Brunetti XL 120 R-EVO Head

I am using this amp for about 5 years now. I play rock, hardrock, metal but not exclusively: in our band we mix the heavier parts with some funk, bluesy and jazzy influences as well. I use the amp both for gigging as rehearsing. No need to say I needed an amp that provided everything from perfect, warm clean to vintage open picking responsive sounds al the way to fully overdriven modern high-gain mayhem. The fully tube driven XL 120 R-EVO II has it all in 3 switchable channels with seperate gain, equalizing and master volume controls. Although a solid metal 3 button switchboard (with 3 different color leds) comes with it the amp is (very easily!!!!) midi (program switch) programmable: select the preset on your midi board, hold the appropriate channel switch of the R-EVO (Clean, Boost or Xlead) pressed in for 2 seconds and you're set!

Although it has two speaker outputs it is not a stereo amp. It has a (mono) effects loop (send - return) with a serial - parallel knob. The effects loop is not (always?) suitable for stomp box and the like effects since these are built to receive low level (instrument level) signal / high impedance. Modern multi effects are the opposite: they require high level (signal level) input. The XL R-EVO is built for these last type of effects (like a G-Major for example). When using stomp box effects you will overload the input resulting in unwanted distorted sounds and in some cases strange oscillation effects.

This is why you can find on several amps a db switch accompanying the effects loop. I wish the XL R-EVO (like the new Brunetti models) had this feature as well since I like using stomp box effects. However my problem has been resolved as I shipped my amp to the Brunetti factory and they modified my amp: it now does the job perfectly!!!

It has a pre-amp out, and ipmedance switch (4, 8, 16 Ohm), midi in, midi through, footswitch in. There is also a phantom power foreseen on one of the midi pins (eg for powering a midi pedalboard). The head itself has space for a 1 unit 19" device (eg a tuner).

Conclusion: It has all it needs and there are no features I consider as 'not necessary'. The effectsloop 'problem' I described above was really an issue for me, although now (perfectly) resolved. Therefore an 8.

I use Ibanez Jem series (Blue Flower Pattern) with Dimarzio PAF PRO pickups. I only use the two humbuckers. Effects: Robert Keely modded Boss Super Overdrive (to add sustain to my boost channel for soloing), Electro Harmonix POG (octaver, synth), Damage Control Glass Nexus (modulation, reverb, delay), Damage Control TimeLine (delay), 3 MXR Micro Amps (clean boost)> my effect are midi controlled via a VoodooLab GCX Switcher.

As said earlier, there are 3 channels:

Clean > you can fastly tweak this channel from perfect warm clean to a smooth overdriven bluesy sound by using the 'GAIN' control. Finding the right tone should not take too long: bass, mid, edge and bright controls respond clearly when tweaking and cover the whole frequency spectrum you need to get the right tone, whether you use humbucker, single coil or mixed. The other guitarist of our band has a lot (and I do mean A LOT) of experience with equipment and tube heads in particular and he confirmed it was THE CLEANEST TUBE AMP he had ever heard. Let me also add that it remains clean at high volumes as well.

Boost > this is my favorite! Same controls as on the Clean channel (except for the "Bright" control which is here called "Focus"). Again, with the gain control you can go from a light crunchy sound up to a high gain wall of sound. Although I never go past 7 (out of 10) with the gain I must say that even at maximum the sound is not getting 'muddy'. The responsiveness to picking is superb!!! Tonal variation you can get is so rich an though it seems impossible to tweak to a bad harsh sound! This channel is for the vintage lovers although you can create some more modern sounds too.

Xlead > same controls as Boost. This is a real modern high gain channel which will certainly be appreciated by any modern metal guitarist. Even the high gain freaks probably will not go beyond setting 7 here, although the sound does not get lost in the gain. This channel also distinguishes from a tonal perspective from the boost channel as it cuts more on the mids here.

The power amp section has two controls: Level (obvious) and Depth: this one is interesting in a way that you can extra drive the power tubes and open up your complete sound when turning the knob in the 'extra' section (somewhere between 9 and 10 (max)).

