Jam Anywhere with this Cigarette Pack Guitar Amplifier
The handmade Nicotone mini guitar amplifier is small enough to fit inside an empty cigarette pack and oozes with style.
Electric guitars are awesome in almost every way, but they have one shortcoming that is impossible to deny: they produce almost zero sound until you connect an amplifier. And that’s a big deal for anyone who wants to jam while they’re out and about, because guitar amps are traditionally bulky and heavy. Even the popular Fender Frontman 10G — a very compact model — weighs in at 11.7 pounds and will barely fit in a backpack. The handmade Nicotone mini guitar amplifier, on the other hand, is small enough to fit inside an empty cigarette pack.
Synthrotek leaned into the theme when designing this device, as the PCBs feature cigarette motifs, Marlboro-style font, and labels that read “CIGARETTE AMP.” We probably don’t need to explain that this is probably a product best suited to adults.
This is a very simple pocket amplifier that only does one thing: pumps up the volume. It doesn’t even have a volume control, so you’ll need to rely entirely on the one built into your guitar. Of course, there isn’t a knob for tone or overdrive, either. According to Synthrotek, this always produces a “gritty, distorted tone.” To my ears, the distortion is clipped and crunchy with a tinniness to it.
At least some of that tinniness is likely due to the small built-in speaker, but the Nicotone includes a ¼” output jack so guitarists can use it as a pre-amp for a larger cabinet (4, 8, or 16Ω). That’s a cool feature if you dig the sound or simply forget to bring your distortion pedal with you to practice. Power comes from a standard 9V battery, so you can keep a Nicotone in your bag at all times.
But the big selling point is the aforementioned style and an empty cigarette pack completes it. Synthrotek designed the Nicotone to fit inside of a standard (American) cigarette pack, so users can personalize their amp. Use your brand of choice or decorate an old pack with custom artwork.
You can order a Nicotone with a pre-cut mystery box or on its own from Tindie. Those cost $74.99 and $59.99, respectively.
