Guitar Player Reviews the Clark Tyger June 7, 2002

Boss Tweed

By Shawn Hammond click here for original web review

With its point-to-point, handwired circuitry, and hi-fi components (custom-engineered to '50s-era specifications), the Clark Amplification Tyger ($2,205; $2,665 as tested with reverb and power attenuator) has a lot in common with boutique amps from Kendrick and Victoria. And, like these esteemed makers, designer Michael Clark isn't afraid to put some new twists on the old recipes — if they serve to improve the tone.

Under The Strypes

Based on Fender's classic 5E7 Bandmaster circuit, the 35-watt Tyger 3x10 combo is gorgeous inside and out. Its solid yellow-pine cabinet is covered in luscious lacquered tweed and houses a chrome-plated steel chassis. The amp's immaculate, hand-wired circuit resides on a vulcanized-fiber eyelet board. Details include cloth-covered solid-core wire, Jensen paper-and-foil capacitors, military-grade tube sockets, CTS pots, paper-bobbin transformers, and Allen Bradley carbon-composition resistors. The Tyger's tube complement consists of several new-old-stock tubes: an RCA 5U4/GZ37 rectifier, two JAN 6L6WGBs, two RCA 12AX7s, and an RCA 12AY7. Two Sovtek 12AX7s drive the reverb. Although alnico Weber P10R speakers come stock, our test model arrived with two Weber P10Qs and one P10R.

Unlike the original Bandmaster, the Tyger sports a bias potentiometer (a precision, 20-turn type) and a metal-oxide varistor that protects the circuit from power spikes. Our test amp also features an optional Fender-style 3-knob reverb and a 3-position power attenuator that allows you to cut volume by 3dB, 6dB, or 9dB. Controls for the reverb and attenuator reside on the inner sides of the cabinet. Putting these controls inside preserves the vintage look of the faceplate, but it makes on-the-fly reverb tweaks a pain.

Tyger Tones

To sample the Tyger's wares, we used a variety of guitars, including a Fender Deluxe Nashville Tele, a Paul Reed Smith Custom 24, a Danelectro Mod, and a Gibson Les Paul. Considering the attention paid to the Tyger's components and construction, it comes as no surprise that the amp's tones are stellar. The EQ section is very well voiced, with deliciously sweet highs, gobs of midrange spank, and plenty of the full, robust low end characteristic of vintage Bandmasters. The Tyger isn't a high-gain predator, but if you're a fan of sparkling, old-school grit, you'll love its mean side. Substituting the first-stage 12AY7 preamp tube with a 12AX7 ups the grind considerably, and, when the amp is pushed with a TS9 Tube Screamer, it's sustain city! The Tyger digests humbuckers or single-coils equally well, and it delivers creamy clean tones when you turn down your guitar. This amp is a dream to play, although at full, non-attenuated volume the tones tend to be somewhat flabby.

Tweed Tweaks

Want a little California surf with your Texas tea? Just twiddle the reverb's dwell, mix, and tone controls for anything from subtle ambiance to Ventures-approved surf to shimmering psychedelia. Like the warm, flexible reverb, the power attenuator is another welcome update. Capable of throttling the amp down to tweed Champ levels, the attenuator works by placing a resistive load on the power section, yet is designed so that the output impedance does not vary from one attenuation level to the next. When engaged, the attenuator lets you dime the volume (eradicating all hints of the previously mentioned flabbiness) and get varying degrees of sweetly singing, compressed lead tones — minus the ear damage. In addition to expanding the Tyger's tonal palette, the attenuator is a handy feature for late-night jams, tinnitus sufferers, and apartment dwellers.

Bottom Line

The Tyger's fierce tones and smart updates make this boutique beast a serious choice for hardcore tweed freaks. It's not inexpensive, but if you seek the ultimate in tweed Bandmaster toughness, you owe it to yourself to track down a Tyger.