NAMM 2016: 3rd Power Unveils Citizen Gain Guitar Amp
3rd Power has unveiled its new Citizen Gain guitar amp, which is hand-built in the company's East Nashville, Tennessee, shop.
Operating on a pair of EL34 power tubes, the Citizen Gain is a great-looking, higher-gain tube amplifier that’s capable of sounding and feeling like a 100-watt high-gain beast—but at volume levels associated with 1 watt and up to 40 watts, thanks to HybridMASTER.
Features:
- Handwired, point-to-point turret board construction
- Patented HybridMASTER volume management
- Nine selectable EQ and Preamp response modes
- All custom Mercury Magnetics transformers
- Internal operating voltages up to 500V DC for lightning-quick pick response
- All-tube pedal optimized FX loop
- Accutronics studio-quality dual mode spring reverb (SR Model only)
- Dual JJ E34L output tubes, five or six 12AX7 preamp tubes (depending on model)
- Custom tolex options available through our custom shop.
Configurations:
• Citizen Gain: Compact head (no reverb), 18" x 10" x 9.33", weighs 24.5 lbs.
• Citizen Gain SR: Standard head (studio-quality dual mode reverb. 24” wide, weighs 31.5 lbs.
• 112 combo version with reverb, 25” wide, weighs ~55 lbs.
During the development of the Citizen Gain, 3rd Power referenced and compared choice examples of modern high-gain and vintage modded amplifiers and in particular, the legendary 100-watt variety. The goal was multi-layered: capture the tones, attitude and punch of the heavyweights, enhance them for modern application and use, and make sure the sweet-spot was wide enough to cover the broadest range of British crunch tones as possible.
With its nine different modes of operation, the Citizen Gain delivers higher-gain guitar tones that range from raunchy and rude to slick and polished, and yet a superb clean tone can be had by simply rolling back your guitar’s volume knob. With the company's patented HybridMASTER volume management circuitry, the entire sonic experience can be had at whatever volume level is right for the room.
Get The Pick Newsletter
All the latest guitar news, interviews, lessons, reviews, deals and more, direct to your inbox!
“While developing the Citizen Gain, it was my observation that practically every single legendary rock studio recording had reverb as an integral component to the guitar tone. I optimized our all-tube dual mode Accutronics reverb circuit to emulate the legendary plate and hall sounds that you will find on most of these recordings. With the Citizen Gain, you really can achieve the sound you hear in your head all at a volume that’s perfect for your situation,” said James Scott, founder and Amp Artist at 3rd Power.
All 3rd Power amps are hand-built in the U.S., feature point-to-point turret board construction and come with a 33-year warranty. Citizen Gain units will begin shipping in February 2016 at introductory prices starting around $1,999 for the compact unit, around $2,349 for the SR version (standard head, reverb) and $2,749 for the SR 112 (combo with reverb).
For more information, visit 3rdPower.com.
Guitar World’s 2016 Winter NAMM Show Coverage
Check out the NAMM 2016 section of GuitarWorld.com to keep up with our latest gear announcements, photos and videos. You also might want to consider following Guitar World via Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, because that's where most of the gear pics will be posted during show hours.
•GuitarWorld.com: NAMM Show coverage
•Twitter: NAMM Show photos and news
•Facebook: NAMM Show photos and news
•Instagram: NAMM Show photos and more
•YouTube: NAMM Show videos.
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month**
Join now for unlimited access
US pricing $3.99 per month or $39.00 per year
UK pricing £2.99 per month or £29.00 per year
Europe pricing €3.49 per month or €34.00 per year
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Since 1980, Guitar World has been the ultimate resource for guitarists. Whether you want to learn the techniques employed by your guitar heroes, read about their latest projects or simply need to know which guitar is the right one to buy, Guitar World is the place to look.
“IRs that faithfully capture the tones of two cabinets used extensively by Tony Iommi”: Celestion’s first Artist Series IRs bring Tony Iommi’s early- and latter-era Black Sabbath tones to the digital sphere
“John, Paul, George, Ringo, the first time they ever performed together in the Cavern Club, this amp was what they used”: Hear the amp said to be John Lennon’s first Vox put through its paces – with Noel Gallagher’s Les Paul