Handwired Dark Gene Red 1 watt tube amp

#knowyourgear
00:00 intro
00:00 Specifications
03:43 Demo clean channel with pedals
09:02 Demo Over Drive channel
11:05 My Thoughts
D. kowalskiamplifiers Dark Gene Red Amp
www.dkowalskiamplifiers.com/p...
The 1x12 Cabinet I use
sweetwater.sjv.io/21a2OM
What tuner do I use?
imp.i114863.net/ORXJqN
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Пікірлер: 152

  • @d.kowalskiamplifiers4622
    @d.kowalskiamplifiers4622 Жыл бұрын

    Awesome demo, Phil! Great tones! Very thorough. Thank you again!

  • @SapperRJMorgan

    @SapperRJMorgan

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks for your art. We appreciate both your contributions to the community.

  • @onesandzeros

    @onesandzeros

    Жыл бұрын

    Nice amp!

  • @Bobyoudontneeemyname

    @Bobyoudontneeemyname

    Жыл бұрын

    Think you are about to receive an influx of orders

  • @ThePowerman121
    @ThePowerman121 Жыл бұрын

    “It’s loud enough to upset everyone in the house”. That sounded personal.

  • @bigtuna6463
    @bigtuna6463 Жыл бұрын

    I have had mine for 4 weeks now and i am amazed at the tones i get from it. That little 3 position toggle switch makes it so much more versatile on the clean channel. I have the red version like that one. I have several small combo tube amps but this head through a 10'' cab i had sounds great to me. The builder nailed it What a fun amp to play through good review.

  • @7171jay
    @7171jay Жыл бұрын

    As the Zvex Nano now goes for $519, has less controls, pretty much doesn't do truly clean very well, and uses a rather oddball tube the Gene seems like a gift with it's really low pricetag, rather full function controls and it's even point to point. CRAZY!!!

  • @digitaldrew
    @digitaldrew Жыл бұрын

    I've had a Dark Gene Red for about 2 years or so now. Amazing little amp with way more potential than I thought. I ran it into a 1x12 and was blown away with the tones. Its such an expressive little box. Now, I love running into my Katana Artist MkII Power Amp as a preamp and blowing the doors off everything with that crunchy beautiful tone. Well worth every penny.

  • @rstuartcpa

    @rstuartcpa

    Жыл бұрын

    Me too…one reason why I love collecting amps is that collectible amps are relatively more affordable than collectible guitars. You can easily find a mid-60’s Fender Super Reverb (the “Holy Grail” of collectible amps) for less than $4,000…while a Strat from the same era will run you more than $20,000.

  • @mattcgtx4809
    @mattcgtx4809 Жыл бұрын

    I just got both. The Red is a lot of gain for my taste but the clean channel is GREAT for pedals. The Green is just awesome. Keeping them both😎

  • @clemguitar63
    @clemguitar6310 ай бұрын

    DARK GENE into a Fryette Power Station ONE HUNDRED PS-100, paired with your Speaker Cabinet of choice, and Stand Back Jack!

  • @MrJommins
    @MrJommins Жыл бұрын

    You had me at the very first note you played on that guitar. As soon as I heard that amplifier I thought oh yeah, this is what it’s all about.

  • @darrell5228
    @darrell5228 Жыл бұрын

    Man you always have great tech and info videos.

  • @_patrikjay_
    @_patrikjay_ Жыл бұрын

    That thing sounds great and sounds way more full and big than a Half of a Watt. Well done!

  • @PipeCat1965
    @PipeCat1965 Жыл бұрын

    Half a Watt - that's why they make microphones and monitors. You can gig with anything if it sounds good. Cool share.

  • @DRChevalier
    @DRChevalier Жыл бұрын

    Thanks much Phil. I was not aware of this product and it will cost me some money because it really does sound very good in your environment 😊

  • @vautrain
    @vautrain Жыл бұрын

    I've had the Green model for quite some time and it's just a great sounding amp for late night jamming. Probably the best low watt tube amp I've found for low volume playing without an attenuator, and I've tried quite a few from .5 to 5 watts.

  • @toddflowers8052
    @toddflowers8052 Жыл бұрын

    Sounds pretty darn good ....thanks Phil !

  • @danlohrfink9272
    @danlohrfink9272 Жыл бұрын

    As much of a fan as I am of my Vox AC4, this thing sounds super cool. Going on my wish list. Thanks, Phil & Dave!

