SeQuel Vermont

[213Cobra]

In Stringswinger's recent thread about how many amps one needs, I posted the four amps that are essential for me right now:

• Wavelength Twenty Four 5W single-ended pentode tube head w/ 10" hardwood cab, Celestion 10" Gold Alnico inside.
• Wavelength Guitar Noggin wideband headphone guitar amp w/ Universal Audio Enigmatic pedal in front (my wee hours amp).
• Henriksen Bud Six.
• Big Industries Ronnie Montrose 9V amp (my patio amplifier).

When I posted that, I momentarily forgot I had ordered a SeQuel Vermont. I don't really need it but the video demo on Raezer's site sounded so beautiful I wanted to experience it. Seven day return, nothing to lose. Well, it's everything the demo suggested. With a Class D power section and Johnny Smith's broadband hifi preferences, it would seem to be sort of Henriksen-adjacent. But it's really its own thing. The 12ax7 front end gives it a surprisingly complete tube amp feel; touch-sensitive and dynamically explosive even at modest volumes. Exceedingly articulate but still loaded with tone. 12" Jensen Tornado speaker. Non-interactive tone controls and dreamy reverb that does subtle very well. It arrived yesterday. Already I know I'm keeping it. So, I need the four above, but I want the fifth. It arrived having traveled through winter, and a relatively (for L.A.) cold 48º day, so I let the speaker cone acclimate to indoors temperature for a couple of hours before I powered it up. I grabbed a Telecaster Cabronita that was already out, first. DiMarzio mini-humbuckers, and gosh, it was all beauty & chime. Then I got into it with my L-5 Wesmo; more of the same. If I was going to get a SeQuel, I was initially inclined to go all-tube, but the hybrid Vermont demo online really charmed me, especially as a voice not already in hand. This one is not of necessity, but it's beautiful fun to have it.

Phil

[Stringswinger]

Phil, that amp looks like a fine addition to your well curated collection. Enjoy!

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

Mighty fine! I’m more strongly convinced every day that a good front end with class D power is the way to go. Preamps like the Quilter 202’s are mighty tube-like, and a real tube front end (like this one and the DV Mark EG250) is a real tube.

But that cabinet is a step beyond - it’s absolutely sublime!

[skykomishone]

I like the SeQuel amps. It's hard not to like them. I have the 1st Skoter that was produced.
They're very nice. Congratulations.

[213Cobra]

Phil, that amp looks like a fine addition to your well curated collection. Enjoy!

Thank you. If I keep my resolve, I'll revise your comment to: "Phil, that amp looks like a final addition to your well-curated collection." -Phil

[213Cobra]

Mighty fine! I’m more strongly convinced every day that a good front end with class D power is the way to go. Preamps like the Quilter 202’s are mighty tube-like, and a real tube front end (like this one and the DV Mark EG250) is a real tube.

But that cabinet is a step beyond - it’s absolutely sublime!

Yeah, I love the vintage look. Even the varnish job on the face panel looks vintage; period-imperfect. Old-school outside / mixed-school inside. Shortly after I posted I got a private email from another prime poster here, asking me about how the Vermont compares to my Bud Six.

I think first, the tube front end makes a big difference. Not everyone will know what I mean, but in recording terms, the Henriksen has the clean broadband character of a modern DAW. Johnny Smith wanted broadband, even octave-to-octave response, but if you listen to his recordings, they all have intrinsic tone and reflected the character of hifi back in the day. Somewhat rolled off. Moonlight In Vermont sounds like he's playing through Acoustic Research AR-1s and early McIntosh tube amps, for a hifi sound that was real then. Not the same as broadband today. Back to the studio analogy, the Vermont has more the character of a phase-linear, low-distortion 1960's Rupert Neve studio console with his embedded tone, if that means anything to you. The tube front end can give you most of the bursty feel of a tube amp, so the Class D back end can do its job in sonic neutrality. Then, the Vermont has a real, voiced, guitar speaker, instead of the hifi drivers in the Bud and Blu. I love my Bud Six for the transparent instrument it is, and its 5 band EQ grants a lot of flexibility to emulate other sounds. But the Vermont is an open back cab instead of (mostly closed and) ported, with the characteristics of a voiced, 12" guitar speaker. Plus the Vermont reverb is sublime. In this case, it creates a voice the Henriksen can't duplicate but can approximate. However, the Henriksens make accessible a range of sounds the Vermont can't altogether imitate. A tube front-end Henriksen could be even greater than what a Bud is, but I understand why that's not in the line now, though they've done it in the past. We do this (tube front end with solid state back end) in hifi, especially years ago, to put tube preamp musicality into a tight-spinctered solid state amp to find tone and elasticity from the discipline of transistor and MOSFET amps. Without the requirement for strict linearity, there's a lot of latitude for this approach in guitar amps, and the result can be a (big) cut above a modeling, chip-based front end.

Phil

[213Cobra]

I like the SeQuel amps. It's hard not to like them. I have the 1st Skoter that was produced.
They're very nice. Congratulations.

Interest in Skoter was what got me interested in SeQuel. But for reasons stated I went with the Vermont. Ten or 12 days ago the Skoter was on Raezer's website, but today it's gone, Tribute (all-tube), Vermont & Alfresco 112 (hybrids) are what remain. If Skoter is a goner, hang onto and enjoy that compact tone machine.

Phil

[Fusionshred]

Geoff has some really interesting ideas, great service and innovative products. Very reliable, well made stuff.

Great observations. The open back design, the guitar speaker and the actual reverb tank are huge advantages if you’re looking for a familiar classic sound.

