PROFILE
TODD SHARP AMPLIFIERS- A NEW DIRECTION IN TONE? � Eric Dahl
Todd Sharp became interested in electronics when he was a young child, but it wasn’ t music gear, it was Ham Radios. He got his first radio operators license at age 7 and built his first transmitter with the help of his father, jazz guitarist Fred Sharp. By age 11 he“ lost interest in electronics” and was then bit by the guitar bug. Sharp has forty plus years under his belt as an award winning guitarist for Rod Stewart, Fleetwood Mac, Bob Welch, Carlene Carter, and Delbert McClinton.
Key Features JOAT- Jack-of-All-Tones
Input 1 for Single Coil & Input 2 for Humbuckers
Attitude Adjustment for Gain Bite Switch for Hi-Mid Low Cut & High Cut Reverb & Tremolo
He launched Nashville Amplifier Service in 1994, as he had already started repairing amps for players around town a few years before that. When asked why he started Todd Sharp Amplifiers in February of this year, he stated,
“ After a 40 + year playing career, and 20 of those years with my nose pretty deep into just about every guitar amp there is, it’ s just the natural progression. It’ s also another form of creative expression for me.” Discussing why his amps are different Todd says,“ I think my experience as a guitarist and as a confirmed amp nut combine to bring a unique perspective and ability. Also, my approach to the circuit design is definitely outside of the norm. My pursuit as a designer / builder is about what allows me to get this sound that I get with minimal struggle.”
His first flagship amp is named the“ JOAT” which stands for Jack-of-All-Tones. The current amplifier line will offer three amp wattages: 20RT( currently available), 30RT( available June 1) and 45RT( due at the end of this year). The JOAT 20RT( 20 watts with reverb & tremolo) deviates from typical amplifiers in numerous ways, but especially in its approach to controls and lack of a tone stack, meaning the usual bass, mid, and treble controls that you have on a conventional amp. Input one is for single coil guitars, and input two is for humbuckers. The attitude adjustment handles gain and response through a five-position selector, while the Bite switch provides first stage hi-mid frequency edge. Low cut has 6 positions to choose from, and a high cut with a 6-position output stage. The Reverb unit has three controls: Drive, Tone, and Level, while the Tremolo has two controls: Speed and Depth.
When I asked him why he altered the amp controls on the JOAT, Sharp said,“ Why not? The tone stack is a loss circuit, so you are trading touch sensitivity under your fingertips for a bass and treble pot that you never touch. I think my EQ is more guitar friendly. Guitar players don’ t want to fight their amp, they want to play guitar!”
The current configuration comes as a head with a 2x12” cabinet and you have two choices of dialed-in speakers. The Todd Sharp JOAT 20RT amp head sells for $ 3,849, and matching 2x12” cab goes for $ 1,449. Production levels are currently at one amplifier per week, and Todd maintains one full time employee and a part staff member to help. Since he has combined companies into one central location, Nashville Amplifier Service and Todd Sharp Amps, he has stopped touring for the moment, but he does still gig locally.
Major artists currently playing Todd Sharp amps include Vince Gill, Steve Wariner, John Oates, and Mick Fleetwood. If you’ re tired of the traditional amplifier offerings on the market and want to try something that makes you rethink your approach to guitar tone, this could be the rig for you.
Todd Sharp Amplifiers are available direct at ToddSharpAmps. com. 34 May � June 2016 CollectibleGuitar. com