Revolutionizing Tone: the AmpRx Brownie Unleashed at NAMM 2025
NAMM 2025: AmpRx is making waves in the world of tube amplifiers with the introduction of the Brownie, an innovative voltage control device designed to enhance the sound and functionality of valve-driven guitar amps.
Marketed as a groundbreaking product,the Brownie is especially appealing to fans of Eddie Van Halen and guitarists aiming to replicate the iconic ‘Brown Sound’—the high-gain tone that defined a generation.
The core function of the Brownie is straightforward: it allows musicians to adjust the voltage with remarkable precision, enabling them to fine-tune their sound and protect their modern tube amplifiers.
Building on the success of AmpRx co-founder Cassandra Sotos’ previous invention, the BrownBox, this new device empowers players to set the exact voltage they need, ensuring a stable power supply for their tube amps regardless of the venue.
Voltage stability is crucial for achieving consistent guitar tones, as fluctuations can substantially alter sound quality. As an example, Kirk Hammett has previously noted that Marshalls tend to sound superior when powered in the UK due to voltage differences.
the advantages of the Brownie extend beyond tonal enhancement. AmpRx highlights that consistently supplying the correct voltage can also prolong the lifespan of your tube amp.
In practical terms, the device features a single knob that allows users to decrease voltage in one-volt increments or increase it in three or five-volt steps, with a digital display indicating the selected power level. Additionally, it offers both 2A and 4A fuse options to accommodate various amplifiers.
This tool could become an essential accessory for tube amp enthusiasts, particularly those striving for that classic EVH-inspired Brown Sound. Van Halen famously utilized a Variac to reduce the wall voltage feeding his amp, allowing him to crank everything to 10 without the overwhelming volume.
The Variac effectively acted as a volume control for Van Halen,enabling him to achieve his signature sound without the ear-splitting levels typically associated with high-gain settings.
In a 2017 interview with The Smithsonian’s national Museum of american History, Van Halen recounted his discovery of the Variac: “I went to this place called Dial Radio and asked, ‘Do you have any variable voltage transformer that I can use like a light dimmer?’ He said, ‘Yeah, I got this thing called a Variac.’”
He continued, “I take it home and plug the amp into it and I’d lower the voltage from like 110 slowly down to 100 and… the lowest I ever went was like 60.Depending on the room we were playing,I’d set it anywhere between 60 and 100 as the only way the amp sounded good was with everything all the way up,so that became my volume knob.”
Reproducing that distinctive amp tone has proven challenging over the years, particularly due to the high volumes associated with the Brown Sound. However, the Brownie may provide a solution to these challenges.
The Brownie is currently available for purchase at a price of $299.
for more information, visit AmpRx.
