A
t 21 watts, the Blackjack 21 MKII
is the lowest powered offering in
Fuchs’ more affordable Casino
Series. Available in head and combo
formats, this is a two channel, all-valve
design. Useful features include a buffered
effects loop, onboard digital reverb based
on Fuchs’ Verbrator pedal, and a footswitch
for channel hopping and boost.
Fuchs amps combine point-to-point
wiring with high-quality PCBs in aircraft-
grade aluminium chassis and custom-
wound transformers. This circuit is built
around three DC-heated ECC83S preamp
tubes and two 6V6s that can be biased
individually; you won’t need matched pairs.Although its dimensions are relatively
substantial for a 1x12, we are surprised by
the cabinet’s lightness. It’s built from ‘light
ply’, which Fuchs claims is environmentally
friendly, highly resonant and roughly half
the weight of birch ply and pine. The
review amp is loaded with a Warehouse
ET65 12-inch speaker, with Celestion and
Eminence drivers available as options.IN USE
Having grown accustomed to a regular diet
of vintage-themed single-channel amps,
we feel some trepidation as we approach
a combo with channel switching and
utilitarian 1980s stylings. As it turns out,no trip to the manual is required, because
the Blackjack 21 MKII is an extremely
straightforward amp. Starting in clean
mode, it’s apparent that Fuchs has put
considerable effort into voicing this channel.
Its most obvious attribute is clarity, but
definitely not of the bright-but-bland
variety. The tone is richly harmonic with
enjoyable dynamics and a smoothness that
enhances the playing experience.
With a Stratocaster plugged in, overdrive
only makes an appearance as the clean gain
control moves beyond the halfway point.
The clean channels on some rock-oriented
amps can be prone to breaking up in a
rough and unrefined sort of way; in contrast,
the Blackjack eases into a full-toned
overdrive as dynamics begin to compress
nicely and sustain increases dramatically.
All the while, there’s never any loss of
clarity, even as harmonic overtones add a
roaring thickness to the sound. Then, since
the boost function works on both channels,
it gives the clean channel enough kick to
push it into a creamy overdrive with rockFUCHS AUDIO TECHNOLOGY
BLACKJACK 21 MKII COMBO
WORDS HUW PRICEWith a reputation for superior tone, no-frills design and an enviable client
list, Andy Fuchs knows a thing or two about high-end tube amplification.
Here’s a model you don’t need to be rock royalty to afford...REVIEWS112