Description
Foundling Audio Labs “SCALAWAG” – Model GSE-7
Hand Built 7W Single-Ended KT66 Class-A Guitar Amplifier.
The Scalawag is:
- Hand built with meticulous care in the USA
- 100% point-to-point wired with absolutely no PCBs
- Comprised of top-quality parts and components, exhaustively chosen and artfully combined
- Unapologetically overbuilt for a solid, substantial feel of intrinsic quality
Tasting Notes
In keeping with everything that’s right about our first guitar amps, the new Scalawag delivers the same incomparably slinky touch and fine sensitivity with a lush, British-flavored power stage. It’s true. By deliberately underutilizing a single, legendary KT66 power tube in class A operation, we do leave a lot of potential wattage on the table. Sure. But sometimes literal efficiency isn’t the point. And what we gain here in exchange for that sacrificed loudness is a ridiculously generous bloom of uncanceled second-order harmonics over an exquisitely rich, evenly textured overdrive that is as searing as it is defined. It’s definitely not something I’ve ever heard from a push-pull configuration. (IYKYK, amiright?)
So this model produces a little over 7 watts compared to my earlier 5-watt builds, but again, the goal here wasn’t really more volume. Rather it was a smooth, British-style counterpart to my thick-necked American original. The KT66’s unique operating point makes for mids that are wonderfully present indeed, but they are still fantastically balanced, and therefore never fatiguing.
A few words flying around the studio during our tests include: growling, spongy, articulate, biting, sweet, energetic, bright, singing, soaring, hot damn, and motherf%#$&r. Samples are can be heard in the demo video provided.
Optional Built-In Speaker Attenuator
As many of you have probably noticed, even a small tube amp can get LOUD, especially when being overdriven, so this extra modification is now available on all builds.
Like every other aspect of these amps, I labored endlessly over options until I found something that actually elevates the entire package. My final choices were another vindication of simplicity. Just a particular combination of stout, audio-grade resistors in a classic PI pad configuration. But once discovered, I lost an entire day playing. That’s always a good sign.
And rest assured, this true-bypass circuit maintains the ideal load for the power tube delivering a perfectly nominal signal to any 8 ohm cabinet, and it preserves every glimmer of our incredible tone. It’s simply glorious sound at a life-compatible volume, activated with the flick of a quality Carling toggle switch.
See demo video above.
More nitty gritty. Builds with standard appointments include:
- 12AX7 dual triode (two-stage pre-amp) with a single KT66 power tube.
- Heavy-duty Hammond transformers
- Belton tube sockets
- Switchcraft jacks
- Tocos Potentiometer (single volume control)
- Mod, Kemet and/or Vishay Elecrolytic Capacitors (dep. upon availability)
- Cornell-Dubilier Film Capacitors (coupling)
- Metal film resistors with 5W wire wound cathode bias resistor
- Shielded input leads
- Jewell-type pilot light
- 6′ braided cloth power cable
- Chrome-plated steel handle
- Precision, High-Watt, Audio-grade Resistors and Carling toggle switch for attenuator-equipped builds
- Dimensions: 11″ L x 5″ D x 6″ H
- Weight: 6 lbs.
- 5-Year Limited Warranty
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