XITS

Featured here in an industrial grade, woven vinyl covering that Michael Koski refers to as "Chalk", with satin lacquer finished "Bloodwood" hardwood valence and Orange latice grille cloth. Over-the-top cosmetic touches also include aluminum grille and valence framework as well as Bloodwood accent pieces with dowel-filled, countersunken attachment points and Xits' signature hand-stamped "integral faceplate". Also note the Mahogany rear panel standoffs and cabinet bracing used not only for their beautiful contrast to the Yellow Pine cabinet, but also to increase structural integrity and to aid in tuning the cabinet much as an acoustic guitar can be tuned via it's top bracing.

The SADIE X15 a shown here is a 15-Watt Dual Channel Tube Amplifier that embodies the best of the best in regards to Tone, Components and Construction. The circuit is “True Point-to-Point”. No circuit boards or turret boards are used. The tone signal truly follows the component path “Point-to-Point”. The XITS 5-Part Aluminum Chassis is milled one at a time and is vented to allow maximum air-flow. The SADIE X15 is, without question, among the best AC15 style amplifiers you will have ever heard.

Fat Sound's Take

The Sadie X15 is the most incredible looking, best sounding, EF86, dual channel Vox AC15 style amp we've ever heard. Covered in a gorgeous woven vinyl and featured here with Gold Lattice grille cloth and a solid, satin-finished Bloodwood front panel. The cabinet is solid, tuned Pine with Walnut bracing and features a floating baffle board for increased resonance and better dispersion. Internal circuitry is hand-wired via terminal strip, military grade methods with Sprague and Sozo caps.

This amp has a gain structure that is similar to the X10, but needs to be played louder to get to the good stuff. Of course, you also have more headroom with incredibly chimey cleans that bloom and swirl in the most awe inspiring way imaginable. When CH1 is cranked up to about 1:00 the amp morphs into a Classic gain machine that still cleans up perfectly with a lighter touch and with all of the harmonic complexity of its 30 watt British brethren. The optional Master Volume allows the player to reign in this amp's power beautifully with a very minor tonal degradation.

Extremely touch sensitive, huge sounding, absolutely stunning visually....an amazing amplifier.

Fat Sound Award for Sonic and Design Excellence!

Components

• Mercury Magnetics Transformers & Choke: Manufactured to XITS Specifications
• Hand Stitched Leather handles Manufactured to XITS Specifications
• Celestion Alnico Blue 12" speaker
• PRP Metal Film & NOS Allen Bradley Carbon Composition Resistors
• SOZO Tone Capacitors
• Mallory Filter Capacitors
• PEC Carbon Photometers
• Azuma Tube Sockets
• Analysis Plus Speaker Wire

Tube Configuration

• V1 ECC83/12AX7 First Gain Stage Channel One
• V2 ECC83/12AX7 Second and Third Gain Stage Channel One
• V3 EF86 – Channel Two
• V4 ECC83/12AX7 Phase Inverter
• V5-6 EL84 Power Section – Matched Pair
• V7 EZ81 Rectifier

Channel Descriptions

Channel One – XITS HTB “XITS Hot Top Boost”
The HTB Circuit uses three gain stages to produce tones that are highly articulate and responsive. This circuit breaks up early with a tight and well defined low end and glassy highs that stay percussive and bell like at all volume levels. This channel cleans up extremely well with the volume control on your guitar and will make pedals sound like they are part of the amp.

CH1 User Controls

• Volume
• Treble
• Bass

Chanel Two – XITS XS
The XS circuit uses a single EF86 Pentode and takes the early 60’s VOX Experience to new levels. Thick and saturated with a midrange that simply can not be compared to anything else. Pure Magic!

CH 2 User Controls

• Volume
• Tone

Global Cut Control

In true VOX Fashion, the XITS Cut Control attenuates high frequencies in the power section for both channels. High frequencies are reduced, or cut, as the control is rotated clockwise.

Mains Control Panel

• On - Laural Wreath
• Standby - Kanji (Japanese symbol for Fire)
• Off – Center Position

Cabinetry

• Featuring Solid Yellow Pine surrounds and walnut bracing.
• Tuned for maximum resonance which enhances the feel and sensitivity of the amplifier.
• Custom Leather Handle with "Staple" attachments.
• Industrial Grade, Woven Vinyl is “welded” to the cabinet shell to provide unmatched scuff and abrasion resistance.

Options (Not included in listed price above)

• Passive Effects Loop - $195.00
• Master Volume - $145.00

"This amp is beyond belief......it's truly stunning....the Hot Top Boost... Dude, it's just killing me. I don't know how you did this, but it's like the amp shares my DNA. Nothing else I've plugged into responds like this to the way I play. I don't know what else to say, except thank you, Thank You."

