TESTIMONIALS
Here are some very generous words from a few Science Amp owners (in no particular order). If you would like to submit your own testimonial/review, please click the button below. Thanks for the support!
Ben Wright
acrylics.bandcamp.com
My first experience with Science Amplification was completely by chance, having played a last minute show with Alex’s band Dreamdecay. I had spent the previous seven or so years buying and selling amps in an attempt to sample everything I could from the main companies (Fender, Marshall, Vox, Musicman, etc) in search for the sound in my head, dealing with the constant maintenance of primarily vintage gear and never really being satisfied. That was until I heard a Streetsweeper. I immediately approached Alex after his set and asked him everything I could about his amps and which would be best for me given what I was looking for, and he suggested the Streetsweeper. I sold off 2/3 of my gear collection and made the single best gear purchase I’ve ever made. I’ve had the extreme pleasure of seeing and hearing more and more bands use Science amps in the following years and they have all sounded and looked absolutely incredible. The Streetsweeper is one of the most versatile amps I’ve ever own or used, and in my opinion, I don’t think you can get a bad sound out of these amps - believe me, I’ve tried. Alex doesn’t just make great amps, he makes works of art, and I am extremely lucky to own one.
Cam Giarraputo
I'm just reaching out to say I received the amp in perfect condition, not a bump or a scratch on it. Thank you for securing it so well, I was a little worried with how that would go down. Also it is by far the most full-bodied, clear sounding amp I have ever played. I'm shocked how huge it is. I haven't turned the volume past 8/9 o'clock yet but it still shakes my whole house.
Very proud to own it and once again, thank you so so much!
Alex Allen
TL;DR: Great amp. 10/10 would buy again.
My journey to my Science amp began with a simple question, how can I do more with less? After trying out a number of Fender and Marshall amps, I finally decided to stop trying to find an old amp that would work after spending a bunch of money to get it working, and just look for something new.
I couldn't tell you how I found Science Amps, but Alex has been a godsend! I am an old school blues/rock guy. Clean amps roaring because they're turned up to 10 and not many pedals is where I sit. After some back and forth, Alex suggested the Street Sweeper as the amp that would best fit what I was looking for. I couldn't be happier with the suggestion! The voice switch lets me have 4 amps in one and the half power switch to go from 100 to 50 watts means I can cater the amp to any band or room I might need.
All that before I even bring up the reverb! The reverb in the Street Sweeper is amazing. I was intrigued by the idea of having two reverb tanks, but they easily blew past my expectations. The foot switch allows me to have one set to create a nice ambience for single notes and kicking in the second tank can make everything drip with reverb.
All in all, if you are like me and waffle between different flavors of the week as far as amps go, the Street Sweeper will satisfy the itch for both a JTM and a Dual Showman with ease.
Cody Lane
swampheavy.bandcamp.com
Alex is the hands down one of the best amplifier engineers in all the US if not the world. In my 20+ years as a musician I have never heard, seen, and owned a better amp as his Science Amplification “Mother”. Top to bottom, inside and out, every bit of my amp and cabinet is designed with the artist in mind. The build quality and customer service by Alex and his master woodworker Jeff Murrow are unparalleled. I am a fan and owner for life and honored we have Alex in the Pacific Northwest.
Michael Haertlein
I ordered the Decolonizer amp with ppimv and 4x12 Redback cab a few months ago. I have spent some time with it, and I have to say that I am completely blown away. For me, it's the perfect amp. Every tone has tremendous depth and weight. I never feel like I'm getting the imitation of a tone. This is the fully matured real deal of each sound I can create with that rig. It is tremendously inspiring. I have been playing and writing music almost every day I have been with that amp. It is deeply satisfying to make music with it.
And thank you very much for the mods. The ppimv works perfectly and doesn't tone suck at all. The noticeable shift in tone is still a good sound. And you mentioned making the power filtering a little stiffer for low end attack. Even though it may be subtle if you did that, I am more than pleased with the intense aggression at my fingertips. I have been playing with a strat with active single coil pickups and a baritone with Railhammer humbucker pickups. These are wildly different guitars and the amp accommodates whatever I want to do with them. I'm so impressed by the versatility. Every time I turn it on I feel like I can create a new tone because there are so many places to go with it.
Thank you one more time.
