The late 1960s amplifier heads and combos that inspired the Sunshine models are loud and aggressive, with full mid frequencies. These amps are useful for single note solos, power chords, and big, open chords—making them popular with the “Brit-pop” bands of the 1990s. The Stadium amps are famed for their ability to play at extremely high levels without dissolving into an indistinct distortion. They retain crisp treble and superb note definition, even at maximum gain settings.
Model | Description |
|---|---|
Sunshine Stack | A robust-sounding head paired with a 4 x 12" cabinet. It is a good choice for powerful pop-rock chords. If the tone is too dark, use a high Treble knob setting to open up the sound. |
Small Sunshine Combo | A 1 x 12" combo based on a modern amp known for a “big amp” sound. It is brighter than the Sunshine Stack head and has tonal qualities similar to the 1960s British Combo. This amp also sounds good with a 4 x 12" cabinet. |
Stadium Stack | A classic head and 4 x 12" cabinet configuration popular with 1970s arena rock bands. Its tones are cleaner than other Amp Designer 4 x 12" stacks, but it retains body and impact. A good choice if you need power and clarity. |
Stadium Combo | A 2 x 12" combo based on a modern amp. The tone is smoother than the Stadium Stack. |
Tip: The Stadium amps can be slow to distort, so most famous users have paired them with aggressive fuzz pedals. Try combining them with Pedalboard’s Candy Fuzz or Fuzz Machine stompboxes. See Pedalboard distortion pedals.