Swampdonkey Amps M50

This classy little amplifier was built in 2007 by Chris Czech. It is 50watts of pure tube, and is a dreamy piece of equipment.

With a checker patterned purple tolex job, two tough leather stitched handles, a laser cut faceplate and an aluminum chasis, this head is built like a rock.

Quite happily, it is also voiced much like it's build quality! It is built to rock and roll! This amp is as toneful and soulfull as it is good looking. Chris has a really good ear for the classic rock or country players needs.

It has your classic Fender Blackface styled tone stack, with Treble, Mid and Bass, as well as Gain, Volume, and Master Volume, and a foot switchable Boost feature. Also, this amplifier has a rotating dial that switched your voicing from Crisp, Bright, Natural, Warm, Fat and Deep. I found this odd, but after fooling around with it a bit, I found it to be a very versatile feature, much like the Modern, Spongy and Vintage features on many Mesa Boogie amplifiers like the Road King.

I found for my style, which is predominantly more aggressive, this would not suit my needs. But for cleans and some twang, this new company has got it dialed perfectly. Lots of bottom end, smooth mids that only get fizzy when you push them really hard, and glassy treble that just clears up your sound beautifully.

I played some Minus the Bear style tapping stuff through my Duncan JB neck pickup in my double cut away Hamer. This amp sounds crazy for that kind of tonje. Classic cleans, very bouncy and jangly. It gave me this beautioful shimmery sound that worked wonders for the little bit I was playing.

With the Telecaster, it was apparent Chris had made a country, blues and rock amplifier. The sounds were classic, with a touch of some very different amps all combined into one fantastic and well rounded amp. I wanked and solo'd with the Boost option on and off, and with my Boss EQ infront of the amp, and was havinga blast with it.

This amplifier takes pedals beautifully. A Blues Driver or Tube Screamer infront of this head would give you a myriad of tonal options, and it's really up to the player.

This amp keeps your playing very honest as well. Note seperation is immaculate and the articulation for this kind of amp is quite astounding.

I will give Chris Czechs Swamp Donkey a 9, because I'm a high gain kind of guy, and this head doesn't do what I'd be looking to do, but when it comes to recording cleans in the studio, I'll be calling Chris up right away.

At 50watts, this is physically a very large head but is very very cool in aesthetics and sound! Running 6L6's, and sporting a Blackface styled tone stack, this is a familiar amplifier with some very cool innovations.

Now, for you gainiacs, this is not the amp for you. I was able with my EMG81 and a Boss EQ to get some screaming demon tones out of this little lady! It has none of the compression a lot of high gainers are looking for, so this is definately not the amp for you.

If, on the other hand you're looking for somthing like a Hiwatt, but with a touch of Marshall Plexi and good dose of Fender Twin, Swamp Donkey is the amplifier of your dreams. For this, I am giving it a 10. Chris has melded these very unique tonal personalities, and added his own touch to it, and that unto itself is a feat!

I fired it through a matching Swamp Donkey 212 with Tone Tubbies and I kid you not, this amp is extremley well suited to funky tones. Plugging a vintage Telecaster in with a Cry Baby wah, and I was in funk heaven.

One of my favourite features: silence. This head is utterly silent between playing. No buzz, no hum. With the EQ, it made some noise, but no feed back or hiss, and it was turned up loud in a small room.

I look really forward to taking this head down to my jam space, which is a huge huge room, and seeing what it'll do there, because this head is loud loud loud! Tons of volume to spare. It doesn't sound like 50 watts, but the huge transformers and top quality bui;d makes for very little surprise when you plug in and hear it for the first time.

I do not own one of these amplifiers, but I am very excited about Chris' work. The point to point is immaculate! Not unlike James Peters work. The wiring is clean and well kept, bundled to keep things neat and tidy.

I will post no opinion, but by what I can see, and by what I have experienced with amps of this grade and quality, I will put my money on players getting decades of fun and enjoyment out of this mans tone machines.

Chris is the nicest guy you could ever meet. Very honest, and strikes me as the neighbour you'd rely on for just about anything. Even a word of advicei n tough times.

Chris is excited and passionate about his gear, and plans to build four heads this year, and then do some more upon demand.

If this sounds like somthing you'd be interested in, definately contact him at his homestead e-mail address.

It is: chris@moose-meadow.com or www.swampdonkeyamps.com to have a look at this beautiful machine and read Chris' own description of his head.

Overall, I am going to give this head a 10! I am deeply impressed, and that this guy is right in my backyard, I'm more than happy to give a local guy a good review.

Soon, Chris and Swamp Donkey Amps will be a buzz name much like James and Peters Amplification have become. And this will be due to one thing: Quality.

If you don't live in Canada or near Calgary, send Chris an e-mail, urge him to doa trade show, or hit up NAMM and get his gear into the eyes and ears of players as much as he can. This is merely a matter of time for him, and for you, the player, to enjoy one anothers business.