EARLS COURT, LONDON:

The new Kif 3 Petrol Powered amp

MetalExpo2004, the rock music industry's 3 day product show opened its doors to the public this morning at London's Earls Court Exhibition Centre.

One of highlights of the show is expected to be the long awaited commercial release of the new guitar amplifier range from South African Manufacturer Kif.

Although a relatively new entry to the rock guitar amplifier market, Kif's impressive range, power, and sheer tonality has made it a serious contender to Marshall, one of the industry's longstanding heavyweights.

Kif Head of Development Pieter VanDerHaven claimed the new offerings would revolutionize the heavy metal scene.

"Our research and development team have spent over 5 years developing the Kif 3 series," he said at this morning's Press release. "And we think our Petrol amps are going to change the way people look at the traditional rock set-up."

Marking a radical departure from tradition, Kif claim their new amp is the world's first "Petrol Powered" guitar amplifier. Boasting an impressive 3 horsepower output (Amplifier manufacturers have traditionally rated amplifier system output in wattage) the South African company believes the Kif 3, their petrol powered 3 horsepower air-cooled 2.25 kVA / 2250 watt RMS power equivalent amp offers superior dynamics and far greater tonal complexity than its traditional electric-powered valve rivals.

"The overdrive modes offer miles of punchy response and tons of gain," claimed. VanDerHaven. "And once the oil's warmed up and the unit's idling nicely, the feedback, sustain, and midrange response would seriously kick a wall of (Marshall) JCM800 cabinet's ass."

According to its manufacturers, the Kif 3 features fundamental differences in functionality and handling. Rather than employing the traditional 0-10 volume control, the PP range controls output via a unique revolutions per minute (r.p.m) system, with volume levels regulated directly by the unit's engine revolutions. But just like a traditional valve amplifier, the Kif also takes time to warm up, requiring a minimum of 5 minutes at idle speed to come "on song."

After rave reviews at it's debut in the prestigious Monsters of Rock Commercial Manufacturer awards in Los Angeles last month, the new Kif PPT 3BHP managed to win one of the Heavy Metal Accessory Industries highest accolades: "Best New Rock Amplifier" award.

Front Panel of PPT 3BHP with pull start

"These amps offer the best of both worlds," said Tyler Eversmith from 'Guitar Hero' magazine. "Rev it up to 7000 rpm and you're in serious Humbucker thrash metal shredding country. You want a vintage jazz sound - just leave the EQ and turn down the revs, and you've got all the brightness of a single coil Strat coupled with all the warmth and tonality of a classic Roland JC120 Jazz Chorus combo. Ok it's a bit noisy for studio work or recording with the idling speed hum, but it's still a killer."