Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Drums Week 25
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Guitar Pedals
  • Guitar Amps
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Controllers
  • Artist news
  • Drums
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About Us
More
  • Santana on Beck
  • Friday, I'm in Love
  • Knopfler's 4-note secret
  • 95k+ free music samples
Recommended reading
Blackstar ID:X 50: The new combo from the British amp titan is described as "this is the most natural-sounding" modelling amp on the market.
Guitars Blackstar unveils ID-X combos – complete with 6 amp voices, over 35 effects, CabRig and OLED display
Laney Lionheart Foundry Supertop
Guitars Laney unveils the IR-equipped 120W Supertop head with onboard effects and matching cabs
Supro Airwave: the new 1x12 tube combo combines old-school looks and tones with onboard cab sim tech from Two notes Audio Engineering.
Guitars Supro teams up with Two Notes for the Airwave, a vintage-voiced 25W tube combo with onboard cab sims
Line 6 Helix Stadium XL: The new flagship amp modeller and multi-effects unit is a dramatic expansion of the Helix framework with a suite of state-of-the-art features
Guitars Line 6 debuts all-new AI tech as it supercharges its amp modelling platform with the Helix Stadium
Neural DSP Nano Cortex
Guitar Pedals "The 2.0 firmware update has expanded its multi-effects versatility significantly": Neural DSP Nano Cortex review
EarthQuaker Devices Easy Listening Analog Amp Simulator: the compact single-knob pedal can be used as a headphones amp or on your pedalboard as a preamp whose signal can be sent direct to desk or DAW.
Guitars EarthQuaker Devices launches headphones amp mini-pedal that you can use to record with
JHS PEDALS
Guitar Pedals "He's not using a guitar amp. He's using a Tascam 424": JHS Pedals puts a Portastudio in a pedal to help you recreate Mk.gee's "elastic, lo-fi tones"
  1. Guitars
  2. Guitar Amps

NAMM 2016: Stone Deaf unleashes "game-changing" SD valve amps with digital control

News
By Michael Astley-Brown published 15 January 2016

All-analogue heads and combos deliver preset-saving ability

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Introduction

Introduction

NAMM 2016: As well as five tasty new effects pedals, Manchester's Stone Deaf has launched a range of equally desirable valve amps, the British-voiced SD series, which offer full digital control and the ability to save presets, plus full MIDI integration.

The range starts with the SD8 eight-watt lunchbox-proportioned head and progresses up to the SD50 50-watter – all amps are 240/120V switchable, while a range of lightweight poplar cabs are also available (below).

Click through the gallery for more info…

Page 1 of 5
Page 1 of 5
Stone Deaf SD8 Head

Stone Deaf SD8 Head

The baby of the range, the SD8 is a pure Class A compact head, outputting eight watts via 12AX7 and EL84 valves.

Two channels are available via a push-button on gain control, while treble, mid and bass are adjustable using the push-button tone knob.

Up to 16 presets can be stored across four banks, accessed using the push-button volume control or controlled via MIDI, while the amp's tonal range covers clean to crunch and drive.

Features

  • Pure Class A Single Ended
  • 8 Watts RMS
  • Light weight poplar cabinets available
  • All analogue valve amplifier circuit with digital control of tone, volume and gain via a push of a button
  • MIDI input
  • 240 /120v Switchable
Page 2 of 5
Page 2 of 5
Stone Deaf SD30 Head

Stone Deaf SD30 Head

With switchable wattage (30 watts Class A/B or eight watts Class A) via 12AX7s and EL84s, the SD30 offers increased versatility over its baby brother.

In addition, players can assign each of the amp's channels with solid-state and valve-rectified functions and power scaling, as well as fixed bias and cathode bias.

What's more, there's digital spring reverb, MIDI control, a channel-assignable buffered effects loop and a whopping 32 presets across eight banks – tidy.

Features

  • 30 Watts RMS Class A/B or 8 Watts RMS Class A
  • Light weight poplar cabinets available
  • All analogue valve amplifier circuit with digital control of reverb, tone, volume and gain via a push of a button
  • MIDI input
  • 240/ 120v Switchable
  • Digital spring reverb
  • Channel assignable Cathode Bias and Fixed Bias
  • Channel assignable Solid State Rectifier or Valve Rectifier
  • Channel assignable buffered effects loop with send and return volumes
Page 3 of 5
Page 3 of 5
Stone Deaf SD30 Combo 1x12

Stone Deaf SD30 Combo 1x12

Spec-wise, the SD30 Combo mirrors the Head version, but adds a marine birch plywood or lightweight poplar cabinet and FX70 70-watt speaker.

Features

  • 30 Watts RMS Class A/B or 8 Watts RMS Class A
  • Combo including 1 x 12 inch FX70, 70w speaker
  • Light weight poplar cabinets available
  • All analogue valve amplifier circuit with digital control of reverb, tone, volume and gain via a push of a button
  • MIDI input
  • 240/ 120v Switchable
  • Digital spring reverb
  • Channel assignable Cathode Bias and Fixed Bias
  • Channel assignable Solid State Rectifier or Valve Rectifier
  • Channel assignable buffered effects loop with send and return volumes
Page 4 of 5
Page 4 of 5
Stone Deaf SD50 Head

Stone Deaf SD50 Head

The SD50 boasts a massive 50-watt Class A/B output from 12AX7 and 6l6GC valves, but like the SD30, is switchable down to eight watts Class A.

