Toronto-based Tony Texeira has been building amplifiers for over 15 years under the Tex/Texeira name, and has been pivotal in bringing the "projector amp" concept into the marketplace following in heralded amp builder Bernie Raunig's footsteps. One look at the Tex lineup and you'll see that namesake proudly represented. Tony has taken the concept and formalized it into a robust, well-built design that has proven to be much more road-worthy and reliable than some of the more finicky vintage projector circuits of the 50s and 60s. Just ask Wilco's Jeff Tweedy and Bahamas' Afie Jurvanen.

The current Tex lineup includes a number of compact yet tonally monstrous amplifiers, mostly built around a 1x10 combo format (the EF86 model and occasional one-off build will get you into a 1x12 combo). Powered exclusively by EL84s, one might think Vox, but the moment you plug into a Tex you're quickly reminded of that whole projector amp tonality. These amps have loads of harmonic richness and depth combined with a dynamic response very few amp builders have been able to match. Sure, you can pull some of the brighter, chimier Vox-isms out of a Tex, but there's a fullness in the low end and low-midrange that provide a more balanced and frankly bigger sounding amp without the blistering volume.

The EF86 model represents the biggest amp offering in the Tex lineup, featuring an 18" x 18" x 9" cabinet with a UK made Celestion G12M Greenback 12" speaker. The most unique part of this circuit is the tube that bears the amp's name - an EF86 pentode preamp tube provides a different tone and response than the more traditional 12AX7 tube, yielding a quicker more aggressive overdrive that is darker and more rounded sounding. When implemented the right way, an EF86 front end can deliver some great Marshall-like overdrive and attack. The addition of a push/pull bass boost switch in the tone pot allows for even greater tonal range and flexibility. This is a great feature that can help fatten up the tone of single coil pickups. 

Rare NOS components that made vintage amps so sonically revered are carefully selected and implemented in each amp Tony makes, and that includes tubes! You're not apt to find many another amp builders out there who build amps stock with vintage tubes. Tony is all about delivering the best possible version of his circuits to the player, every time.

It probably goes without saying at this point, but we're giddy about these amps and we're so excited to get these in your hands!