The Pignose 7-100 practice amp is one piece of equipment I never owned but knew people who did . . . and I wanted one. At 9 X 6 X 4″ it was a completely portable transistor amp powered by 6 AA batteries and weighed only 5 pounds. For this amazing low power requirement the Pignose put out about 3 watts R.M.S. or 5 watts peak into a 5-inch speaker. And constructed with ¾”, finger-joined wood the cabinet was rugged.
From http://www.pignose.com
What the Pignose makers did was begin a whole new trend in portable personal electronics. It could - and still can - be used anywhere there’s room to play a guitar: at home, backstage, in a van or motel room, on the street, or in the studio. There are even strap-buttons on the cabinet so you can attach straps and sling it over your shoulder. With or without headphones you got a neat “overdriven” sound.
Pignose Industries was started in 1972 by Chicago (band) guitarist Terry Kath with other members and associates of the band. This was just before the development of modern sound reinforcement systems and everyone was wanted stacks of amps that went “to 11″ (Spinal Tap). The Pignose bucked this trend. Some guitarist even put a Sennheiser on the 5″ speaker and ran the sound through their stacks.
Marketing?
In the original ad the Pignose fit on a page of Guitar Player and was labeled “actual size.” The orginal box was covered with real pig-skin which mirrored the free roaming and buckskin attire of the time. Pignose immediately picked up fans like America, Frank Zappa,The Eagles, Led Zeppelin, and even Cheech and Chong. It originally retailed for $79.95, but inflation and increased manufacturing costs eventually drove it’s price as high as $159.95.
And now?
Pignose Industries was sold to Chicago’s band accountant in 1974. He ran it until 1982 and sold it to the company that made the cabinets. Today, one lists for around $109.95