Sommatone
Sommatone Amplifiers' #1 Dealer!
We first heard about Sommatone amplifiers after the 2009 NY Amp show. While we didn't attend in person we checked in with folks we know and whose ears we trust that had been at the show and the unanimous feedback we received was that Jimmy Somma's amps were offering some of the coolest sounding, most versatile and groundbreaking amps represented.
We started talking to Jimmy soon after the show in '09 and after hearing the same thing from pro players and golden ear hobbyists following the 2010 show we had Jimmy ship an Overdrive 35 down to us on approval.
I honestly can't remember ever plugging into a single channel, cathode biased amp that has so much to offer in terms of an extreme range of tones, drive levels and incredible volume control. The Overdrive 35 always sounds and feels like it's cranked up even at super low volumes.
Jimmy Somma's Master Volume circuit is remarkable and 100% effective without tonal degradation.
Was this one of those elusive amps we had been searching for? Did Sommatone fill a hole in our lineup sonically? After a few days of hard, critical listening we decided it was/did indeed!
True Military Grade construction with terminal strip point-to-point construction and chassis mounted everything.......red, powder coated Mercury Magnetics transformers and all the right interior components combined with a very nice external aesthetic and ultimately.......incredible tone, versatility and volume control......makes these amps some of the most amazing amplifiers on the market.
From the first minute you get hair raising tones at anything from barely above the volume of your pick attack (really....no hyperbole here) to club volumes you'll be completely hooked......just the way we are!
Overdrive 35 Head | Reverb & Boost| 2x12 Cab |
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| FAT PRICE: $3450.00 | AVAILABILITY: Reservations Required | |
| ADDITIONAL INFO: Due to demand, reservations are generally required. | ||
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 Video of the Overdrive 35 Head | Reverb & Boost| 2x12 Cab |
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Fat Sound's Take on the OD35 Head and 2x12 Piggyback RigThis is an amp and cabinet combination that will most definitely be added to my collection of, what I subjectively consider, The-Best-Of-The-Best amplifiers in the world. Jimmy Somma's Overdrive 35 head and 2x12 cabinet manages to cover an incredible amount of sonic territory with a game-changing Master Volume control. This amplifier's tone and gain structure begin, at its lowest gain settings, with beautiful, higher-wattage Blackface style tones with a salt-to-taste, dual knob (Mix and Dwell), tube-driven and footswitchable, spring reverb for adding just the right degree of American-flavored ambiance from subtle to extreme combined with a robust and non-flabby low-end. Following the pure, beautiful clean tones of its lower gain settings, a subtle nudge clockwise of the Overdrive 35's dual Volume controls allows the amp to transition into a wonderfully inspirational, woody and warm character with moderate overdrive that's best described as a melding of the best of the Brownface amps with a hint of the slightly pushed Bluesbreaker tones. In this pushed clean or mild overdrive range, the notes bloom out of the cab, catch air at just the right moment and then sustain nicely if not indefinitely. Crunchy, thick distortion with that wonderful low-mid growl that is simultaneously classic yet improved follows in nicely linear degrees as the volume controls are further cranked clockwise. And there are so many wonderfully subtle shades in-between based on how you blend the dual Volume controls. Ultimately, with both Volume controls set between 3:00 and full-on you find yourself in the amp's final realm of relatively high-gain which is fluid yet defined, nicely articulate and possessing practically infinite sustain....all with zero fatiguing frequencies. All of these tones are available at *any* volume that you can imagine (given the higher volume limitations of a 35 watt amplifier) due to Jimmy's unique master volume design that seemingly defies the previously known laws of physics which allows all of the aforementioned tones to sound perfect at volumes loud enough for medium-sized club use or only slightly louder than the sound of your pick attack. Remarkable. I've not heard any attenuator, no matter how pricey, any "Master Voltage Control" nor "Power Scaling" circuit that is quite as effective. The only other amp that I'm aware of with an equally effective Master Volume is PWE's Event Horizon which is another fantastic, but very different type of amplifier. I love Jimmy's choice of speakers for the 2x12 cab. The