What Is the Best Tube Amp Head to Use as a Pedal Platform?
There is no single best answer. The right tube amp head depends on how you use your pedals: do you want a clean canvas that follows every pedal, or an amp that adds its own crunch and overdrive on top? Two Kool Amplification heads are built with pedals in mind: the Blue Sky and the Ace. Here is how they differ, so you can match one to your pedalboard.
Which tube amp head fits the way you use pedals?
Players who build their sound on the pedalboard usually want a clean, dynamic foundation that follows every pedal. The Blue Sky and the Ace both do that, in slightly different ways.
A dedicated clean foundation
The Blue Sky is a single channel amplifier, specially designed for guitar players who shape their sounds with pedals. It follows the character of your pedals and combines fat cleans and big headroom with warm 6L6 tone.
View the Blue SkyPedal tones with a touch of amp edge
The Ace is also a single channel head with a clean voicing that takes pedals well, and its gain control lets the amp itself move towards breakup and crunch when you want it to.
View the AceBlue Sky or Ace: which one suits your pedalboard?
Both are single channel heads, so your pedals do the channel switching. The difference is in how much the amp adds itself.
| Blue Sky | Ace | |
|---|---|---|
| Channels | Single channel | Single channel |
| Character | Fat cleans, big headroom, full tube-driven spring reverb | Sparkling clean, through edge of breakup, to subtle crunch |
| Output | 35 Watts R.M.S. | 18 Watts R.M.S. or 50 Watts R.M.S., depending on the version |
| Power tubes | 6L6 | 6V6 (18 Watt) or EL34 (50 Watt) |
| Volume control | SVC, from 0.1 to 35 Watts | SVC, from 0.1 Watt up to 18 or 50 Watts |
| Effects loop | See the specifications | Footswitchable effects loop |
| Head size | 25 x 50.5 x 25.2 cm, approx. 13.5 kg | 25 x 50.5 x 25.2 cm, 11.5 kg (18 Watt) or 15 kg (50 Watt) |
| Speaker outputs | 4, 8, 16 Ohm or 2x16, 2x8 Ohm | 4, 8, 16 Ohm or 2x16, 2x8 Ohm |
Ace for clean through crunch
The Ace's gain control moves from sparkling clean, through a sweet edge of breakup, towards subtle crunch. The clean voicing reacts well to fuzz and boost pedals plugged into the front, and a footswitchable effects loop lets you place your time-based effects after the preamp.
Blue Sky for clean headroom and reverb
The Blue Sky concentrates on fat cleans, big headroom and a full tube-driven spring reverb, which makes it the more neutral canvas for a large pedalboard. It has Gain, Bass, Mid, Treble, Reverb, Presence and SVC Volume controls.
Looking for more amp gain?
If you mostly want the amp to deliver the overdrive, the multi-channel Marvell and Marvell Deluxe are built for that rather than as a pedal platform.
Which volume controls suit your playing situation?
Power and volume controls differ per model, so check the specifications of the amp you are considering.
Keep power ranges model-specific
The Blue Sky has Seamless Volume Control (SVC) from 0.1 Watt to 35 Watts. The Ace offers SVC from 0.1 Watt up to 18 or 50 Watts, depending on the version. A lower volume setting does not by itself tell you how much clean headroom you will have, so listen to the amp at the level you will actually play.
What should you check before choosing your head?
Check the speaker outputs against your cabinet, and look at which amp has the features your pedalboard needs.
Effects-loop features
The Ace has a footswitchable effects loop. Read the specifications of the amp you like for its exact loop features, and check them against the pedals you want to use in the loop.
Boosting the front of your amp
The Ace Boost MKIII is an all-tube clean boost pedal that pushes the first gain stages of your tube amplifier into saturation. Lower gain settings add harmonics to clean sounds, medium settings give crunch, and higher settings move towards full, open lead tones.
View the Ace Boost MKIIIProtect your head on the road
To protect your head during transport, take a look at the Head Cover, which fits Kool Amplification heads.
View the Head CoverFrequently asked questions
Which tube amp head is designed for players who shape their sound with pedals?
The Blue Sky is specifically designed for players who shape their sounds with pedals. It has a single channel, 6L6 power tubes and a full tube-driven spring reverb.
What volume range does the Blue Sky offer?
The Blue Sky's Seamless Volume Control runs from 0.1 to 35 Watts. Its standard rated output is 35 Watts R.M.S.
Does the Ace work with fuzz and boost pedals?
Yes. The Ace's clean voicing reacts well to fuzz and boost pedals plugged into the front input. Its gain control moves from clean sounds towards the edge of breakup and crunch.
Is the Marvell a good pedal platform?
The Marvell and Marvell Deluxe are multi-channel amps built to deliver their own overdrive. If pedals are the core of your sound, the Blue Sky or the Ace are the better starting point.
Which of these amps have an effects loop?
The Ace has a footswitchable effects loop.