Maria: The Eldest Sister
A slice of York history
Maria is the eldest of The Three Sisters of Ainsty, and carries the strongest local material history of the series.
Alongside Yorkshire sycamore and sapele, her cabinet includes a piece of very old oak timber reclaimed from Drew’s 1815 Georgian house in Bilton-in-Ainsty.
Her base is made from slatted pine repurposed from the rear door of the same property, placing part of the actual fabric of the house into the amplifier itself.
Like Charlotte and Emily, Maria is a one-off Colson of York amplifier. She shares the same original boards of sycamore and sapele as her two sisters, the same 1998 English Celestion speaker, and the same fully analogue 25-watt platform.
But she has her own build, her own cabinet, and her own voice.
Maria’s character
Maria is the darkest and most grounded-looking of the three sisters.
She uses more sapele across the front than Charlotte or Emily, giving her a deeper, richer and more substantial visual character. There is something more furniture-like about Maria. She is solid, rooted and quietly imposing.
The reclaimed timber from the 1815 house adds another layer to the story. Maria is not only made in Bilton-in-Ainsty; part of the village, and part of the house where she was made, is built into her.
The Colson of York mark is burned into the cabinet, and the finish leaves the natural grain, colour and age of the materials visible.
Maria at a glance
- One-off Colson of York handmade guitar amplifier
- Eldest sister in The Three Sisters of Ainsty
- Serial number: CO5-002
- Price: £875
- 25 watts output at 8 ohms
- Fully analogue solid-state amplifier
- No valves
- No digital modelling, impulse responses or menu-driven simulation
- Built around Hughes & Kettner Spirit Tone technology
- Colson of York build; not affiliated with, endorsed by or made by Hughes & Kettner
- 1998 Celestion G12F-60 speaker, 8 ohms
- The G12F-60 is also known as the Celestion RockDriver Junior
- Speaker made in Ipswich, England, on 23 June 1998
- Hand-built hardwood cabinet
- Yorkshire sycamore, sapele and selected reclaimed timber
- Reclaimed timber from an 1815 Georgian house
- Slatted pine base repurposed from the rear door of the same property
- More sapele across the front than the other two sisters
- Colson of York logo branded into the cabinet
- FX loop
- Rear mic cable access hole
- Supplied with record of origin, owner’s notes and build details
- Dimensions: 61cm wide x 48cm high x 34cm deep
- Weight: 14kg
Controls
Maria has six controls: Shape, Weight, Air, Gain, Give and Volume.
Shape changes the overall voice. Weight controls the depth and firmness of the low end. Air adds upper presence and projection. Gain drives the front end. Give changes how the amp yields under the note when pushed. Volume sets the final level.
For pedals and live use
The FX loop lets delay, reverb and modulation sit after the amp’s main voice and drive section.
There is also a rear access hole for a microphone cable, allowing a mic to be placed over the top of the cabinet and rested against the speaker cloth for live use.
What’s included?
Maria is supplied with her record of origin, owner’s notes and build details.
Collection from near York is welcome. Courier delivery can be arranged at the buyer’s cost once suitable insured shipping has been confirmed.
Availability
The Three Sisters of Ainsty are now available to purchase. Each amplifier is completely unique and will never be repeated. If you’re looking for something rare, responsive and genuinely individual, this is one of the first opportunities to own a Colson of York amplifier.
For purchases, questions, private viewings and delivery options, please get in touch using the form below.