Here's an extract from the review of our Excelsior Deluxe amplifier in "Gitarre & Bass" magazine issued April 2026. The full article will be available for free soon. You can purchase the printed or digital magazine here.
"A look inside reveals that Three Bananas is committed to manufacturing amplifiers using carefully selected, top-quality components. As with the other 3-Bananas models, the main circuit board inside features a turret hybrid design built to NASA specifications (NASA-STD-8739.3). The build quality, component selection, and overall appearance are absolutely flawless. Top-notch!
Let’s start with all the knobs set to 12 o’clock. Wow! My 1x12 cabinet delivers a solid tonal foundation with a mighty sound. It sounds bigger than you might initially expect from 35 watts. The basic tone is somewhat reminiscent of the old American classics, yet it has its own unique character that sounds absolutely fantastic.
With the various switches and the highly effective tone control, the sound can then be shaped wonderfully - whether you prefer it direct and clear or warm and full-bodied. The triple-position Bright switch and the Normal/Dynamic circuit allow for countless nuances to be adjusted. This also makes it easy to find the perfect setting for different guitars.
But even at moderate volumes, the Excelsior Deluxe doesn’t lose its magic. That’s impressive, and as it turns out, the master volume is perfectly balanced. Now let’s add the spring reverb. Nice! The reverb effect sounds more like a studio reverb than a replica of a classic spring reverb. If you crank up the effect with Drive a bit harder, you get beautiful, saturated sounds that truly enrich the sonic landscape. […] The Bias Tremolo is also very well done and delivers moderate rather than heavy modulations. It sounds intense enough even at slow settings and is another plus for the Excelsior Deluxe.
How does the amp perform as a pedal platform? That’s fundamental to the design of this single-channel amp. I connect my comprehensive pedalboard to it, which includes various overdrive and gain pedals, as well as delays. The result is outstanding, as the Excelsior Deluxe responds exceptionally well to external boosters or overdrives. Whether you add crunch or British distortion, it sounds dynamic, authentic, fresh, and above all, seamless.
Raphael Maria Heikenfeld of Three Bananas wasn’t exaggerating when he put his Excelsior Deluxe on par with its American boutique competitors. The straightforward, minimalist design of this single-channel amp delivers sound in all its glory, offers flexible shaping, and impresses with sonic confidence and authority. Is it a Fender clone? No. Inspired by one? Yes. Like the Galaktopus before it, the Excelsior Deluxe carries its own sonic DNA, which is highly appealing and flexible enough to let you find “your” sound. Boutique competitors from overseas put a much bigger hole in your wallet with comparable products - the fact that you have to consider the increased costs of components and small-batch production makes the price of the Excelsior Deluxe all the more justified. The build quality is top-notch; it serves as an excellent pedal platform, features first-class (non-digital) reverb and tremolo effects, delivers a perfectly adequate 35 watts, and sounds impressive even at moderate volumes. The fact that you can choose between EL34 and 6L6GC power tubes thanks to auto-bias further broadens the sonic spectrum."
The original german article has been translated to english with DeepL.