White Stallion Head

Specifications:

The White Stallion 100W tube guitar amplifier uses the selfsame set of tubes that has been the backbone of most legendary tube amplifiers (EL34, 6L6, 12AX7, 12AT7) but this is where the similarity ends. A modern, precision-regulated power supply fuels these tubes. An expanded eq network provides improved flexibility. A super-charged preamp provides sustaining clarity never available before in a high gain amp.

Or, try the White Stallion at Your Local Guitar Shop

Overview

For guitarists who play heavy music and demand outstanding performance from their gear, Gnome Amplifiers offers custom amplifier heads, based on the White Stallion.

Suitable for most any style of playing from low gain alt rock to roaring metal. Ruggedized for heavy touring, with studio-grade tonal clarity and versatility, the White Stallion combines the elegance and simplicity of classic tube amplifiers with state of the art analog design techniques never before seen in a production amplifier.

The White Stallion is not just another rework of a dated design. Its proprietary preamplifier incorporates a variable voicing network to provide exacting control of the amplifier overdrive and dynamic response, allowing the player to optimize the preamp for their guitar and pedals. Our Gnome exclusive, precision regulated power supply provides exceptional performance even at overload, and will withstand catastrophic output tube failures for absolute reliability.

Using only the volume knob on your guitar, the White Stallion produces tone ranging from sparkly, punchy cleans to a dynamic high-gain overdrive that never compromises note clarity. Variable voicing in the preamp changes the overdrive characteristic from thick growl to singing chime and everything in between.

The White Stallion is available in both a British and American version. The American version uses 6L6 output tubes, which have a response that is sharp, focused, and bell-like. The British version uses EL34 output tubes, which a heavier tone and the potential for a broader distortion.

Gnome Amplifiers are designed, hand-built, and inspected by engineers in Olympia and Seattle, Washington, USA.

To find out if a White Stallion head is at a music shop near you, click TRY IT.

Background

When Gnome set out to design the next evolutionary step in tube amplifiers, we looked to see how most gigging musicians were actually using them on stage. Those that were nailing good tones overwhelmingly used the same setup; guitar > (analog) pedal > single channel tube amp. Even when we saw players using amps with multiple channels, they typically used the one channel that sounded best, dialed it in, and never touched the other channel. To boost gain or change their tone, they would cue in effects pedals. We took this setup, designed and tested concepts for three years, and came up with the White Stallion.

The first thing we took on was gain. We know players like tons of gain. We like a healthy amount of gain ourselves. But our critique of the typical high gain amplifier is that it removes too much high end and you end up with a lifeless, overcompressed tone. The result is muddy and loses the original voice of the instrument, it lacks clarity, and is completely lost in venues with poor sound… which is the case for most mid-sized venues and bars.

Looking back at famous preamp designs of the 60s and 70s, we noticed that simple, short-chain tube preamps result in the best tones. Many amps from the early 80s and later had long-chain tube preamps, which sacrifice tone, but provide an additional dimension of gain. Our approach to this dichotomy was simple: maintain a short-chain tube preamp, but boost the gain of certain stages. The result is a preamp that out-tones any other we’ve heard and strikes the perfect balance between clarity and gain.

The White Stallion was originally intended to use a single set of post-gain Baxandall EQ, which is far more powerful than the conventional tone stack. As we experimented with the preamp voicing networks to match the Baxandall, we couldn’t decide which to go with. Some voicing settings made cheap, bolt-on neck guitars sound like a million bucks, some sounded better for neck-through guitars. Some were better with single coil pickups, some with humbuckers etc.. We kept on nailing all of these different, awesome tones and realized that we needed to put this into the hands of the musician. Thus, the pre-gain “variable voicing” EQ was born.

Pre-gain equalization allows you to match the preamp perfectly to your guitar for the sweetest-sustaining clearest lead tone you’ve ever dreamt up. OR, you can completely mismatch the preamp for some heavy, droning, low-end distortion.

We listened to many incarnations of the high-gain guitar amplifier rig, and one thing was obvious: Players accept huge levels of noise and hum. Unfortunately, this seriously detracts from clarity. That is why we devoted so much effort on our proprietary power supply to push the noise floor far below what is capable with a traditional tube amp supply.

Lastly, we know that there are enough things to worry about when you’re on the road. That is why we designed every component to be sturdier, thicker, higher-rated, and easier to service than any amplifier in production. Unlike most amps that use printed circuit boards solely to expedite manufacturing, our circuit boards are designed to make our amplifiers consistent, reliable, and easy to service.

Features

SINGLE CHANNEL ARCHITECTURE

Continuously variable gain from clean to crunch with just a turn of the gain knob or the volume knob on your guitar. Simple to use so you can get your tone right away.

100W CONTINUOUS OUTPUT POWER

Designed for continuous operation at full output, you can depend on your Gnome to deliver the volume you need through long gigs.

CLEAN INPUT

When using keyboards, active instruments, or effects pedals, a high-headroom secondary input provides exceptional punch and clarity.

VARIABLE VOICING

Preamp voicing is typically fixed in conventional amplifier designs. The White Stallion allows you to control exactly how the overdrive responds to your instrument.

Variable voicing allows the player to carefully tune the voice of the preamp to match their guitar, pedal, or playing style. For example, turning up the low end control will result in heavy, sustaining low-end distortion or cranking up the treble control will result in a clear, cutting distortion.

