Welcome
The history of Purple-Chili has its roots set back in 1984 when I started my Zoot bass company (Iceni Music). I have always been interested in speaker cabs and drivers etc, from those earlier times. Over the years I have been asked by many customers to make custom cabs. Cabs that were different in sound and wattage, cabs in fact that could not be brought in shops. These custom made speaker cabs were one off "Specials". I only built between four and six cabs a year, seeing it as a pleasant distraction from making bass guitars etc. One example of these "Specials" would be the two cabs made for Trevor Bolder (David Bowie, Uriah Heep, etc.) Some of the designs I had used for these "Specials" I kept on file for many years. I carried out long and timely research for the specials, taking my inspiration from many "famous" cabs that had been made before, but were no longer in production. I asked myself the question, "why were these cabs so good but no longer available". I also strongly believe that, to move forward with technology you must first look back in time to move forward.
The first cabs I made as a commercial venture were ultra light weight bass cabs, branded as "Zoot cabs". This was the beginning of what was to become Purple-Chili.
The Zoot cabs I was making received some great reviews, including an award for "Best value for money" in a five cab head to head review in the U.K. "Bass Guitar Magazine". This I saw as a great personal achievement as the Zoot cab was "The new kid on the block" and was up against some serious established brands, including Ampeg, Mesa-Boogie, Bag End and Aguilar. As a result of these great reviews came the inspiration to make a full range of light weight and ultra light weight cabs for both guitar and bass, with heads to follow at a later date. With this inspiration came a major re-think of the designs, looks and product name. I decided to re-brand the original Zoot bass cabs and to introduce the guitar cabs, as a full range of cabs, under the Purple-Chili name.
Purple-Chili today now makes fourteen different cabs to cover all aspects and needs of guitarist and bassist alike. At Purple-Chili we take great pride in our work and being musicians ourselves, understand the needs of all players and professionals.
Purple-Chili cabs have a fantastic retro look, that is combined with latest construction technologies and engineering, making Purple-Chili cabs some of the best and most desirable music products made today. We pride ourselves on being a true British company, with over 80% of the components used on our cabs being made "In house"
Out of the remaining 20% only 3% of the components used are sourced from non British companies. We are currently working on the other 3% to make our Purple-Chili cabs 100% U.K. made. We strongly believe Purple-Chili products to be the very best you could buy.