Bumbox Lead 1 - mini review and pics

JfromHouston

New member
Here's the basics of the amp: one watt that is pushed by (1) 6n1p and (2) 12ax7's.

Let me get this out of the way: in its stand alone form, it's not a metal amp. But if you dig classic rock tones and good crunch you'll want to get one; it rocks!

Initial impressions are very positive. At only one watt it is a bedroom wankers wet dream. Has plenty of grindy crunch with mid range bite and nice low end to it. I found myself dime-ing everything then rolling off the highs and gain to get my clarity and crunch where I like it. Then I'd use my guitars volume and tone controls to pull off some AC/DC, cream, queen and even heavier crunch type tones with it. With the gain dimed it does get a little muddy especially with the volume dimed too. But when you roll off the gain to around 2/3 o'clock and keep the master volume up the amp sounds seriously p1$sed off. Awesome!
As for the cleans, not much to them. The amp starts breaking up really early due to the low wattage but if you keep the gain below 9 o'clock and work the master volume you get some very usable clean tones out of it.
So far I've only ran two pedals through it; chorus and fuzz. No problems with either one and both sounded fantastic. I can't wait to see how this thing reacts to standard OD/distortion pedals. If anyone has some recommendations on distortion pedals I'm all ears...
How loud is it? You can easily get great tones at volumes which will keep the Mrs or parents off your back. You can also get enough volume out of it to make you happy when no ones home. I highly doubt you could play with a drummer but then again that's not what this amp is made for. Even when playing through 2 daisy chained 2x12s it wasn't painful playing with the master dimed. In fact I was all smiles :fing2:
So far I've sent it through a closed back avatar 2x12 with the h30 and v30 combo and another avatar 2x12 loaded with Hellatone 60Ls (as well as both cabs daisy chained for a 4x12 effect) and it has sounded great through everything. I'd really like to see how it responds to a cab loaded with h30s to help boost the bottom end a little.

Best part of all this is the price. For around $400 bucks you get a seriously fun little amp.

Link to bumbox amps with clips can be found here: http://www.sombrabella.com/bumbox/

OK, enough blabbering - on to some porn!

bumboxfront.jpg


bumboxback.jpg


Tubeshot.jpg
 
Re: Bumbox Lead 1 - mini review and pics

That is one seriously cool little amp. I ought to build one like that for home instead of burning up expensive output tubes driving an attenuator.

Where around Houston are you? I'd love to check that baby out sometime.

For those of you that don't know, the umlaut over the "u" makes "bum" sound like an explosion, rather than a person's posterior. (And there will be NO discussion of explosions from the posterior.)
 
Re: Bumbox Lead 1 - mini review and pics

I have had my eye on one of those for a very long time now, and i ahve to admit, $4900.00 for an all-valve amp that can be max'ed and keep the next door neighbours of you back is good money spent ;)

Oh, and what fuzz did you use ?
 
Re: Bumbox Lead 1 - mini review and pics

I request... NAY! I DEMAND CLIPS!!!! This thread is worthless without clips! ;)
 
Re: Bumbox Lead 1 - mini review and pics

I like that the clips I have heard. I am going to have to look a tthis now. Dang!
 
Re: Bumbox Lead 1 - mini review and pics

Thanks! This one would make a killer avatar once scaled.


I used some effects in photoshop to give this one a grainy look.

artsytube.jpg



I take it, you used a digi camera for this pic ?

If so, did you use a tri-pod, or was the shot taken "hand-held" ?
Oh, and what ISO-setting was the camera set on ?

Again, one of the best glowing tubes shots i've seen so far ! :smokin:
 
Re: Bumbox Lead 1 - mini review and pics

Yes, I used a digital SLR for the pic. Not sure if you're a photographer or not but here's the rig I use and the gritty details.

Nikon D50 DSLR
Nikon-Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED-IF AF-S VR DX (mouth full huh?).
ISO - 200
F/11
150 MM focal length
10 second exposure
Yes, it was tripod mounted.

Thanks again for the props! I'm stoked someone else enjoys the pics as much as I do.
 
Re: Bumbox Lead 1 - mini review and pics

Yes, I used a digital SLR for the pic. Not sure if you're a photographer or not but here's the rig I use and the gritty details.

Nikon D50 DSLR
Nikon-Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED-IF AF-S VR DX (mouth full huh?).
ISO - 200
F/11
150 MM focal length
10 second exposure
Yes, it was tripod mounted.

Thanks again for the props! I'm stoked someone else enjoys the pics as much as I do.



THANX for the info . . .


. . . and yes, i am a pro-photog !


Have my eye on the "new'ish" Nikon D200 :smokin:



EDIT :


. . . what ?!!!


11sec. AND a tripod ?

Can't you handheld a camera for 1min like i do, and get pin-sharp images ? (wink-wink)
 
Last edited:
Re: Bumbox Lead 1 - mini review and pics

So how loud is it in reality full max gain? Is it TV loud? Is it as loud as my 1 6v6 Gretch cranked (which is too loud for home with the wife)? Coversation loud?
 
Re: Bumbox Lead 1 - mini review and pics

So how loud is it in reality full max gain? Is it TV loud? Is it as loud as my 1 6v6 Gretch cranked (which is too loud for home with the wife)? Coversation loud?


Really, it depends on which cabs you have it hooked up to. With it going through a 2x12 and the gain and master dimed I'm sure I could verbally get your attention if you were playing. I'd probably have to raise my voice but not yell. With it going through either a 1x12 or 2x12 I'm sure you'd keep the peace at home and still get your crunchy kicks.
 
Back
Top