Old school tone without tube
amp running costs and weight!
With FX LOOP & Speaker Simulated DI OUT
Fear not, Session's RetroTone Watts are calculated
by
the same maths that tube Watts are,
so they're just as loud - V²/R
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Today's guitarists are developing a preference for vintage style instruments, clean headroom, P-90 pickups and even hollowbody guitars. These are all important attributes which must be recognised by any amp maker. Wailing endless sustain is not the only sound for lots of guitarists... so where do they turn to for those tones, without shedding a small fortune?
This is why we make amps that draw from classic 1950s and 1960s sounds. SESSION listens to what players tell us... so we're building what you want! Music makers are using our vintage toned gear to create todays sounds... without the price premium of real vintage gear
Here then, is SESSION's latest alternative to expensive tube amps that will effortlessly handle all your effects pedals just like a costly tube amp does. Our new amp is the 'RetroTone™' powered Rockette 45 combo with muscle enough to cut through. It's 100% analogue... free from digital modelling and its tone is smooth, warm and glassy when required, without the ice picky traits of many modern amps
Rockette 45 is an easily transportable pedal loving amp. Think of it as a really warm toned Blues Junior® style amp. Its the same size, but with up to 45 Watts rms* of clean power, an 8 Ohm EXTERNAL SPEAKER OUTPUT, 0dB FX LOOP and G12T SPEAKER SIMULATED DI OUTPUT for recording or plugging the amp into a house PA
Rockette 45 can be ordered fitted with an optional extra 'Switchable High Headroom' (HH) facility for any players who have particularly loud pickups installed. Activating the HH switch reduces the gain of the INPUT circuit without affecting the tone. Unlike the traditional 'two jack HI/LO' system found on many vintage style tube amps. Most players probably won't need it... but it's available just in case
Rockette 45 is a working guitarists amp made by people who's reputation is for good honest value and have delivered great tube-like tone since 1979
SESSION's 45W 'RetroTone' design awarded 9/10 for Tweed tone (2016)
Humbucking Power Transformer - 75% less radiated hum to single coil pickup equipped guitars!
Choice of 12" speakers
Robust 13ply birch cabinet
Three band EQ + FAT switch
Built in distortion
Black Panel or Plexi EQ selector switch
Presence switch
Active 0dB FX Loop
G12T Speaker Sim DI Out - Line Level 0dB
Perfect as a 'pedal platform' amp
Vintage warmth, chime and dynamics! No 'ice-picky' highs
Clean Headroom to full output power
Lightweight - from 9.5kg
Guitarist/designer created
High reliability & low maintenance
No digital (computer) modelling
All made to order & despatched in about 21 days from order receipt.
Front panel controls L-R:- Drive, FAT Switch, Treble, Bass, Middle, Master (Volume), Reverb, LED Indicator and 'toggle' Power Switch, PRESENCE switch, BLACKPANEL/PLEXI switch (Toggles the EQ Mid centre frequency between approx 300Hz and 700Hz)
Rockette chassis are built with the Plexi (1)/Blackface (2) & Presence (+ ON) switches (mini-toggles) located on the front control panel as shown in the image above
Rear Panel Facilities L-R: Amp Details, External Speaker Output, FX Loop Return, FX Loop Send, G12T DI Speaker Simulated Output
Want STEREO operation?
Both amps controlled by amp 1!
Reviews
BluesBaby:45 reviews apply to the Rockette 45 too!
Click the image & read the full review
What 'The Guitar Magazine' Said...
45W version only 10.6kg - 23.4lbs with Creamback Neo speaker! If you want lightweight & loud classic sounds... it will have to be a Rockette 45. There's nothing else like it!
Black* Arrow (Chicken Head) knobs - FREE Add to Cart
White Arrow (Chicken Head) Knobs - FREE Add to Cart
SESSION amps are not supplied with
an AC power cord to save on waste. Most people have plenty already!
* = Standard issue if not specified on your order. But we'd like you to specify what you want please!
