I was initially drawn to this amp purely because it looks cool, and the fact that it has a stealth setting for practice use at home. The first impression is that this is an extremely well made amp, with very rugged all metal construction. It comes in a very tidy bag, complete with a hand numbered certificate signed by Dave Green (ex-Matamp/Orange guru, and builder of this amp). The amp also comes with a footswitch to control the MOFO gain boost. These details make all the difference and only compliment an extremely attractive package.

All very impressive so far, and I'm delighted to say that it only gets better once you fire it up. First of all it looks great, keeping up the boutique amp appearance with the valves visibly glowing behind the black metal grille. This is a single channel amp, but an extra gain stage can be added with the footswitch. The amp has two inputs, biased for a "UK" and "USA" tone. I play mainly thrash/speed Metal (Megadeth, Pantera, Children of Bodom etc) and had read reviews saying that this amp wasn't suitable for such applications. Don't belive a word of it, once you kick in the mofo boost there is more than enough gain! the tone also has a superb organic vibrancy, rather like a Marshall, but with a slightly more modern edge. The amp is rated at 30 Watts, but is easily loud enough for gigging.

One of my favourite things about this amp is it's simplicity, there aren't a huge amount of knobs and controls, but it's almost impossible to dial in a poor sound. The EQ and presence controls are very effective indeed, working interactively with one another.
I suspect this amp was designed with classic rock players in mind, but it has potential for far higher gain applications whilst retaining a great tone. It's a keeper, as I can see me using this for many years.

Great head very impressed. Really well made and the power that comes out of this little thing is crazy. Very versatile nice cleans through AC/DC territory up to classic rock/metal with the Mofo gain stage on. The padded gig bag is lovely aswell. Purchase of the year!

This amp is incredible! Was hoping itd be good but nothing prepared me for the tone and sheer volume this thing is capable of. Really can do lovely clean and great AC/DC crunch up to real high gain when you bring in the extra Mofo gain. Really well made too. Cant see me ever wanting to part with this. Bargain of the century!

This amp is so awesome, the smell of it when it was in the bag (i love new plastic smell)

At first I was playing it on the full 30 watt mode going jesus this is a bit loud until I realised it wasn't on the stealth mode, turned that on and got it cooking.

I personally prefer the american voicing for clean and higher gain, and the british for a mid range cruch, sounds so amazing when you kick in the Mofo stage with the footswitch.

More than enough gain for a metal rhythm when cranked but I think I may invest in a tube screamer to really push it over the edge.

I'm running mine through a Framus 112, still need to wait for the speaker to break in so I bet it will sound even better soon!

What I love most about the amp is the deep grinding bassy crunch you get in the UK input with the Mofo mode on to around 4'o clock. Such a deep bassy sound....exactly what I wanted, maybe my Framus Cab has something to do with it as I'm using a Celestion 'Hot 100'.

My first ALL tube amp, I've had some in the past that claim to be, but use solid state distortion.

Never thought my epiphone sg would sound this good and still cannot get over what amazing value for money it is.

I got one of these yesterday after reading the review in Guitarist and thought would give my first impression quickly. First thing is it is absolutely beautifully made and looks very cool when turned on as the inside lights up(simple things - simple minds eh) and you can see all the valvey goodness inside which is just lovely. The cabinet is also very neat and the pots all feel firm and move smoothly. Anyways soundwise its awesome! Channel one crunchs up like an old plexi with the gain set about halfway and up to a more hot rodded marshallesque sound with the gain up three quaters or so, its a stunning classic rock rhythm tone. Channel 2 has an extra gain stage so breaks up more easily and goes up yo a full on roar easily enough for some detuned riffage and solos just seem to sustain forever. The other cool feature which I havent had on any amp before is the shade control of which there is one on each channel, this seems to work as an eq filter and as you click around from left to right the tone thickens up and set to optimal thick shade the sound is massive and its cool you can click around and find the sound in your head depending on what guitar you are using. The eq is simple treble, middle and bass and works really well and makes dialing in different sounds really easy.

All in all I have never been happier with an amp and all my distotian pedals are now redundant as the amp just sounds great, I play a les paul and mainly classic to heavy rock and this is just perfect for this amp.

Anyway I am looking forward to getting to know this amp properly and gigging but right now I cant see me changing amps for a very long time.

Here is the Guitarist Magazine review also;

http://www.haydenamps.com/press/ClassicLead80-412.pdf