Kasha Rockmod 1 Guitar Preamp.

The Kasha Rockmod 1 is a rare piece of 1980s guitar-amp history. This is a 2/3 channel all tube preamp with separate master gain/volume controls for the clean/ high gain channel, with 2 separate master volumes for the gain channel. The preamp is is in very good working condition, and has been kept in a rack case. It incudes the original proprietary channel footswitch, which is necessary to be plugged in for the preamp to work, and to change channels. (It will only work with this foot switch, don’t ask me why, it’s the way it was designed). Take a look at the adjoining photos and a video that I uploaded which demonstrates its features and controls.

Designed by Los Angeles amplifier technician John Kasha and introduced in 1988, the Rockmod I was an early rack-mount, all-tube high-gain guitar preamp, offering separate clean, lead, and distortion voices. Kasha’s amplifier modifications had already become popular with many prominent L.A. players before the Rockmod was developed. The Rockmod I went on to be associated with players including Dann Huff, George Lynch, Jake E. Lee, Chris Impellitteri, Craig Goldy, Paul Jackson Jr., Tracii Guns, Jennifer Batten, and Davey Johnstone. Dann Huff, in particular, is documented as having used the Rockmod I extensively with Giant, including on the band’s early recordings and live. (Kasha Amplifiers⁠)

The Kasha Rockmod 1 is an especially interesting piece for players, collectors, and fans of classic 1980s rack-system guitar tones. A genuinely distinctive and increasingly hard-to-find vintage tube preamp from the era when rack gear was at the forefront of high-gain guitar sound.