Bruno Cowtipper 45

2003-2004

Volume Treble Mid Bass Reverb Tone
Mid boost and bright switch
4,8 ohm switch
One input
I don't wish it had any other features.

Humbuckers and single coils
Very quiet.
This amp is for clean playing or with pedals.
Distorted sound is as bad as a distorting Fender.
Clean sound is pure, chimey, round, fat, scooped depending on the settings. Stays pretty clean to fairly loud settings.
Better than average reverb.

Well built. A little untidy inside but who cares. I would never gig without a backup. Do you drive without a spare tire?

Playing 36 years. I won't bore you with gear list. If it were lost or stolen I would be upset. But then again I would be upset if my guitar strap was lost or stolen.
I think people who wish it had a gain channel shouldn't. It was made for clean and it does it well. If you want to go 0-60 very quickly buy a Porsche. If you want to drive in comfort, buy a Lincoln.

I believe this amp was built in the late 90s. The controls are basic, volume, treble,bass, mid and reverb. No effects loop or master volume. In my opinion the controls are proper for this amp. I have never played a Bruno with a three knob control reverb, but if it sounded better than this it would be the only change I would make. It has two 12" Naylors. This is my first experience with this brand, but it is an excellent tonal fit for this amp design. I use this amp live on a regular basis in rooms that average one thousand people. More than enough amp, especially when miked.

I have played for fourty years and owned more amps than I can name. Always looking for the Holy Grail of amps. My bench mark has always been Hiwatt (early DR models, both 50 and 100 watt with Fanes). My style of playing is Santana/Journey. The Bruno Cowtipper 45 is as good at clean sounds as the Hiwatts are drivey/rock blues sound. The Cowtipper is the only amp I have ever owned that people consistently ask what I am playing. It has the best clean sound string articulation through the entire tonal spectrum and best reverb I have ever heard. I would sell a Hiwatt to get this amp back. I play a PRS Custom, two Les Pauls ( one with PAFs)and a Fender Strat (American with 2 single coils and one humbucker). The Strat/Bruno is the best sounding combo I have ever heard for clean. The amp has a chime that cannot be described, it must be heard. The reverb is lush and deep and does not destroy/distort the string articulation. It is as good a sound as a Hiwatt/Les Paul (PAFs) is for a rock sound. I have owned in excess of thirty amps and my keepers are the Bruno and the Hiwatt. All else pale.

This amp is played on a regular basis for years, live with the volume knob at least half way up. I have it in an Anvil case. It has never broken down and the contruction is the same as an early Hiwatt. All top quality parts and chassis build.

I have never needed to contact Bruno. I would buy another of their products in a heart beat.

I would not even consider selling this amp, nor my Hiwatts. There are alot of well made amps. The only thing that separates good from excellent in an amp is TONE,TONE,TONE. This IS the most beautiful clean sounding amp I have ever heard. I live in Arizona, one of the guys I gig with is a Fender employee. He is an excellent player and plays all the Custom Shop amps they make. He also commented that they did not make an amp that sonically sounded like a Cowtipper, he was truly impressed. My practice amp is a Fender custom shop ProSonic. A good amp in its own right, but out of its league when put up against a Cowtipper. The Cowtipper plays rock, blues and country excellent. It is not, and will never be, a metal amp. I believe this is a better investment used than other new amplifiers.

This is a new amp (2004) based on blackface Fender, 2x6L6GC. Volume,Treble,Middle,Bass,Reverb and Reverb Tone. Bright switch and one input. Very simple to use and enough power for clean sound in band situation! That's all I need!

I use it with all kinds of guitars, mainly an old Gibson Super 400/ P-90 and Gibson Es-125/P-90. Speaker cabinet is Bruno 2x12 with Weber 12F150 25w-models.Clean sounds are best I ever heard with those guitars and breakup tone is great too! I mainly play jazz, but it works
for other styles as well. No noise with good tubes. Reverb is unbelievable too! So far it is doing everything I want from my amp.

Really good! No problems within first year and after c.50 gigs. No backup needed! It really feels strong and reliable thing. Take couple of extra tubes and that's it!