Is it loud enough? They should put you in prison when you tried to play it at maximum! (120 Watt).
Does it sound ok when played at lower volumes? Yes although I recommend turning the volume up to at least 2 (out of 10) with channel master volumes at around 7.

The amp is really quiet, even at high volumes. As you can see from my setup I use a variety of effects linked together and even than it is quiet (although I must admit I use high quality cables, VoodooLab Pedal Power and a seperated power signal chords and sound signal cables as much as possible).

1 good advice: use the amp in combination with a Brunetti cabinet (I use the 4x12 with Jensen Speaker): it is HEAVEN! When I first bought the amp I didn't have enough money to buy the cabinet as well so I kept on using my Marshall JCM 4x12. What an eye- (or should I say 'ear') opener when I switched cabinets!!!

Conclusion: very versatile and easy to create your own sound: covers everything a guitarist could ever want. No doubt, a well deserved 10.

Built like something that should be able to survive WWIII. After 5 years of rehearsing, gigging, moving the equipment from rehearsing room to gig to my place etc. never had an issue. One time it flipped over in the back of my car (I thought ?????????) but no harm done! Like I said, I shipped the thing from Belgium to Italy and it came back without a scratch.

These people have a passion for their work, quality and customer support. Whathever question you might have regarding your gear, they answer you in no time and are really driven to find a solution to your problem.

As mentioned earlier I had problems in using stomp box effects in the loop (was not a defect but just the way the amp was built).I was given some advice to try this and that and when we concluded that my problem was still not resolved we agreed upon modifying my amp to my needs in their factory. We made good agreements, a fair price and everything was done within the timeframe and the price agreed and... my problem was resolved! Thank you Marco!

I play the electric guitar for 23 years. I have played on several (types of ) gear, from combo amps, rack gear and heads. I have now come to a point where I can conclude "This is my gear, this is my sound!" Would I buy it again if it were stolen? Not sure: I think I would first try the other Brunetti amps that would exist at that time!

Three channel, all valve, modern high gain head. 120w, midi and lots of other nice features that have been stated before. It has everything that i ever need and more than any other player should require.

I use this head with a genz benz g-flex 212 cab and a heavily modded Fender telecaster. I also have a Korg tuner hooked up in the rack space of the amp.
The overall tone of the amp is superb, theres a sound here for pretty much everyone who plays modern music. It wont give you classic plexi or AC30 sounds but it kicks the crap out of most channel switching heads.

Clean - The clean is best described as solid, its not great with humbuckers but with a hot single coil or a single coil sized 'bucker it really springs into life. Its quite a boxy sound that can sound a little bass heavy at lower volumes, the bright control helps to open it out a bit, it doesnt do the glassy fender style cleans its more of a backed off recto sound, dig in hard on your guitar and it will crunch up nicely, even with the gain wound back. If you really push the gain you can get some quite cool break up.

Overdrive - The drive channel is superb, the gain sweeps all the way from JCM900 territory all the way through to Engl style fizz. I usually run this channel with the gain round to about 4, bass maxed out, mids at 6, treble at 5 with the focus control pushed round just off maximum. With this setting it sounds very much like my old JCM900 4100 but with more low end and better definition, its great for all the classic rock stuff all the way through to more modern heavy rock, but just by altering the focus and mid controls a little can take you into Engl territory, massive bass end and articulate highs, its simply awesome.

XL lead - This channel is probably amongst the best i've ever played or heard. Its powerful, has more gain than anyone could ever need and will handle drop tunings with ease. Its a very modern sound, very similar to the Diezel Einstein but with more attack and a smoother tail to the distortion. This channel doesnt really do subtle, its full on and it wont be to everyones taste, but for the harder side of rock its brilliant.

The power stage is very well designed, the master volume is flexible and offers up a good balance between the channels and the master tone style control helps give you those really high quality tones at sensible volumes. I'd like to get a hotplate for it though, 120watts is stupidly loud and i've never had the chance to use all that power.

Its well built with a solid footswitch, all my gear is flightcased for road use so its never abused, i think it could easily handle the abuse though.

I bought mine from the guitar workshop near Leicester, the chaps there were very helpful and made sure that i was happy with the amp and the one time i did get any trouble it was sorted very quickly with the distributer. Brunetti seem very helpful too, a nice clear website helps and i wouldnt think twice about purchasing more of their gear.