Isaiah Kemp
theydroveusfromthegarden.bandcamp.com
I was initially drawn to Science solely due to aesthetics, and after hearing descriptions of the Hellhawk 50W, I was sold. Working with Alex was a breeze and kept me informed every bit of the way.
The sound was everything I was looking for, versatile enough to deal with the many styles of music I was playing. Plus it looks incredible. Already thinking of adding a Mother 200w to my arsenal.
Josh Ross
Bastard Sons of a Judas Goat
I just wanted to touch base with you after finally spending some quality time with my mother. The amp rocks! Very full. Very warm. The bass this puts out is amazing. Running this in a two piece band, has added a ton of depth and pseudo bass to my guitar. Palm mutes kick you in the chest in all the right ways. Thank you, once again, for the fine craftsmanship. I look forward to many, many riffs pumping out of this beast of a mother.
John Romero
ghostisland.bandcamp.com
I recently purchased my 100w Street Sweeper MkII and open back 2x12 and this amp and cab are dreams come true! I play ambient/instrumental post rock and needed a really clean and really loud amp. The Street Sweeper does all of that AND more! The two reverbs built in sound perfect together, and help beef up any of the incredible tones you get out of the amp. There are no bad settings on this thing! The 4 voicings are also a very nice feature, as I can mix up my tones for recording right on the front of the amp itself. No need to switch out amps anymore! If you can dream it, this amp can do it. Seriously, don't hesitate any longer, email Alex and get started. You won't ever regret getting a Science Amp!
Andrew K
There's nothing I can really say about the Decolonizer that hasn't been said by everyone before me. This amp continues to amaze me well after the initial honeymoon period. Seriously, it smokes. It destroys everything. Imagine an SLO that grew up as a corn-fed farm boy on a steady diet of growth enhancers, instead of the effete rich kid that it is. Pure beef. In a band context, it cuts through like a sonic weapon. It's an indispensable tool.
If you're on the fence about buying a Science amp, just DO IT. You won't have a better experience buying a "boutique" amp. Alex is 100% transparent and responds to every e-mail. He's a consummate professional, and his amps are well deserving of the hype. His band is cool, too.
Nathaniel Gleason
forges.bandcamp.com havemercy.bandcamp.com voyageincoma.bandcamp.com
Let me start by saying that Alex was completely awesome to work with. He was so on top of answering all of my questions and concerns about which amp would be best suited for my needs. He worked with me every step of the way, and went above and beyond for me.
The Hellhawk tone is INCREDIBLE. It replaced a Sovtek Mig 100 and I have finally found THE TONE that I have been hunting for. There is so much clarity and note definition in this head, and both the low and high gain channels sound fantastic. The build quality of the amp and cab is outstanding. Aside from looking great, they sound great and are a reasonable weight to carry. I could not be happier with my purchase. Thank you for everything.
Mike Katilus
soundcloud.com/mkatiliene
So, I bought a 200 watt mkII Street Sweeper from Alex based upon user reviews and the Youtube video he has up on his channel. I'd never actually heard one (or any of his builds) in person. Its glorious. I have never been more into the sound of an amp ever. Alex, know you get this kind of praise all the time, but here is some more; you have out done yourself. I'm a customer for life.
Austin Williams
matriarchdoom.bandcamp.com
Spent yesterday afternoon and this morning with the amp and I am floored. Absolutely floored. I’ve never played an amp that made me sound like a better player before. Every note I hit is insanely crisp and clear, easily picked out in the mix. Especially on dissonant chords. The OD is so chewy and vast but it’s stops on a dime. The cleans are beautiful as well, I’m amazed at how easily it cleans up with the volume knob. I’ve been a strict two amp user for years but Im still proud to say that I retired my second amp home last night after 15 minutes of trying to make it work. It needs no companion, sounds miles better on its own through everything. Thank you, it’s a perfect amp.
