Stratocaster guitars. Marshall amplifiers. These are the playthings of the gods. The gods of rock and roll, that is. For sure, some of the sweetest sounds this side of a Stradivarius violin have come from Marshall guitar amplifiers. And now, the classic look of the Marshall (if not the sound) can be yours for home playback.
The Hanwell amplifier/speaker features a wood cabinet and obligatory black-vinyl covering. The unit uses an old-school analog-style power switch as well as good old-fashioned knobs for volume, bass and treble. Of course, the fret cloth has the vintage look and the switches, logo and trim are gold colored. Even the included 3.5-mm coiled cable has the look of a ¼-inch guitar cable. A digital readout? I don’t think so. An iPhone dock? Hell to the no. You’ll plug your audio source into the input jack, and you’ll like it.
Inside, the system has a pair of ferrofluid dome tweeters and a pair of long-throw 6-inch woofers. The PWM amplifier outputs 100 watts. Maximum acoustic output is 110 dB at 1 meter. Frequency response is pegged at 35 Hz to 20 kHz, +/-5 dB. The unit weighs 23 pounds. Your roadies can probably handle that.
Okay, sure. An amplifier/speaker that looks like a Marshall guitar amp is a little goofy. But you know what? The Congress of the United States of America has never passed a law that says that audio gear must be sensible or boring. And god willing, it never will. I think a unit like this is fun. And music playback should be fun. Lots of fun.
MSRP is $800. Sorry. Tattoos are not included.
