Winfield Thomas Amps Spitfire Clone Head

I bought this amp new in 2006 it was built from a Hammond organ amptifier. Not a lot of features just great tone. Straight forward Volume, Tone, Master no bells or whistles. Two 12ax7's, two EL 84's, and a GZ34 rectifier all JJ's. You get choice of Tolex colors and piping. Gold faceplate and Winfield nameplate. Very Cool!! 18 Loud watts. The craftmanship is A+++ in all areas.

The amp can ride the edge of distortion without fizz or harshness. The clean sound is to die for. I've been playing all types of music for forty plus years, I've got a ton of amps and guitars this amp has a niche of it's own. Use the Volume and Master to get one of best spank or grind sounds from single coils. Crank the tone full open without trebly harshness just detail. The usually weak Strat second position of a 5 way comes across sweet and soulful. Change to Rythmn pickups and no boominess just great tone. Humbuckers rip with great harmonic content. I've found a great blues amp in this critter and saying goodbye to the Harvard. This amp would also be great for country riffers.

I don't think dependability will be a problem. I haven't had the amp that long but the wire runs are all solid and neat with the best components. The transformers are original Hammond but large enough to avoid meltdown. Everything is secure and solid. I always carry a backup it's an old habit. I won't worry about the construction of this amp. I worry about the guy who might have been asleep at the wheel when building the caps or resistors.

Winnie is one of the coolest builders I've come across. He is super quick to respond and will give you exactly what you want or need and no delays or BS.

Like I stated earlier I've been playing for over 40 years. Don't snicker I hope you can do the same. The brain always thinks you're twenty, the body is another story. I hate this part: I have a bunch of Rivera's, Mesa, Soldano, Fender, Musicman, H&K, blah, blah. I always bought new and never traded in. Guitars: Gibson LP Special, Partsocaster, Tele, Carvin DC135 (nice), a couple old Hamers and a Resophonic. No favorites each has its own voice and character. If this amp was stolen I'd hire someone nasty to find it. I am really anxious to have Winnie build another amp. Maybe a Winfield or a Brat hmmmm.......... Anything else I'd like to share? GWB is a putz.

This amp was a reverb amp out of a 50's Hammond M100 organ. It had been sitting in the back of a church for 30years. Winnie breathed new life into it as a Matchless Spitfire clone. It's a pair of 12AX7's, a pair of EL84's, and a GZ34. Volume. Tone. Master.

While it's very straightforward I now understand the love for the Spitfire. It's very chimy with the ability to mix in a little grind that sounds amazing. The Volume and Master work really well together but even better it responds well to setting it with a little grind and then backing off the guitar volume to clean it up. Its also very harmonically rich. I was a Fender Blackface lifer until I played this.

So far it seems fine - the transformers are 40+ years old. Winnie's work is very clean and solid!

Winnie is a pleasure to work with. He has restored my faith in doing business with people online. He was quick to respond, patient to answer my questions, and provided great workmanship and a very reasonable price.

If you can find an old Hammond Reverb amp like this one (AO-35). Don't bother with it, send it to me so I can get Winnie to make ME another one. :) Seriously, I'm familiar with Winnie's other amps but haven't had the pleasure to hear them. If they are like this amp I have to believe that the workmanship and personal attention sets them apart. I rate the whole experience very highly...