Dase Beard
olderxmen.bandcamp.com
I sold five amp heads to afford a Mother and the associated costs of shipping one over to the other side of the world. I don't regret that for a second. From initial inquiry through to the emails I still send him from time to time with questions Alex has been an absolute delight to deal with. Courteous, professional, with great advice and time to answer any punisher query I might have. Many amp builders talk in nebulous terms that are really so much words on the internet at the end of it. With Alex I get the vibe that he understands what playing in a regular band on a dodgy stage in a less than perfect sounding room night after night is like, and builds amps accordingly. From they day I got my Mother I was stoked. It's now been used on a couple of recordings, countless shows as both a bass and guitar head, three practices a week and even dropped accidentally once. Still going strong, still sounding amazing. I'm stoked to have an amp that covers all the options I need playing bass and guitar in bands. It always has power and headroom to spare, and sounds incredible while doing it. I know I can walk into any room, any backline cab, plug this thing in, and without fail in seconds have my bass or guitar sounding exactly how I want it, usually with other band people coming up afterwards going 'what the hell IS that thing?!'. I always recommend Science to anyone who asks about it, or even considers selling their vintage monster amps to upgrade to something more reliable for those of us who don't live in a world of roadcases and regular tech work. Also it looks cool.
Brian Wilson
piranhasolution.bandcamp.com
I've been playing exclusively through my Decolonizer since the day it arrived and have never regretted my purchase (it replaced a Sovtek 100H).
One of the best parts about buying a Science amp is Alex's above and beyond dedication to making sure that you not only get the amp that works best for you but also that he will answer nearly any question you can throw at him even the kind of dumb ones (sorry Alex).
I continually get feedback from other guitar players about how great my live tone is despite being absurdly loud and I'm happy that such a nice guy is the one who ultimately gets credit for it.
Kenny, The New Wardens
thenewwarden.bandcamp.com
I got a chance to pick up the Mother today at Fed Ex, open it up and twist the volume knobs and it just sounds absolutely perfect! Thick, clear, responsive -- just absolutely perfect. I can't stop staring at it either, and am looking forward to spending the weekend twisting knobs. Thanks for such a great amp and all the great service - I can't speak highly enough of my experience.
Baird, Yoma
yoma.bandcamp.com
Amp: Street Sweeper
"I spent about 5 hours playing the new amp yesterday and I could not be happier. I had a hard time leaving the practice space but, I was pretty famished by then and had to say goodbye. I just want to personally thank you for making such an amazing and beautiful piece of art. The attention to detail and build quality is just top notch. I've been through a lot of amplifiers over the years and have played way more than I've owned but yours is something special, a real keeper. Thank you for making something that is truly an extension of myself and my creative voice. Amplifiers are a very special thing to me and yours sits at the top of the list without question."
Scott, Dads
dadsnj.bandcamp.com
Amp: Street Sweeper
Ever since I got my Science Street Sweeper, my 14-year perfect tone search is over. I am constantly selling and trading gear to find "the sound", but I never plan on selling this. It really has everything I could want in an amp. I'm always getting compliments and questions about it on tour, usually people saying how great it sounds and how cool it looks. I'm never worried about its reliability and Alex is always a text/e-mail away to answer any questions or give advice about other tone questions, whether it be speakers, guitar pickups, or just talking about old bands we love. He has the best customer service I've ever dealt experienced with any musical related purchases and I'm proud to now call him a friend. I whole-heartedly back Science amps and plan on using them forever.
Jan Blucas, Future Women
futurewomen.bandcamp.com
Amp: Decolonizer
I felt the need for a major upgrade in my sound. I randomly stumbled on Science Amplification online completely by accident while looking for a high-powered vintage amp. I was instantly attracted by the overall aesthetic of the brand and after doing some research I knew I had to have one. Alex approaches the idea of a what a guitar amplifier should be the same way I would if i weren't too lazy and lunk-headed to make a real go at it myself.
I researched every model and considered how they could fit my needs; after contacing Alex he was there every step of the way, answering every question and guiding me when he felt i needed it. This level of customer service is unparalleled and highly commendable. I never gave my decision a second thought once during the process thanks to his personal concern and attention to my need to bring my sound to the next level.
The Decolonizer arrived a few weeks after ordering and it was a beautiful and mysterious work of art. If you dropped it in the middle of a group of apes they would instantly start evolving and learn to use tools, that's the effect this thing has.
The first band practice was the real proving ground and the Decolonizer absolutely shined... I experienced vastly improved note definition and clarity no matter what settings I chose from the simple yet versatile controls. I play noisy shoegaze, post-punk, and heavy doom riffs, often with layers of fuzz, reverb, and delay for a massive wall of sound, and the amp made my Reverend Charger and my Tele Deluxe sound better than they ever have, so clear yet so saturated with tubey goodness and with the crushing low end I had been craving. My bandmates definitely took notice and are excited to record again ASAP to utilize the amp.
