This list is in order of what we believe to be the top ten things that affect tone. It is a subjective topic and I expect to take some criticism about the order and contents. The idea is to let you know where we stand on the subject of great tone. Feel free tocontact us and give us your thoughts.

1. The Player. You can take the same amp and the same guitar and in a different pair of hands have completely different tones. Try it and believe.

2. The Circuit Layout. I believe what those great amp builders before me believe. You have to assemble the parts in positions that promote good tone and minimze the noise floor. Think about the difference between early American and British amps and those that followed later in the same model line.

3. The Speaker. As far as the amp is concerned it ends here. Plug your amp into different speaker cabs and see how much the sound changes. This is a close competitor with #1.

4. The first Preamp tube. After the guitar, the amp begins here. It is the first stage of amplification and everything else that follows is a product of what happens here. Swap V1 tubes and see for yourself.

5. The power tubes. The gain slope, the frequency response, the dynamics are expressed in the power amp. Once again, swap tubes of the same tube type and hear the difference.

6. The Output Transformer. The last of the major players. The transformes takes the high voltage and low current from the power tubes, matches plates to voice coils, and make high current and low voltage signals. A quality transformer will deliver the goods.

7. The Guitar Cable. This often overlooked link is sublte but still very noticable especially in the upper frequencies.

8. The Signal Caps. Capacitor type and brand subtly yet distinctly have their own sonic textures.

9. The Power Supply. The amount of regulation/filtration will affect dynamics and harmonic content of the amp. Tube rectifiers have "sag and bloom" dynamics while solid state rectifers are more undynamic but have a better bottom end and higher resolution in the upper frequencies.

10. Grounding techniques. Many famous makers have learned this and the most common service is to move groudning points in order to improve noise, tone, and dynamics.