Jamie Cook

Jamie Cook plays a Vox AC15 during the recording and live performances for “Tranquility Base Hotel And Casino” in 2018 & 2019 along with his Hiwatt Studio/Stage 2x12 Combo. Previous Jamie and lead singer/lead guitarist Alex Turner had both been seen playing Vox AC30s at different points such as their first tour and Alex played one during their live performances occasionally during the “Suck It and See” era.

The AC15 Jamie plays is new for his set up, being seen during their film, “Warp Speed Chic” which is a video of the recording of their 6th album and at all live performances of that said tour.

Jamie Cook uses a vintage Selmer Futurama Bassist Major during the recording of the bands second album, “Favourite Worst Nightmare,” as seen in the “Teddy Picker” music video which shows footage of the band recording this song as well as the set up for the rest of the recording sessions. The amp can be seen at 00:22 seconds into the video, next to Jamie’s Hiwatt stack.

Around the time of Arctic Monkeys second album, the band acquired multiple vintage Selmer amplifiers. Alex started to play a Zodiac Twin 30, which became his main amp for each album following, and a Solid State 30, Jamie played through this Futurama series amp.

The amp can also be seen in the bands music video for their song “Four Out of Five” off of their 6th album titled “Tranquility Base Hotel And Casino.” The amp has not been seen used live by the band, as Jamie uses his Hiwatt Studio/Stage 2x12 and his BadCat during the bands second tour.

Jamie Cook uses a Hiwatt Studio/Stage 2x12 combo as his main amplifier for recording and live shows for almost every tour Arctic Monkeys has done. Cook can first be seen using this amplifier as early as the bands first tour and as late as their last tour when Jamie used this Hiwatt and an AC30 for his live setup. Alex Turner, the lead singer/guitarist of the band has the same model as Cook, he can be seen using it occasionally during their first and second tours. Alex’s Hiwatt can also be seen during their live performance at Maida Vale in 2018.

The Hiwatt Studio/Stage 2x12 Combo uses a specially wound output transformer. The Hiwatt Studio Stage Combo can switch from 20 watts to 40 watts of power, while retaining its pure Class A tone. Features include High and Low sensitivity inputs, Gain with switchable boost, Bass, mid, Treble, full size Accutronic spring reverb and master volume control. Equipped with 2 Fane 12" speakers all assembled in an 18 marine ply cabinet.

Boasting the classic design that brought Hiwatt to the forefront of amplification, the Classic Series tube amps feature the point-to-point, military specific design based on Dave Reeves' original amplifiers. Hiwatt Custom amplifiers use only the best quality components, including hand-wound Partridge transformers and marine birch hand-built cabinets.

Pictured, the Hiwatt amp can be seen behind Jamie during the first tour of Arctic Monkeys first album, “Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not.”

Jamie Cook plays a Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus at various points during recording and live sessions for Arctic Monkeys. The Roland can first be seen during the recording of their first album pictured here next to Matt when the band practiced at Yellow Arch Studios. The Rolland can also be seen at different live shows during the Humbug era.

First introduced way back in 1975, the JC-120 Jazz Chorus is one of the few guitar amps that can truly be called a legend. Roland’s long-standing flagship is universally recognized by pros as the benchmark in clean guitar sound, and its rich tone and famous built-in stereo chorus effect have been heard on countless popular songs over its long history. Now celebrating 40 years of continuous production and counting, the JC-120 remains the undisputed “king of clean,” and the enduring choice of serious guitarists everywhere.

Jamie typically uses Hiwatt amps, which are known for their clean tones, similar to this Rolland.

Jamie Cook can be seen endorsing a flashy, Marshall-esque head and cabinet boasting the Simms-Watts logotype. However, the amp is, in fact, a replica of the original, built by Rosewell amps, who have a history with Arctic Monkeys. Cook is known to have played through other amps by the brand, such as the Bluesman 30 on the band's 2011 album, Suck It And See. On Rosewell's website, under the item listing for the "Custom 100W Head", the amp-makers explain: "Rosewell amps have worked extensivley with Arctic Monkeys guitarist Jamie Cook building an repairing many of their amplifiers. When Jamie Cook started having problems with his original 1970s Simms-Watt head, Rosewell Amplification helped him to find the solution. The original Simms Watt amplifier was built on a very thin chassis causing it to bend and break components when the band were moving the amplifier from gig to gig. Rosewell built a direct clone of the original Simms amplifier on a strengthened chassis and this now is Jamie's go-to amplifier should the original Simms have problems or the band have a punishing overseas shedule."

Jamie Cook played a Vox AC30 during live performances with Arctic Monkeys at different points though out their careers. In the live performances following the release of the bands first album, “Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m not,” both lead guitarist/lead singer Alex Turner and Jamie began experimenting with their amps. They are both seen using Hiwatt Studio/Stage 2x12 Combos and these Vox AC30s.

After their initial experimentations, Alex used the AC30 while Jamie seemed to stick with other amps until the band released their 6th album, “Tranquility Base Hotel And Casino,” where Jamie implemented an AC15 into the recording and live sessions.