Its a top head, one of the best on the market. I've owned and tried amps by mesa, genz, cornford, h&k, marshall, krank, diezel, bogner and loads of others. The Brunetti really is the best sounding of the lot, its very easy to use and simple to set up. I play in a band of the pop/punk variety so i really only need a good clean channel and a massive drive sound, but having another channel inbetween is such a bonus. Its also worth trying this head with a couple of cabs, the Brunetti XL cab sounds great, the standard marshall 1960 also sounds great, v30 loaded cabs dont sound quite as good, they seem to lose the amps focus, but if you get the chance try it hooked up to a genz cab, the low end coupled with the tight midrange makes for a quality tone that will rival any top end boutique amp. It would be nice if it had three separate fx-loops as i'd like to run an eq in the loop of the clean but its a minor critisism and a feature that i probably dont actually need.

year is Obscure......
This amp would work for High gain dreamers and SUPER CLEAN LOVERS... seriously the cleans on this amp are like nothing i have ever heard before...Three channels Clean/Boost/Xlead...wish it had a effects loop that was buffed....better!!one super loud amp for anyone wanting a more exotic sound from thier amp instead of the drum humm marshall/mesa tones out there....this 120 w tube monster ..sounds boutique without the hype...

The cleans again on this amp are for me to die for i play alot of differebnt syles of music and have been using a THD 8 to really push the amp for recording another thing since i fix amps i tried alot of different tubes and I settled on Gold Lion KT77 these are exspensive tubes but they turn this amp into a bone-i-fied terror.......it is not a noise head but does have a certian hiss a Noise gate in the effects loop helps...the effects loop is tube buffed but i changed the tube to a 12ax7at to clean that up...

I purchased this amp Blown up...it has really a strange fuse system external and internal that really heps protect the amp..so i purchased it for 300.00 and it cost .12 to fix...the channel switching is one of the smothest on the planet...

I have talked to them various times and now want more of thier products....Brunetti guys love amps tones and happines in thier products these guys care....

Blahh blahh blahh this amp is not for everyone but for me i love it....

Build in the end of 2004 i think. 3 indipendet channel (clean, boost and xlead each with it's own master, bass, middle, edge, master and bright/focus), master volume and depth control (to make the overall sound of the amp more or less hard/heavy). Channel-switch throught it's own pedalswitch or via midi or on the amp frontpanel (all 3 ran toghether!).
all valve amp, mine is the 60W, is the same as the 120W but only with 2 tubes less.if i want i can easely put in anthro piar of EL34 and have 120w power, but for me 60w are enough.
it takes a like to understand how to play with the eq of each channel to find your sound.
like the idea of the 19' rack unite space (don't have a rack-effect/tuner but think it's a usefull thing).
use it with a brunetti XL-Cab 4x12 with custum made jensen speakers

I'm using a lefty Fender Strato with seymour duncan and di marzio pickup. I play metal/alternative with some blues/jazzy stuff somethimes. This head covers a lot of different musical stiles, actually you can go from pop to metal really!!! i love the sound so much!!! the xlead is really insane highgain paradise!!!! Better than a marshall dsl50 i tryed (the marshall sounded kind of thin an flat).

Very well made/built.

go on their website then in the forum and if you have a question Marco Brunetti will reaply to you!!! REally i couldn't immagine something better for a custumer support!!

this is my first serious amp. i play since 8-9 years and i'm very happy.once you understand how to use the eq and so on you can really play every stile music that existe on earth!
would be nice if there was a reverb but since i never used reverb is not a thing that i miss.
really if you search an amp that sound huge and don't want the mesa/boogie or the marshall that everyone as go and buy this on, after you tryed it!!!

This is a brandnew 2004 HAND MADE amp. It can do many different styles (I play punkrock myself, so all I needed was a good high gain). It has three different channels (clean, boost and xlead). A switch is included. Effectsloop is also there (0-100% signal is on the back).

It's a 120watt amp with el34 matched tubes, thats loud enough for anyone. I use it in practice and on small stages up to large festivals.

A useful extra that sets this amp apart from others, is that it has a 1 unit 19" space built in for a tuner or effects processor (or whatever floats your boat).