I'm proud to give my money to an independent American business when the customer experience and the quality of the product are this great. I can't recommend contacting Alex more highly if you're really looking for something unique to make your tone stand out.
Paul Carmichael, These Hands Conspire
thesehandsconspire.bandcamp.com
Amp: Mother (for bass)
My Mother gives me exactly the bass tone I have been searching for. It can go from nice warm cleans through the normal input, to full on crushing doom in the OD input. Using the the OD input it gives me a classic, nicely overdriven sound and melds perfectly with the guitars, it eliminated use of the OD pedal to get the tone I wanted. Not only is the tone awesome, the amp brings out the full range of the bass and can get incredibly loud. Alex's build quality is nothing short of immaculate and his customer service is amazing!
Brooks Blackhawk, Atriarch
atriarch.bandcamp.com
Amps: Mother & Sister
In my search for the "perfect tone" I have discovered I that I need to run a bi-amped rig in order to maintain clarity in the lower tuning I use. First I sought the cleanest amp I could with as much headroom as possible.
I hit up a few builders including Alex at Science Amplification and felt our interactions we very genuine and all of my questions were answered. Customer service is nice when it comes to ordering coffee but it's crucial with something as important as a hand built amplifier and Alex has the best customer service I could ever ask for. Alex suggested the Mother, which while generally used as a bass amp makes an exceptional guitar amp as well. I dove in on faith without trying one in person and have never had a gamble pay off so well. Clean headroom for days that allows my reverb and delay to cascade seemingly endlessly into the dark abyss. The real surprise was that the OD channel sounds like nothing I've ever heard in person before. Massive, raw open gain with a razor sharp tightness that made me want to put my Soldano up for sale immediately. The other element of my rig is a second and amp with dry, dark, heavy high gain tone and this was it. Rather than purchase a second mother, Alex had just released his latest work, the Sister, which was ideal. A 100w two channel high gain monster with the same clean and dirty preamp as the Mother.
My dream tone is now on a level that I never thought possible before thanks to Science amps.
David Gill, The Heads Are Zeros/Gloria Adios/Fine, Fine
theheadsarezeros.bandcamp.com
gloriaadios.bandcamp.com
finefine.bandcamp.com
Amps: Decolonizer & Mother
It's rare to find a small gear company that not only delivers a stellar product with a short lead time at a competitive price, but also excellent customer service and communication. Science Amps has been all that and more in my experience. Alex is always quick to respond to emails and questions, and often provides a much higher level of detail about his production processes and design concepts than any other amplifier company I have come across. Science Amps have their own unique and versatile voices and the amps give me every tone I could need without padding the spec sheet with unnecessary features or complications. I can go record a light poppy indie rock album with my Decolonizer during the day and then play in a grind band with the same amp later that night. My Mother can cover bass and guitar duties without compromising on either tone. Between my two Science heads I can get everything I need without changing anything more than a couple EQ settings. Simply put my Science heads are the best amps I have come across in 20 years and I will definitely go back to Alex when I need another amp in the future.
Wayne, Dross
Amp: Decolonizer
As far as the amp goes, I would first like to say that working with you was great. You were able to answer every question I had and then some. You were very helpful and super friendly which made the whole experience great. I feel like your description of the amp was very accurate and pretty much on point as far as everything that we discussed in the months leading up to the amp build. The amp itself is great. I feel like the Decoloinzier is everything I could really ask for in an amp. The clean channel is awesome, the 3 different voicing's ( I don't know if that is the right term for that) all sound so crisp yet different. The bottom one is the one that I have messed with most. I have been running a delay and reverb into it and it sounds beautiful. The articulation on both channels is perfect. By that I mean the EQ on it is awesome, The low end is tight and doesn't mud up the tone when it is cranked. The highs and the mids are really easy to dial in. I love how when you think maybe its not cutting through enough, just a tweak of the highs and it almost brings up the clarity while adding brightness to your tone. I honestly feel like you can not get a bad sound out of this amp. I love the 2 gain choices, It can do pretty much hi gain to doom tones to just badass rock n roll tones. It really is the most versatile amp with minimal features. I will say for never getting the chance to play one or hear one in person, I couldn't be happier. That was the biggest hurdle for me when making the purchase and I feel like the way you answered all my questions and were super patient gave me the confidence that you would build a great amp. You totally lived up to it and then some. I have nothing but good things to say about you and Science amplification and I will recommend it to anyone thinking about buying a new amp."
