Chandler Limited GAV19T

The Chandler Limited GAV19T is an all-tube, 19-watt guitar amp in the vein of such vintage English classics as Selmer, Watkins, Marshall and Vox. While this amp borrows some tones from the classics, the heart of the GAV19T circuits are either new circuits developed by Chandler Limited or highly modified vintage circuits. The tube compliment is two EL84s, an ECC83, ECC803, and EZ81.

The control panel of this amp is non-typical when compared to vintage amps. The GAV controls allow you to change the bias of the gain stage for different character, as well as use the intensity switch to add sustain and grit. The drive controls function in the power amp section only and create distortion that never sounds weak or muddy. The tone control is a Baxandall style EQ circuit. It functions like a treble booster pedal that can be used to add sustain and presence.

All-in-all, the GAV19T is like other Chandler products - full of fat, vintage tone!

Bias
The Bias effects only the bias of the pre amp tube, allowing you to gently tweak its overall tone separately from the power section. You can run the tube hotter or colder and change the responsiveness of the amp as well as effecting the sustain and frequency response. #1 is slight over-biased, #2 is similar to a Marshall bias, #3 is similar to a Selmer, and #4 and #5 are under-biased and add sustain and character to the amp.

Tone Controls
The Tone section of the GAV19T is a Baxandall style that uses an ECC803 tube. Baxandall was chosen because it best preserves the natural tone of the amplifier. This section is set up to function as a treble boost pedal might. The boost is considerable, the range wide and it can be used to smoothly drive the amp and color the tone.

Drive
The drive portion of the GAV19T is a boost or overdrive circuit that works only on the power section of the amp. It is pretty widely known that power section distortion is a pleasing type of distortion, so instead of adding preamp gain and distortion, Chandler uses the power amp.

The Drive has two controls. #1 is the amount of boost. #2 is the tone of the boost. You can choose four selections or bypass.

The tone selections are:

1. Treble Boost - as you might expect from a treble boost pedal
2. Full Range - full frequency boost but with very low frequency filtered out
3. Aggressive - drives a wide frequency range with an emphasis in the higher mid range
4. Mids - drives the entire circuit with an emphasis on on the lower mid range

Tone - normal or intense
Slightly unbalances the matching of the push-pull power section. It removes some low mids as well as making the tone more aggressive and adding some grit and attack to the sound.

Testimonials:

"This amp is awesome, Wade. I know you've gone on record as saying it's a 'dirty' amp, but beyond that I'm finding it's also got some of the best clean sounds I've heard - really gorgeous and complex - and the most usable, musical low-sensitivity input ever."  - Rob Bailey, NYC Session Guitarist/Producer

"All in all, the GAV19T produces a voice of its own and it deserves a place among the wide variety of high-end guitar amps available today. I think this amp will become a prized possession of many guitarists and studios."  - Adam Kagan, Tape Op Magazine

"The Chandler GAV19T guitar amp fills a very specific spot in my sonic palette. If this amp was ever stolen, I'd immediately replace it with another one. It's that important to me. When it comes to great sound, the proof is in the results."  - Blues Saraceno, LA Guitarist/Producer/Composer