Preowned Mitchell Sand Amp 100 2x10" 100-Watt Guitar Combo Amplifier

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This item is preowned / used, but tested in shop to be fully functional unless otherwise noted in the description. Any case, box, manuals, or accessories included will be either shown in the photos or mentioned specifically in the description. Otherwise, you can assume they are not included.

Description:

Up for sale is a vintage late-1970s Mitchell Sand Amp 100 100-watt 2x10” solid-state guitar combo amplifier, made in Riverside, California. Mitchell Speaker Co. was a small Southern California amplifier and speaker manufacturer, and its Sand Amp cabinets used an unusual construction method that set them apart from most guitar amps of the period. These are pretty rare these days, particularly the amplifier-equipped versions.

The defining feature of the Sand Amp is the ... sand, imagine that! Period documentation from 1977 describes Mitchell’s guitar cabinets as having approximately 12–15 pounds of sand hand-packed into the cabinet walls, with the interior also finished in fiberglass resin. The idea was to add mass and damp unwanted cabinet resonance rather than allowing the enclosure itself to contribute as much coloration or vibration. Mitchell offered 1x12, 2x10, and 2x12 Sand Cabinets, with the 2x10 and 2x12 versions also available from the factory with built-in amplifiers (like this one). This Sand Amp 100 combines that unusual 2x10 enclosure with a 100-watt solid-state amplifier section, which was reportetly designed by the Quilter/QSC company at the time.

We got this from its original owner, who recalls buying it in c.1978. We've sent it off for a full servicing, and to get the spring reverb working. It's got a full bill of health, and we've tested it here in the shop. The amp is loud and clear. Lots of clean headroom, but will start to break up a bit with the gain up past 3 o'clock. It leans to the bright side, and it takes pedals very well. The anti-resonance cab design works really well. Its almost weird how focused and directional the amp sounds. When you stand to the side or behind it, there is a huge drop off in volume. And if you rest your hand, or foot, or butt on it while you are playing there is practically zero vibration.

Pretty cool and unusual amp! The combination of a high-powered solid-state circuit, compact 2x10 speaker format, heavy-duty construction, and resonance-damped sand-filled cabinet makes this a particularly interesting piece of late-1970s American amplifier design.

Specs:

• Brand: Mitchell Speaker Co.
• Model: Sand Amp 100
• Era: Late 1970s
• Type: Solid-State Guitar Combo Amplifier
• Power Rating: 100 Watts
• Speaker Configuration: 2x10”
• Power Tubes / Preamp Tubes: N/A (Solid-State)
• Construction Notes: Period Mitchell literature describes approximately 12–15 lbs. of sand packed into the cabinet walls with a fiberglass-resin-finished interior
• Country of Manufacture: USA
• Location of Manufacture: Riverside, California
• Box & Accessories: None
• Condition: Vintage used condition; see photos for cosmetic details
• Test Notes: Fully tested and operating properly

Every amplifier & cabinet we sell is fully tested in our shop to ensure reliable performance. This one’s clean, quiet, and ready for the next player. If we are shipping it to you, trust that it will be packed securely and fully insured.

Domestic Shipping: for items not picked up in store, we are happy to ship them to your door! Most larger domestic packages ship UPS Ground fully insured. Smaller packages typically ship via USPS. We typically use brand new, high crush strength boxes and we pack very carefully. So, you can purchase with confidence that your item will arrive safely, and in the very rare cases where damage occurs we will work with the shipper to make it right. 

International Shipping: we ship WORLDWIDE when we can (some countries have size limits for incoming packages). Please reach out for a shipping quote if you are interested in this item. Any shipping prices generated by our website, or by Reverb are just a placeholder so we can provide an accurate quote.