Krank Amplification Chadwick

2 Channel 50 Watt version of this amp. Very simple. Clean and Dirty. Each with its own gain structure. FX Loop. Line out. They don't make this one anymore.

This amp is incredible. I've owned Mesa Boogie, Marshall, Peavey etc and this amp is like them, but has more tonal versatility which is what appeals to me. The clean channel has its own GAIN knob. That alone makes this amp worth its weight in gold. With the gain set to 0 and the volume pushed you can get the sparkling cleans of a Fender Twin - Glassy but very warm sounding. Crank the gain and you have a Malcolm Young tone to die for. It responds to pick attack very well and honks like you would want and AC/DC rhythm to honk. The Dirty channel has the usual array of gain and eq settings but also has a few other unique features. The evelope knob is kind of a extra preamp saturation. Set it to 12:00 for a normal sound...go into negative territory to clean up the preamp section and push it into the positive territory to get a more compressed warm preamp tone. There's also a drive push pot which gives an overdrive boost to the channel. Also a Shift push pot which changes the EQ structure a bit and renders the Treble, Mid and Bass a little less intense.

I'd never gig without a backup but so far, so good.

Haven't dealt with anyone at Krank as I got this amp used and it's been fine so far. They are a local company so I could always just go pound on the door if I needed to.

I've been playing for almost 30 years and have used many different amps. What I really enjoy about the Chadwick is the tonal versatility I can get with it. I would definitely recommend this amp to anyone who wants a very good clean AND crunch tone without having to use two amps, or modelling to achieve it. I always equated Krank to the heavy tones of modern metal and yes, this amp CAN achieve that, but what suprised me is how boutique this sounds.

Tube powered head. Basic 2 channel layout-clean and high gain. No Reverb. Simplicity is a desired feature. What featured you dont see is a cool thick and well designed pc board in red with a tidy layout and quality components,heavy duty transformers etc. Now I'm no electronic engineer but I have looked inside amps to set the bias ans I can tell you this isnt point to point but it is pretty nice and its made in USA! Plus I did talk to Patrick at KRANK and his name is all over the inside of this amp chassis.All Im after is a good clean and a good gain so to me it is versatile but it doesnt do everything so I give it a 5

Hot Pickups make a big difference in this head. Dean usa Hardtails, Jackson SL2,76 explorer really pound it out.Strats sound good and stratty, tone doesnt get lost like other amps.I add a TS9 for the strat for a little boost. Doesnt need it but it adds another dimension to the tone and besides everyone just about uses one anyway. This amp covers classic rock to hard rock. You can scoop the mids and get a grinding distortion for drop tuning but that not really what its for.Has tremendous volume, and sounded way better after changing out stock tubes for 6L6s

Seems built like a tank compared to most, Keep fresh tubes and remember to take it easy bashing it around.If you want it to breal it probably will.Never needed a backup but you never know.

Nobody knows anything about these but Krank.Good luck findind a dealer.If you can get someone there to answer the phone your lucky

Been playing 30 years, Better than most amps out there.

simple, 2 channels, clean, and dirty, dirty channel has boost push buttons.

unbelievable, a++++++, best sounding amp ive ever played, clean is full with lots of headroom, dirty is so organic, i run through the clean with a boss od-20 drivezone, boss rv-3, boss super chorus, custom strat, you can totally nail a george lynch tone (think under lock & key era). ive owned alot of amps,marshall, mesa, laney,randall, ect, this amp destroys them all

havent owned it long enough, so far so good

havent needed them yet

would buy it over and over again, you need to check this head out

Two channel amp and your standard stuff on a tube head.

I'm running a PRS CE 24 with HFS and Vintage Bass pick ups, with an avatar 2x12 cab.

As for Pedals I run a Keeley modded TS-9 Tube Screamer, Monte Allums Modded MT-2, Menatone Top Boost in a can, Monte Allums modded Blues Drive.

This amp sounds AMAZING only IF you crank the volume and use the gain as the actual volume control. I pretty much hate the distortion channel, but I haven't tried out the volume/gain swap on that channel yet. The eq isn't very responsive, but it mostly sounds good right where it's at. I run my treble barely on, and mids and bass at about noon.

It is VERY glassy, and VERY chimey just like a Vox. If your dirt pedals have EQs on them, you'll probably have to do a little tweaking, but once you get everything dialed in, you will achieve sonic nirvana.

Seems pretty reliable so far, I got it 3 days ago and already played two shows with it, and I think it'll hold up.

Never delt with them, but they seem like cool guys.

Decent amp over all. Sounds AMAZING once you get everything dialed in. Don't forget to crank the volume knob and use the gain knob as the volume control.

This is a review for the Krank Chadwick Series 1 Head (single Channel). Don't know when the amp was made but definetly before 2006. Features: 50 watts, single channel, Class A amp, 2 6L6 power tubes, 3 12ax7's, effects loop with pull/volume knob, SUPER LOUD, mine is covered in an All White Tolex, no one trick pony.... THIS F'N THINGS KICKS ASS!!! It is basically a JCM800 on Somatotrophin (growth hormone)!!