Other bonuses over its brethren include additional presence and resonance controls, but elsewhere it retains the same complement of 32 presets, digital spring reverb and MIDI control.

Features

  • 50 Watts RMS Class A/B or 8 Watts RMS Class A
  • Light weight poplar cabinets available
  • All analogue valve amplifier circuit with digital control of reverb, tone, volume and gain settings via a push of a button
  • MIDI input
  • 240/ 120v Switchable
  • Digital spring reverb
  • Channel assignable Cathode Bias and Fixed Bias
  • Channel assignable Solid State Rectifier or Valve Rectifier
  • Channel assignable buffered effects loop with send and return volumes
Page 5 of 5
Page 5 of 5
Michael Astley-Brown
Michael Astley-Brown
Social Links Navigation

Mike is Editor-in-Chief of GuitarWorld.com, in addition to being an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict. He has a master's degree in journalism, and has spent the past decade writing and editing for guitar publications including MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitarist, as well as a decade-and-a-half performing in bands of variable genre (and quality). In his free time, you'll find him making progressive instrumental rock under the nom de plume Maebe.

Read more
Blackstar ID:X 50: The new combo from the British amp titan is described as "this is the most natural-sounding" modelling amp on the market.
Blackstar unveils ID-X combos – complete with 6 amp voices, over 35 effects, CabRig and OLED display
Laney Lionheart Foundry Supertop
Laney unveils the IR-equipped 120W Supertop head with onboard effects and matching cabs
Supro Airwave: the new 1x12 tube combo combines old-school looks and tones with onboard cab sim tech from Two notes Audio Engineering.
Supro teams up with Two Notes for the Airwave, a vintage-voiced 25W tube combo with onboard cab sims
Line 6 Helix Stadium XL: The new flagship amp modeller and multi-effects unit is a dramatic expansion of the Helix framework with a suite of state-of-the-art features
Line 6 debuts all-new AI tech as it supercharges its amp modelling platform with the Helix Stadium
Neural DSP Nano Cortex
"The 2.0 firmware update has expanded its multi-effects versatility significantly": Neural DSP Nano Cortex review
EarthQuaker Devices Easy Listening Analog Amp Simulator: the compact single-knob pedal can be used as a headphones amp or on your pedalboard as a preamp whose signal can be sent direct to desk or DAW.
EarthQuaker Devices launches headphones amp mini-pedal that you can use to record with
Latest in Guitar Amps
Harley Benton Head Switcher; this black single-footswitch pedal is an affordable switching solution for players with two amp heads sharing one speaker cabinet, and is here photographed against a blue gradient background.
Harley Benton unveils sub-$100 solution for players with two tube amps sharing same speaker cabinet
Hotone Pulze Mini
"The clean and medium-gain sound is where it truly flexes its sonic muscles": Hotone Pulze Mini Bluetooth Amplifier review
A Hughes & Kettner Spirit of Vintage guitar amp head on a yellow background
With guitar amps starting from just £44, Thomann’s massive Hughes & Kettner sale just made modernizing your rig a lot cheaper
Fender Tone Master Deluxe Reverb Blonde
Tone Master Blonde Deluxe Reverb and IR Manager review
Mooer SD30i Intelligent Amp: The compact desktop amp is finished in grey-cream and has a black control panel
“If you’re looking for something to use for home practice, then it’s an invaluable tool”: Mooer SD30i Intelligent Amp review
Laney LFR-110: A compact 1x10 version of the British amp brand's "best in class" FRFR speaker cabinet.
Laney expands Devin Townsend and Guthrie Govan-approved FRFR speaker range with compact 1x10
Latest in News
Gibson Tony Iommi Humbucker: the all-new humbucker, a reissue of its first-ever signature pickup.
Gibson goes back to the beginning with reissue of its first-ever signature pickup for Black Sabbath icon Tony Iommi
Spandau Ballet in the early '80s
“It’s kind of gothic post-punk”: Spandau Ballet drop a lost early track from new box set
Photo of Mike JOYCE and SMITHS and MORRISSEY and Andy ROURKE and Johnny MARR; L-R: Andy Rourke, Mike Joyce (drums), Morrissey, Johnny Marr (playing Gibson ES-335 guitar), performing live on The Tube
“This book truly conveys what it felt like to be a member of the Smiths”: Mike Joyce’s memoir to be published in November
Jack Antonoff attends the 62nd Annual GRAMMY Awards at STAPLES Center on January 26, 2020
“He kind of approaches records like a plumber…”: Bartees Strange on super producer Jack Antonoff
k20
"We asked ourselves, what if we could rebuild the legendary K2000 V.A.S.T. synthesizer, but using today’s technology?": Kurzweil's K2061 and K2088 synths are now shipping
Forwards Festival Barry Can't Swim
Forwards Festival 2025 review: Orbital, Barry Can’t Swim, Olivia Dean, Jorja Smith and more

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...