combination of the Eminence Red Coat Governor and Patriot Cannabis Rex is absolutely perfect for this amplifier and its impressively wide range of tones. Other speaker combinations are available, but this is the combination that Jimmy prefers and IMO, this is definitely the way to go. The amp's basic character is warm and non-fatiguing, but when cutting through a live mix is required, a simple clockwise adjustment of the Treble and Presence controls, perhaps, combined with engaging the amp's "Brighter" control by pulling out the amp's Bright Volume potentiometer is all that is needed. For practicing or just noodling around by myself and enjoying my various guitars for relaxation purposes I simply run the amp a bit darker with less "cut" and time flies while I experience frequent goose bump inducing moments that we all, as guitar players, treasure. The Overdrive 35's "feel" is neither stiff nor overly spongy. It's easy to play and possesses that wonderful sensation of squeezing the tone out of your guitar. It's an instrument in its own right that responds to your every change of attack or tweak to your guitar's volume or tone controls as if reading your mind. For my personal tastes, which lean towards slightly softer feeling amplifiers, it's another perfect aspect of the amp's design. Although lacking in any sort of stiffness, the OD35 simultaneously manages to retain the ideal amount of articulation, tight low-end and percussiveness. Further testament to Jimmy's perfection in design. Possessing a range of volumes that make this amplifier equally capable of live club playing or for use as a low volume, around-the-house amp with an amazing range of tones that work flawlessly with every style of guitar I own and every style of music I play, the OD35 Head and 2x12 Cab is quite possibly The Perfect, single channel amp. Obviously I absolutely love it! Stu Carter, owner Fat Sound Guitars Construction, Components & FeaturesThe Overdrive 35 is constructed using true point-to-point wiring. By mounting all components directly to tube sockets, jacks and pots, Sommatone is able to ensure the purest signal path with extremely short lead runs, maximum touch sensitivity and the least amount of tonal degradation. Sommatone's amps are handmade and extensively tested for tone, consistency and reliability.
Controls
2x12 Cabinet
Fat Sound Award for Sonic Excellence!!!™ Owner Comments"Hey Stu, The amp is truly stunning, both tonally and esthetically!!! ....The Overdrive 35 just has a certain purity/clarity to it and is tuned to perfection!! I haven't had a lot of time with it yet, but the tones I've already dialed up prove that this amp will be around for a long time. ....I definitely need some more "getting-to-know-you" time with her, but the fundamental tone and feel of the amp is amazing!!!. Regards," "Stu! Jeff S. |
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Overdrive 35 1x12" with Reverb and Mid Boost |
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| MSRP: $2900.00 | FAT PRICE: $2900.00 | AVAILABILITY: Reservations Required |
| ADDITIONAL INFO: FREE SHIPPING TO 48 STATES!! | ||
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| Video of the Overdrive 35 1x12" with Reverb and Mid Boost |
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Fat Sound's Take[EDIT] Please also read the review of the head and 2x12 cab version of this amp which goes into more detail about the amplifier's clean capabilities and overall versatility. "The first thing that I noticed when I plugged a humbucker guitar (PRS Paul's Dirty 100 #25) into the Overdrive 35 and cranked up the Normal and Bright Volumes to around 3:00 with moderate Master Volume was a fluid, sustaining and reedy, sax-like tone that reminds me of some of the much lauded Robben Ford tones. Classic Sonny Landreth-esque tones come to mind as well at the highest gain settings. For the ultimate in smooth, singing, infinitely sustaining gain tones, especially at low volume, run the amp at 4 Ohms into its 8 Ohm speaker. This darkens the amp a bit and really gives it the best Dumble style tones I have heard from *any* amp. Even the lowest notes stay clear and defined........even when playing the neck pickup of a humbucker guitar in lower registers. This amp is truly astounding for an amp of this power rating! Run the Normal and Bright Volumes high with the Mid Boost engaged, tone controls at noon and choose the appropriate Master Volume level for your environment and you have one of the most amazing 6L6 based gain tones ever created. Run the Volumes lower, the Master higher, turn up the foot switchable Reverb's Mix and Dwell controls a tad and you have beautiful cleans with less brightness, swirl and shimmer than a Vox or Vox derivative style