Burls are linked to injuries or disruptions to normal tree growth. They have twisted, random grain and very hard sections. While walnut is naturally medium brown, the surface finish brings out the final look and makes it look darker. Raw wood often has a vague color and quite plain. So, I reckon that whatever finish they applied can’t sink into the harder sections of the wood, and there’s not much natural pigment to darken anyway.
Yes sir. I am very familiar with burl wood and finishing, as I make my own reel seats for my fly rods with it. I just have never seen Walnut Burl look that light/yellow, and looking at pictures online seems the lighter colored Walnut Burl is quite prized and a bit more rare. I really can’t wait to see which shade of color my Pendant is going to be, and will be counting the minutes until Fedex delivers it today. 
Only 1.21x more expensive currently.
The HP sauce is a Cdn reference I’m unaware of, but I like the stuff.
Got a set of my favorite interconnects, for my Pendant SE that will also be arriving today.
Audioquest makes killer cables, and the Red River edition are stellar.
I sent off an email to Bevin. Looks like I got the stock JJ tubes instead of the vintage tubes I ordered. I also just checked out amps&sound’s IG, and yeah, it’s olive. I’m kinda bummed. I didn’t even get a notification that the switch was going down. Truth be told, I really wanted the darker walnut and was one of the reasons for the timing of the order.
I’m sorry you’re disappointed in the olive wood. I think it looks spectacular.
Sorry to hear that man, and I knew that looked like Olive. I really think they should have let you know about the switch, as the Walnut Burl is what was advertised when making the purchase. Also, the tube mix up is a bummer, but I am sure they will get you the right ones. Honestly, I would be a little bummed too. Mine should be arriving any minute now, and I am so nervous wondering which wood it is going to be. I specifically asked Zach for Walnut Burl when I ordered mine, so we shall see. I have been picturing the dark Walnut Burl in my head, and really hope it comes to be.
Thanks man! Mine are crossed too.
I will definitely post some pics. The Olive does look incredible too, it is just that for months I have been picturing the dark Walnut Burl in my head, which I was specifically told it would be by Zach.
Walnut burl and black ash burl are my 2 favorite looking woods. I actually have a few things custom made in those woods, some in stabilized wood versions; much like what Zmf is doing with the VCs.
Are those shipped from ZMF in Illinois, or drop shipped from the Manufacturer in California.
Drop from California.
Look what just showed up!
I got the Olive Burl, instead of the requested and verified Walnut Burl. I do have a few mixed feelings about this, but overall I am very happy with the look. I think the Olive will look better with my VC anyway, but man when you spend this kind of money and are told you will be getting Walnut Burl, and then a completely different wood arrives it kind of hurts my soul a bit.
I hear you on the disappointment due to expectation of walnut, it again, that olive wood is spectacular. I love it.
The olive wood looks quite nice, not going to lie it is making me consider the VC in olive wood and I don’t need it!
I like it quite a bit too, but I was assured by Zach when ordering, that it would be Walnut Burl, so it is going to take me a minute or so to adjust. I did email ZMF just to see if this was a mixup.
I already have a VC in Ambrosia Maple, or I would be all over the Olive VC. I love Olive wood, and in fact I don’t really have a favorite wood as long as the grain pattern looks good. Thankfully, the grain on my Olive Pendant SE is stellar, so that is helping me get over the shock of it not being Walnut.
It sure is, and as I am sure you know, it looks way better in person.
Hey Wes! We’ve got the walnut you wanted boxed up for you and on the way shortly - and sorry for the confusion! We are shipping these directly from ampsandsound to get them in everyone’s hands sooner and a couple of the newer olive burl units are swapped out from walnut. But yes going forward olive burl will be the current wood, and the wood on the amps is subject to change as we run out of each batch.
If anyone finds they want something ultra specific when ordering we do have the option for custom wood, but otherwise we will be choosing the wood for the stock models on the SE. Hope that all makes sense!
Concerning the upgrade tubes, when you order them those will ship from us, vs the amp may ship from either US or ampsandsound depending on whether the amps are back ordered or not. So you may not receive the amp with the vintage tubes if getting the amp shipped direct, and then they will come afterwards from ZMF directly.
Sorry again and hope you guys love the amps!
Got a treat in today!
Very nicely packed but there’s never been a tape job I haven’t been able to tear apart.
Well this is a surprise. Inside the tape was… more tape!
Ahh freedom at last!
What’s inside?
Finally can replace those stock Focal cables! Huge shoutout to @ProfFalkin for building and sending it up! Super stoked for some afternoon listening on the Ampsandsound x headphones.com tube amp!
(Pardon the mess, its been a say of testing headphone returns as well.)












