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Zinky Smokey

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Page last updated Apr 02, 2026

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Description

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Compact yet powerful, the Zinky Smokey is a mini guitar amplifier that delivers impressive sound quality in a portable package, making it perfect for practice sessions, home use, or impromptu jam sessions. Despite its small size, the Zinky Smokey packs a punch, offering a clear and crisp tone that belies its dimensions. Its straightforward design ensures ease of use, allowing musicians of all levels to effortlessly dial in the desired sound.

Crafted with versatility in mind, the Zinky Smokey is compatible with any guitar and fits snugly into a gig bag or backpack for on-the-go convenience. It's battery-powered, so you can bring your music to life anywhere without needing an electrical outlet. This mini amplifier is ideal for those seeking a reliable, no-fuss solution to practice without compromising on sound quality.

Key Features:

Compact and portable design
Battery-powered for ultimate mobility
Delivers clear and crisp tones
Compatible with any guitar
Simple and user-friendly interface

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Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Zinky Smokey.

Features and functionality

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The Zinky Smokey uses an LM386 chip and can drive larger cabinets like a 4x12 for improved bass response.
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A good layout and grounding the enclosure can reduce noise sensitivity in the LM386 circuit.
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Mods and upgrades

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Replacing the stock 50-cent speaker with a better external speaker significantly enhances sound quality.
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Bridging pins 1 and 8 of the LM386 chip with a 100Ω resistor or 1k trimpot can help manage gain.
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Comparisons

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Before settling on the Smokey, consider Artec mini amps which offer features like volume knobs and drive/distortion options for slightly more cost.
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The Ruby amp, similar to the Smokey, includes a gain pot and jfet buffer for potentially cleaner headroom.
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Setup and maintenance

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Using a 9V battery is crucial to avoid oscillation; voltage below this can cause issues.
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Use cases and applications

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The amp's inherent fuzz effect is preferred for dirty blues tones but not ideal for clean sounds.
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Build quality

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Excessive wiring can lead to a buzzy or oscillating sound due to the amp's high gain sensitivity.
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Artist usage

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Jesse Hughes

Singer, Guitarist

The Desert Sessions

Verified via Premierguitar

According to an Interview on Premier Guitar Jesse uses this Cigarette amp in the Studio.

Trey Gunn

Guitarist, Bassist

King Crimson

Verified via Treygunn

The Smokey amp by Zlinky. I originally got turned on to this concept by producer David Bottrill (Crimson, Tool, Peter Gabriel). David would mic up the smokey and then feed things from the track to it. Often times he would use it to re-record vocals through. But guitars or percussion, pretty much anything totally changed into something else. And whatever it ended up as always sat in the track in a totally new way. Believe or not, the output of this tiny amp can drive a Marshall cabinet. It isn't loud but it does work. I have had some customized ones made that have different gain structures for the in and outs. I use them in a peculiar way that you can see on the track "Sozzle". Instead of bringing the guitar to the amp to create feedback, I bring the amp to the guitar.