amp, but incredible bloom and sustain without any ghost notes, edge yowl, cone cry, etc.......and the ability to break up mildly and smoothly as you dig in. Quite simply one of the reediest, smoothest yet defined overdrive tone of this style that I've played, but also the ability to deliver beautiful cleans and wonderful crunch tones. This amp in full-gain dress reminds me of a saxophone. If that's one of the tones you are looking for and you'd like to ditch your overdrive pedals this may well be The Amp to add to your collection or to replace your lesser amps. I, literally, get the same singing, fluid gain tone at a volume where I can hear the acoustic qualities of the guitar *over* the volume of the amp without losing any of the tonal quality or feel that the amp creates when cranked to club level. I have no idea how Jimmy has pulled this little miracle off. So much for the laws of physics! Talk about your perfect 2am recording amp! This amplifier will define the genre for anyone seeking amazing, inspirational tones who also need ultimate volume control for small clubs, recording or playing at home or for those who play huge stages/venues using in-ear monitors. This is like a new dawn in the expected capabilities of a guitar amplifier. Lower Volume settings with higher Master Volume settings create thick, solid crunch for Classic Rock and Blues chordal rhythm that can be warm and meaty or bright and crunchy depending on whether or not the Bright Volume's pot is pushed in for warmth or pulled out for more top-end aggressiveness and upper-midrange crunch. As far as the "feel" of the amp it is neither stiff nor saggy. It's that perfect feel that you find you have played for an hour before you even think about it. In other words, its negative feedback design is absolutely perfect. This is a Fat Sound Top Five Fave amp. You really *need* to check one out as soon as possible; we plan on getting Jimmy heavily backordered!" -Stu Carter, owner Fat Sound Guitars Construction, Components & FeaturesThe Overdrive is constructed using true point-to-point wiring. By mounting all components directly to tube sockets, jacks and pots, Sommatone is able to ensure the purest signal path with extremely short lead runs, maximum touch sensitivity and the least amount of tonal degradation. Sommatone's amps are handmade and extensively tested for tone, consistency and reliability.
Controls
1x12 Combo Cabinet
Also Available: Fat Sound Award for Sonic Excellence!!!™ Customer Comments via email1. "Hey Stu, 2. "I am LOVING the Sommatone! It is without a doubt one of the best amp purchases I have ever made. It is an incredible amp and I just love its versatility and range and it works equally well with any guitar I throw at it. The reverb doesn't get in the way of the note but still seems lush. The boost is great and the master is unparalleled as you know!
Talk to you soon," Eric C. 3. "First impressions are EXTREMELY favorable! The amp has a complexity of tone that I am not hearing with my other amps. The low string definition is astounding, and I absolutely love the tone. It doesn't quite have the jangle of my /13, but it could be I haven't spun the dials enough yet. The diversity of sounds is vast, and I'm really enjoying getting the variety of tones out of Jimmy's creation. I can't describe it, but the sound seems "grown up" compared to the other amps I am currently playing. What I mean is that the OD-35 doesn't hit you over the head with the "sound de jour", but lets you tweek and develop a sound bit by bit... really nailing exactly what I am going for. The 2 volumes coupled with the tone stack really let me dial in the sounds I am trying to get. The Master Volume, of course, is outstanding. I'm playing at very reasonable levels in the house, and I can't wait to crank it up outside of the confines of a small room. The Boost circuit really works, and adds more beef to the dialed in sound... quite a surprise. I was expecting great overdriven sounds, but I am very pleasantly surprised by how good the cleans are. Even sounds I wouldn't normally use (i.e. Blackface settings) are great and inspire me to try different things. Basically, whatever I have dialed in is my favorite setting! I want to thank Mike G who suggested I go this route vs. a tweed offering I originally called for, and of course, you for helping make decisions throughout the process. A shout out to Mike A for being so supportive as well when I called in. Communication with Jimmy was also very good. He had some great suggestions, and he always showed patience and professionalism. In summary, just a great amp, and a very good experience in my first "not having heard it first" purchase. When are you opening the Orlando location??? ;-) Warmest regards," Les N.
