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Description

The Swart AST Atomic Space Tone MkII 20-Watt 1x12" Guitar Amp Half Stack offers a vintage-inspired tone with modern reliability. Designed for musicians who crave authentic tube-driven sound, this amplifier melds classic aesthetics with cutting-edge functionality. The all-tube circuitry, including 12AX7, 12DW7, and 6V6 tubes, ensures a warm, rich sound that is both dynamic and responsive. The AST MkII's unique reverb and tremolo effects are driven by a dual stage circuit, giving you a lush, ambient backdrop to your music. With its power scaling feature, you can achieve the same quality sound at lower volumes, making it versatile for both stage and studio settings.

The 1x12" Celestion speaker is housed in a classic pine cabinet, providing both durability and a resonant, full-bodied sound. A key feature of this model is the customizable tone controls, allowing you to tailor your sound to any genre or performance environment. Swart has also included a footswitch for seamless control over the amp's reverb and tremolo, enhancing its functionality during live performances.

Whether you're crafting the perfect bedroom setup or need a reliable amp for your next gig, the Swart AST Atomic Space Tone MkII delivers. It's an amplifier that doesn't just sound great—it feels great to play through, offering a tactile connection between musician and machine.

Key Features:

  • 20-Watt all-tube amplifier
  • 1x12" Celestion speaker
  • Dual stage reverb and tremolo circuit
  • Power scaling for volume control
  • Customizable tone controls
  • Includes footswitch for reverb and tremolo control
  • Classic pine cabinet design

Product specs

Brand Swart
Model AST Atomic Space Tone MkII 20-Watt 1x12" Guitar Amp Half Stack
Year 2009 - 2025
Made In United States
Categories Guitar Amp Stacks
Electronics Tube
Output Power (Watts) 20
Reverb Spring Reverb

FAQs

What type of music is the Swart AST Atomic Space Tone MkII 20-Watt 1x12" Guitar Amp Half Stack best suited for?

The Swart AST Atomic Space Tone MkII is known for its warm, vintage tube tone, making it ideal for genres like blues, rock, and jazz where rich, dynamic sound is desired.

Does the Swart AST Atomic Space Tone MkII take pedals well?

Yes, the Swart AST Atomic Space Tone MkII is known for its excellent response to pedals, allowing you to expand your tonal palette with overdrives, delays, and other effects.

How loud is the Swart AST Atomic Space Tone MkII, and is it suitable for gigs?

With 20 watts of tube power, the Swart AST Atomic Space Tone MkII provides ample volume for small to medium-sized gigs, offering both clean headroom and overdriven tones.

What are the core tonal characteristics of the Swart AST Atomic Space Tone MkII?

The Swart AST Atomic Space Tone MkII delivers a warm, organic tube sound with a rich harmonic content, featuring a lush spring reverb that enhances its vintage character.

Is the Swart AST Atomic Space Tone MkII a good choice for home practice?

While it can be used for home practice, its 20-watt output is quite powerful. It’s more suitable for players who need a versatile amp for both home use and live performances.

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Swart AST Atomic Space Tone MkII 20-Watt 1x12" Guitar Amp Half Stack.

User experience

  • Owners appreciate the amp's compatibility with fuzz pedals, attributing this to its 6V6 tubes and all-tube design, which complement a wide range of fuzz effects.

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  • A user found the Swart AST's tube-driven tremolo and reverb to be "insane," especially suited for surf music, highlighting its unique tonal capabilities in that genre.

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  • Owners highlight the reverb and tremolo as standout features, describing them as sonically rich and different from typical offerings.

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Build quality

  • Boutique amps, including Swart, are noted for their better serviceability and durability compared to cheaper, mass-produced models, making them ideal for long-term ownership.

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  • The amp head features a window allowing visibility of the glowing tubes, adding aesthetic appeal and engaging onlookers during performances.

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Mods and upgrades

  • An owner mentioned that replacing the reverb tank in a vintage Traynor YGM-4 amp was a simple and affordable upgrade, suggesting similar potential upgrades for comparable models.

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  • The amp is versatile with speaker swaps; while some replaced their Blue with a G12H30 Anniversary, others find the Gold smooth with a 335 guitar.

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Use cases and applications

  • The Swart 6v6 Space Tone was praised for its performance in jams with a full band, despite its low wattage, showing its versatility beyond just home use.

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  • An extension cab significantly enhances the sound, making it more suitable for competing with a rock band in group settings.

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Value and pricing

  • Owners suggest buying used boutique amps like Swart for better value, as these are well-maintained by previous owners, often offering significant savings over new.

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Comparisons

  • One owner compared the Swart AST to a Supro Delta King 12, preferring the latter for home use despite acknowledging the Swart's superior build quality and heavy-duty transformers.

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  • The Mojo Tone BV25M speaker in the AST MkII is praised, with some users likening it to a relabeled Celestion Heritage Greenback for its tonal quality.

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  • The reverb on the Swart AST is described as having a subtle dark plate quality, differentiating it from traditional spring reverbs.

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  • The amp sits sonically between a Princeton Reverb and Deluxe Reverb, offering unique cleans that are favorable for jazz, without the typical scooped sound of a black panel Deluxe.

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Features and functionality

  • The amp's design includes offset control knobs and a 1950s retro space-themed branding, appealing to those who favor vintage aesthetics.

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  • The Swart AST MkII features an internal/external switch for easy cab connection, along with a Night Light attenuator and reverb/tremolo switch.

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  • The AST MkII utilizes a tube stage master volume, tube rectification, and includes a 12" Mojo BV-25 speaker, enhancing its tonal richness.

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