Really good! I bought amp from NY from Ultra Sound and Gene was really helpful. Since then I have mailed some questions from Finland to Ken and Tony and no problems, only good, friendly service from them! It is easy amp to service, because it is point-to-point amp, if anything happens. Those three guys truly stand behind their product!!!

I've been playing for c. 23 years and this is the greatest amp I've ever owned. I would buy same amp again, if something happens!It has the best clean sound and it is reliable and easy to use. I don't know how to make it any better! Great, great amp! Check them out!

Basic features. Treble, Mid, Bass, Volume, reverb, reverb tone controls. that is all you will ever need with this amp. gave it a 5 because there are so many amps with more features, but of course, those amps need them.

I have been to Ultrasound studios in NY many times, along with all of the other NY stores that carry "Boutique" as well as vintage amps. i have A\Bd all the amps they have, including 3 Dumbles, a Trainwreck, Allesandros, TwoRocks, Komets, Carrs, ToneKings, Blockheads, Victorias and on and on. I own a fender 1966 Pro Reverb, 1966 Super reverb,1959 Bassman RI, silverface Vibrolux reverb, Fender 4\10 Hotrod Deville, Musicman RD 50, Two Rock Emerald Pro, Bruno UG30 and now the Cowtipper 45 2\12 combo as well. I have just sold a Matchless DC30, badcat Blackcat, and Badcat Hotcat. I play jazz, rock, and blues. The clean tones on this amp are unlike any I have heard. The best discription is blackface Fender, with a bigger tighter bottom, and a slight Voxy chime on top. Tony Bruno has taken Blackface tones, and eliminated the few weaknesses of those amps. The high end on black face amps (especially on the high E and b strings) can be a bit thin and brash at times. The Cowtipper has none of this. The high end, although having more chime than a Fender, has the smoothest and most ear pleasing treble I have ever heard. The very bottom end on Blacface amps can be a bit distorted, or fuzzy at times, even when playing at lower volumes. The Cowtippers bottom is clear as a bell, and although bigger, stays tighter to a higher volume than a SR or Pro Reverb. As you turn the amp up, the breakup is very similar to my Super Reverbs, except it gets louder before the onset of distortion. With a Fulltone Fulldrive II, you are able to get all kinds of great bluesy tones at any volume. The picking response on this amp is second to none. My entire style depends on an amp that will go from very quiet ghost notes, to a very loud attack, all within the same line. Listen to Cannonball, or Sonny Stitt for a reference. Nothing, and I mean nothing, will respond like this, and that includes my UG 30 which is probably my second favorite amp (ahead of my TwoRock and ProReverb) You do not have to pick lightly, or adjust your style like so many "Boutique" lovers claim about their amps. Slam the heck out of it, or finger pick as light as possible, and the amp responds perfectly. It is one of those amps that makes it simple to play at lighting speeds while perfectly clean. You know how some amps have that almost "sticky" feel when you try to play clean passages at speed? Say goodbye to that forever. It has a tube rectifier, and you get that elastic type of feel. For Jazz or country, I can not think of a better amp, and for rock\blues guys, add your favorite pedal and you will never look back. I first tried one of these three years ago when I was in my search for the ultimate Dumble sounding amp. This amp has haunted my memory since then. No Dumble can give you clean tones like this thing. Now the one other point. THE REVERB!! I will leave it at this. You will never experience anything like it. It makes my Fenders seem thin and to bright. It is so deep sounding, its almost unreal. My UG 30s reverb is at least as good as any of my Fenders, and this one is MUCH better than that. I would not have thought it possible. Guitar player magazine said Brunos UG 30 was the best Boutique amp you could buy. It beat out over something like 20 other brands. That amp is as good as they say, and this one is even better. To be 100% honest, I have to say that if you have a real fat sounding LePaul, or something with a real strong output, the thinner sounding Blackface Fenders may edge out the Cowtipper for real tight Funky ninth chords, when you are strumming real fast. The fatter sound of the Cowtipper kind of gets in the way in that one situation. With a Strat, or lower output pups, even at the its Cowtipper all the way. I just wanted to point that out, because it is the only "weakness" I can find in the amp. I do not think many guys who are playing that style will be yielding high output metal style buckers however. Lol! Oh yea, for me

I cant see anything going wrong. Its built like a tank! however, I have met Tony Bruno, and he seems like a guy who truly cares and loves all the amps he creates. the lifetime guarantee to the original owner is all you should need. Gene and Ken at Ultrasound are the best two guys i have ever dealt with, and will back you anyway you need it.

