Nick Mantoan Signature · KT66 / EL34 · Spring reverb
Hot
Fusion 100
Born for jazz and fusion, evolved all the way to hard rock. A single-channel head that followed Nick Mantoan’s musical journey without losing its identity.
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The original signature
A clean tone
that takes a side.
The Hot Fusion 100 began as Nick Mantoan’s signature amplifier. The goal was a clean platform with a strong personality, built for the jazz and fusion that defined his playing at the time.
The output stage was built around four KT66s: serious power, exceptional definition and an almost Hi‑Fi character. The KT66 is not a valve that tries to please everyone—and that was precisely the point. Its focused, recognisable voice gave the amplifier an unmistakable identity.
Two Electro-Harmonix 12AX7s completed the preamp. A Hi‑Fi-derived output transformer preserved the openness and precision of the four KT66s, while an integrated spring reverb added natural depth to the clean sound.
- Architecture
- Single-channel signature head
- Original preamp
- 2× Electro-Harmonix 12AX7
- Original output
- 4× KT66 · 100 W
- Voicing
- Thin / Fat · Bright
- Controls
- Equalisation · Presence · Power
- Ambience
- Integrated spring reverb
The evolution
From jazz
to hard rock.
As the years passed, Nick’s musical direction changed too: from jazz and fusion into rockabilly and eventually hard rock. The Hot Fusion evolved with him through substantial changes to both its preamp and power stage.
The Hi‑Fi transformer dedicated to four KT66s gave way to a dual-primary output transformer. The new architecture carries two different pairs: 2× KT66 for 40 watts of more vintage, highly defined tone, or 2× EL34 for 50 warmer, more dynamic watts voiced for rock. The active pair is selected directly from the standby control.
A third 12AX7 was added to the preamp as an extra gain stage. The amplifier remained single-channel, yet gained multiple identities—from almost Hi‑Fi transparency to the warmer, more aggressive push of the EL34s.
Two output pairs, two power levels and two characters in one signature head. A tone machine without equal.
The collaboration with Nick →One channel · Multiple personalities