Introduction to the iCon 18

Designed with the end user in mind

The iCon 18 was a concept that I wanted to try out, and with great success it turns out.
I built the prototype, using a specification, seemingly foreign to many guitar players, build with a clean and faithful reproduction of what goes in, comes out. With no colouring or any nasty distortion.
Basically, a clean sound.
The chassis was formed using 3mm softAluminium Sheet. Folded and cut to fit the new plywood case that was covered in Tweed Style Tolex.
Design a power transformer to provide the voltages required, and an output transformer to match a pair of old school 6V6GT valves to a quality Celestion Loudspeaker with a full range of frequency response. Unlike some that sound as if the player is kicking a cardboard box around and empty room.

Making the turret boards

The turret boards are made from plain fibre board, cut to size, drilled and populated with firstly turrets and then components. After all is said and done, the main turret boards, are the heart of a reliable circuit.
A mechanically formed wrap joint and then solder makes a good job that lasts for years and years.
The main components within the power supply section are rated at 105°C. Unlike most other manufacturers using 85°C components. This means they can withstand the higher temperatures reached, when driving any amplifier hard. Heat is a by product of power after all.
All components are mounted off the board, that ensures good convection of any heat and stops the build up of dangerous temperatutures that cause component failure.

Power, protection and future servicing

The mains supply is connected via a standard 10Amp IEC connector into the integral mains filter, to help keep mains borne interference out of the amplifier and protected by a ceramic fuse.
The main HT or high voltage supply for the valves is also protected with a fuse, ensuring that in the event of a power valve failure, minimal damage can occur.
Valves are very forgiving and will normally let you know when they are weak or about to fail, unlike semiconductors that just go bang.
In the unlikely event of a component failing, servicing is straighforward for your engineer to achieve, if out of the warranty period, as all components are easily accessible without the need for board removal, as usually found in factory produced equipment.
Service information is available upon request after purchase.

If any issues are reported with the workings of any equipment made by us, we will update all that require updating. Any safety components must have equivalent components fitted if they have failed as they are designed to fail, to prevent a catastrophic failure, saving the repair engineers' time, and the owner money.

User notes
The Icon 18 is equipped with Gain, Treble, Middle, Bass, Volume, Curve and Power On/Off with a Pilot lamp. Point to point wiring using only the highest grade components and internal fusing protects the High Voltage lines. Capacitors are rated at 105°C ensuring an extra long life.

Mostly, self-explanatory, but the Curve control gives a little extra. Clockwise rotation increases upper frequencies, and anti-clockwise increases lower frequencies. Very useful when swopping your Strat for a Tele, for instance.
The mains IEC socket, has a Mains Interference Noise Filter, with a fuse next to it. (The filter helps reduce crackles from noisy electrical things like beer coolers and fridges etc).
The mains socket is situated behind the rear cover, towards the left of the chassis as you look at the rear of the speaker.
There is a Speaker Jack Socket to allow for other cabinets to be plugged in, as the Icon 18 is designed to cope with more than just your Lead Guitar.

NEVER
use any Valve Amplifier without a Loudspeaker connected, as permanent damage may occur that will not be covered by any warranty offered.