Every amp is assembled to order only. Please allow 21 days for your custom order to be built & despatched
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Custom Cabinet Finishes
If you'd like another cabinet finish not listed above, please contact us by email and we'll quote you a price. Alternative vinyls are NOT held in stock and subject to availability from our suppliers in Germany or USA. Quotations will include inward delivery/Customs charges on obtaining coverings
Chassis Only Version - Order Here
Want to build your own custom combo or head cabinet and use Rockette 45 chassis to power it? OK, buy just the chassis here...
Rockette 45 Chassis Only:
RG45-CH - Chassis only.
Price: £305.00 - Includes UK delivery Add to Cart
Red Power Indicator Only
Control knob colour preferences:
Black* Arrow Chicken Head knobs - FREE Add to Cart
8EB2C1B Reverb Tray. Price: £25.00 - Includes UK & EU shipping when ordered with chassis Add to Cart
Chassis only version comes complete with 4nr 30 x 5mm mounting screws & 6nr 20 x 5mm for the back panel - inc cup washers
* = standard issue colours if not specified
MAKE SURE YOUR CABINET IS DEEP ENOUGH. The maximum speaker depth must NOT exceed 123mm inside a Blues Jnr cabinet!
Chassis only customers: Please check your intended speaker will fit before ordering BB45!
Prices include £10 contribution towards delivery to UK. EU countries will attract a £20 shipping charge extra
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USA CUSTOMERS!
The 115VAC Chassis will directly fit into any Blues Junior RawCabs cabinet available on eBay!
Buy the chassis only version with confidence!
The maximum speaker depth must NOT exceed 123mm! Please check your intended speaker will fit before ordering BB45!
All orders received from USA will be AUTOMATICALLY shipped for 115VAC operation, unless specifically requested as another AC voltage at the checkout message box
Chassis only USA delivery: £25.00 extra - 3/4 day service
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Will it fit my cabinet?
Please take some measurements and check using our 'dimension PDF below!
B22 or RG45 chassis will both also fit into a Fender Blues JuniorŪ cabinet with standard Fender speaker without any modification needed! Other speakers... check their depth first!
If you've suffered multiple expensive failures with your BJr and have had enough, then a BluesBaby chassis 'transplant' may be your best solution! Customers tell us that the BluesBaby has given them superior loudness and warmer tonal quality
Sadly, the BB22, EX22, EX45 or RG45 chassis will NOT fit into a Sessionette:75, Rockette:30, Duette:110, Duette:112 or any other Session amp cabinet
Don't have a Credit or Debit card?
You can SAFELY Order Here
Build Method and Progress Reports
When you place your order, a confirmation is automatically sent to you. There is no further contact until your order is ready to ship. Further, we do not send 'progress reports' as there's nothing much to report until it's finally ready
Rockette™ amps are built in small batches of 5, 10 or 20 units. Each batch goes through the system together, therefore, it is not possible for us to give an exact date of despatch
We collect payment approximately 2 days prior to your order being ready for despatch. Earlier if it has an uncommon cabinet covering. So checking your card account could give you a very good indication that it's nearly ready to be sent to you
UK & European Delivery Times & Charges
UK - Takes 3-5 business days from day of despatch
Europe - Takes 4-7+ business days depending on destination.
Mainland UK Delivery Cost - The purchase price includes £10 towards shipping to Mainland UK. Certain remote UK destinations are likely to attract a £5 surcharge. We will let you know before we collect your payment, or you can enquire by email
Delivery to Continental Europe & Outside Europe Cost -
Please email us for a quotation before ordering!
USA, Can, Aus, NZ & many others: We will happily send amplifiers nearly anywhere in the world. But sadly, we are not able to offer a universal shipping cost to every country. Therefore, customers resident outside Europe, PLEASE email us for a shipping quotation & online ordering instructions. It's really easy & safe. Thank you
Attention!
Every cabinet is wood, hand assembled and finished. Therefore, there will be finish variations from one example to another. The pictures are for guidance only
Returns Policy
UK Customers: You are entitled to return the product prepaid within thirty days if you are not satisfied with it's performance - Except custom orders with special cabinet coverings. We offer this on the strict proviso that the product has not been modified in any way, misused, damaged or defaced
Customers Outside UK: All returns must be prepaid. If the reason for return is the fault of Award-Session, we will credit your card with the reasonable shipping amount paid. Please send a copy of the receipt to us by email.