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Overdrive 35 Head with Reverb and Mid Boost |
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| MSRP: $2700.00 | FAT PRICE: $2700.00 | AVAILABILITY: Reservations Required |
| ADDITIONAL INFO: Generally Sold On Arrival. Reservation Recommended. | ||
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| Video of the Overdrive 35 Head with Reverb and Mid Boost |
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See the Fat Sound review of this amazing amplifier in the listing for the Burgundy and Vanilla head and 2x12 cab at the top of the page. Construction, Components & FeaturesThe Overdrive is constructed using true point-to-point wiring. By mounting all components directly to tube sockets, jacks and pots, Sommatone is able to ensure the purest signal path with extremely short lead runs, maximum touch sensitivity and the least amount of tonal degradation. Sommatone's amps are handmade and extensively tested for tone, consistency and reliability.
Controls
1x12 Combo Cabinet
Also Available: Fat Sound Award for Sonic Excellence!!!™ Customer Comments"My lunch hour just ended with me playing my new Sommatone OD-35 head into my Jenkins 2x12 cab. I have just discovered a new level of tone, that I've never had in ANY of my amps. OK, I know what you're thinking. I must be gushing over my brand new toy and that its too soon to come to a conclusion about an amp in just an hour. We'll I am gushing and with good reason. That amp is an inspiration to play. I started with the settings that came on the Manual and Sample Settings page with the amp. Blackface clean, then Tweed clean, tweed dirty, US Overdrive, British clean, dirty, blues, etc. Those tones were all there and every one sounded like my favorite tones. I couldn't find even a mediocre tone. I have some great amps already and have had several others in the past that all have what I consider to be stellar tone. The difference with the Sommatone is that I can get that tone at any volume. The master volume just works so good. No, make that great. I experimented with the normal volume and bright volumes cranked, with the Thank you for recommending this amp to me. You were right on with your assessment of this amp. I'm really going to enjoy it." Jeff S. "Wowsa! I just played for 3 hrs without stopping.......the cleans are the best ever. Yeah, they sound good, but, its the way the amp feels between your hands and the neck of the guitar and then what comes out of the speaker that makes this amp completely 3 dimensional. Know what I mean? The way the speakers move, the woodiness of the tone, the boldness of it, the graininess that comes out if you dig in a little with your pick. James. M
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| Email Fat Sound Guitars |
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Overdrive 35 1x12" with Reverb and Mid Boost (Custom Tolex) |
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| MSRP: $2950.00 | FAT PRICE: $2950.00 | AVAILABILITY: Reservations Required |
| ADDITIONAL INFO: Generally Sold On Arrival. Reservation Recommended. | ||
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| Video of the Overdrive 35 1x12" with Reverb and Mid Boost (Custom Tolex) |
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Price above includes $50.00 upcharge for custom Dark Blue and White tolex with Salt & Pepper grille cloth Fat Sound's Take[EDIT] Please also read the review of the head and 2x12 cab version of this amp which goes into more detail about the amplifier's clean capabilities and overall versatility. "The first thing that I noticed when I plugged a humbucker guitar (PRS Paul's Dirty 100 #25) into the Overdrive 35 and cranked up the Normal and Bright Volumes to around 3:00 with moderate Master Volume was a fluid, sustaining and reedy, sax-like tone that reminds me of some of the much lauded Robben Ford tones. Classic Sonny Landreth-esque tones come to mind as well at the highest gain settings. For the ultimate in smooth, singing, infinitely sustaining gain tones, especially at low volume, run the amp at 4 Ohms into its 8 Ohm speaker. This darkens the amp a bit and really gives it the best Dumble style tones I have heard from *any* amp. Even the lowest notes stay clear and defined........even when playing the neck pickup of a humbucker guitar in lower registers. This amp is truly astounding for an amp of this power rating! Run the Normal and Bright Volumes high with the Mid Boost engaged, tone controls at noon and choose the appropriate Master Volume level for