[marcwhy]

Interest in Skoter was what got me interested in SeQuel. But for reasons stated I went with the Vermont. Ten or 12 days ago the Skoter was on Raezer's website, but today it's gone, Tribute (all-tube), Vermont & Alfresco 112 (hybrids) are what remain. If Skoter is a goner, hang onto and enjoy that compact tone machine.

Phil

Noooooooooo!! That's lousy news!

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

We do this (tube front end with solid state back end) in hifi, especially years ago, to put tube preamp musicality into a tight-spinctered solid state amp to find tone and elasticity from the discipline of transistor and MOSFET amps.

Absolutely! One of the best power amps I ever had was a Yamaha B-2. They only made this VFET amp for about 3 years (‘77-9 IIRC). Driven by my Marantz 7C, the combination was magnificent through LS3/5as. The B-2 was warm like the HK Citation 2 it replaced, but tighter and cleaner from bottom to top. I did have an 8b as well, which I used to drive the tweeters in my triamped IRS speakers while the B-2 drove the mids and a Hafler 500 (a MOSFET amp) pushed the bass. I used a Nakamichi 3 way active Xover.

My wife hated the huge IRS pair and eventually got her wish for smaller speakers in the living room. I got the Rogers new in ‘75 and used them in my home studio for 40 years.

[EastwoodMike]

I wonder how comparable these are to Milkman Creamer amps? Tube front and class D power section, Jupiter speaker etc.

[Stringswinger]

I wonder how comparable these are to Milkman Creamer amps? Tube front and class D power section, Jupiter speaker etc.

The Milkman Creamer is all tube. The Amp 12 Combo and the Steel Guitar half and half are their Hybrid combos. Neither of those use Jupiter Speakers.

Milkman 20W Creamer Guitar Amplifier – Milkman Sound

[skykomishone]

A brief AI generated history of SeQuel Amplifier:

History and Evolution

• Origin: The concept originated with Michael Biller (Sound Island Music) and was manufactured in collaboration with Verellen in Seattle for early models.
• Design Philosophy: The goal was not to clone, but to create "respectful interpretations" of vintage, warm-toned amps, focusing on clarity, dimension, and musicality, rather than high-gain, overdrive tones.
• Models:
  
  • The Tribute: A 1x12 combo, often touted as a "modern" take on the 1948 Gibson GA-50, designed for maximum, clean archtop sound, famously favored for its "church bells on a snowy night" clarity.
  • The Vermont: A hybrid, 1x12 combo (200-watt Class D power with a 12AX7 tube preamp) designed as a tribute to Johnny Smith, offering a mix of vintage warmth and modern power.
  • SK?TER: A compact, 1950s-inspired, tube-driven model.
  
  
• Legacy: Following Biller's passing, the line continued under Raezer's Edge in Wisconsin. Raezers Edge +7

SeQuel amps are designed to be "invisible" in the signal chain, allowing the pure voice of the instrument to shine through, favored heavily by jazz guitarists.

Michael Biller and I were friends, and the concepts for these amps were originally his. The Skoter was the last he did. When I first heard him playing through it at one of our sessions, I asked him if he wanted to sell it. He said it was a prototype and wanted to make a few changes, and that he would sell it to me when the time came, which it did.
He was a really good person that went too soon. He was always providing these amps to some of the greatest players to use when they were in town, like Jim Hall, John and Bucky Pizzarelli, etc. Verellen knew how to work the magic that Michael dreamed up.

[EastwoodMike]

You are right, I was thinking of the hybrid ones.
does the Sequel have Jupiter though? In the images online it looks like a Jensen Neo Tornado which would be a better match for the wattage output?
Maybe OP can correct me?

[213Cobra]

You are right, I was thinking of the hybrid ones.
does the Sequel have Jupiter though? In the images online it looks like a Jensen Neo Tornado which would be a better match for the wattage output?
Maybe OP can correct me?

Sorry, my error. I've corrected the top post. It is a Jensen Tornado driver inside the amp. -Phil

[powerwagonjohn]

It looks like my Gibson GA-75 amps. Yes I have two, my wife made me buy both.
Thanks John

[2bornot2bop]

Absolutely! One of the best power amps I ever had was a Yamaha B-2. They only made this VFET amp for about 3 years (‘77-9 IIRC). Driven by my Marantz 7C, the combination was magnificent through LS3/5as. The B-2 was warm like the HK Citation 2 it replaced, but tighter and cleaner from bottom to top. I did have an 8b as well, which I used to drive the tweeters in my triamped IRS speakers while the B-2 drove the mids and a Hafler 500 (a MOSFET amp) pushed the bass. I used a Nakamichi 3 way active Xover.

My wife hated the huge IRS pair and eventually got her wish for smaller speakers in the living room. I got the Rogers new in ‘75 and used them in my home studio for 40 years.

uh-oh, audio gear talk!

[2bornot2bop]

So is the Ravine model the entry level of the Sequel speakers?

[58flame]

I've been considering this amp for a while. Thanks for the review.

[213Cobra]

I've been considering this amp for a while. Thanks for the review.

I had an email correspondence with ThatRhythmMan about this, in which he mentioned you. I haven't heard back, but if he hasn't shared that with you, ask him for it. There's a fair amount of additional commentary pertinent to his questions about the differences between the Vermont and the Bud Six.

Phil

[ThatRhythmMan]

I had an email correspondence with ThatRhythmMan about this, in which he mentioned you. I haven't heard back, but if he hasn't shared that with you, ask him for it. There's a fair amount of additional commentary pertinent to his questions about the differences between the Vermont and the Bud Six.

Phil

Shared! Also emailed you.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[58flame]

I had an email correspondence with ThatRhythmMan about this, in which he mentioned you. I haven't heard back, but if he hasn't shared that with you, ask him for it. There's a fair amount of additional commentary pertinent to his questions about the differences between the Vermont and the Bud Six.

Phil

He did thank you.