See above. When I picked the amp up, Tony Bruno and Gene went through the amp while I played, and changed tubes one at a time to see what brand i wanted. (I got the NOS option). By listening to me play, Tony was able to tell me which tube I would choose in each slot, before I tried them! (He did miss one. I choose an RCA over a Telefunken in one slot, but have since changed over to a Tele after going back and forth for the last 2 months.. I should have listened to him in the first place!) Tony Bruno KNOWS tone. Hey, Vox could have gotten anyone they wanted to design their limited addition Handwired, top of the line RI AC30. They choose Bruno. That alone goes to show you who Vox thinks is the best AC 30 tone guru.

I would not change a thing. If it was stolen, I would order one the next day. I have had my TwoRock Emerald Pro for three years, and still feel it is the finest channel switching amp you can buy. The Bruno Cowtipper 45 is going to with me for a VERY, VERY long time. I can now concentrate on my playing and forget about my tone. No notes that jump out at you here and there. It is the most even tone, smoothest tone I have heard. The "cry" that it has when you bend a note up on a Strat is worth the price alone. Simply Stunning tone. Now to answer the big question, Yes. I have tried it, and it will actually tip a cow!

This amp is basic. No overdrive channel. One channel with the best reverb I have heard in a long time besides Fenders. This is all I ask for in an amp. 45 watts with 2X12" Celestion Greenbacks. Great launching pad for effects!!! Will take away 1 for not having an overdrive channel but I wouldn't use it any way. Does have an extension speaker jack, does not have an effects loop.

Best sounding Blackface circuit I have ever heard. I own 3 other Fender amps, it blows them all away!!! Quiet as hell. I play all styles of music and I'll use this amp for all styles. The cleans are amazing. I have seen people jump out of their chairs since I started using this amp. Great with effects.

It's a tube amp. I prefer to bias it myself. I don't expect any major problems with it. I don't take a back-up to a gig. this thing is of the highest quality parts.

I have never dealt with Tony Bruno, although some day I will because I'd like to get an UG30 as well!!!

I have been playing Fender amps for 25 years. I like Marshall too but prefer Fender combos.Easier to carryat my age. This amp blows them all away. I own a '64 Showman 1X15" (JBL D130) a modified Showman in a Twin Cab 2X12" w/Reverb (Tone Tubby's)with 2 El34's and 2 6V6's for 20,40, or70 Watts of Power. An Evil Twin (2x12") Jensen C12N's, a Siegmund Midnight Special
1X12" Celestion Blue. The Bruno blows them all away. I'm keeping this amp for eternity. Having my wife bury me with it. The most dynamic, Loudest, ballsiest, cleanest, dirtiest, tones I have ever had.It just makes me play better. I enjoy music much better through this amp. It's not for metal but with the right pedals, it would go there. I bought this on reputation, for Fender lover's, all the hype is true. It really is an improvement on the Blackface tone!!! And yes it will tip a cow!!

My Cow 45 head was made in 2000. The amp has Hi and Low input,vol,treb,mid,bass,rev,and rev tone. I play at church or in my living room so the 45 is plenty loud for me,however if I did need the headroom I'm sure this would have plenty. It does have good distortion cranked,but I cant take it in the living room. I'm only giving a 9 rating because there is no master or any way to get low volume distortion. I realize these may rob a little tone. I should maybe have had Tony wire in a defeatable master. A Klon Centuar works well with it though. The reverb in this amp is absolutely the best. I dont use the reverb tone much. I leave it at about 9:00 most of the time. If you dicide to get a Bruno amp. Dont hesitate to ask about different features you may want. Tony will build em how you want em.

