Fuchs Audio Technology TDS-50 Tripledrive Supreme Head

This amp I tested was from 2005 stock, before the added Master volume for channel two. It has the same channel switching feature as a Boogie Mark IV (i.e. three channels). It is a very versatile amp for most styles of playing. Its voicing is not suited for dropped tunings or death metal. This 50 watt model can be pushed to break up in the clean channel (I play hard like SRV) so I'll probably get the 100 watt or 150 watt version. It has a footswitch that allows you to switch between all three channels, switch Mid-Gain for each channel, plus loop and reverb (The one I tested had the "Artist" footswitch). This amp has all the features that I generally use when I play. I play jazz, fusion, and some hard rock. I suppose the only thing I could wish for would be a fourth Channel, but that is just my pipe dream...Also, I wish the layout of the footswitch was like Mesa's Rodking (It seems more logical to me)

The clean channel is a dream. With the Brite switch and Jazz voicing selected it has a crystal, chimey resonance that would make Larry Carlton jump for joy. With the Deep and Jazz voicing selected, you can play Wes Montgomery all night long. With the Rock voicing and the Brite selected, Strats sound so absolutely dreamy that Eric Johnson should take note . I was able to make the amp break up at a really high volume, but as I mentioned, I play hard. With my low output neck HB on my jazz solidbody,it sounds better than anything I have ever played, even my Boogie Mark IV! It has a sensitivity and a tone than words cannot really explain (go try one!)

Channel Two is voiced for a mild clean to grind sound. Very bluesy and crunchy with a high output humbucker. Think of SRV or Eric Johnson.

Channel Three is "the" lead tone. Super responsive. If the strings are barely attacked, you get a wonderful clean sustain. When attacked medium to hard, loads of clear balanced distortion ala "Cliffs of Dover" or "Santana" depending on the guitar you use. Sounds awesome even with low output humbuckers or single coils.Again, this amp is not for "nu-metal" or "death rock" IMO. Lastly, the amp is as quiet as other high quality amps. Make sure you use high quality line conditioners regardless of what amp you use. Lastly, you do have to work with this amp for a while to discover your tone preference. Even though it has few knobs, it is quite a tone generator that must be explored.

I've been playing for 28 years (man that was fast!). I have played through Fender, Marshall, Polytone, Carvin, Randall, Peavey, Soldano, and finally settled with Mesa Boogie. First with a Mark I, then a Mark III, then the Quad Preamp, then the Triaxis, and finally simplified to a Mark IV that I mic like Eric Johnson and Larry Carlton for effects. I am going to get a second gig to buy a TDS 100 or 150 it is truly the Stradivarius of Guitar Amps, I must have it! If it were stolen, I would have to pray for the grace not to harm the individual when I catch him! I have tried a few other amps in my search for "the" tone. H&K Alex Lifeson Model(too much metal sounding), Mojave (overrated IMO), Dr Z (also overrated IMO), Mesa Roadking II (This is the only amp that comes close IMO),Line 6 (blegh!!!)The only reason this amp does not get a "10" is the price is very high. In closing, this amp has ruined me! Nothing I have played sounds as good as this amp, now I must do everthing I can to get it.....join me in the journey!

It took a while to get this amp. I ordered it this spring and got it this fall (2005). This is the most versatile amp I've ever played. The overdrive sounds great throughout it's range of settings and can take you wherever you want to go. The effects loops sounds great in parallel mode where most of the tone is retained in the amp. 3 channels. Tones of power at 50 watts. I'd love to have a 20 watt version of this amp as I don't feel I can really open it up in most venues like it deserves to be.

I use primarily single coil pickups, Strats and Teles. This amp sound fat. Huge mids. Sounds great with any guitar I've tried into it. It has a great reverb that is very quiet. It has 3 channels, clean, mean, and scream. Clean is crystal. Mean could use a bit more grit for my taste. Scream just sings. I wish this had 2 Scream channels so I could take advantage of the amazing flexibility of that overdrive. Mean cascades to Scream but with the addition of the Clean channel you don't have to compromise it to get a good clean sound as you may have done with the ODS.

No problems to date.

Andy Fuchs is great when it comes to support. He personally has answered my many questions and has clearly been working late in the evening to address each of my inquiries. He customized my amp for my order very reasonably. I'm am totally impressed by his attention to the customer.

I've been playing for over 20 years. I used Mark series Mesa Boogie amps for most of that time. Last year I got into the hand built point to point wired amps and bought a BadCat HotCat 30R. It is a great amp but not as versatile as the Boogie amps from a control perspective. The Fuchs TDS 50 gives me boutique tone with all the features I was used to on my Mark IV. And it sings. No one amp can do everything but this amp is coming real close.

This is the brand new Andy Fuchs Tripledrive Supreme 50 Watt head. The amp features three channels of "clean, mean, and scream." The manual states that "The TDS will provide a musician an utterly amazing palette of tonal flexibility!" and you can believe it. With the 6-way footswitch, you've got control over the channel selection and mid and gain boosts. An additional footswitch for reverb on/off. I use the Fuchs 2x12 cabinet with the new oval semi-open back loaded with Eminence Red Coats...this is a fantastic match.
See the Fuchs website for more details on available options.

If you are reading this, you already know about the Fuchs sound. Fantastic! The dirty channel is the best I've ever heard.You can feel the tone come right out thru your fingers as you play. The clean channel is California chime...warmth and sparkle of a Fender. The controls will give you a ton of subtle changes...use them sparingly...9:00 is a great setting on the tone controls and the unique input/output controls around 12:00. You are buying a tone machine!

I expect to own the amp for a long time with no issues....and if I do need something Andy Fuchs will be there. "aircraft grade T-6 aluminum chassis" Spotless construction...it looks great!

Andy is the best! Send him an email and find out for yourself! He helped me with every question in super quick time. You can tell he is a guitarist's amp builder.

If this was Spinal Tap, it would be an 11! This is the best amplifier I have owned in 35 years of playing. Search the web for video and audio samples of the Fuchs and you will get a feel for how good this amp really sounds.
Thanks to Andy and everyone at Fuchs Audio Technology. A big thanks to Michael Lewis at Rushing Wind Music for all your help with my order. Michael is a great person to help you buy your Fuchs Amp.