Chris Burgess
-Editor in Chief, Premier Guitar Magazine

"I’m convinced that Koski’s meticulous attention to both visual and sonic detail puts this amp in a class all by itself. As a total package—a seamless convergence of technical innovation, craftsmanship, and artistic temperament—this amp is just astonishing."

The PIPER 30 is a 30 Watt all tube guitar amplifier that provides the musician a bright and percussive attack that is extremely dynamic, focused and clean with some underlying grit that truly makes this type of circuit sing. The harmonic content of the piper Piper 30 is truly unbelievable.

Fat Sound's Take
 

If you can close your eyes and imagine the most amazing Vox AC30 TopBoost channel tone with even more chime, shimmer and clarity posessing full, lush single high notes combined with an ungodly low-end wallop then you have just come close to envisioning the sonic magic of the Piper 30. For any fan of the AC30 TB amps the Piper will leave you absolutley speechless. Easily one of the top 5 single channel amplifiers we've ever played.

From a build and cosmetic standpoint there are so many details that you can find some new, cool element every time you study the amp. Things like the Blue/Black Sparkle Transformer housing covers, the internal Walnut Bracing used to reinforce (prevent rattles) as well as tune the Solid Maple cabinet. The way the input and output jacks are installed via threaded holes punched into the chassis for an extremely clean look, the Slot Head screws, the solid Walnut Trim Strips attached via countersunk screws and then hidden by walnut dowel plugs......I could go on listing things like this for half a page.

All-in-all you'll be hard pressed to ever find another amp where the builder has put so much love, time and attention to detail into every aspect of both the sound and the look of his amplifier.

Components

• Mercury Magnetics Transformers & Choke: Manufactured to XITS Specifications
• El Dorado Hand Stitched Leather handles Manufactured to XITS Specifications
• Celestion Alnico Blue, Gold, Austin Speaker Works STR-70 Ceramic or a combination of any two standard (customers choice)
• NOS Allen Bradley Carbon Composition
• SOZO Tone Capacitors
• Mallory Filter Capacitors
• PEC Carbon Photometers
• Azuma Tube Sockets
• Analysis Plus Speaker Wire

Tube Configuration

• V1 EF86 First Gain Stage (NOS)
• V2 12AX7 Phase Inverter
• V3-6 EL84 Power Section – Two Pairs
• V7 GZ34 Rectifier

Channel Description

• Single High Gain Input
• Passive Single Control EQ

User Controls

• Volume
• Tone
• Cut
• 15 watt / 30 watt switch (located under the chassis)

Cut Control

The Cut Control attenuates high frequencies in the power section. High frequencies are reduced, or cut, as the control is rotated clockwise.

Optional Half Power Switch

The power level of the X30 can be cut in half (15 Watts) by using the Power Level Switch located on the rear plate of the amplifier.

Power Section

The Quartet of EL84’s (Two Pairs) are independently cathode-biased with no negative feedback. This allows one set of output tubes to be deselected via the Optional Power Level Switch for 15 Watt operation.

Mains Control

• CENTER OFF
• FIRE - STANDBY (DOWN)
• SKILL – ON (UP)

Cabinet

All cabinets in the PIPER Series are constructed with box-jointed solid hard maple surrounds and walnut bracing. The PIPER Series Cabinets are tuned for maximum resonance which enhances the feel and sensitivity of the amplifier. Focused and direct best describes a PIPER Maple Cabinet. 

El Dorado, hand-stitched leather handle

Welded, industrial grade, woven vinyl covering for aesthetic beauty and durability.

The standard mains configuration is for 120 VAC – 60Hz. All XITS products can be set up for international voltages.

Fat Sound's Award for Sonic and Design Excellence!

Fat Sound's Take

Gorgeous construction showcasing Sprague and Sozo Capacitors, Custom Mercury Magnetics power and output transformers and threaded switch and jack chassis holes for an extremely clean external chassis appearance without any exposed washers or nuts. The amp may be affordable, but no corners have been cut in terms of component quality or cleanliness of construction. This is as good as it gets via tag board, terminal post, hand-wired construction!

"Destined for greatness! Michael Koski's ear for tone is matched only by his design aesthetic.

It's the most amazing, 15 watt, Vox-like amp I have ever experienced and I'm a huge Vox fan. It has all of the detail, clarity and shimmer up top with the glorious low-end bloom of an AC30 as well as a similarly thick and complex overdrive style of that venerable amplifier, but with a bigger low end, even in 112 form, and a point of perfect saturation that comes on at a more reasonable/useable volume level. The primary volume control, or "V1", allows the player to dial in fantastic overdriven tones at low volumes without any fancy power reduction circuitry. Not sure how Mike pulled that one off, but there is an amazing array of clean to distortion tones at many volume levels via the extraordinary interactivity of the "V1" and "V2" controls.

