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Emberato 18 Head (COMING SOON)
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  • Emberato 18 Head (COMING SOON)
  • Emberato 18 Head (COMING SOON)
  • Emberato 18 Head (COMING SOON)
  • Emberato 18 Head (COMING SOON)
  • Emberato 18 Head (COMING SOON)
  • Emberato 18 Head (COMING SOON)
  • Emberato 18 Head (COMING SOON)
  • Emberato 18 Head (COMING SOON)
  • Emberato 18 Head (COMING SOON)
Emberato 18 Head (COMING SOON)

Emberato 18 Head (COMING SOON)

$2,998.00

Current production lead times vary based on order volume and component availability. Please contact us for the most up to date build schedule.

The Emberato 18 Head is a hand-built, hand-wired 18-watt tube amplifier crafted in Salem, Oregon, designed to deliver expressive tone, dynamic feel, and uncompromising build quality in a compact head format. Built on a traditional turret board mounted to an FR4 substrate, it combines serviceable hand-wired construction with long-term stability and consistency. Powered by dual JJ 6V6 tubes, precision-selected JJ preamp valves, and custom-wound Soursound transformers by Bryan Sours, the Emberato 18 features a constant-impedance reactive attenuator with seven steps down to -21 dB, maintaining consistent operation from full output to stage-friendly levels.

Housed in a rigid, rattle-free enclosure constructed from 18mm Baltic birch plywood with box-joint construction and 1/2-inch Baltic birch front and rear panels, the Emberato 18 Head brings the same boutique craftsmanship and attention to detail of the original Emberato 18 to a dedicated amplifier format. At 25 pounds, it remains highly portable while providing a rugged, precisely constructed enclosure designed for years of use. Its 8-ohm output makes it an ideal match for a variety of external speaker cabinets, while the built-in reactive attenuation provides the flexibility to take its full, harmonically rich character from the studio to the stage and everywhere between.

Every Emberato 18 Head is hand-built in Salem, Oregon, with the attention to detail and craftsmanship expected from a boutique amplifier.

The Heart of the Amplifiers

Every amplifier is powered by custom Soursound transformers, hand-wound in Portland, Oregon by Bryan Sours, who brings a creative and masterful approach to the art of transformer design and construction. Our close proximity to Soursound allows true collaboration and transformers voiced specifically for the response and character we’re after.

Full Power, Controlled Volume

The Emberato’s built-in attenuator offers seven selectable steps in precise 3 dB increments, from -3 dB down to -21 dB, with a bypass switch on the top panel and a true hard-bypass located under the chassis. It maintains a constant 8-ohm impedance at every setting, so your tone, feel, and speaker response remain unchanged, perfect for smaller venues, church stages, or any situation where FOH needs you quieter without touching your sound. Learn more about the attenuator HERE

Built to Last

The Emberato Head is built with the same attention to detail and craftsmanship as the amplifier itself. The enclosure is constructed from 18mm Baltic birch plywood for the top, bottom, and sides, joined with traditional box joints for exceptional strength and rigidity. The front and rear panels are made from 1/2" Baltic birch plywood, creating a lightweight, exceptionally solid enclosure.

The box-jointed corners mechanically lock the enclosure together, providing a strong, precise connection designed to withstand years of use and transport. Every surface is then finished by hand, allowing the clean lines and precision of the wood construction to remain part of the finished instrument.

The result is a purpose-built amplifier head enclosure that is as thoughtfully constructed on the outside as the amplifier is on the inside.

Carefully Voiced Tube Complement

The Emberato 18 runs a full complement of JJ tubes chosen for gain structure, balance, and long-term stability, anchored by a matched pair of JJ 6V6S 'Double Mica' power tubes sourced from Eurotubes in Portland, Oregon for consistent biasing, tight low end, and smooth transition into power-stage saturation. The preamp begins with a JJ E83CC, a high quality frame grid style tube in V1 for extended headroom and low noise, followed by a JJ ECC83MG in V2 for harmonically rich gain shaping, while a long plate JJ ECC803S drives the long-tail-pair phase inverter, providing strong drive symmetry, balanced phase splitting, and articulate power-tube response across the entire attenuation range.

Electronics & Components

  • 18-watt, all-tube amplifier
  • Power section: 2× JJ 6V6S Double Mica, matched pair (sourced from Eurotubes, Portland, OR)
  • Preamp: JJ E83CC (V1), JJ ECC83MG (V2)
  • Phase inverter: JJ ECC803S long plate
  • Custom-wound Soursound transformers by Bryan Sours (Portland, OR)
  • Low-noise Vishay & Yageo metal film resistors throughout signal path
  • Mallory 150 and Vishay film capacitors for coupling and tone shaping
  • F&T electrolytic capacitors in power supply
  • CDE silver mica capacitors for precision high-frequency control
  • Turret board construction on FR4 substrate for stable, serviceable, hand-wired electronics

Built-In Attenuator

  • Integrated constant-impedance reactive attenuator
  • 7 selectable attenuation steps in 3 dB increments
  • Range: -3 dB to -21 dB
  • Maintains a constant 8Ω load at all attenuation settings
  • Top-panel bypass switch
  • Chassis-mounted true hard bypass
  • Dedicated attenuator network using Ohmite HS10 & HS25 wirewound resistors (10W–25W)
  • Attenuator housed in a separate aluminum enclosure for heat dissipation
  • Designed specifically for an 8Ω speaker load

Controls

  • Bright Volume
  • Normal Volume
  • Bass
  • Treble
  • Presence control with switchable negative-feedback / no-feedback operation
  • Primary controls use custom-spec Bourns potentiometers

Head Construction

  • Head enclosure constructed from 18mm Baltic birch plywood for the top, bottom, and sides
  • 1/2" Baltic birch plywood front and rear panels
  • Box-jointed construction for precise, mechanically interlocking corners
  • Hand-finished direct-to-wood finish with no tolex or adhesive layer
  • Subtle smooth-to-hand textured final coat for durability
  • Purpose-built enclosure designed specifically for the Emberato amplifier

Speaker Connection

  • 8Ω speaker output
  • Designed exclusively for use with 8Ω speaker cabinets
  • Speaker cabinet not included
  • Do not operate the amplifier without a connected speaker load
  • Use of an incorrect speaker impedance may cause improper operation and potentially damage the amplifier or attenuator

Hardware & Mechanical

  • .068" 308 stainless steel chassis
  • Belton tube sockets, including Micalex 9-pin sockets with shielding where required
  • Switchcraft input/output jacks
  • Carling toggle switches
  • Alpha rotary switches
  • Panel-mounted fuse holder
  • Silicone-free thermal interface compound on chassis-mounted power components
  • Dimensions: 19.5" (W) × 11" (H) × 7.5" (D)
  • Weight: 25 lbs

Build

  • Hand-built in Salem, Oregon, USA
  • Built by Harvey Gerlitz, David Iliyn, and Darrell Adams
  • Warranty Info

Every Emberato amplifier is humbly hand-built in Salem, Oregon by Harvey Gerlitz, David Iliyn, and Darrell Adams, with careful attention to detail and an unwavering focus on tone. Each amp is crafted by hand and by ear, guided by one goal above all else: sound.