I'm using a Gibson SG or a Gibson Les Paul and suits my style perfectly. I like to compare it with a Soldano Decatone for this reason: It sounds like a hotrodded Marshall and very close to 6l6 high gain amps like the rectifier or Diezel VH4. The difference with those is that the clean on this Brunetti is one of the best ones I've ever heard on a high gain amp.

The high gain is pretty brutal. It's not a Uberschall (I love the amp but seriously, who needs maximum gain out of that??) but it's up there with the high-end high gain amps!

Clean can be played at a maximum level without distorting.

Just got it so I have no idea. My experiences with other good amps tell me that you can always blow a fuse (and if that happens there's a problem and it's most likely to happen again in the same set -> it was mesa for those who are wondering) so I'm always bringing along an extra amp if possible.

I e-mailed them a couple of times before purchasing the amp. Out of five or six times that I mailed them, they always responded back in like 1 day, sometimes even the same day. Sometimes it would be Marco Brunetti himself, other times the other co-workers. I heard they work with 5 people over there! English is good too.

I've been playing for about 10 years. I own a Marshall JMP1 and a Marshall 9100 and our other guitarist has a Mesa Rectifier. I tried Bogner Ecstacy and Uberschall, Diezel VH4, Marshall jcm2000, Soldano Decatone... The only one that really sounded better in my opinion was the Diezel VH4. It's definitely better than the Marshall and Mesa and equal to the Bogner and I like to think of it as a good brother of the Soldano Decatone (haven't tried the SLO yet). I chose this one because I got a really good price and it sounds and looks perfect. If it got stolen I would buy it again for sure.

Veramente buona questa testata, molto versatile. E' la riedizione della xl EXTRA LEAD e sono state apportate alcune modifiche.
Suono vari generi, ma principalmente heavy o hard rock, e soprattutto chitarrismo shred e vari guitar heroes, e non sono mai stato deluso da questo ampli.
Buona la resa quando si suona live, quest' ampli anche se ben amalgamato con il gruppo riesce sempre ad essere ben distinguibile. lo uso semplicemente con un wah cry baby 535q, e un modulatore rocktron rack. Fra le buone idee di questa testata c' e anche la possibilita di inserire un unita rack 19" sotto la testata, su un apposito spazio. E' stata inserita una uscita midi, comodissima se si usano piu rack. La testata e assemblata tutta artigianalmente, percio e molto fragile, ma questo fa del prodotto un suono caratteristico.

Uso una ESP/LTD mh 301 con paf PRO di marzio, e una Hamer modificata con due sustainer single coil e paf Pro al ponte sempre Di Marzio.
Ci sono tre canali completamente separati fra loro.
Il clean e veramente grandioso. Molto caldo e brillante, dinamico.
si puo passare benissimo da un funky ad un blues, con suoni ad altissimo livello.
Il canale boost e molto definito, potente e rockeggiante, e con adeguate equalizzazioni si passa una gamma di suoni che si adattano a moltissimi generi.
Il canale Lead, e una distorsione veramente cattiva con il gain al massimo, e puo risultare sporca se non si trova una buona equalizzazione. ma dopo un po che si smanetta e si entra nella dinamica dell' ampli, per assoli e favolosa.

La realizzazione e veramente buona, ma l' ampli in genere, essendo artigianale, e molto fragile.

ho avuto bisogno delle ruote per le casse, e mi sono arrivate in una settimana!
Per il resto non posso dire di piu, perche non ho mai avuto problemi,
9 per la fiducia.

Non e una testata propiamente "facile". Con il tempo si riesce a prendere confidenza e a capire come far venire i suoni.
Spero che il trademark italiano si faccia strada anche con questi prodotti, e speriamo che anche all' estero si possano aprezzare strumenti del genere

All valve, 5x12AX7, 4xEL34, 3 channels design, each with its own gain, 3 band eq and volume. A bright pot is provided on the clean channel (a pot, yes!!) and a focus pot on the other channels. Master volume, and master depth control (something that controls bass & trebel simoultaneously). Parallel effects loop with mix pot (serial is also possible). Pre amp out, 2 speaker connections, mains input with spare fuse, MIDI in (with phantom power) and thru, footswitch in...everything yo need.
All metal footswitch and pro quality cables are supplied. A 1U rack space is provided under the amp for rack effects.