Placing an order with Award-Session indicates that you have read and understood all our Terms and Conditions of sale, published on our CONTACT page. The conditions published on this page override those published anywhere else.
Our administration & returns address:
Award-Session, 34 Belvedere, Basingstoke, RG24 8GB, UK
No stock is held at this address
Sound clips: Sadly it is impossible to convey any meaningful measure of the amp's tone over the Internet. Please refer to what we have already provided in videos & audio clips. If you want to hear the amps, then pleaseEmailus to make an appointment to try one out at Basingstoke
Due to continuing product improvement, the features and the design are subject to change without notice
All trademarks acknowledged. Award-Session has no affiliation with their owners
Example of 'Two-Tone' Black Covering on our BigDog cabinet
BigDog 2X10", 1x12", 2x12" 1X15" Cabinets - About the size of a Bassman amp. Ask for a quote.
Celebrity
Session Users
Eric Clapton/August Album + Tour -
Rockette:30 x 2
Dave Stewart/Eurythmics - Many recordings - (3x) Sessionette:75
Stuart Adamson/Big Country Sessionette:75 x 2
Dave Gilmour/Pink Floyd
Sessionette:75
Mike Rutherford/Genesis Most recordings + tours
Sessionette:75 x 7
Jerry Donahue/Will Raye
The Hellecasters
All recordings & tours
Retrotone + JD10 DRP
Gordon Giltrap
MB11 & GG10 Acoustic Preamps
Geoff Whitehorn/Billy Ocean
Sessionette:75 1st Prototype
+ 15:30 Studio Combo
We say from live use experience:
This is the one for bright twangy tone! Great with a country sounding Tele. Brill at Shads & Beatles too! Blues Rock, Rock... you name it, this could do the job!
Probably one of the nicest speakers Celestion has ever made - and at a reasonable price too! You could say Classic 70s tonality with a hint 60s AlNiCo Blue for good measure. Brighter than the A-Type. 60 Watts/8 Ohms/98dB
Fitted in BB, the whole amp
weighs only 13.5kg. That's with a birch ply cabinet too!
Celestion A-Type
We say from live use experience:
Choose this one for warm American mid tones with a lovely woody vibe.
Turning up the amp's treble produces a 'thicker' punch. Nice for vintage US pop and R 'n' R tones. Perfect for jazz players!
50 Watts/8 Ohms/98dB
Fitted in BB, the whole amp
weighs only 13.4kg. That's with a birch ply cabinet too!
Celestion Creamback NEO
The Neo Creamback is every ounce a Classic Celestion, delivering all the magical tone you'd get from a traditional Creamback.
For those looking for traditional tone from a modern lightweight package!
Fitted in BB, the whole amp
weighs only 10.5kg. That's with a birch ply cabinet too!
About Guitar Speakers
Take special note! The speaker is the most important component in your guitar amp!
Unlike hi-fi speakers, they are NOT designed to produce a faithful reproduction of the signal presented by the amplifier!
As their cones vibrate, they produce cone break-up modes which adds rich harmonics to the guitar sound. The amp electronics has NOTHING to do with this... be it a tube or transistor amp!
This enables each speaker model to provide your guitar with a unique tone. It even affects the character of the distortion sound! This is why there is a bewildering variety of guitar speakers available on the market. Each is slightly different
As many players know, there is a difference in tone between solid state (SS) and tube amps. It is heard as a low end warmth with a sweet high-end presence. This favoured tonality is created by any tube amp's output transformer.
Session's RetroTone™ power amps work with the speakers, like a tube amp does, to provide you with that same Class AB characteristic tone.
Anyone wanting old school tone, light weight and reliability should take SESSION's RetroTone™ equipped amps very seriously! RetroTone™ is 'the cat’s whiskers' for achieving 'that' tone and volume without tube amp hassles.
Stewart Ward is a working guitarist who designs all products from scratch and from the gigging viewpoint. Seen here with his favourite guitar, a 1963 Fender Telecaster.
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RetroTone™ is a protected name.
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