Kris Margiotta, A Black Eye Affair, Kris Margiotta Band |
Larson Lind, Old Haunts
old-haunts.bandcamp.com
www.facebook.com/oldhauntswy
Amp: Decolonizer
100 Watts, 4xKT88 power section, 2 Channels, will go from blackface cleans to SLO gain and everything in between. I play in a wide variety of bands, from Stoner/Doom metal to Surf Punk to Blues/Americana and the Decolonizer covers all the bases beautifully. Beautiful design, with some very common sense and functional features, including external bias points for the power section. Alex at Science was extremely pleasant and easy to work with, and his build quality and attention to detail are impeccable. Highly recommended!
Ryan, Dead Mothers
deadmothers.bandcamp.com
Amp: Hellhawk 100W
She's here and shes a beauty. Everything was in 100% working condition and I gave it about 2 1/2 hours of hardcore full volume play time today. Its incredible, no pedals even necessary. The Focused channel is heaven, its got way more gain on tap than I was expecting, great response and huge bass. It loud. Didn't go past 10:00 and I've got some pretty tired ears. Thanks again man, it's kinda like a dream come true.
Josh Kuykendall, Lesserman
lesserman.bandcamp.com
Amp/Cab: Decolonizer & 4x12
First off I would like to say how easy this whole process has been because of Alex. I am a very indecisive person, especially when presented with the many options that Science Amplification provides, I'm the kind of person that needs to make sure everything is perfect and exactly what I need/want. Alex has been unbelievably helpful throughout the process, from choosing which amplifier would work best for me and the style of music I play, all the way to the fine details of color, wood finish, etc. Even after months and months of radio silence on my end, Alex was ready to pick right up from where we left off without hesitation, answering every little question I had in detail, as well as showing personal interest in the little things I was looking for in an amp. I am a sucker for great customer service and that is exactly what I received every step of the way.
Okay, on to the amplifier itself! (Side note: I play an American Fender Telecaster) The First thing I really enjoyed about the Decolonizer was the diversity it had. With the 2 Lead modes and 3 Clean voicing's, there is really not much more I could ask for. I almost immediately sold my overdrive pedal when the amp came in because I quickly realized how much juice this thing has! Whether I'm playing in my band (lesserman, softer gain music), jamming some Metal/Metalcore (Higher gain music in general) or doodling some nice atmospheric clean jams, this amp has my back. My first live experience with the amp: I didn't have the chance to turn it on even to get a tone going beforehand, my band went up, I turned the amp on, spent two seconds fiddling with the EQ and gain and I was stoked on what I had received. Now that I have had the chance to play around with it more I have just gotten happier and happier with the amplifier. The 4x12 cab I ordered with the Decolonizer fits with the amp so perfectly. I had long conversations with Alex about the tone I had been achieving with previous amps I had owned, what I liked, and disliked about them, and with what guitar cabs/speakers I ran through. Through these conversations I'm convinced Alex has created the perfect guitar rig for me. He put together a mixture of speakers that mimic my favourite qualities of the old guitar cabs that I had told him about. In the end I wasn't even concerned with the price of the entire guitar rig because I was confident I was receiving exactly what I was looking for!All in all, if you are considering getting one of his Amplifiers, you will not be disappointed. I will always tell people about how much I love this amp.”
Jordan, Pswingset
pswingset.bandcamp.com
Amp: Hellhawk 50W
The Hellhawk is one of the best sounding and most versatile amps I've ever used, let alone owned. The 'switch & blend' feature is fantastic to use with the two gain voices, to the point where I abandoned my use of an EQ pedal. We [Pswingset] liked it so much that we used it for both guitars on a batch of songs!
David Anthony, Birches
brchs.bandcamp.com
http://www.avclub.com/article/pair-headphones-new-amp-and-bunch-party-friendly-v-213093
Amp/Cab; Hellhawk 100W & 2x12
Walter D.
