? for Kung Fu grip

[lenny]

Hi ,
If you had some xtra time i was wondering if i could pester you ?
I had some questions about your 25W Zinky Amp, could you give us a small review of this very cool boutique amplifier we sell the Zinky Smokey's @ our Music Store and they are a wicked little amp but the ZINKY Amps are CRAZY MONEY hahahaha but i also believe in getting what you pay for ....so i guess my question would be how do u like it ?and was it all you thought it was going to be? would you recomend them ?
and did you play Vintage fender tube amps before you purchased it?
Thanx in Advance for your time

 

[KungFu Grip]

Whoa! I've been requested!

The Blue Velvet was a BIG departure from what I was used to in an amplifier. Previous to the BV, I was using a Fender Vibrolux (the newer one) and before that a 73 Super Reverb. Going from 6L6-bottled Fender amps to an EL84 firebreather was something I was a little gun-shy about.

After about 2 weeks with the Zinky, my worries were gone.

I've had the BV for about a year and a half now, and I honestly can't see anything taking it's place. It doesn't do a Fender clean. It's clean is more compressed and warmer, with less chime. Works great with neck position humbuckers and singles and ok with bridge position pickups.

The true gift of the amp is the dirty channel. I pretty much keep on this channel all the time (in fact, I think Zinky just came out with a one-channel amp called the Velveteen that is pretty much the dirty BV channel through a single 6L6 power section). Unbelievably dynamic. I usually keep the gain low (around 9:00 to 10:00) and run my Albert Lee through it, usually through the bridge pickup. Cleans up with the guitar volume knob. The drive channel really does everything from just-breaking-up to full-bore high gain. Lovely thing is, it NEVER gets fizzy. Can't really put my finger on what it sounds like (other than incredible). Not like a Marshall. Not like a Fender. Not like a Boogie. Maybe a little Vox-ey.

Haven't really run effects with it. Love the basic tone too much to muck with it. However, I wasn't too impressed with the effects loop. Works fine, but has a 6db cut so it doesn't overload your pedals. Seemed to kinda neuter the tone a bit. Maybe I just haven't messed with it enough.

Whew. Hands are sore.

Another thing to note. The speaker that Zinky uses is a wonderful speaker, but doesn't really show its stuff until it's broken in. And it was a BUGGER to break in. Tough speaker!

Haven't been in many jam situations since I got the amp, but it has no problems hanging with a drummer at all. Cuts through the mix like a knife.

Built like a tank. I could run this thing over with an SUV and it would still scream.

Nothing but compliments from pretty much everyone that has heard it.

Despite the fact that I love the velvet covering, I went with the black tolex with white grillcloth because I felt it looked classier. If you're going to stock one, I would recommend ordering a tolex version. My local shop ended up sending a BV back because it wouldn't sell in a month. Guess Omaha Nebraska isn't really open to the whole non-tweed thing. They can't seem to sell EBMM either. Their loss.

Hope that helps. Man, that's a lot of words...

 

[lenny]

Yip that was awesome answered everything !!!!
I am going to order one for myself me thinks!!! hahaha i was a little gunshy about the $$$ versus everything else BUT like i said a 25 watt tube is all you need for giggin' i have my marshall for the bigger gigs i just want something to tote around that delivers and it seems this might be the rigplus the fact that Bruce and the boys seem to be really into the customer service which as a retailer I LOVE!!!!!!!!!! too little around of that these days,EBMM has the best Customer service i have seen to date and my DAD is starting to see that,after 27 years in the music biz you get a little hardened to all the propaganda but he sees how much i love these guitars and how well customer service works for the 2 little probs i had.....(he didnt think i would get anywhere)so i have my fingers crossed that there is room for 1 more EBMM dealer in the Maritimes ,we are calling the distributor to get some info!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Since we dont do the big F anymore after 22 years he said NO MORE!!!!!!!!!i have been looking for a line of Amps and Guitars in that upper high end range and well i have found the Guitar/Bass company in EBMM and we have Marshall /Crate /Roland/Ibanez but no little wicked tube amps for around $1000 but with reviews like the one you have written i just may have found the amps!
Thank you very very Much
Lonney B

 

[robelinda2]

heard about these amps, they sound fantastic!!!

 

[KungFu Grip]

A note on Zinky customer service; I sent Zinky amps three or four emails with various questions prior to purchasing my BV. All were answered in less than a day by Bruce Zinky himself. Very down to earth, very informative. Best customer service experience I've ever had.

 

[lenny]

A note on Zinky customer service; I sent Zinky amps three or four emails with various questions prior to purchasing my BV. All were answered in less than a day by Bruce Zinky himself. Very down to earth, very informative. Best customer service experience I've ever had.

Awesome ............and thank you Bp for this short little useage of your bandwidth
But i need something to play these great guitars you build through!
All the Best
Lonney B