have to forgive something when you deal with a genius, and he is: his customer support is friendly and helpful, but way too slow!

Been playing 30+ years, more than a decade professionally across mid 80's to 1996, mainly southern rock and blues. I owned too much gear to be mentioned, mainly Marshall amps and Gibson guitars until 1996. Then I began my sound revolution, starting to assemble my own guitars and I just found satisfaction with PRS guitars (that I admit are far,far,far better than the ones I make). I don't like effects, so I just have an OD and a delay (that I just use for solw solo lines).
I find this amp a perfect partner to my style and taste, really improving my guitar playing sensitivity. For what I do, I couldn't find a better amp, sure not for that price! A F-A-N-T-A-S-T-I-C value!

This is a 18 Watt point to point wired all tube head in the tradition of the classic 18 watt Marshalls of the 60's. It does not have many features other than vol./ tone a high and low input and switchable speaker load outs. My particular model does have a "brown" voltage switch to go to a secondary voltage tap of the power transformer for a virtual variac effect, very cool.By design, it is meant to be simple and straightforward. It comes either assembled or in kit form from Brown Note.

This is flat out one of the best sounding Amps I, or anyone else who has visited my studio, has ever had the extreme pleasure of playing.It can go from a creamy jazz thing to infinite sustain with rich orchestra like distortion where every note on the fretboard sings out,it can let your tele play some country twang or your Les Paul do some Gary Moore. A.C./D.C. how about Rush, say Limelight.I have been playing guitars for the last 40 years and this Amp is the closest thing to that elusive, inspiring "grail" tone as you can get.

I built this particular Amp so I know each component intimately,so to speak. It's well engineered and also well built with top grade components. It is really Custom Shop quality. I would gig with it anytime, with a extra set of tubes, on hand,of course.

Moss, the guru and brain trust of Brown Note is very helpful, agreable,and quite knowledgeable. Make friends with him and you will not be sorry

I built this kit and it exceeded all of my expectations not only in the final tonal result, but also as a learning tool. I highly recommend, anyone who plays guitar to read a couple of books about how tube amps work and to contact Moss at Brown Note and build yourself a unbelievable Amplifier. Of course if your not into that kind of high voltage thing,tou can also get them assembled by Brown Ote

This amplifier is a kit based on the Marshall 1974x 1X12" combo. Not an exact clone but pretty close. All parts included with options for poly cap upgrades (SoZo), transformer upgrades (Ceriatone to Heyboer), and some extra parts to mod the passive tone section. I spent the extra on the upgrades. I opted for a custom made compact 1X12" combo cabinet. I picked green levant tolex and oxblood cloth (like a tweed fender), chrome hardware. I even installed a small (6") Marshall plated logo on the front of the cab. Looks amazing. The amp features volume and tone control (no master volume), power standby, 4, 8, 16 ohm impedence selector, 2 speaker output jacks, fuse holder, and an IEC power inlet. Gold plexi panels and marshall knobs. Looks amazing. EZ81 rectifier, two 12AX7s, and a pair of EL84s. 18 very loud watts!

The tone of this amp is absolutely jaw dropping. I'm still on honeymoon with this amp a bit. However, I feel confident with my ears. The amp is amazing. I currently own some amazing sounding amps (sampson era matchless stuff, old fenders, the list goes on). To make a long story short, I feel I know what makes a great amp. This kit can hang with any of em'. Not much clean headroom here. Just loads of smooth overdrive (EL84 distortion!). Very complex sounding. Ear friendly harmonics (less pronounced than vox) with more sustain than a vox too. Nice and deep sounding without getting loose. Reminds me of Toys in the Attic or Dirty Deeds. Maybe even Tres Hombres too. Not like a highgain Marshall. Sounds great with strats. Pretty transparent as well. A les paul sounds like a les paul, a fender sounds like a fender. Great amp to record with (pad your U87!). Can't say enough good things about this amp.

Well.....I made it. I can service it! Brownnote will help you too.

Like I said...Brownnote will help.

Been playing for a long time. Listened to many, many amps. This one sits real high on the list. Never played a real 1974x (not many have). Don't know many who could afford the real thing these days, but if a real ones sounds like mine....I can see why they are worth 5 figures.