  • @robertbrandner
    @robertbrandner Жыл бұрын

    Great idea, showing the amp with the current settings in the insert in the corner.

  • @jakemunns5185
    @jakemunns5185 Жыл бұрын

    I got a Dark Gene Red a few months ago and love it, but took about 5 months from time of order to delivery. But Kowalski is good with communication, very friendly, and helpful with answering questions. Tempted to get a Green, but not sure the two are different enough to warrant the purchase.

  • @stickman55100
    @stickman55100 Жыл бұрын

    What a great sounding amp!

  • @jeffpashley
    @jeffpashley Жыл бұрын

    Killer demo, Phil!

  • @fredsalter1915
    @fredsalter1915 Жыл бұрын

    I love your guitar & gear vids! And +1 for using Kiesel!

  • @TheStupidMonkey007
    @TheStupidMonkey007 Жыл бұрын

    This looks very interesting. Looking forward to watching this in an hour or so.

  • @Bobby_Digital37
    @Bobby_Digital37 Жыл бұрын

    Man that’s a exactly what I’ve been looking for!!

  • @utenzil
    @utenzil Жыл бұрын

    I like this. There are very loud, very clean old solid state amps with line in you can get for cheap if 0.5 watts doesn't rattle your rafters.

  • @vlada
    @vlada Жыл бұрын

    Kowalski Amplifiers absolutely need to call one of their amps The Killer.

  • @robertpratte3639
    @robertpratte3639 Жыл бұрын

    I have had the red for a year or so - I think it was a second run, back when they were about $100 cheaper. Great little amp. I've intended to pick up the green for awhile, so thanks (no thanks?) for reminding me. Just ordered the sibling.

  • @AMERICANPRIDE1100
    @AMERICANPRIDE1100 Жыл бұрын

    Ordered mine in April it’s arriving today 3 months I can’t wait to try it got the green model

  • @johnl.donofrio2441
    @johnl.donofrio2441 Жыл бұрын

    Ordered one. Can’t wait.

  • @olearywu
    @olearywu Жыл бұрын

    Great amp. Cool builder. Hagerman amps does similar things, also made in the USA. Love my SE-2, a two watt amp, plus my pedal sized One-watter. I don't see how you'd need more than two watts for home use.

  • @DH432hrtz
    @DH432hrtz Жыл бұрын

    Great demo, Sir😎

  • @rorow3r
    @rorow3r Жыл бұрын

    Amazing on bass too, use it into my Straight Ahead power amp and it sounds amazing. Clean or overdriven. Had it for about 2 years.

  • @mattdevol3339
    @mattdevol3339 Жыл бұрын

    Red or Green? Red or Green?? Red or Green??? I cant decide, and can’t afford both, so any good advice as to which one I might enjoy most? You may also want to look at a Wangs Mini 5.0 Watt tube amplifier for $249. It’s a quality piece of gear, sounds great, and feeds my mini-amp tube addiction.

  • @wayne2202
    @wayne2202 Жыл бұрын

    This thing sounds awesome great review also! Can't wait to get it probably going to take a year to get after this review.

  • @orlanbro
    @orlanbro Жыл бұрын

    What a great amp! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

  • @jerrymckenzie1858
    @jerrymckenzie1858 Жыл бұрын

    It sounds really good!

  • @JoshuaC923
    @JoshuaC923 Жыл бұрын

    It sounds pretty good! Thanks Phil

  • @meesterdinglefritz2064
    @meesterdinglefritz2064 Жыл бұрын

    Wow,that sounds really good!

  • @Setright230
    @Setright230 Жыл бұрын

    That’s exactly what I’m wanting for some recording and low out night playing. Yet Australia the computer has changed my name from Grumpy Digger which I prob change back. Really like to find one for Australia as still breaking in the Gibson SG 61 ri cherry no vibrato love it and Gibson Qc must be taking care as not a buff or paint run. Had to include a SG to my little collection Habit lol.

  • @pzuliomaccavellion9711
    @pzuliomaccavellion9711 Жыл бұрын

    I've had the green and the red for a couple of months now! Both awesome!

  • @thomask9577

    @thomask9577

    Жыл бұрын

    Which one do you prefer and why?

