Teisco Checkmate 18 preset

Verified · 86/100 confidence. Complete schematic. All component values readable. Parameters derived directly from the circuit.

The Teisco Checkmate 18 is a 1960s Japanese single-channel combo with reverb and tremolo. Three inputs feed a 12AX7 stage, then passive treble and bass controls and a volume, a second 12AX7 gain stage and a cathodyne phase inverter driving two 7189A (EL84-family) pentodes on a shared 130-ohm cathode resistor. The other 12AX7 half drives a spring reverb with a level control, a 6AV6 runs a footswitchable phase-shift tremolo, and a 6CA4 rectifies.

• Made in: Japan
• Channels: 1
• Preamp tubes: 2× 12AX7, 1× 6AV6
• Power tubes: 2× 7189A

Tags: japanese, vintage, el84, tremolo.

Schematic-derived preset files for the Neural DSP Quad Cortex and 16 Fractal and Line 6 modelers: Axe-Fx II/XL/XL+, Axe-Fx III, FM3, FM9, and the full Helix family (Floor, LT, Rack, HX Stomp, HX Stomp XL, Native).

Gridleak extracts amp parameters from original circuit schematics using AI vision — component values, gain staging, tone stack topology, tube types — then generates native preset files for every supported modeler. Every extraction is scored 0–100 and the score is published.