Novatron Roy Roy NB-60

5.0 (1)

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Page last updated Aug 11, 2025

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Gundolf Roy, had a company called Applied Acoustics located in Bochum, West Germany. In the beginning they build copies of the AC30 (NC-60) and a bass version of the AC30 (NB-60)

Applied Acoustics was the authorized importer/distributor for Mesa Boogie and Dumble amplifiers for the European market at the time.In the early 1980s, the high U.S. Dollar rate and even higher shipping costs created very expensive prices for Mesa Boogie and Dumble amps to be distributed in Europe. Applied Acoustics made an agreement with Howard Dumble that he would ship amplifiers without a cabinet and speaker to save on shipping costs. Then, the combo-cabinets were hand-made in Germany. At that time, a Mesa/Boogie Mark I was even more expensive than a Dumble Overdrive Special! Also, if customers wanted an added reverb or effects loop, Applied Acoustics was authorized by Dumble to make these adjustments. Therefore, a lot of technical details regarding Dumble amps were shared with Applied Acoustics.Dumble hand-built each amp himself, and as Dumble amps gained popularity worldwide lead-time for a completed amp increased dramatically. With a lead time of six to nine months, Applied Acoustics decided to build there own amp, the Kitty Hawk Amp. The first Kitty Hawk Amp is an exact copy of a silverface Dumble Overdrive Special, even using the same U.S.-made components. When Dumble realized his amps were being copied, he immediately began to cover the preamp circuit with a thick layer of epoxy to protect his circuits so no one could see exactly what components he was using. He also halted distribution to Applied Acoustics, although the damage had already been done.

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bernardduur

8716

over 3 years ago

Amazing bass version of the Vox AC-30

This is a hidden gem! I LOVE this amp!!!

(OK, someone put it in a headshell by Allsound so it is basically not a combo anymore)

It is a copy of the Vox AC-30, modded for bass and build in Germany by the Novatron Roy company, a company later known for their Dumble, Mesa Boogie and Kitty Hawk amps

This amp is pure perfection. It is a very dynamic and well sounding amp without losing the AC-30 chime but with enough lows to keep a bass player happy (and only 30W output w/ 4x EL84). The amp has two channels: an 'Organ' channel (a 1:1 copy of the normal channel of the Vox AC-30) and a 'Bass' channel (a modified Top Boost channel of the Vox AC-30).

The modification btw is only one cap (and by putting that cap under a switch you can switch between an AC-30 and the NB-60)

Wattage is low but by this the bass sound is singing, dynamic and sweet sounding. The EQ is pretty wide with both the top boost options (Treble and bass) and the 'Cut' control (poweramp). To me, this amp does it all!