Nashville-based guitarist Todd Sharp has launched Todd Sharp Amplifiers, a range of custom-made amps.
The high-end, hand-wired vacuum tube amps are the first from Sharp, who has more than 40 years experience performing with numerous artists, including Hall & Oates, Rod Stewart, Fleetwood Mac’s Christine McVie, Mick Fleetwood and Bob Welch, Delbert McClinton, Carlene Carter and many more.
“Like any player, I have been enthralled with the many great amps of the past 60 years. I’ve owned and worked with so many of them as a working guitarist but also as proprietor of Nashville Amplifier Service (amprepair.com). My approach to amplifier design is a little different,” Sharp notes. “This is truly creative art to me. There are plenty of Fender, Marshall, Vox and Dumble clones out there. I’m not interested in building another knock off – I’m interested in making amplifiers for the player who wants the best there is. Amps that respond like instruments.”
Early backers of the brand include Vince Gill, John Oates, and Mick Fleetwood, who have all purchased amps. Oates is using the JOAT 20RT on his 2016 national tour with Daryl Hall. Owen Barry, guitarist for Tal Wilkenfeld, will also be using Todd Sharp Amps during their tour opening for The Who this year.
The flagship Todd Sharp Amplifier model is the JOAT 20RT (Jack Of All Tone, 20 Watts, Reverb/Tremolo), which has no tone stack (conventional bass, mid, treble controls), nor the loss that comes with a that.
“It’s all tone, but you can take some away if you like,” said Sharp.
The JOAT circuit utilises rotary selector switches; Attitude, Low Cut and High Cut along with a Bite switch. Inputs 1 and 2 are designed intentionally to receive single coil or dual coil pickups. The reverb has a super smooth sound more akin to a plate than spring reverb. It also has a tremolo with a wide range of speed and intensity – from subtle to full stutter.