your environment and you have one of the most amazing 6L6 based gain tones ever created. Run the Volumes lower, the Master higher, turn up the foot switchable Reverb's Mix and Dwell controls a tad and you have beautiful cleans with less brightness, swirl and shimmer than a Vox or Vox derivative style amp, but incredible bloom and sustain without any ghost notes, edge yowl, cone cry, etc.......and the ability to break up mildly and smoothly as you dig in. Quite simply one of the reediest, smoothest yet defined overdrive tone of this style that I've played, but also the ability to deliver beautiful cleans and wonderful crunch tones. This amp in full-gain dress reminds me of a saxophone. If that's one of the tones you are looking for and you'd like to ditch your overdrive pedals this may well be The Amp to add to your collection or to replace your lesser amps. I, literally, get the same singing, fluid gain tone at a volume where I can hear the acoustic qualities of the guitar *over* the volume of the amp without losing any of the tonal quality or feel that the amp creates when cranked to club level. I have no idea how Jimmy has pulled this little miracle off. So much for the laws of physics! Talk about your perfect 2am recording amp! This amplifier will define the genre for anyone seeking amazing, inspirational tones who also need ultimate volume control for small clubs, recording or playing at home or for those who play huge stages/venues using in-ear monitors. This is like a new dawn in the expected capabilities of a guitar amplifier. Lower Volume settings with higher Master Volume settings create thick, solid crunch for Classic Rock and Blues chordal rhythm that can be warm and meaty or bright and crunchy depending on whether or not the Bright Volume's pot is pushed in for warmth or pulled out for more top-end aggressiveness and upper-midrange crunch. As far as the "feel" of the amp it is neither stiff nor saggy. It's that perfect feel that you find you have played for an hour before you even think about it. In other words, its negative feedback design is absolutely perfect. This is a Fat Sound Top Five Fave amp. You really *need* to check one out as soon as possible; we plan on getting Jimmy heavily backordered!" -Stu Carter, owner Fat Sound Guitars Construction, Components & FeaturesThe Overdrive is constructed using true point-to-point wiring. By mounting all components directly to tube sockets, jacks and pots, Sommatone is able to ensure the purest signal path with extremely short lead runs, maximum touch sensitivity and the least amount of tonal degradation. Sommatone's amps are handmade and extensively tested for tone, consistency and reliability.
Controls
1x12 Combo Cabinet
Also Available: Fat Sound Award for Design and Sonic Excellence!!!™
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| Email Fat Sound Guitars |
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Roaring 40 Head Custom Color |
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| MSRP: $2800.00 | FAT PRICE: $2800.00 | AVAILABILITY: Reservations Required |
| ADDITIONAL INFO: Available by Special Order | ||
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Options: Two-Tone Dark Green and Cream - $50.00 (reflected in price above) From Sommatone's WebsiteThese single channel "Class A" amplifiers are inspired by the tone and features of vintage amps. The combination of a well filtered power supply and original circuitry allow these amps to move some serious air, yet remain articulate no matter how hard they're driven – no mushy response here. Tonally, the amps cover a wide range of sounds, from chimey clean to thick overdriven tones, and everything in between; controls are sensitive and interactive, yet any setting is exceptionally musical. Make no mistake - this is not a replica. You won't see this circuitry, build quality or tonal flexibility in any other amp on the market. Hear the difference. The reverb circuit is unique as it's wired in parallel with the preamp versus series used by most amp manufacturers. Because of this, our reverb circuitry doesn't color or change the sound in any way. Construction, Components & FeaturesThe Roaring amps are constructed using true point-to-point wiring. By mounting all components directly to tube sockets, jacks and pots, we are able to ensure the purest signal path, maximum touch sensitivity and the least amount of tonal degradation. Our amps are handmade and extensively tested for tone as well as reliability.
Controls
Dimensions
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