Teisco Checkmate 30

Yeah, it's round, all right. Late sixties, I believe. Volume, tone, two inputs, tremolo intensity and speed. Speaker faces upward into a kind of cone that is suspended above it, which sends the sound out in a circle. Solid state. Not particularly loud. Small. Cute. Woodgrain contact paper.

Uh, I hate to dis my esteemed colleague below, but mine sounds pretty crappy. Perhaps the speaker is bad. Anyway, it distorts at something like 3 and sounds like the entire thing is made out of cardboard. The trem works well but doesn't have much character. All in all, midrangey and dry, with not much to recommend it. I am playing several guitars through it (it sits in my living room behind an end table), a Strat with Bill Lawrences, a Frankenfender with DiMarzio DMX90 and Gibson p100, a DeArmond Guild Starfire with DeArmond goldtones. None sound good.

It was pretty beat up when I got it, but it still works. Maybe a bit of dirt in the pots.

The folks at Teisco are great--friendly, decent, and hardworking. When I last spoke to them at the seance I hosted, they told me that my dead grandmother was happy, and that I would soon go on a great journey and discover enormous riches.

I bought it because I saw a picture of one and absolutely had to have it. And though I've considered selling it many times (y'know, a guy could have a Gibson Skylark or a little Supro or something instead), I probably won't. It is a one of a kind--a hunk of beautiful junk. I give it a six because it is round, and when people see it they say, "What in the hell is that?"

This amp was made in the mid 60's.The best thing about it is that it is round!It has 2 sections.It stands 14inches in diamiter and 18 inches tall.It has a faux wood grained brown plastic finish.The amp is trimmed in chrome with three chrome legs and rubber feet that connect both sections.I don't know the wattage but my guess is around 8 watts.The amp is set into the lower section.It features volume and tone plus a temelo section that has speed and intensity knobs.There is also a jack for a foot switch that I didn't get with my purchase.Two inputs in case you bring two guitars to a gig.I especially like the orange light.No reverb,effects loops or channel switching to confuse you or the the sound you are trying to create.Another exciting feature is that the 6 inch speaker is loaded into the top of the lower section and the 8 watts is focused at a white plastic cone that is on the top section. This inovative concept allows the player to walk around the amp in any position and feel the full intesity of the 6 inch speaker and the 8 watts working together.Teisco is light years ahead of other guitar amp manufactures with this idea.I can set the unit in my living room and the sound waves will fill my office,bedroom,dining room and kitchen.You can hear every frequency everywhere.Did I mention the the amp was solid state? No worries about breakdown.Don't forget it's portable.This thing has it going on!I play guitar but I also play harnonica.This thing has the best Little Walter overdriven sound around.What an amp!My dream set up would be a CM-30 stack.12 stacked on top of each other.Can you feel it?It would make you gums bleed.The visual effect would be stunning.I use a Teisco Del Ray Spectrum 2 and the Cm-30 has no problem reproducing complex tonal qualities of this exquisite and sensitive instrument.This reminds me I have to submit a review of it.Shimmering highs,full bodied mids and glorious lows sing from this amp.One of my favorite features is that it can blend in with the other funiture in my house.Teisco thought ahead in this department and I tip my hat.It works especially well as an end table next my couch.Its just the right height to place my beer while I'm watching ECW wrestling.Just imagine trying to reach up to place a drink on a Marshall stack.No way man!You would spill the brew AND miss the action.The CM-30 also makes a great stand for my Lava light collection.Don't forget that plant stand option.

This thing kicks ass!Put everything on 10!

It's been working for 35 years.Don't mess with it.I would play it anywhere.

Never had a problem of any kind.They make great products.

I've been playing way too long.Teisco Del Ray Spectrum 2 is the way to go.Would love to find a Spectrum 5.If I lost it I would die.I would love to find another one so I could have two end tables.I wonder if they make one with a 15 inch speaker and 10 watts?