NAD: Jackson Ampworks Newcastle

[CapoFirstFret]

Alright so I've had the head for a few weeks now and had been looking for a matching 1x12. They're expensive and have a lot of customizable options so finding the right one was tough. Finally found one in Guitar Center in San Antonio at a fair outside. Ordered it and it got here today and I popped it open to find the upgraded speaker - Celestion AlNico Gold.

I'm super pumped. Can't wait to get home and crank this thing.

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[Gtrjunior]

NAD: Jackson Ampworks Newcastle

Ok ....I know nothing of this amp and cabinet you’ve got.

Spill it...tell us about this gear. Because that’s a cool ass looking rig right there. Marshall or Fender flavored?
And absolutely record some clips!!

Please, of course!!!

 

[CapoFirstFret]

Re: NAD: Jackson Ampworks Newcastle

It's a different thing. Jackson Ampworks is a small builder. This is an 18 watt, very straightforward amp with some of the biggest transformers I've ever seen.

It's a volume and tone knob. No effects loop, no reverb or tremolo...very straightforward. The cab is a dual ported closed back cab with the ports on the side of it so that you get all the tightness and directness associated with closed back but with a bit less of the overwhelming bass response.

I don't know what I'd classify this as far as Fender/Marshall, etc. It's kind of it's own thing. It's EL84 so that immediately starts to point into the Vox camp and I could see those comparisons but the tone knob gives you a pretty wide stretch of tonal characteristics. Not at all like other single tone knobs I've seen on amps. Usable in all phases.

It's by far the loudest and cleanest 18 watt amp I've ever played. I've had a Dr. Z Maz 18 through the Z-Best 2x12 cabinet and this thing stays cleaner longer into the travel of the volume knob but there is a point where things just don't get louder, they get BEAUTIFUL. The drive is subtle and perfect and takes pedals like a boss. I'll see about getting some samples up as there aren't many out there on this entire line of amps that I think has been in business about 10 years now. This amp has been replaced, I believe, in the line by the Newcastle 30 which is the same amp with twice the wattage and a power scaling feature to take it from 30 watts down to 1/8 of a watt. I've heard mixed reviews on the power scaling but I can tell you these amps are built to a high standard.

http://www.jacksonampworks.com/

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: NAD: Jackson Ampworks Newcastle

This church I went to back when I was a faithful attendee had the absolute best guitar sounds I've ever heard in that setting. I could see the amps but didn't recognize them. Finally I got close enough to one to see the nameplate so I could search them out online. That was back when Jackson only had one or two models. As it turned out, the amps were built by Brad Jackson who is (was?) also one of the guitar players (one of the many on various teams) in the church.

IIRC, a back-up guitarist who toured with John Mayer playes (plays?) a Jackson amp.

 

[CapoFirstFret]

Re: NAD: Jackson Ampworks Newcastle

Yeah I've e-mailed Brad a couple of times and he's one of the nicest guys to deal with when it comes to questions about his amps. He's active on The Gear Page as well. I've been really impressed with his amps since I discovered them.

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: NAD: Jackson Ampworks Newcastle

Weel ... come on, man ... how does it sound?

My second question is - how quiet is it? On every model Jackson seems to jam a healthy dose of electronics into a very small space.

 

[CapoFirstFret]

Re: NAD: Jackson Ampworks Newcastle

Weel ... come on, man ... how does it sound?

My second question is - how quiet is it? On every model Jackson seems to jam a healthy dose of electronics into a very small space.

I've got a Sennheiser e906 on the way. When it gets here i'm going to record some clips. I find it VERY quiet. The is a built in fan though to help cooling that could be a touch quieter.

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[CapoFirstFret]

Re: NAD: Jackson Ampworks Newcastle

Not meant to be a serious tonal demo, but a little taste until I get time to sit down and record something serious.

Amp is on 10, tone on 1. Thinline Telecaster, bridge pickup.

https://youtu.be/LnuUNdWWmHA

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