Pictured, an early show of the band with both Jamie and Alex playing AC30s at one of their shows on their first tour. These Vox amps replaced Alex’s Orange and Jamie’s Hiwatt for this show, but they didn’t seem to stick with them as their primary sound as Alex moved toward more vintage amps such as Selmers and Magnatones and Jamie went with more clean and powerful Hiwatt style amps.

it's clearly seen at 12:05.

you know, I was saying "so... I rated that Hot Cat amp as completely incorrect, because I can see that his cable goes not to the edge of panel, but to the middle. I can't find any amps like that". I was searching for that amp for long... 15 minutes. really, I just opened AM forum and saw that Jamie used Wild Cat model. there's tons of content for Equipboard, like John Ashton (their touring keyboardist/guitarist during Humbug and early Suck It And See tours) equipment. heck, he doesn't even has his own page here.

anyway, it's Bad Cat Wild Cat amp. Jamie used it during FWN and early Humbug eras.

Jamie Cook played an Audio Kitchen Big Chopper during the recording of Arctic Monkeys fourth album, “Suck It and See.” Jamie borrowed the amp from sound engineer James Brown, as mentioned in an interview with Sound on Sound with producer James Ford.

“Cook's guitar setup revolves around a '60s Simms Watts rig and custom‑built Rosewell Bluesman, though for the Sound City sessions, he also borrowed engineer James Brown's Audio Kitchen Big Chopper amp. For more ambient sounds, he'd plug into various toys, including a WEM Copicat or Roland Space Echo, Electro‑Harmonix Holiest Grail reverb pedal and Fulltone Deja Vibe stereo phase/chorus.”

Ford goes on to mention more about Jamie’s set up with the amp, as well as his normal amps "Cookie does either the spacey, watery, roomy sounds,” says Ford, ‘which were vibrato and reverb and a bit of echo. Or he does the kind of heavy, single‑note type of stuff. We used the Audio Kitchen for his heavier stuff.. it had a Vox AC30 sort of vibe, but with a bit more presence and clarity. His live take would be close‑miked, and then we'd bring the amp into the room and maybe double it with a distant mic, Jimi Hendrix‑style, from the other side of the room.’”

Pictured is from the recording sessions of “Suck It and See” with pictures from the interview including Alex’s set up, Jamie’s, Matt’s and Nick’s. Right is the Audio Kitchen Big Chopper Amplifier next to Jamie’s custom‑built Rosewell Bluesman.

(Sound on Sound, James Ford: Producing Arctic Monkeys) https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.soundonsound.com/people/james-ford-producing-arctic-monkeys%3famp

Jamie Cook played an Audio Kitchen 1x12 with a Big Chopper during the recording of Arctic Monkeys fourth album, “Suck It and See.” Jamie borrowed the amp and cabinet from sound engineer James Brown, as mentioned in an interview with Sound on Sound with producer James Ford.

“Cook's guitar setup revolves around a '60s Simms Watts rig and custom‑built Rosewell Bluesman, though for the Sound City sessions, he also borrowed engineer James Brown's Audio Kitchen Big Chopper amp. For more ambient sounds, he'd plug into various toys, including a WEM Copicat or Roland Space Echo, Electro‑Harmonix Holiest Grail reverb pedal and Fulltone Deja Vibe stereo phase/chorus.”

Ford goes on to mention more about Jamie’s set up with the amp and cab, as well as his other amps, "Cookie does either the spacey, watery, roomy sounds,” says Ford, ‘which were vibrato and reverb and a bit of echo. Or he does the kind of heavy, single‑note type of stuff. We used the Audio Kitchen for his heavier stuff.. it had a Vox AC30 sort of vibe, but with a bit more presence and clarity. His live take would be close‑miked, and then we'd bring the amp into the room and maybe double it with a distant mic, Jimi Hendrix‑style, from the other side of the room.’”

Pictured is from the recording sessions of “Suck It and See” with pictures from the interview including Alex’s set up, Jamie’s, Matt’s and Nick’s. Right is the Audio Kitchen Big Chopper Amplifier and 1x12 cabinet next to Jamie’s custom‑built Rosewell Bluesman.

(Sound on Sound, James Ford: Producing Arctic Monkeys) https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.soundonsound.com/people/james-ford-producing-arctic-monkeys%3famp

Jamie Cook played a Rosewell Bluesman 30 Amp during the recording of Arctic Monkeys fourth album, “Suck It and See,” as mentioned in an interview with Sound on Sound with producer James Ford.

“Cook's guitar setup revolves around a '60s Simms Watts rig and custom‑built Rosewell Bluesman, though for the Sound City sessions, he also borrowed engineer James Brown's Audio Kitchen Big Chopper amp. For more ambient sounds, he'd plug into various toys, including a WEM Copicat or Roland Space Echo, Electro‑Harmonix Holiest Grail reverb pedal and Fulltone Deja Vibe stereo phase/chorus.”

Ford goes on to mention more about Jamie’s set up with the Rosewell, as well as his other amplifiers, "Cookie does either the spacey, watery, roomy sounds,” says Ford, ‘which were vibrato and reverb and a bit of echo. Or he does the kind of heavy, single‑note type of stuff. We used the Audio Kitchen for his heavier stuff.. it had a Vox AC30 sort of vibe, but with a bit more presence and clarity. His live take would be close‑miked, and then we'd bring the amp into the room and maybe double it with a distant mic, Jimi Hendrix‑style, from the other side of the room.’”

Pictured is from the recording sessions of “Suck It and See” with pictures from the interview including Alex’s set up, Jamie’s, Matt’s and Nick’s. Left is the Rosewell Bluesman next to Brown’s Audio Kitchen Big Chopper Amplifier.

(Sound on Sound, James Ford: Producing Arctic Monkeys) https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.soundonsound.com/people/james-ford-producing-arctic-monkeys%3famp

this amp is visible at 1:45.