Eternum 22 Expanded

Long-life, no electrolytic capacitor design.

The Eternum 22 amplifier is crafted with a focus on ultra high quality components that are extremely resistant to failure. This is reflected by it’s no electrolytic capacitor strategy. Aged, often 15-20 years old, electrolytic capacitors are the primary cause for guitar amplifier failure. To avoid this shortcoming, the Eternum 22 has, in their place, film capacitors. Compared to their electrolytic counterparts, these film capacitors have a lifespan that is over 20 times longer. Thus, the name Eternum, a derivative of Latin’s Aethernum meaning forever.

Unique layout.

Beyond durability, Dr. Thigpen has produced an amplifier that has innovative features. This all starts with the novel layout. The Eternum 22’s circuit layout is a unique hybrid of point to point and turret board types of construction. It emphasizes short lead length with components placed near to or soldered directly to the tube sockets. This arrangement creates direct signal paths and compact, highly localized amplification stage / power node circuit blocks. Electrically, this allows for quick responses to the rapid, transient power demands that guitar signals place on the circuit.

22 Watts in a lightweight package.

The Eternum 22 utilizes readily available tube types. From V1 to V5: they are 12AX7, 12AX7, 12AT7, 6V6GT, 6V6GT. It is constructed with an American made hand-crafted Baltic birch plywood cabinet, 12” speaker, aluminum chassis with welded corners, and custom Heyboer transformers. The Eternum 22’s 42 pounds along with it’s comfortable handle placement allows for easy carrying to your next studio session or performance.

Versatility at your fingertips.

The Eternum 22 is designed to be a versatile amplifier with useful, innovative, sound tailoring options. This starts with the guitar inputs. The traditional high and low inputs found in most amplifiers control the amount the guitar’s signal that enters the amplifier, much like the guitar’s volume control but in a fixed, non-adjustable manner. The Eternum 22 utilizes a more imaginative approach by placing the first preamp tube’s two triodes into parallel mode when the left input is used. These paralleled triodes produce more output swing or headroom and increased gain. The right input employs a more conventional implementation by delivering signal to a single triode. By deciding which input to plug into, the guitarist has access to noticeable tonal diversity that goes beyond just volume level.

The treble, bass, and mids controls are customary in function. Volume and master change loudness and depending on how they are adjusted alter the amplifier’s harmonic richness. The drive control is somewhat distinct in it’s implementation. Unlike volume and master, it can be turned all the way down, and the amplifier will still produce sound. The best way to describe it is as an additional control that adjusts the level of overdrive produced in the middle gain stages, a useful feature for overdriven tones at lower volume levels.

The fidelity switch influences gain and frequency response. When the switch is placed in the middle position (- minus sign) for the low fidelity setting, the gain is high and the amplifier’s natural frequency response is in full force. For sounds similar to high fidelity audio equipment, select the up position (++ double plus sign) for the high fidelity setting which gives reduced gain and a flatter frequency response. The down position (+ single plus sign) is the medium fidelity setting which is in between the other two in effect. For those who plug straight into the amplifier, the fidelity control is yet another option for sound exploration. For the effects enthusiast, it is the perfect addition for pedals that benefit from less gain and a more even frequency response.

The voice control adds another layer of sonic flexibility by influencing the dynamic qualities of the Eternum 22 amplifier. The modern voice gives the amplifier a crisper feel with a faster reaction to pick attack while the classic voice provides a softer, squishier touch response.