Swart Space Tone Atomic Jr.

If only words could actually convey sound fully; they always fall short to some extent.  And that’s where I stand with the Space Tone Atomic Jr, the latest amazing, soulful little amp from the hands of Michael Swart.

The new ST-Atomic Jr starts off with the heart of our ever-popular ST-6V6se with the addition of a year in the making, triode reverb stage utilizing a dedicated 12DW7 fed into a nifty spring tank for surprisingly BIG REVERB, especially for a cabinet this size. Actually, for ANY size cabinet.

The tonal variations and REVERB in this little monster must be be heard to be believed.  Most amps this size attempting reverb and big tone tend to be underwhelming.  Not so with the 14lb Class A ST-Atomic Jr.

The circuit remains amazingly simple, including this reverb stage, and will feature volume, tone, and Swart’s patented “Space” reverb.  I’ve been playing this beast non-stop since the prototype hit my apartment, never to leave.  It’s the perfect amp for those craving AST type sound in a package that weighs no more than a ribald ole Tom Cat.

There is a cool switchable gain option in place of the 6V6se feedback switch. When in circuit, the amp has more cleans and take a bit longer to break-up.  It’s a slightly more controlled result.  Flip it out of circuit and you have slightly less compression with a more raw take, quicker to get into the fun stuff. Think of it as HOT SWITCH NOW like the good ole Krispy Kreme Donut Shop.