Any one who says that this amp isn't for Metal needs a Jackson headstock pushed up there ass. All I ever play is 80's and early 90's Metal, and let me tell you, there is NOTHING better and MORE VERSATILE than this head! Yah sure it can get a nice clean tone, but clean tones are for weeners, I'm 100% concerned about the Distortion and the Bleeding Metal Tones that I can produce from this bad boy. The Distortion is DEAD ON to a JCM800 100watt BUT with a much bigger bass response. Actually, so much so that I have to put the bass on 2 to get my LYNCH tones out of it! My set up is simple, Guitars (Charvel Model 2, Jackson Dinky reverse Professional, Jackson DK2M Ghost flames, Ibanez S540 LTD) -> Carl Martin Rock Drive Overdrive pedal -> KRANK CHADWICK -> Rocktron Short Timer Delay in Effects Loop -> all through a 2x12 Carvin Legacy Cab. I LOVE IT! I am REALLY impressed with the smooth distortion and rich harmonics that this thing can produce. It gets a little noisy with my setup, but ALL high gain setups will produce some hiss. Anyways, this Amp is perfect for my needs. One more thing, the 50 watts sounds and feels like 200 watts. No joke, this bastard is LOUD don't let the 50watt rating fool you!! I haven't pushed it past 2 without blowing my Mastiff through the wall.

I don't know if I can depend on it? It hasn't given me any problems, but then again I've only had it for a week? Krank made some Really reliable shit in the begining, so if this is one of the earlier editions, I don't imagine that I would have a problem with it?

Never dealt with them, but I heard they are really great with customer support and tech support.

I've been playing the same old hair metal, 80s metal, 90's metal, and Death Metal here and there for the past 15 years. And my setup is taylor made for that genre of music. There is NO guitar music out there that is like Dokken, Ratt, Dio, Europe, Malmsteen and early Megadeth!!?? Where has metal gone? God damn Nirvana... anyways, I LOVE that the Head is a Class A amp and I hate that the amp weighs a ton... Oh yeah, the amp is Super light in weight also, so I don't hate anything about the amp. If it were stolen I would MOST DEFINETLY pickup another one if I could find one!?? But man, for what I paid for the amp, that would be a hard one to replace!!

Single channel version of this amp. No frills, bells, or whistles. But the idea is to have as simple a signal path as possible.

I'm glad I didn't buy it. I saw a used one in GC for 1000, and thought it would be nice to use with my growing pedal board. I guess I was expecting a JTM 45/50 or Plexi type sound, but what I heard was (kids cover your eyes) "ass". To be fair, maybe this amp had a problem. It was being played through a marshall cab, I think with G12T-75's. It sounded harsh, ragged, buzzy and thin. The clean sound was just as anemic. I tried and tried to dial in a tone that was pleasing but I just couldn't.

Can't comment

No experience.

I'm glad I didn't buy it - it just stunk. As I said, it could have been THAT particular amp. It could have been poorly biased, or bad tubes (Now that I think about it, the harh distortion could have been crossover distortion - not a pleasing thing to hear. Think of nails on a chaulk board).

Unfortunately that experience was my first experience with any of Krank's products. It left a bad (very bad) impression on me. And as the saying goes," first impressions are lasting impressions". I'll probably never try another Krank product again.

Single channel, 50 watt, tube amp. Plenty of power. It's great with clean country and full overdriven rock. Really a very versatile amplifier.
Features an effects loop with a pull knob. I'll give it an eight for features, but the amp is realtively simple.

Amazing. It's awesome for a thick, twangy clean and for full on "guitar hero" style rock and roll. Sounds very big and full. The other reviewer was right; very warm. I use a Les Paul goldtop with burstbuckers and it is quite amazing. From Led Zep to AC/DC to Guns n Roses. A really fine sounding amplifier. In a live situation, it cuts through like a bell. PLenty of power for every live situation.
It's a dream come true for "guitar hero" rockers. Hit an "a" chord and let it ring, it'll make your knees weak.

I've owned it and gigged with it for over a year and it keeps going. Never had a problem yet

Never had to deal with them, but the creator of the amp is an active member on Krank's forum, so I imagine one can pick his brain if need be.

It really is a steal considering guys are paying top dollar for clones these days. It's a good plexi/ac30/JCM800. I'm surprised I don't see more of them around. If it were stolen, I'd find another one fast. The single channel ones are best.

Series 1 Chadwick. 50 watts. 12ax7 & 5881 tube. One channel. The usual controls a'la volume, gain, drive, envelope, treble, mid, bass.
Equipped with effects loop and line out. Also has switchable impedance to match your speaker cabinet.
It's really loud.

This amp really does sound like a Marshall Superlead and a Vox ac30 combined. It can go from very round and clean to an extremely warm and, again, round overdrive. No high gain business here, however.

I play Gretsch guitars(and an occasional tele) almost exclusively. I classify them like guns. The telecaster is like a single-shot revolver. My 6120 is more of a 30.30 rifle and my White Falcon is like an old Civil War cannon.
The tele really sounds nice with a muscley twang. The 6120(w/ TV Classics) sounds like a good growly Gretsch should. But the White Falcon(w/ TC Powertrons) just roars. It is a massive sound. Dead on AC/DC tones can be had from the Powerage record all the way to the newer albums.

I guess it's ok. I haven't had too much trouble with anything Ive ever had. Of course, I take care and maintain my business too. I'm sure neglect would take it's toll on anything.

Never dealt with them. Triple R Guitar in Lemoyne PA is great though.

I hear a lot of people poke fun of Krank amps. I can't speak for the high gain amps they make as it's not my bag, but this thing really sounds awesome. I play a lot of old rock n roll, rockabilly, and classic rock. I like Chet Atkins, Eddie Cochran, and Buck Owens twangin'. BUT, I also love AC/DC, Ted Nugent, and punk power! I can get all of my stuff done with this amp. The new ones are 2 channel I hear and I imagine it's useful, but I'm not a channel switching type of guy.