Amps: Hellhawk & Mother
After years of searching and dissatisfaction with vintage and brand name amps in my studio I discovered Science Amps. I quickly contacted Alex and after much deliberation we decided a souped up Hellhawk would be the way to go. Since I've had the amp, it's the one everyone picks to record their lead work on. And it's no wonder why, the build quality and customer support offered by Alex are unrivaled in the amp world. Buy American, buy Science.
Joe Yanick, Masakari
Amp: Decolonizer
Over the years I have played on and owned just about every head imaginable. I am super particular about what I am looking for sound-wise but I also need something that is rugged, something that won't break every other tour. Any one who has been active on the road knows that this is a challenge. After being burned out on running through vintage amp after vintage amp, I decided to start looking into boutique gear. I wanted something that was designed for my application. After being told about Science I decided to give it a shot. I reached out and was lucky enough to get one of the first ever Decolonizers. This amp is massive. I can't even begin to tell you all of the times that someone has complimented me on my tone since obtaining it. It is built like a tank, super versatile, and looks absolutely stunning. Working with Alex has been great. He gave me the option to customize the amp but I chose to stick with the stock settings. In the rare occurrence that there have been small issues with my rig, Alex has been great about getting it resolved. With Science, you are getting the best of the best.
Thomas Carney, Mothlight
mothlightchicago.bandcamp.com
Amp: Hellhawk 100W
My Hellhawk is able to cop the sound of desirable vintage amps while also being much more versatile and reliable than the rig I was using before. It’s been my main amp for guitar since I got it and I don’t think that will ever change. In addition, Alex was very helpful when I approached him about ordering an amp. He gave me all the information I needed and more, and sent me pictures and updates throughout the build process. I can’t recommend Science highly enough.
Ian Ancelin, Iwakura
Iwakura.bandcamp.com
Amp: Decolonizer
I have been using a Science Amplification Decolonizer since late 2012, and not once have I ever regretted purchasing it. I love it to death; it has been a reliable companion on the road and at home. Communication with Alex has always been cordial and enjoyable. I can’t recommend Science Amplification enough.
Skinny, Sail On! Sail On!
sailonsailon.bandcamp.com
Amp: Hellhawk 100W
My Hellhawk has never let me down, and is the most versatile amp I've ever owned. It sounds as great on record as it does punching through a live mix, and I've had a bunch of people quiz me about it after shows. Alex is the nicest guy to deal with and made the whole process a breeze.
Ryan Kennedy, Prepared
revolutionwinter.bandcamp.com/album/prepared-veneers-split-7
Amp: Hellhawk 50W
I contacted Alex about an amp in 2014. I and my guitarist had owned pre-CBS Bassmans for almost a decade, but one of mine was biting the dust and I needed a tour-ready, aurally comparable replacement.
Right from the get-go I knew it was the right fit. Alex knew the circuit I liked well, and he knew the Hellhawk would complement my playing appropriately. He answered email after annoying email of mine, showing me details of the amps wiring and discussing how and why the circuit he made sounded the way it did. Throughout the entire process, he sent me pictures daily. When he sent me the pictures of the amp grill that had been stained to match a cabinet, I said "I dont know, I think it looks right!" the next day Alex wrote me saying "I sent the piece back. It was CLOSE... but it wasnt quite right." The attention to detail is staggering. Many months later, Im still learning about it. We prefer the Hellhawk to our bassmans in almost all applications for open, clean but gritty tones. It has the chime, the punch, and the POWER of an amp with old components... but the pots don't crackle, its built like a tank, and while it retains the simplicity of classic amps, all the nuance, care, and detail of its creator is immediately apparent as soon as the standby is flicked off. I hope to never have to replace mine, for life.
Joel Kirschenbaum, Alaska
alaskanv.bandcamp.com
Amp: Street Sweeper
Clean, loud and reliable road machine. Compliments at every show guaranteed. Alex is the true dude.
Tristan, Leatherdaddy
leatherdaddyseattle.bandcamp.com
Amps/Cab: Mother, Street Sweeper & 4x12
Color-coded to the American flag, my 300 watts of Science (amps) make the mates big rigs look like baby gear. So sell that fisher-price my first tube amp to your step dad and buy a Science. Seriously, if you want excellent craftsmanship and amazing customer service call Gaz!