I'm mosly a blues player who dabbles in jazz. I have a Gibson L-5 CES that just sounds amazing through this amp! My Corruthers custom tele with duncans works great with it as well as my Les Paul (seth Lover,Pearly Gates) As far as the distortion goes,like I said I don't get to play it that loud. I really expect to have another amp for the higher gain stuff. This thing is like the finest Fender black face sound without the clangyness in the reverb. No background noise. It's hard to describe the tone but I've been playing this for three or four months now and it's getting burned in and sounding better all the time! I prefer the sound of the lower gain input. Lots of headroom for my jazz stuff. I use a 2x12 Celestion G12H 70th anniversary Bruno cab or a 2x12 boogie rectifer cab(V-30's)Both sound great.

I have'nt had it long,but I am very confident that this amp is built as well on the inside as it is on the outside.

The service at Bruno amps has been the best of any product I've ever bought.Seriosly! I called Gene at Ultramusic and asked him a question about the Underground 30. He talked tone with me for over an hour on his nickel. He is a wealth of tonal knowlege. After I recieved the UG 30(which is a great amp also) I was afraid it was'nt Fendery enough for me. It was more of a British sound. I was'nt sure what to expect but Gene said just send it back and Tony will build you a Cow 45. So away we went again with speaker decisions ect...Gene made every effort to make sure I had the right speakers for the right amp. He told me to hang on to the Blue alnico's till he sent out the G12H's so I could side by side compare them. Cant say enough about the service.

I've been through a bunch of botique amps all of which are good. For me this is a great amp to have if you only have one. But nobody wants only one. I've had Matchless SC30,Chiftain,Alessandro Beagle,DR.Z MAZ 38,Kendrick black gold 35 and others. I've had an earlier Bruno Tweedy Pie and an Underground 22 both of whch are excellent. Dont think I'm an ampicondriac,I just love playing guitar and having great tone is such a major part of it. I will still be searching and trading but I doubt I will find anything that will cause me to want to part with my Cow 45.

All you need Volume+ treble + mids + bass and Reverb. 6L6's tubes and 4 preamp tubes. 4 + 8 ohms load. 2X12" Celestions Heritage

This amps is everything you dream of on a Fender Super or Twin. Great clean sweet and crystal, and an incredible overdrive and if not enough try a TECH21 XXL or a S.Dogs Bloo Doo or just a TS9 and you will not believe the incredible sound. This amp is a dream come thru MR Bruno what a master piece.

So far so good and the tubes will last forever unlike some other great amps like Matchless.

Mr Bruno 1st class guy allways willing to help and try to make it as perfect as possible.

This is one of the few amps I love I will not change anything on it. If you play the Blues and love the Fender sound GUYS this is the amp. But will not take the place of my DR Z 38 Studio Deluxe or My BLOODHOUND and if you are a solid state guy stay with Crate or Peavey. Do not use the Fulltone II it will not sound good thru this amp. But all other that I mention sound great and the Celestions speakers sound just incredible. I had the idea of maybe change the speakers to 10's but when I heard this speakers, I forgot about it because they sound just incredible. They bass, still overdrive like a Jensen but they retain some Celestion sound. Guys go out and try the amp and this speakers great combination

This is a simple and direct 2-12" combo with 6L6s and Naylor speakers. It has reverb and tremelo and is point-to point wired with great attention to detail. No channel switching or massive overdrive, but it sounds absolutely gorgeous, and has the "biggest" tone of anything I've heard yet.

Unbelievable tone. Huge clean tones reminiscent of a particularly great old high powered Fenders or Hiwatts. The Naylor speakers also sound exceptional in this amp. Really clear and transparent sounding, with lush reverb and highly effective tone controls. There is no background hiss whatsoever, again a tribute to the high quality parts and construction.

I can't imagine that someting built like this would ever wear out.

I have a friend that has talked to Tony Bruno and feels that the company is committed to good service. Modifications and custom designs are available.

I have owned a bunch of amps - tweeds, brownfaces, Supers, Deluxes, Custom Shop amps, Boogies, Marshalls, etc. The Bruno is a real contender in the boutique amp competition, and I would put it up against my favorite old Super. A great choice is tone is more important than versatility. Not for shredders. Expensive, but worth the investment. Good luck finding one used......I plan on having mine a long, long time. A 10 for tone, but for $2,000 list an expensive one-trick pony. But I do LOVE that one trick!!