Kendrick Roughneck Combo

This amp is a simple as it gets - one knob. It turns the amp on and controls the volume/gain. It seems to be very much like a tweed champ with a few improvements such as: a ten in speaker, more flexibility in tube choices (6v6, 6550, EL34, etc.), and a way-cool trapezoidal cabinet.

I use it to play blues with a Gibson Country Gentleman and a Strat at living room volume. It begins to overdrive at very low volumes (especially with the Gibson) and gets very raw and loose when cranked. This is the most organic sounding amp I have ever encountered. For people who like unrefined tough power-tube saturation, but don't want to get kicked out of their apartment complex this is your amp. I love its sound so much that I bought a second one to keep at work to play on breaks. Since this amp accepts so many different power tubes - it is very easy to vary the tone to personal taste.

This amp seems to be as reliable as a tube amp can be. There sure isn't much that could go wrong with it. It is hand-made, point-point wired, and as simple as they come. I've had this amp for over a year and have had no problem whatsoever.

I haven't had any reason to send anything to Kendrick for repair, but I hear that they have a good reputation for repairing amps.

I've been playing rock and blues for 20 years and own quite a few other amps including Dr. Z, Victoria, Fender, VHT, Line 6 etc. This amp is perfect for what it is, I can't see anyway to improve upon it's design. Would I get another one if it was lost or stolen? I already bought a second one. Since they have quit making them they seem to be getting very hard to find.

Kendrick Texas Crude Series Roughneck Straight ahead tone tool. Two input, #1(Bright) for Single Coil and #2(Normal) is buffered for HB's Single ended, Class A, handwired point to point. 6 WATTS into a Kendrick Brown Frame (4 ohm)8"( 10" is available also) One 6550 output tube, one 12ax7 preamp and one tube rectifier. One Knob, it turns it off and on and adjusts volume. I use live in a two amp setup(Roughneck/Matchless Lightning 210) using a Kendrick A/B/C box, and miked(SM57). More than enough for the small room, not loud enough for large stage volume(slammin drummer).
Also tried various cabinet configs. Matchless 2x10(open back 4ohm), Marshall 2x12(closed back 4ohm), and my big Marshall 4x10 1960a switched to 4ohm. It was amusing, and worth while to push those cab's with 6 watts.
There is a line out so you can use a slave. (Have not tried that yet) Use is for studio and live (Miked).

This rates a 5 because it is not designed to do but one thing. There is no tone control, the guitar has to be adjusted for that. This little girl breaks up like a old tweed bassman turned to 8, it's just that you can hold a conversation while your playing(Until about 8 on the volume control). You get a good thick clean sound(Strat, Tele) until you reach about 6 on the knob control, from there up it breaks up according to how much you attack the strings. The only pedal I have used is my TS-808 overdrive on it, and I enjoy the vintage vibe from this little "toy". This amp replaced a Fender Blues Deville that was heavy,cheap and noisey. Good harmonic balance and complexity with Strats and Tele's. I would like to hear this thing with the 10" speaker option, but that's an 8ohm speaker and will probably give a lot more headroom, I wanted a little amp that would break up a lower volumes.

It's handwired with quality parts, the chassis is nice and clean, the cabinet is made from Mississippi pine and the laquered tweed is a nice touch. There is only a one year warranty, I could say that they could be a little more confident in their product and offer at least a 5yr, but I won't, I'll just write it. Kendrick has a sound reputation for their quality of work(at least most feel this way)

Very nice crew, they beleive in what they are doing and go out of the way to make sure all your questions are answered.
1 yr warranty, such a simple circuit design that most amp tech's worth their salt could handle any problem with it out of warranty.

I wanted another boutique amp toy and that's what I got. If you can play, you can walk into any room with this little box, plug your Strat straight into it while everyone is giggling, turn it to 10 and after a few well struck notes, they will shut up and listen.
It's in a (small)class by itself, because I don't think there are too many sub 10 watt amps using a 6550 output tube. I compare it to the old "Super800" Fender Champ.
It looks and sounds,,,,,,,,,,,,,vintage.