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RAJANI
VOD-50 HEAD

WORDS RICHARD PURVIS

This new indie amp builder is aiming for high-end sounds without using
output valves. But can a hybrid really do the business for serious tonehounds?

ybrids are everywhere these days: In this context, the Rajani VOD-50 is As a guitarist with a background in
half-petrol, half-electric cars run the something of an oddity. Built one at a time audio electronics, Ravi got into amp-building
roads; smartwatches with analogue- in the company’s London workshop, this because, as is often the case, nothing on the
H style aesthetics bridge the chasms channel-switching amp – also available as market was capable of giving him the sound
between old and new; and you’ll even find a 1x12 combo – has a four-figure price-tag he heard in his head. An essential part of that
plant-made meat between your burger buns. and a distinct whiff of ‘boutique’ about it. sound is the combination of brilliant clean
It stands to reason, then, that a hybrid guitar Yet this is a hybrid, with two valves in the tones and pure valve overdrive, hence the
amp might work too. True, the combination front half of the circuit but no big bottles at two-channel design of the VOD-50. Ravi
of a valve preamp and solid-state output the business end. It may raise the eyebrows also wanted something loud enough to gig
stage makes sense but this is an idea that’s of purists but can it compete with the all- with yet easily portable and superb at low
been largely squeezed out due to the ever- tube alternatives in terms of tone? Ravi volume, which is presumably what led to
improving quality of digital modelling amps. Rajani certainly thinks so. that solid-state power stage.

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