The small size of this combo is very deceptive. When you first see the Xits X10 you are struck with its unique look and beauty, but can't possibly imagine the enormous low end and extraordinary range of tones you are about to experience coming from such a petite and portable combo (26 pounds!).

The Clean tones shimmer and sparkle when the amp is addressed with a delicate touch or set with lower V1 settings, but when you dig in, the thickness of the crunch and overdrive is literally startling. Tight and focused lows with a very broad range that extend musically in to the lower mids give this amp impressive growl to counter the perfect top end.

The "sparkle" switch is nicely tweaked to provide a subtle, but useful dose of additional shimmer for cleaner tones or to enliven a dark guitar.

The *feel* of the X10 is flawless: soft with a wonderful sense of squeezing the notes out without losing its low-end focus and string-to-sting definition.

Michael's choice of industrial grade, woven vinyl coverings in either "chalk" or "smoke" make for a unique, durable and gorgeously innovative stylistic statement and when combined with his, pseudo hammer toned, aluminum face plate with, decidedly minimalist, stamped control panel lettering, unique grille cloth options and striking logos he's created one of the best looking amp lines I've ever seen without alluding to any previous style other than perhaps something you might find in an alternate universe where a Manhattan art gallery is located somewhere in Scandinavia. In my opinion, he's broken new ground in every area of amp design much the same way that Matchless Amplifiers did in the early 90's.

This amp receives my "Highly Recommended!!" tag.

General Description

15 Watts of highly portable XITS Tone. Designed from the ground up to be the best amp in its class at an obtainable price point and boy is it ever!

The X10 is the younger sibling of Ms Sadie. Pure early 60's Tone that responds instantly to your touch.

This design is a single channel 15-Watt Combo with three 12AX7 driven gain stages and an EL84 power section. The X10’s tones range from chimey clean to fully saturated drive. The master-volume allows both pre and power amp gain and levels to be blended allowing unlimited tone and loudness combinations

X10 Tube Configuration


* V1 ECC83/12AX7 First & Second Gain Stage
* V2 ECC83/12AX7 Third Gain Stage
* V3 ECC83/12AX7 Phase Inverter
* V4-5 EL84 Power Section – Matched Pair

User Controls

* Volume 1
* Treble
* Bass
* Volume 2 (Post Phase Inverter Master Volume)
* Sparkle Switch (increases shimmer in cleaner settings while adding boost in higher gain settings)

Mains Control Switch

* ON - UP (LAUREL WREATH)
* STANDBY - DOWN
* OFF – CENTER POSITION

Cabinet


The X10 Cabinet has been designed to provide a big sound in a small package. Cabinet Dimensions are 17-0” x 17.0” x 10-1/2” and the weight is a mere 26 pounds despite the huge transformers which are custom wound Mercury Magnetics units. The back opening has been sized and positioned to allow the perfect blend of sound from both the front and back of the loudspeaker. The cabinet is constructed out of ½” European Baltic Birch Plywood with a floating baffle so the cabinet resonates and comes to life as the amplifier's volume is increased.

Industrial Grade, Woven Vinyl is “welded” to the cabinet shell to provide unmatched scuff and abrasion resistance.

El Dorado, hand-stitched leather handle made to Xits specifications

The standard mains configuration is for 120 VAC – 60Hz. All XITS products can be set up for international voltages.

The floating Xits logo is pure Manhattan in its design and one of the best looking logos we've ever seen......icing on the cake.

Weight: 36.6 Pounds
Dimensions: 17" wide x 10.5" deep x 17.75" high
Speaker

Celestion Greenback standard (Celestion Blue available for an additional $200.00)
External Cab out with selectable 8/16 Ohm switch. Standard 112 combo speaker is 16 Ohms allowing for an additional 16 Ohm Xits extension cab to be run with switch set to 8 Ohms.

Fat Sound Award for Sonic and Design Excellence!

Customer Comments

"Hi Stu

Well the X10 is above and beyond all descriptions and expectations. I know you said it has a startling low end with the Greenback but nothing could prepare you for it. But what I love is it has for lack of better words. "Balance". It has highs but not to harsh or treble overkill... has a thump with the bottom and mids... And it sounds good with everything I have.. (I haven't tried my Danelectro Baritone yet but I will)......And it sounds equally good with all pickups of my Tele, Strat, Historic 56 & 58 Les Paul and Historic '63 ES335 Reissue and ES330.

Thanks Stu

You as always are right on the money.
My Tone Guru.......

