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Chapter 1 Amps and pedals 15
British Alternatives
The late 1960s amplier heads and combos that inspired the Sunshine models are loud and
aggressive, with full mid frequencies. These amps are useful for single note solos, power chords,
and big, open chords—making them popular with the “Brit-pop” bands of the 1990s. The
Stadium amps are famed for their ability to play at extremely high levels without dissolving into
an indistinct distortion. They retain crisp treble and superb note denition, even at maximum
gain settings.
Model Description
Sunshine Stack
A robust-sounding head paired with a 4 x 12" cabinet.
It is a good choice for powerful pop-rock chords. If
the tone is too dark, use a high Treble knob setting to
open up the sound.
Small Sunshine Combo
A 1 x 12" combo based on a modern amp known for
a “big amp” sound. It is brighter than the Sunshine
Stack head and has tonal qualities similar to the 1960s
British Combo. This amp also sounds good with a 4 x
12" cabinet.
Stadium Stack
A classic head and 4 x 12" cabinet conguration
popular with 1970s arena rock bands. Its tones are
cleaner than other Amp Designer 4 x 12" stacks, but it
retains body and impact. A good choice if you need
power and clarity.
Stadium Combo
A 2 x 12" combo based on a modern amp. The tone is
smoother than the Stadium Stack.
Tip: The Stadium amps can be slow to distort, so most famous users have paired them with
aggressive fuzz pedals. Try combining them with Pedalboard’s Candy Fuzz or Fuzz Machine
stompboxes. See Pedalboard distortion pedals on page 45.
Metal Stacks
The Metal Stack models are inspired by the powerful, high gain amplier heads favored by
modern hard rock and metal musicians. All are paired with 4 x 12" cabinets. Their signature tones
range from heavy distortion to extremely heavy distortion. These models are ideal if you want
powerful lows, harsh highs, and long sustain in your guitar tones.
Model Description
Modern American Stack A powerful high-gain amp that is ideal for heavy rock
and metal. Use the Mids knob to set the right amount
of scoop or boost.
High Octane Stack Although a powerful, high-gain amp, this model oers
a smooth transition between gain settings and natural
compression. It is a good choice for fast soloing and
for two- or three-note chords.
Turbo Stack An aggressive-sounding amp with spiky highs and
noisy harmonics, especially at high gain settings. Use
the Turbo Stack when you need a guitar tone that
cuts through a mix.
Tip: Combining the Turbo Stack with distortion and fuzz pedals can diminish the amp’s edgy
tone. A dry sound is often the best choice for high-impact ris.