Bruno Tweedy Pie 18 112 Combo

Amp was made in 2000. Very simple layout. Two inputs, two volume controls, one tone control, power switch and polarity switch. The tubes compliment is 2 12ax7's, 2 6v6's, 5y3gt. It has one 12" Celestion G12H speaker. The cabinet is covered in Red/orange tolex with wheat grill cloth and aged ivory chicken head knobs. The cabinet is a Tweed Deluxe style Cab. You can use a 12ay7 in the first socket for more clean headroom. I purchased the amp mainly for recording and small venues. Reverb is not an option with this amp. I specifically wanted a simple amp.

I use an early 70's Les Paul Custom with this amp most of the time. Sometimes I play a Mid 50's custom shop Tele as well. For me, the amp sounds phenomenal. The two volume controls interact and you can get some extra flavor by manipulating these. The Les Paul has a really thick fat sound and I generally use the tone control all the way up. With the Tele it has a wonderful chime. As you turn the volumes up, the distortion is wonderful. With the Les Paul and the amp wide open, you get a great Santana-like distortion and compression. It really has a better distortion sound in my mind than any of the other 6v6 amps I played. You can get that great old Fender Blues sound but then take one step further if you want. I think the Celestion and the way this amp is voiced give it more flexibility. It's not a Marshall type distortion but it's also not an Ice-pick type of distortion. To me it's full and ballsy. I occasionally use a Bluespearl Blue Screamer which is a TS808 copy and it works extremely well with this amp if you want more of an edge. I've also tried some Mullard 12ax7's and the sound leans to more British and less Tweed. The distortion comes in early if you're playing hard and just get better as you turn up the amp. Using a 12ay7 will clean things up a bit and give the amp more a Fender tone. Overall, it's versatile and very responsive to playing dynamics.

The only thing that has been a problem with this amp was some unused contacts on the Rectifier Tube socket were vibrating. It took me about 5 minutes to secure these and everything else has been fine. The construction is first rate with this amp. The point to point wiring and components are all first rate. There is a very solid feel with this amp. Tony also uses some sort of clear glue to secure the larger components on the board. The switches and pots all have a quality feel about them. The chassis is signed and dated. The amp is obviously built to last.

Tony and Gene were incredible to work with. Both men are knowledgeable and willing to spend whatever time on the phone and email to make sure you get a great amp. I orginally wanted a Celestion Blue Alnico and Gene talked me out of it once I told him what my playing style and desired sound was. I think that was the right decision. In fact, after I bought the amp, I called Gene and Tony to talk about the 12ay7 option and Tony sent NOS GE 12ay7 in the mail that day at no cost! Both of these guys know amps and have access to anything they want to compare sounds, etc. Also Tony has been doing this for a long time. Long than most I would suspect. I purchaed the amp from Guitar Czar in Salt Lake and they were very good to work with as well. In fact, when I called, they had just received this amp with a few other Brunos and everyone in the shop was knocked out by the Tweedy Pie 18.

I've been playing for 20 plus years and have had several amps and guitars. I would buy another is something happened to this one. My band has an early 70's Marshall Bluebreaker, a Matchless Spitfire, and '63 Vox AC 30. Soundwise and qualitywise the Bruno is top notch. I wanted to get more of vintage Fender sound when I bought the Bruno, but what I've found is that it can do that, but hold its own any day against these other amps when I want more distortion or a beefier sound. If fact, it has a fullness that the Matchless and AC 30 can't match. Compared to the Marshall it doesn't do the wide open el34 thing, but that's not what I wanted. If you want a great well-made amp that has a simple layout and great tone, take a look at this amp. As simple as the old Deluxe circuit may be, there is definitely something special going on with this amp.

For the specs, go to Bruno amps website.
I was looking for a small, lightweight combo for small venue gigs and recording. I have tried BF Princetons, Small Victorias and Kendricks. When I was at Tony's shop I heard this puppy and never forgot it.
I told him, "you just created the best portable mutha I have ever heard.
Its dual input, tone, volume no reverb with a 12" Celestion 12 H Anniversary spkr. It came equipped with NOS tubes, based on 6V6 Power tubes and a few 12AX-7's.

I have used this in recording and just finished a total of 30-40 hours with it. I also play it at home and its a better couch companion than ESPN. Hideous red tolex, cane grill and its so lite you can do one armed curls if you hold the handle tight enough :)
Its a barebones rig modeled after an early Deluxe.
I rate it a 10 because it does what its supposed to do. . . very simply. However for the H/C rating system I guess it gets a 1. Because it is very simple. The ratingbsystem in this catagory should be reevaluated. Its like asking how well your Ferrari likes bumper to bumper traffic??

I mostly use Kendrick Townhouse's (see the reviews) or a G&L ASAT Classic with Fralins.
The amp IS NOT a clean major headroom amp. I played a very early Vibrolux last week at Guitar Centre as well as another overpriced 50's somthing tweed Fender that the people in the store were creaming over. Frankly this thing eats it for a 3 meal periods.
I use this with only a Maxon AD-80 analog delay and a Klon if I need it.
Like all Bruno amps, ya don't need any overdrive pedals. They ARE the tone that the stomp box guys try to emulate. I use the Klon for low level at home o/d or as a kick in the ass when I need some grind. However, It does it very well by itself.
There are no extraneous noises, cracks or pop unless the thing is a full thrust. I am having however having an intermittant problem with some tube noise. On to that later.

As a fan of Bruno's work, I am 1 bazzilion % confident in its reliability. See my other review of the Underground 30.
I am not a tube/electronic whiz, but I have seem his assembly work and the quality of the parts he uses. Just carry spare tubes. Hey ya never know when they blow. As far as reliability, its not even a question

See my other reviews on Bruno. Same story. Great guy, great product.
Hard to reach though. I do understand. He builds each amp by himself and has a part time helper. I have been there when he "ear tunes" an amp.
A great education for me as well. Wonder why you wait for you amp to ship? It really is a 1 person shop.

I have been playing tooooooooo long.
I know the amp world has gone "boutique"
I will say it now as I have said it before, nothing comes close to a Bruno. I have a very early Tweedy 35 and an UG30. I am going to sell the Tweedy 35 watt soon (any buyers?). I just don't need it.
I have had just about every amp known to man at one point or another. I have been playing since 1967. Shit I am getting old!?
As mentioned earlier, I just put hours on it recently and it sounds better all the time. I recorded it and it blows me away on playback.
Only regret is I needed a little more head room when its flat out. Tony mentioed about swapping out 1 of the tubes. I havn't wet because I can't find the one he suggested. Tony, don't be stunod, call me back and send me one!!!!!!!!!

Summary:
Amazing product
You get what u pay for
The builder is too busy
I will probably buy another