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Stylish Amps
I have often wondered why manufacturers seem to go out of their way to make beautiful (or even weird-looking) guitars, yet mostly stick to basic black or tweed for amps. Why shouldn’t amps be just as attractive as guitars. They may not be as "out front" as guitars on a gig, but they are often visible. And as a player I look at mine every day. Why should I have to look at an ugly box.
I imagine some players simply don’t care what their amp looks like. But I have always been a fan of good design, and in my opinion the appearance of a product is a big part of its design.
That said, I was pleased to see Fender come out with two cool-looking new amps this year. The Champion 600 is a small tube practice/recording amp that looks very retro. At under $200, if it sounds as good as it looks, it should be very popular.
At the other end of the price spectrum is the nearly $3000 '57 Amp. A limited edition, hand-wired reissue of the Tweed Deluxe. However, you won't find any Tweed on this puppy. It features a "Piano-lacquered" black maple cabinet with a large metal handle. Different and very classy.
These are just the latest. Mesa/Boogie and Peavey have also been putting out some cool-looking amps (along with the plain-Janes) the last couple of years. I hope the trend continues.