BlueRock Custom is the Torres name for a range of classic twin channel amplifiers designed to meet the demands of guitarists playing Blues and Rock styles of music.

The classic amplifiers of the 50s and 60s employed pairs of output valves working in push-pull. This technique produced very efficient, low-noise amplifiers with the characteristic harmonic signature associated the music of the period, Blues and Rock. The BlueRock amps use this same push-pull type of approach together with the hand-built, point-to-point construction methods typical of the time. They are in these terms classic, all-valve, guitar amplifiers.

Whilst all push-pull valve amplifiers will have general characteristics in common, they can nonetheless be designed with widely differing tonal quality. A Musician can select from a wide range of single channel amps the one that produces the sound that best fits his style of music. Many musicians, however, play many different styles of music and thus need a greater range of sounds than can be generated by a straight-forward single channel amplifier. Twin channel amplifiers like the BlueRock are designed to fulfill this need.

Torres have a wide experience of building twin channel amps of this type and have used this experience and the feedback from its customers to create BlueRock Custom amps to the highest standard. These are amplifiers not just for guitarists but for musicians.

The BlueRock has been specifically designed as a most flexible amplifier with a very wide range of tones and effects. It has twin, independent, foot-switchable pre-amplifier channels each with high and normal gain inputs and full set of tone controls. The first channel generates a clean, warm Fender-like sound with controlled distortion when over-driven. There is a ‘Pull Bright’ switch on the volume control. The Lead channel produces a contrasting, much more heavily distorted (not super high gain) but still controlled sound. The Lead channel includes a Gain control allowing selection of the level of distortion. The Gain control has a ‘Pull Fat’ switch to provide a gain boost. The lead channel has another refinement in the form of a ‘Filter’ positioned at the end of the lead channel which allows the user to back off harsh highs that can spoil the over-driven sound. There is a Lead Master volume control so that the volumes of the two channels can be matched for active switching between channels. The Lead Master has ‘Pull Channel Switch’ which changes channel in the absence of a footswitch.

Valve-driven Reverb is available on both channels. There is an overall Presence control and a Dual Master volume which allows the pre-amp generated tones to be retained down to low volume. The valve-buffered Parallel Effects Loop, also available on both channels, has a blender control on the rear of the chassis which allows continuous sweep from completely wet to completely dry without change in overall volume.

In general, these amplifiers are set up such that the output valves just start to clip as the volume and master controls are turned fully up.

The BlueRock pre-amp can be matched into a whole range of output sections from 20 to 100 watts. At the highest power level solid-state rectification is normal but all other power options use valve rectification. At each power level there is a choice of output valve types – for example a 30-50 watt amp might use 2x6L6s or 4x6V6 (both beam tetrodes) or 2xEL34 (pentodes) – choices that have a second order but important effect on the tone of the amp.

In the summary we have described the BlueRock as a class A amplifier. This is because in most cases the BlueRock will be set-up using cathode biasing and relatively high bias current; both features associated with the characteristic warm tones of the class A amplifier. It may be, however, that a particular customer might choose to compromise somewhat and go for grid biasing in order to increase efficiency and output power, in which case the amp will work in highish class A/B rather than class A. The differences will be subtle.

The BlueRock amplifiers are constructed on robust, zinc coated, mild steel chassis which offer excellent strength, magnetic screening and corrosion protection. The amplifiers are built using high quality components (e.g. orange drop and silver mica caps) and magnetics (transformers and choke) all of which are made in the UK to Torres specification. The amplifiers are hand-built and point-to-point wired to the highest standard using multi-stranded, colour-coded leads – please see the photo illustration. Bias monitoring is built in. An amp built to these standards can be tuned, modified, added to and maintained indefinitely.

Torres are proud of the high standard of their construction and every amplifier is signed by the person building it.

Particular attention has been paid to wiring layout and construction to ensure the amp is as free from hum and spurious noise as possible. For a high again amplifier this is very quiet.

The BlueRock amps can be supplied in either head or combo cabinet. In either case the cabinet is constructed from solid pine using dove-tailed joints. The colour, type and style of covering can be chosen from a wide range of options. Combos can be fitted with the speakers of choice. The amps are supplied with tough, water-repellant, fleece-lined covers.

Warranty & Maintenance

All Torres amps carry a full 1 year warranty on all parts and labour.

If at any time in the future, the amp needs care and attention, the best route is to send the amp back to Torres. The construction of the BlueRock, however, is classical and conventional and any competent technician should be able to carry out any necessary maintenance.