Tha amp is connected to an XL cab by Brunetti, which is the complement of the head. It has four Jensen custom and a removable plate. The cabinet is very good sounding and rugged...
I use mostly an Ibanez RG527 with EMG's (81, SA, 85), a BCRich Warlock and a cheap Strato copy with 3 singles. I play mostly metal and trash. The amp is very versatile, but with its personality...it's diffucult to compare to other amp, just because this is a 'Brunetti' sound...the clean channel can go from very clean to a smooth overdrive, the boost channel has a 'classic' rock sound, and the XL channel is total destruction!! All the channels have a great flexibility, they aren't noisy (forget your noise-gate...) and can widthstand big amount of high frequencies without being harsh...even with all the controls full you get a very smooth, present and well defined tone, with a great dynamic response. Even with the more distorted sound every guitar mantain its personality...everything is defined, I can use a wah before the preamp section and the result is a big wah sound...the fx loop is very versatile and it's the place where I connect my Sony GP5.
One thing that surprised me is the absolute controllable volume...I thought I need a power brake due to 120 watts RMS...NO!! The volume is very controllable, from room to stage...
Great for almost everything you want...metal, funk, jazz, rock...

Very dependable...it's now the heart of my sound...The amp is hand built, everything looks very strong, so I can guess no problems for years if I'll do regular service for the tubes...

I have the amp since August, at the moment I can't say anything, but I can see there's a great customer support by mail and phone... (I'm italian like the people who build the amp... :-)) No language problems). 3 years warranty.

I've been palying for 11 years, and I think this is a professional product...good looking, durable and...great sounding!! Has all the features a modern product should have: 3 distinct channels, low noise, high power, great control, MIDI interface, phantom power, rack space...etc etc :-))

This amp is using three (3) totaly seperated channels.
every channel has his own options and volume.
reverb - by footswitch ...

- seems like therers everything you'll ever need.

for tech details go to: www.brunetti.it

i tested it with 2 Guitars - a good ibanez ( 2 humbuckers, 1 single)
for normal tunned sounds, clean and funky
and a Framus( 2 Humbuckers + downtuned + "drop D")for differnt sound ;-) ( Korn, else,..u know) ,-)

- the amp was wonderfull - in both situations.

Variety:
good sounding Reverb in clean channell + so much options =wonderfull!
nearly NO noise in FULL GAIN modes - damn good sound by using the boost!

But Attention this amp ( 120W) is very very loud !
I only put it up to level 4 (of 10) and loudness nearly killed me ! ;-)

I never played it live. ( only Testing the brandnew model )
but he- what do you expect - this amp is in "highes class"

new - so what ?

I played the new Brunetti XL R-Evo in 120 W. version a few days ago in Vienna musicstore - and damn it sounded that great i couldnt believe!
I testet it in direct comparison to a huge MESA Top.

Brunetti wins

- because the brunetti has the better clean channel, more options , and the better Gain -!! unbelieveable ? - try it ... and U'll know!--

seems like it is a real alternative to Soldano , and Mesa of course ;-)! If you like 1) First channel :a warm sounding clean, 2)a really good sounding Gain, and in third channel a monsterious distortion like( Ill nino, Soulfly , Korn, so on so on..

-->this will be perfect amp 4 you

120W tube head;
3 channels now electrically seperated, each having their own tone and volume controls
Updated foot switch, now with status led's, using a standard midi cable for signal transfer
Updated midi switching system included
Face lift - makes the amp more user friendly, less confusing on dark stages continuous bright, focus and edge controls for each channel

I'm using it with an Ibanez Iceman and a behringer 4x12" cab, I play metal and hard rock. The amp has a huge variety of sounds... compare to other amp it is somthing like Soldano and Mesa Boogie (lead)

I'm from Italy and it's an Italian product. It's very hard looking and made, it's very beautiful to see so! never had a problem

I have asked some questions to the Company and they help me with short times and with a great competence, the warranty is for 3 years!

Great Head! I would buy it again and again!