Drive CD300 Combo

This is a very basic amp, which is all I needed, all my effects are upstream of the amp. It does have an overdrive circuit that is completely useless. When the "LEAD" switch is turned on, the amp roars with self-generated noise.

This amp hums loudly. The sound quality is awful. (Not just a little; it's REALLY BAD!) This amp is unusable.

We'll never know. I just received it. It's going back as soon as I can get an RMA number.

Bought it from Musician's Friend. They've always been terrific to work with. Don't know anything about the "manufacturer" (made in China, what isn't?)

I bought this for $29, presumably a closeout from MF. So, I know, how can I complain? But even at $29, THIS AMP IS TOTALLY UNMERCHANTABLE! Before I ordered it, I'd read a lot of bad reviews for this amp (regarding the hum and poor tone and hair-tigger volume knob) on MF and Harmony Central, but didn't believe them, since I've bought a lot of low-end gear from MF that HAS been very satisfactory. It's as bad as people say! It shook my confidence in Musician's Friend that they'd risk their reputation by selling this amp AT ANY PRICE, in spite of all the candid reviews describing bad sound. Really, for $29 I had almost NO expectations. (It LOOKS really nice!)But this amp can't be used for anything, even practice. FTR, I started gigging in 1967, and own quite a lot of gear, and don't complain much.

2-channel 30 watt practice amplifier with a 10" speaker. I've never had to turn this all the way up, meaning it's friggin loud. It's one step up from your basic starter amp with switchable channels. Seperate volume controls for each channel, one channel has gain. Treble, Middle, and Bass controls. Headphone Jack, footswitch jack- helpful addition.

I use both single coils and humbuckers with this amp, and they both sound great on the clean channel. Gotta love clean guitar. I like to boost the mid and bass, and cut the treb no matter what I'm doing, because higher mids give a jazzier feel to my classic rock tones. The lead channel has really harsh overdrive- I don't like it too much unless it's low.

The clean channel never gets distorted as far as I can tell, but this amp is really loud so I've never had to turn it up all the way. Speaking of that, there are problems for me. The Volume and Gain controls are way too sensitive! It's too tedious a task to find the right volume level because in a milimeter of movement the volume goes from nothing to ear-hurting.

The amp hums when you turn it on, that's fine. But this hum becomes a big buzz through headphones, so it's TERRIBLE for headphone use. I guarantee it's not my guitars, since having nothing plugged in is the same as having a guitar plugged in it.

I can always depend on it, and I'd probably use it for a small performance like for friends and family. It's a good size for jamming in the garage with friends.

I wish the volume controls weren't so sensitive on the low end. It's a step up from getting your basic practice amp, mainly for the volume. It's definitely worth 60 bucks.

I've been playing for almost a year and I use two Jay Turser guitars- also very good buys for the cheap price- a Les Paul copy and a Strat copy. I normally use a Zoom 505 II effects pedal along with this amp, but for clean or slightly distorted blues tones this amp is great by itself.

Purchased new for $59.99(delivered!) summer 2005. I needed an amp for home practice as I didn't want to put hours on a vintage Vox and
had grown impatient with a repetitively sick (meaning prone to issues) Marshall Valvestate 8040 combo. My search began with the 10 and 15watt combos and I found this 30watt amp by Drive costing relatively little cash. I read the reviews and decided to buy this amp. Having played guitar for 25 years in various rock/metal bands, I now use my talent serving our Lord, Jesus and His
church. Bysides playing old Hymns and Contemporary Christian, I play
blues, country, and southern rock sounds. The CD300 provides more than what I needed. I now have a nice sounding amp that I can use
for a lot more than just practice and it costed very little.
This amp is a solidstate 30watt, channel switching unit with three band EQ and 10inch speaker. It has jacks for headphone and footswitch. It is covered in black vinyl and has corner protectors. No reverb on this model. It has a partially open-back enclosure.

The CD300 has a nice amount of bass which can be hard to find in a
small combo amp. I think the amp sounds very good both on its clean channel and while using just a slight amount of gain on the distortion channel. More gain really makes for a nice classic rock
sound that reminds me of groups from the 1970's (ie:Grand Funk, Doobie Brothers, etc). Now its not a Fender, but for the money it can't be beat. In no time I was able to get my Telecaster sounding
almost like it was being played through a Fender; and without the use
of any pedals. This would not be my amp of choice for playing metal.
I detect no unusual pops, crackles or excess noise. As far as variety, I feel most of that comes from the player. But if you need your amp to be that(ie. studio musician) than get a "modeling amp".

I think that I could depend on this amp. Certainly more so than my
Marshall (which is too bad since it sounds very good...when it's working!) in which I have lost all confidence. I do intend on using
the CD300 in gig situations where my 4x12 stack is "just too much":-)

My Drive amp is still a "babe in the woods" and is too early for me to comment on its longevity. However, I do think that its electricals
would oulast its cabinet and especially its vinyl covering. Which could actually be cool as it develops a "old war horse" look through
regular use on the road.

I have never dealt with Drive; only the large catalog/internet retailer I purchased this unit from.

I found that Drive amps are designed by Switchmusic,Inc USA
(www.switchmusic.com / www.driveamp.com). They appear to be
made in China for a Korean firm named Shinko Corporation.

Sometimes languages do not translate well and I found a little something funky printed upon the back side of the amp. Among the other usual electrical cautions and jargon I read: "The apparatus
shall not be exposed to dripping or splashing and that no objeects
filled with liquids such as vases" (typo is actual!). Darn, and I
was considering using this amp as a secondary coffee table :-)

Overall, this amp is one great value. And I trust that the other
guitar and bass amps made by Drive are equally so.
If the amp blew up I think that
I would say fine (and say "cool" if it literally blew up in flames)
and buy another one. At the price, it can't be beat.
Now for the money spent I can't complain, but the control panel is
lacking in some style. However, the cool "chicken head" knobs (ie.Fender) make up for it!
I wish the amp had an external speaker-out jack. I may even wire one in myself.