  • @pzuliomaccavellion9711

    @pzuliomaccavellion9711

    Жыл бұрын

    @@thomask9577 the red is more my style, more aggressive sounding, but the green has a really cool fluffy fuzz when you push it. And they both get that pushed power valve sound at such low volume, its awesome and strange to get used to, almost bizarre! Honestly both awesome!

  • @raymondsurace2575
    @raymondsurace2575 Жыл бұрын

    I have a Green model and I love it!

  • @sirblingjax
    @sirblingjax Жыл бұрын

    Could you ask David Kowalski if he could bring down the price by offering the amplifier in a kit form for people that were just want to build the amplifier as a kit that would also be a great savings for people who like building electronics devices. Since he's so backed up with orders this would help him out and increase his revenue!! The amp sounds great and will also be an assets for clean and crisp sounds when recording into you DAW :)

  • @stevenkoppelkam643
    @stevenkoppelkam643 Жыл бұрын

    Just ordered mine

  • @pastorkev777
    @pastorkev777 Жыл бұрын

    Frenzel Amps has been doing this sort of thing for well over a decade too. I would recommend checking them out too. A variety of good affordable amps like this is a good thing!

  • @fantomas9240
    @fantomas9240 Жыл бұрын

    That sound huge and great! Hope find it in Europe. A effect loop would be perfect

  • @johnschoppmusic
    @johnschoppmusic Жыл бұрын

    Saw Pete Thorns Vid on the single channel awhile back and pulled the trigger! Quality Amp For Sure!! ~cheers

  • @roderickbalt8993
    @roderickbalt8993 Жыл бұрын

    Sounds very good, I remember I hade a Brunetti Singleman which had a 1 or 2 watt but it was a long time ago and I can't remember how usable that was in terms of getting the compression etc. This is sounds great!

  • @daveblevins3322
    @daveblevins3322 Жыл бұрын

    Nice work 👍

  • @ianmartens5286
    @ianmartens5286 Жыл бұрын

    nice little amp thanks

  • @wormfost5578
    @wormfost5578 Жыл бұрын

    Sounds very nice. 👌

  • @richgleadall3884
    @richgleadall3884 Жыл бұрын

    cool unit forsure.

  • @matthewmorin7016
    @matthewmorin7016 Жыл бұрын

    And now it's going to be sold out.

  • @MisterCross

    @MisterCross

    Жыл бұрын

    True!

  • @prohunter717

    @prohunter717

    Жыл бұрын

    Wonder if the price will stay the same or not for long.

  • @jsatchton597

    @jsatchton597

    Жыл бұрын

    This is The Way.

  • @MrShooter72

    @MrShooter72

    Жыл бұрын

    Yep

  • @sordel5866

    @sordel5866

    Жыл бұрын

    That price point is simply not sustainable for a small manufacturer: I think this is basically a loss leader to promote the brand. If you don't need it "hand-wired", however, there are tube amps from bigger brands for about the same money.

  • @paulcroce7303
    @paulcroce7303 Жыл бұрын

    Omg thanks Phil

  • @soundknight
    @soundknight Жыл бұрын

    Has lovely compression to it.

  • @strings53notlob50
    @strings53notlob50 Жыл бұрын

    It sounds pretty cool but a little more than double the money and you have a 50 W Marshall head. It would be cool to see if he could make a 10 W version.

  • @toddjanney
    @toddjanney Жыл бұрын

    KooL idea !

  • @EricJohnson-iv7ne
    @EricJohnson-iv7ne Жыл бұрын

    Really cool

  • @andrewmanara5289
    @andrewmanara52895 ай бұрын

    This sounds really good

  • @bradleystereoguitaramplifi9616
    @bradleystereoguitaramplifi9616 Жыл бұрын

    Cool! ❤ 🎸😎

  • @Stratisfied22
    @Stratisfied22 Жыл бұрын

    My Vox Lil Night train has the same tube configuration. Basically all preamp tubes.

  • @DustinNulf
    @DustinNulf Жыл бұрын

    I like it

  • @scramblesthedeathdealer
    @scramblesthedeathdealer Жыл бұрын

    I might try one of these out, my Egnater Tweaker 15 is a little too loud for my bedroom (the whole house can hear it 🤷‍♂️)

  • @9999plato
    @9999plato Жыл бұрын

    I took the plunge. Way better than the Champion 600 in the mini amp department at my house. Do I need another amp, no but I think it will be a better practice amp for keeping a lid on things than my Egnater rebel15 not that the Rebel is bad its just louder.

