FEATURE
A SPECIAL AMP FOR A SPECIAL PLACE Phil Bradbury
In 1971 I was a senior in high school years earlier when he was asked
when Duane Allman was tragically to play a couple songs with Gregg
killed in a motorcycle accident. I found Allman at his tribute concert at the
a picture of him in a magazine and Foxx Theatre in Atlanta. Vince said
cut it out and framed it. That picture his gear was on the West Coast
has been with me ever since and now and asked if I would bring the new
hangs in the Little Walter Tube Amps 44 for him to use at the show. This
music room. 46 years after framing was a new design that will always
that picture I found myself backstage be very special to me as it had an
at the Vince Gill tour in Macon Georgia octal preamp section that pushed
holding Duane’s famous 1957 Gold 4 6V6 power tubes and exhibited
Top Les Paul “Sweet Melissa”. Richard an almost mystical depth. During
Brent, the Curator of the Allman the testing of the prototype, my
Brothers museum “The Big House”
Bruce Adolph, [CG] Publisher, and Phil Bradbury
at the Dallas Guitar Show friend and endorsee Andy Reiss
Vince to play at his show that evening version of “Go Rest High On That Mountain” in dynamic response of any amp he
at the Macon Auditorium. I met him back honor of Butch Trucks who had just passed. I stage and he took the guitar out of the case was moved in a special way that night listening and handed it to me. Webster’s dictionary has to my musical hero Vince play Duane’s guitar I was puzzled by Vince’s request for the 44
no words to describe the feeling I got playing through the amplifiers that I had built for Vince’s since it had never been played on stage at that
that piece of musical history. I agree with Vince touring band. I felt blessed in a special way that time. It was a couple years later when Richard
when he said, “That guitar has a soul”. night. Brent called and asked me if I had an amp that
had brought this famous instrument for
played it and said it had “the most
had played”.
would be right for his new idea that I understood
The Allman Brothers have been a huge part About a week later I was to be blessed once that this was one of those magical things that
of my musical life since their first album was again when Richard Brent called me and asked happen in music. If you listen to Vince’s lead in
released November of 1969. As a young me if I would consider building a special edition “Multi Colored Lady” with Gregg on the “All My
musician that first album marked the date I amplifier to honor that magical guitar. I had to Friends” recording, you will understand what I
became a southern rock player. Vince played remember to breathe! Richard said he had this am talking about. It was just meant to be.
“Adriana” with that Gold Top guitar at the show idea of an amp that would embody the look and that night and then used it to do a special feel of that guitar. I immediately remembered
Phil N. Bradbury / Little Walter Tube Amps
Vince calling me a couple
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May Jun 2017
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