Join us for an exiting journey into the fascinating world of boutique amplifiers as we unveil the captivating story of the rise and fall of one of Germany's most esteemed boutique amplifier brands, Kitty Hawk.
Thomas gets his hands on an early Kitty Hawk Junior, showcasing its tonal qualities and, as usual on the Academy of Tone, comparing it to his own creation, the AMP1.
But that's not all – 2 exclusive interviews that promise to unravel the mysteries surrounding Kitty Hawk. Thomas sits down with Gundolf Roy, delving into the brand's journey with captivating insights and firsthand anecdotes. Additionally, Blues-Jazz guitarist and tone connoisseur, Gregor Hilden, shares his experiences with the 1982 Kitty Hawk Standard that he used on his early albums and tours, giving insight into the allure of Kitty Hawk before returning to his vintage Fender combos.
Discover the origins of Kitty Hawk, rooted in a late 70s music shop venture by the Roy brothers, as they pioneered the distribution of rare American boutique amplifiers like Dumble and Mesa Boogie in the Ruhr area.
Despite Howard Alexander Dumble's legendary status now, he was relatively unknown in Germany at the end of the 1970s. Thanks to the Roy brothers, a good dozen of his combos were exported to Germany. The amp chassis were built in the US and shipped to Germany, sometimes without transformers or cabinets. Thus, the cabinets and some parts were installed in Germany. As demand increased and deliveries from Dumble dwindled, Kitty Hawk had to source more missing parts and even have their transformers made in Germany. With this learning curve, Kitty Hawk later developed some amps of their own design, heavily influenced by Dumble and Mesa-Boogie (sometimes both, in the same amp!).
As the years progressed, Kitty Hawk ventured into crafting their own innovative designs, shaping a distinctive line of tube amps, switching systems, and rack gear that left an indelible mark on the boutique amplifier landscape of the 80s.
Don't miss this immersive exploration of Kitty Hawk's legacy and the evolution of boutique amplifiers – tune in to Academy of Tone 196!
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