  • @I.M.Guitar-Nerd
    @I.M.Guitar-Nerd Жыл бұрын

    You'll need to give us an update in a week or so and let us know how many months of backlog he stacked up from this.

  • @allengoeddey2719
    @allengoeddey2719 Жыл бұрын

    Is this the same amp Pete Thorn has reviewed as well? I just purchased a Supro Delta King 8. One watt tube amps can get plenty loud. That sounds really nice. That 12” speaker 🔈 makes a difference

  • @AnimeAsLeaders998
    @AnimeAsLeaders998 Жыл бұрын

    hi. did you change the way you record guitar for youtube vids? This is the best sounding one compared to your other videos (other ones sound too compressed, too dark etc and did not sound as good as this video). nice little amp.

  • @Paul_Lenard_Ewing
    @Paul_Lenard_Ewing Жыл бұрын

    The guy makes some seriously nice looking small box 45 watt Plexis and at $1200.00 for a handmade one can not complain.

  • @thomask9577
    @thomask9577 Жыл бұрын

    This looks really cool. This or the Bugera G5 Infinium?

  • @jacobbockover1628
    @jacobbockover1628 Жыл бұрын

    I think my out the door price was 400 and change it sounds better with a big bassy speaker. It is good at speach volume. I really want some sorta power amp i could plug the speaker out into

  • @BrentAdams
    @BrentAdams Жыл бұрын

    Cool

  • @bobmcelver1484
    @bobmcelver1484 Жыл бұрын

    Cool little amp......affordable. Btw.....what's the guitar on the wall directly behind your head ?.......love the wood tone of it.

  • @ToneDeth.
    @ToneDeth. Жыл бұрын

    When people say you can’t gig with 1 watt amps, what about micd up with PA and monitors. Easy no?

  • @ivonsmith4255
    @ivonsmith4255 Жыл бұрын

    Sounds wonderfully warm and fat! Theres a lot of juice in that little unit! I wonder if they are available here in SE Asia???

  • @daveg4923
    @daveg4923 Жыл бұрын

    I’ve been thinking of making something like this for a while..what wattages would you suggest that would make it suitable for home and gigging …. I’d be interested in making one n sending it to you Phil

  • @tonepilot
    @tonepilot Жыл бұрын

    Nice little amp. Would be cool to see a version without the tube covers and with LED rings in the tube sockets.

  • @jeromestevenfaigin6059
    @jeromestevenfaigin6059 Жыл бұрын

    This amp sounds fine in my earbuds, but is the tones mostly what kind of speaker or speakers go what kind of cabinets or mixing board then, piggyback to the Shure, SM57?

  • @stevemyers2092
    @stevemyers2092 Жыл бұрын

    sweet!!!!!!

  • @snapfinger1
    @snapfinger1 Жыл бұрын

    High Fidelity. Boutique bedroom amp. Perfect match with celestion cab.

  • @Efren7962
    @Efren7962 Жыл бұрын

    Have you reviewed the Stage Right 5- and 15-watt tube amps by Monoprice?

  • @tonywurtz8908
    @tonywurtz8908 Жыл бұрын

    Purchased a RED immediately after seeing this vid This could be bad for David, he's going to be backlogged for years LOL

  • @wildesage4172
    @wildesage4172 Жыл бұрын

    I lucked out a couple years ago and got a Bugera 5w head (with a 1w & .1w switch) for a STEAL from Craigslist. If i didn't have that, I'd have completed check-out on one of these before you even reached the middle of the video. I mean, I'm still tempted to! But the Bugera fills the role well enough. It's more money to put into pedals, lol.

  • @lidor2856
    @lidor2856 Жыл бұрын

    Hey Can you make a video about harmony guitars? The rebel and comet

  • @quiksilver78
    @quiksilver78 Жыл бұрын

    Any relation to Killer Kowalski? This looks like a modded Joyo Bantamp (in a good way) without an FX Loop

  • @brucechavez9535
    @brucechavez9535 Жыл бұрын

    Sir, if you don't mind, may I ask you about that guitar that you're playing? It's really gorgeous. I know it's Kiesel Strat-style, but I just want to know the model name of that one, and how much did you get it for? Thanks so much, Sir in advance. And thank you as well for another good gear review...😊

  • @onionheadguy7094

    @onionheadguy7094

    Жыл бұрын

    It's a Delos. You can build one to your specs to see the price. I think the pickups are the kiesel equivalent to PAF pickups.

