I got a free copy of this month's Premier Guitar in my local guitar shop. It doesn't appear to be on their website yet and I haven't received it at home. It features a mostly favorable review of Tavo's Blondeshell 50 watt amp. (Wired Turtle on the board)

The conclusion reads in part:

"Once you find the Nocturne Blondeshell's sweet spot, you soon realize you can use the amp for just about any rootsy or rocking style that thrives on grit and girth (the phrase "cranked vintage Marshall" crossed my mind a few times), and yet it still cleans up enough to be used in jazz settings that someone like John Scofield might approve of...the Blondeshell pumps out a very satisfying array of versatile sounds."

I saw the preview and I dont really get the reviewers point of view, but perhaps he doesnt play rockabilly or surf(or familiar with a vintage bassman, i dont know)? Its all good though, it actually showed up in a magazine, whats better than that! Plus he did like my plank mode for telecaster, that makes me happy as that was one thing this amp had to cover that an original or clone blonde 63 bassman doesnt. Its a major award!

fwiw.. My amp at 4 oclock is a level you can use on most small club stages and not get yelled at, 10 on the other hand can literally be heard at the other end of the elementary school across the road as I put it on 10 and had them run as far away from our neighborhood as they could until they couldnt hear me playing anymore. Essentially what any 63' blonde fender's normal channel responds like (thin below 2 unless you turn the bass up to 5, and treble to 6...or roars above 6 on the volume and presence dimed/ negative feedback is removed) except that I have it set up so that you can gradually raise the volume with a Nocturne pedal or other boost at usable volume.

For the day job I used to have I used the blonde's normal channel on 4, treble 6, Bass 3, presence 9 with the preamp pushing the gretsch through.. that was to a medium size venue with 250 people. I used a plastic shield 6" from the 212 cab with an audix i5 mic. Had I turned the blonde up any louder than that even in the pubs my rockabilly band played at they would have turned the lights off on us.

I'm interested, Tavo... being a boutique amp producer, would you generate more sales and interest through the medium of magazines, or through sites such as this and Gretsch-Talk, where your niche market for the amp is concentrated?

Ill get a copy as soon as i can find one.

Again well done Tavo!

The amp is more of a "i really like having this, I wonder if anyone else would" sort of thing. Its been out for almost 2 yrs and we've made 12 total. profit on them is 10% I need a different approach but how to do that when I literally WANT this amp to have all the good components it does and I dont want to cheap it up for profit margin cuz , It needs to sound and perform exactly like it does, a brand new amp with good versatility that sounds and feels old.

Hey 10% profit is better than 2%!

We know how good it sounds Wait and see what happens after this article has been out for a little while!

That's a fairly elliptical answer, but I wonder if there is a temptation to "Dumble"?

Hey Tavo. Congratulations on making the big rags man! I'm sure you've earned it. I think I have a bit of an idea of how you feel. I wrote and co-produced an album of contemporary country (down in Nashville), for PEIs' Kim Albert in 2000. The album was very well received by local critics and eventually was very positively reviewed by Larry Kennedy in the nationally distributed "Canadian Country Music News" mag. I can still remember the thrill I got seeing my name in print in a national rag. Of course, it never landed us a major touring/recording deal (mainly due to other interpersonal factors between Kim and I). But it was a high point nonetheless.

BTW. Do you have a website where I can go to see the amp re specs, pics etc.? Keep in mind I don't have high speed so youtube is out for me. I had a Blond Bassman at one point in my career and loved it very much. I might just consider looking into getting another if I thought it would suit my current needs. In any case congrats again. I'll have to see if I can get a copy of the mag if it's still on the shelves the next time I get into Winnipeg.

Check out the Website General

Tavo's site..

That's just great. Congrats, Tavo. I hope I can afford to get one someday soon.

It's about time that Tavo's vintage Marshall clone gets some attention among the classic rock crowd!!!

But seriously T, remember that it doesn't matter what they write, as long as they spell your name and website correctly!

Congrats on the recognition of your craft.

Here's the review

http://www.premierguitar.co...

I even posted a comment

Good for you, Tavo. You deserve the recognition.

congrats Tavo!!!

Congratulations Tavo!

Nice work, Tavo. If i was nearer by and had a bigger place, I'd definitely be asking for one.

That's really a nice writeup. Congratulations, Tavo.

well, That's just cool as all can get. Good on ya, Tavo!

for what its worth here is the blondeshell onstage with Ronnie of The Hillbilly Casino at the Grove in Anaheim. He had it on 7 with a dynobrain I stuffed inside a boss pedal (he has a boss pedal board)

no need for the amp to be turned up to 9

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

and Buzz Campbell w his and I am most positive its not on 9 and this is outdoors (mic'd of course)

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

Yes, congratulations on a great product review.

You're kickin' @$$ and takin' names, lately.

Bravo, Tavo!

Congrats Tavo, they seem to like it a lot! Weird comment about the logo - I guess that guy never saw a Norton logo?

Congrats Tavo, they seem to like it a lot! Weird comment about the logo - I guess that guy never saw a Norton logo?

Really? Who doesn't get the Norton reference? Says a lot about the reviewer.

I went to see the Fender amp design team speak at Pro Guitar Shop last night. They were doing a promo for the new pawnshop stuff, as well as the Mustang, Machete, EC, and Supersonic stuff. I've spent the past year reading and researching voraciously, teaching myself about amp engineering with the intent of building something in the near future. It's very different hearing how people who only play speak about amps, compared to people who design them.

But surely the reviewer is aiming his review at players? Having read the review, I can see why Tavo has some reservations about it as a judgement. But to gripe about where the reviewer is coming from, or deficiencies in his knowledge of the Norton reference is disingenuous. From the point of view of someone involved in graphic design, his comments on the font were accurate. But the real nub was what he thought it sounded like, which is what I wanted to read as a potential buyer.