Regards"

Tim W.
Woodstock, GA

"Hey Stu,

Got my X-10 on Monday afternoon........I know this has been said but it bears repeating. It has great cleans, an excellent master volume and some beastly/harmonically rich overdrive when the power tubes get cooking.

It's touch sensitivity is awesome. Hit it hard and it overdrives, a lighter touch yields more clean tones. Also, the low end is there in abundance. Most of the time I played it, I was dialing the low end out a bit. That's different. Usually I can't get enough low end out of smaller amps.... :)

If you closed your eyes and listened to the X-10, having never seen one, then opened them you'd be shocked to discover that big a sound coming out of such a little box.

What a great addition to my amp arsenal.

Thanks STU!!"

Dave L.
Nottingham, MD

"Stu,

Thanks so much for spending so much time with Gary and me today and guiding us into the entirely intoxicating world of XITS tone. I haven't been this excited about an amp since the first day I heard the Swart Atomic Space Tone. The X10 really seems like a game changer at that price point...... I loved the ambient kind of clean tone stuff you played today and I would definitely urge you to record several clips of you playing that kind of stuff and then startle the listener with the surprise of your digging in and getting that incredibly thick saturated tone...wow, that was quite an arresting sonic experience.

It was very cool when you were demoing the amp and absolutely everyone in the store turned around and slowly walked toward the amp like tonal zombies transfixed and transformed by the sheer beauty of the tones...I have never seen anything like that...a great moment that almost seemed like a commercial come to life...

The X10 seemed a perfect volume and I was really impressed at how well it did with lower volumes."

Eric C.
Richmond, VA

"I keep reloading the fatsound site in anticipation of more clips. This amp sounds like it will get the tones in my head. How they managed to cram OCD, schizophrenia-lite and general anxiety disorder into a 1-12 combo amp I'll never know...

This thing sounds nasty gorgeous."

nostatic9 (TGP username)
Page 7 of The Gear Page Xits thread

"Hey Stu,

I just wanted to write and let you guys know that you hit it out of the park again! I've been playing my new XITS X10 since I got home, and to be honest, it sounds even better here than it did in the store! And the sound! Everything from pristine, shimmery cleans, to "lord of thunder" distortion the likes of which make me want to pull out a solo Jeff Tweedy style! We're talking going from complete control to utter chaos with the twist of a volume knob, or even just by digging in a bit harder. I can't wait to take this thing to practice next week!

Anyhow, you've never done me wrong in the 9 years I've been working with you to fill my gear needs, and it looks like you're still in top form (no surprise there)! Thanks again to you, Mike, and Mike for all of your help and patience with me while I was waiting for the amp!

Thanks again,"

Brian S.
Raleigh, NC

"Stu, Mike,

Thanks again for putting up with my emails. What a great amp!

Man 'o man.

The combination of the X10 with a little of the RT-20, the faintest hint of dig delay and reverb, and the single coils on the Tele pretty much give me the sounds I've been fantasizing about for the last 6 months...only more so."

Chris L.
Durham, NC

"Hi Stu.
hope all is well. Just a quick message to let you know I have not found a weakness at all in the X10 (after 3 months). By far the best amp I have ever had. So responsive at all volume levels. Don't know if you have had a chance to plug the (Stigtronics Effects) Rodent into it yet, but man is that an awesome combination.

Wow the X10 price keeps going up, as it should, worth every penny!! Hope you and yours are doing great."

Tom S.

Fat Sound's Take

Not only is this the perfect cabinet for the X10 Head, but it is the ultimate add-on for a Greenback loaded X10 1x12 Combo. Running Michael Koski's Celestion Blue loaded X10-sion 1x12 simultaneously with a Greenback loaded X10 amplifier dramatically broadens your sound while adding even more reedy sweetness in the midrange and overall complexity throughout the X10's entire frequency range. Headroom, fullness and perceived volume are also increased.

In keeping with Michael Koski's reputation for attention to every little detail, the input jack plate is stamped with the Xits name and "8 Ohms" on one side and "16 Ohms" on the other so if you change speakers and go from one impedance to the other you can simply flip the plate around while the rear panel is removed. A nice touch.

The input jack is also artfully recessed in to the industrial grade, woven vinyl covered cabinet. Another nice touch in keeping with Michael Koski's obsessive attention to every last detail of both sound and design.

Features

• Baltic Birch Ply
• Chalk Chilewich Covering
• Chilewich Gold Lattice Grille
• Celestion Alnico Blue 12" at 8 Ohms
• Custom, hand-stitched, El Dorado leather handle
• Reversible, recessed input jack with dual brand name and impedance stampings
• Sized to pair perfectly with the Xits X10 1x12 Combo