  • @Stereostupid
    @Stereostupid Жыл бұрын

    What about the Wangs 5w plexi? I heard it's amazing it definitely is awesome in demos also milkman but there's a brand that does a dumble shrunk, effectrode I believe I bought their tube driver preamp its about 450$ but completely unbelievable...and I mean unreal tones! Audio Kitchen has an amazing 2.5 watt big trees amp its unreal but 1000$ I'd say this sounds great too but wangs and effectrode for the price are amazing alternatives...shit the joyo Jackman II is $200 and sounds literally unbelievable and hotone brit-plexi floor amp is unreal too

  • @paulruiz4778
    @paulruiz4778 Жыл бұрын

    What’s the situation regarding tubes supply is still worth buying a tube amp ?

  • @dlmyrs
    @dlmyrs Жыл бұрын

    I have a friend who can do a half finger. He’s a farmer. That’s a common thing around here.

  • @ravenslaves
    @ravenslaves Жыл бұрын

    Hmmm...replace that 12au7 with a 12at7...ax7...etc... Could get some interesting results.

  • @GuitarGears4544
    @GuitarGears4544 Жыл бұрын

    Phil-- did you say somewhere what kind of cabinet you're running it into? Maybe I missed that. Really takes pedals well.

  • @mattl1811

    @mattl1811

    Жыл бұрын

    1x12 with a creamback

  • @GuitarGears4544

    @GuitarGears4544

    Жыл бұрын

    @@mattl1811 Thanks!

  • @BenBreard
    @BenBreard Жыл бұрын

    I don't need it, but it would be super cool to have. :)

  • @gayrambo4529
    @gayrambo4529 Жыл бұрын

    The genius is the small footprint. And I can't even build a champ from scratch for $375. This is a screaming deal (literally).

  • @davidtguitar
    @davidtguitar Жыл бұрын

    If i want this, and use it both with headphones, and be able to record trough it on my computer. What would be the best solution?

  • @davidtguitar

    @davidtguitar

    Жыл бұрын

    Suppose i need it connected to an ir loader pedsl with headphone jack

  • @christianpucciarelli
    @christianpucciarelli3 ай бұрын

    What’s the preamp pedal you’re talking about ?

  • @MichaelJones-ti9fx
    @MichaelJones-ti9fx Жыл бұрын

    🎉

  • @DavidSmith-xz4zz
    @DavidSmith-xz4zz5 ай бұрын

    Can you not run it through front of house and gig with it?

  • @Jonathan-L
    @Jonathan-L Жыл бұрын

    Now do the same demo with a Hotone solid state amp :)

  • @touron119
    @touron119 Жыл бұрын

    Would b cool to run through the bad cat unleashed!

  • @adfury
    @adfury Жыл бұрын

    Didn't wangs do that?

  • @dougiedrever7168
    @dougiedrever7168 Жыл бұрын

    bit ridiculous that you can buy two of the amps for the price of the cab, ffs companies are taking the piss these days with cab prices, its a plywood box with a speaker, they might bullshit about the size and stuff but the only thing that makes any differ is the baffle, the stiffer that is the more efficient the speaker is end of,prob costs friedman as much to get the nameplate made as it did to buy the ply for the cab

  • @julirichmond3
    @julirichmond3 Жыл бұрын

    Two ✌ gain contols! 😮

  • @justinespinosa7878

    @justinespinosa7878

    Жыл бұрын

    Two!

  • @Joe-mz6dc

    @Joe-mz6dc

    Жыл бұрын

    Deux. 👀

  • @dusted2death
    @dusted2death Жыл бұрын

    Homeboy better have octopus arms after today! 😂😂

  • @WebbChannel1
    @WebbChannel19 ай бұрын

    SORRY PHIL!! Just went on their website, they UPED THE PRICE TO $450.00 NOW 11/4/23

  • @shawnjoe9187

    @shawnjoe9187

    5 ай бұрын

    It became OVERPRICED & UNAFFORDABLE for what it is now. One might as well go for a more wattage amp at this price point.