Jeff Rahbar, Swells
swells.bandcamp.com
Amp: Hellhawk 100W
I got a Hellhawk last year to replace my JCM 800 and it was the single greatest improvement one piece of gear has ever made in my playing career of 17 years! I struggled for years with other heads sounding blown out, lost in the mix, squealing feedback constantly from being turned up all the way to get the volume I needed to be heard... the Hellhawk delivers all the tone and heaviness I need with unbelievable clarity and presence with tons of head room! How many hardcore bands can say that?
Jad, Funeralbloom
funeralbloom.bandcamp.com
Amp: Decolonizer
Honestly, I have never been more satisfied with a product than I have been with Alex’s amplifiers. They are well engineered and solidly built works of art. Everything about the aesthetic and tone is fantastic. I have owned both a Hellhawk and a Decolonizer, and the sounds that are achievable from either amp are numerous and will cover a wide tonal range. I am currently using the Decolonizer as my main workhorse and I have been able to dial in chimey, jangly cleans and full, girthy distortion without sounding like there are two completely different amps. The two channels are very much extensions of each other and switching between them yields no discrepancy in tonal identification. The overdrive stage feels natural and complementary. Alex has been an absolute dream to do business with. He goes above and beyond to cater to your needs while still keeping true to his ambitions and vision for his company.
Tom Martin, Makeshift Memorial
Massachusetts
makeshiftmemorial.bandcamp.com
The Hellhawk arrived earlier today with no damage and it fucking riiiiiiiips! Now I understand why you don't really own any dirt pedals. Everything from clean to maxed out gain sounds incredible. Many thanks again for being so awesome throughout the ordering process and for making such a badass amp. Oh, and I guess it looks pretty cool too. ;)
Matthew Whitney
Amp/Cab: Hellhawk 100W & 2x12
When I was shopping for amplifiers a friend recommended a boutique handmade amplifier company called science amplification out of Portland. I spoke with Alex the owner and engineer and he was very thorough on finding me the right amp, delivering it to me, showing me how it works and making sure I was very happy with it. I bought the hellhawk head with 2x12 cabinet and I've never been happier. The versatility of tones is very wide from clean warm tones to crunchy and vintage to a commanding scream. I've used this amp in my band and also in my recording studio where many bands opt to use it instead of any rig they might be using. I'll never need another amp for the rest of my life nor do I want one. Thanks Alex! Keep rocking out these badass amps!
Ricky Castanedo, Anchoress/Bloom
Vancouver, BC
Anchoress.bandcamp.com
BloomNoise.bandcamp.com
Amp/Cab: Mother & 6x10 Bass
From start to finish working with Science was a total pleasure. I approached them about making a versatile amp that would run double duty as a bass and guitar amp and they got straight to work. The resulting Mother amp is easily the best amp I have ever played. It delivers a crushing bass tone that I would pit against any model of SVT out there. and as a guitar amp it can handle just about anything I throw at it; from high gain shred to a loud and warm clean tone that loves every pedal I've put in front of it. I own other amps because I love amps, but this is the only one I would never sell.
Adam Cullina
Amp: Shiv
Love it. I have nothing else quotable to say.
Charles, Sed Non Satiata/Christ
sednonsatiata.bandcamp.com
chrst.bandcamp.com
Amp: Decolonizer
I remember this Loma Prieta show in a dirty basement of Montreal. The drummer was hitting his drums like a crazy but not strong enough to cover the wall of sound coming from the guitar amps. I remember asking myself what amp is that? Science? I've never heard of this but wtf it sounds great!
I now own a Decolonizer 100W head that I use with anEmperorcab. This amp delivers a warm, dense, powerful and rich sound. The 3-way bright switch, the two distortion channels and the incredible sensitivity of the EQ provide a great versatility which makes it the perfect amp for me as I have several musical projects. If you like heavy stuff, the loudness and precision of the lead channel will blow your mind. Alex did a good job in helping me chose the good amp. It just perfectly fits my needs and is totally affordable for such an awesome quality. Might I add that I love the design of Science amps.
Ryan Miller, USCO
usco.bandcamp.com
Amps/Cab: Hellhawk 100W, 4x12, and Shiv 1x12 Combo
The Hellhawk is a versatile tone machine! I'm able to shape my sound with any guitar or pickup combination I could ever imagine. I play it with the with the "Full" and "Focused" voicings blended almost always in a live situation and crank the "Master" as much as I can get away with. Having the ability to tailor my gain stages with such precision is an amazing treat that I look forward to every time I plug in!