ENHANCED EQUALIZATION

Forming the backbone of the White Stallion equalization network is the venerable Baxandall equalizer. Often relegated to use in hi-fi circuitry, it offers a tonal range nearly twice as large as a conventional tone stack. Originally only providing bass and treble control, Gnome has added an equally powerful passive mid control to the Baxandall circuit.

LONG-LIFE CAPACITORS

Traditional tube amp power supply designs rely on large electrolytic capacitors and power resistors. As these components age, your amp will produce a characteristically muddy, veiled tone with more pops, crackles, hiss and hum. We have eliminated electrolytic capacitors from the preamp, screen grid, and plate supplies. Instead, high-voltage polypropylene capacitors are used, which exhibit superior performance that will not degrade over time.

GNOME-EXCLUSIVE POWER SUPPLY DESIGN

Discrete voltage regulators on the preamp and screen grid supplies, only available from Gnome, outperform any conventional passive power supply. They are designed to perform continuously at full output power, and withstand catastrophic output tube failures. Gnome’s precision limited screen grid supply prevents overheating of the output tubes at overload, so you can have the master volume cranked all night without a drastic reduction in output tube life.

BUILT-IN BIAS PROBE

Output tube bias can be checked and set on the fly, using only a voltmeter. A single screw-adjust potentiometer controls the bias, and a four-way switch allows you to check the bias at all four positions, making it easy to diagnose mismatched or malfunctioning output tubes.

ABSOLUTE RELIABILITY

Because the White Stallion is designed to withstand output tube failure and overload conditions, only a spare set of output tubes is needed to ensure operation; no backup amplifier required.

BRITISH VS. AMERICAN

The White Stallion is available in two models; British and American. The British model uses EL34 type output tubes, whereas the American model uses the 6L6 type. The British model has a thick, full distortion characteristic, while the American model is produces clear bell-like tones with high end bite.

INDUSTRIAL GRADE CONSTRUCTION

Some amp companies use manufacturing techniques that are over 50 years old, claiming to capture the “mojo” of the classic amplifiers of that era. Meanwhile, the big brands that established those techniques have since moved their manufacturing overseas and abandoned the quality on which their reputation is based! Neither approach seems optimal.

Gnome uses the latest in materials, manufacturing, and construction techniques to achieve superior consistency, reliability, performance, and serviceability. The preamp and power supply sections are each contained on a separate glass-epoxy circuit board. All pots, jacks, and other controls are mounted directly to the 14 gauge steel chassis and wired into the circuit boards with premium crimped pin headers. The output section is fully point-to-point wired for exceptional ruggedness.

PREMIUM COMPONENT QUALITY

Our chassis and cabinets are fabricated locally for optimum quality control. The cabinets are made from 11-ply birch plywood, with dovetailed corners. A hemp canvas covering provides exceptional wear resistance with a natural look and feel.

Components are selected not only for performance, but for a superior service life. Some of the components you will find in a Gnome include:

Stainless steel fasteners – superior corrosion resistance
Sealed military-grade potentiometers – do not get dirty and crackle
Oil-filled polypropylene filter capacitors – exceptional service life and performance compared to electrolytics
Switchcraft jacks – chassis mounted, extended service life
Silver solder – superior mechanical strength and conductivity

BUILT AND INSPECTED BY HAND IN THE USA

Each Gnome amplifier is built and tested by hand at our manufacturing spaces in Olympia and Seattle, Washington, USA. Gnome Amplifiers is committed to supporting local businesses and sourcing components fabricated in the US whenever possible. Presently, our White Stallion heads contain more than 80% US-made components by weight, including the chassis, cabinets, and transformers. The chassis and cabinets are custom fabricated by local businesses and we utilize local talent for our photography, videography, and graphic design.

Tech Specs

POWER SUPPLY:

Solid State Rectifier
Precision regulated preamp and screen grid supply
120VAC 3A 50/60Hz (Alternate voltages available, contact for details)

FRONT PANEL:

Gain
Voicing: Bass, Mid, and Treble
Equalization: Bass, Mid, and Treble
Master Volume
On/Off Switch
Standby Switch

TUBE COMPLEMENT:

(2x) 12AX7
(1x) 12AT7
British Model: (4x) EL34
American Model: (4x) 6L6

OUTPUT:

100 Watts Into 4, 8, or 16 ohms continuous sine wave

REAR PANEL:

Bias Check Jacks
Bias Check Tube Selector Switch
Bias Setting
(2x) 4 ohm speaker jack
(1x) 8 ohm speaker jack
(1x) 16 ohm speaker jack
Mains Fuse
Standby Fuse
IEC Power Cable Connector

CHASSIS:

14 gauge steel, powder coat finish
Screen printed by hand

HEAD CABINET:

Marine grade birch plywood
Dovetailed corners
Durable hemp canvas covering
Spring loaded side handles for ergonomic transport

ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS:

All hand wired
All external controls, jacks, and pots are chassis mounted, never PCB mounted
Preamp and power supply use US-fabricated FR406 immersion silver boards
Power amplifier is point-to-point
Sealed, military grade potentiometers
Oil-filled polypropylene main supply filter capacitors for unparalleled performance
Industrial-grade construction yields improved reliability and consistent performance

HARDWARE:

All stainless steel fasteners

Sound

WHITE STALLION, AMERICAN (6L6) SESSION 1:

Note: The following clips were recorded onto a 1/2″ reel prior to digital encoding, which contributes some coloration and compression.

ROCK CLIP
Guitar: Gibson SG Copy.
Amp Settings: Gain:4 Pre EQ B:5 M:6 T:6 Post EQ B:5 M:10 T:7 Vol:10