Alex is the best there is as far as I'm concerned. He tweaked my Hellhawk to sound exactly how I wanted before I received it nearly three years ago and after gigging and recording with it exclusively for years he helped me diagnose a tube swap that made me fall in love with my amp all over again.
Science Amplification forever!
Nick Merz, Darto
darto.bandcamp.com
Amp/Cab: Street Sweeper & 2x12
Here is my god-damn testimony. I want to start this by saying that opinions about gear are completely subjective. With that said, let's take out all the main players, ie. the brands that helped change history: Fender, Marshall, Gibson, Vox, etc. The reason I say this is because if you had half a brain, you would understand that any corporation at that size is using a name, and a history to convince people that because they might have made really amazing instruments/amps in the past, they are still doing the same today. With that said, let's grow up, and not fetishize over something that is unattainable. Currently, we live in an exciting time. The boutique and home grown operations are growing now, more than ever, to challenge the workmanship of the corporate factory built product. Though we had the endless stream of reviews and videos online about even the most obscure piece of gear, we cannot truly discern the quality and usability until it is 1) in our hands, 2) used at rehearsal, 3) used in a recording session, 4) used at a show, and 5) toured with. Whether you would consider this luck, or personal issue with mis-managing funds, I have spent a larger half of the last eleven years buying and selling gear in an effort to reach some sort of conclusion about branding, reliability, playability, dynamic range and that hilarious and often overused term, "tone". I have also had the ability to tour all over the United States, and Canada with most of the gear I have accumulated over the years. After many breakdowns, malfunctions, and general problems with different vintage, modern, and boutique amplifiers over the years I had the chance occurrence of meeting one Alex Gaziano, and his Science Amps. After several lengthy conversations about my issues, and my sister's issues with our amps we both decided to invest in Alex's operation, namely in the Mother, and Street Sweeper models respectively. Suddenly, and without fail, this lively and passionate amp guru changed my many years of searching for a quality, reliable, and ascetically pleasing amplifier in almost the blink of an eye. I have also had the rare opportunity to test every one of his amplifiers in several situations (at rehearsals, while recording, and touring), and I am now a faithful follower. The dynamic range, eq range, usability, consistency, tonal quality, features, and quality of parts of each amplifier is simply astonishing. Not to even mention the wonderful cabinetry work of his partner, Jeff. Alex's work ethic is only exceeded by his vast knowledge, dedication to his work, and commitment to customer service. To put it bluntly, he is the real deal. If you are in the market for a tube amplifier, and your goal is to purchase something that you will both fall in love with completely, and never have to look for another amp again, then Science is your only option. Support a true home grown business that believes in customer satisfaction to the highest degree, and superior craftsmanship. Shed your corporate chains, and knee before the guiding light, that is Science.
Sean Milligan
boatrocker.bandcamp.com
Amp: Decolonizer
I saw photos of a Science Hellhawk on some random message board and was pretty amazed out the gate just by how they looked. I wasn't entirely sure if that model would suit my needs (loud heavy bad hardcore music with a ton of mids), but then I saw the Decolonizer amp and all was right with the world. I think I'm marginally okay with getting good settings on an amp, but since I still wasn't sure if it'd work for me I shot Alex over an email with a few general questions. What I thought would be a quick "yeah it can do stuff like that" turned into a long back-and-forth about turret boards, colonialism, and the history of power amp tubes. A lot of love and a lot of knowledge obviously goes into each one of these amps and I couldn't be happier with the final product. The Decolonizer is reasonably priced, built well, looks cool, and is super versatile for heavy music. I've gotten a ton of compliments about my tone since switching over to one, and I've heard nothing but good things from other people who've grabbed some of the other Science amps.
Nathan K
soundcloud.com/theskiesgrowcold
Amp: Decolonizer
I bought my Science Decolonizer second hand but i had talked with Alex quite a few times before hand. He was always very fast to respond and more then helpful and insightful. My Decolonizer is beyond amazing, the build quality is superb and the sound is just as good if not better! It handles everything from pristine cleans to all out sonic obliteration. I feel comfortable with every tone i get and no matter which way you set the knobs it sounds good. I have uploaded some clips to my soundcloud if you are interested in how it sounds. I have no post processing on any of my clips. Just a mic in front of a cabinet more or less.