Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum

Amp Stuff => Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs => Topic started by: Tsquared on February 03, 2012, 03:17:31 pm

Title: Ladies and Gents: The Blowhole
Post by: Tsquared on February 03, 2012, 03:17:31 pm: I wanted to share the Blowhole Harmonica amp I built for a friend. It's a Fender 5E3 tweed Deluxe built into a late 40's Bell PA head, and tweeked for harmonica.
It took a lot of body work, welding, hair-pulling, blood, sweat and tears, but it is done and sounds great for harp.
I had it powdercoated and had a custom faceplate made locally. Since I had one extra pot that does nothing, it has a Normal Channel, Abnormal Channel, Tone and Gravy!
I made the tube cage (not shown here) from a surplus server shelf I found in the dumpster. It is mated to an old Bell and Howell projector speaker I found with a 12 inch alnico jensen.
It was a labor of love and obsession.
Title: Re: Ladies and Gents: The Blowhole
Post by: John on February 03, 2012, 03:20:32 pm: Wow!
Title: Re: Ladies and Gents: The Blowhole
Post by: LooseChange on February 03, 2012, 03:24:39 pm: Cool! Do the knobs turn the dials above?
Title: Re: Ladies and Gents: The Blowhole
Post by: plexi50 on February 03, 2012, 03:25:54 pm: That is a lot of work. Looks super nice. Im burned out these days have stopped building for a while
How do the knobs move the needles showing the pot position?
Title: Re: Ladies and Gents: The Blowhole
Post by: Tsquared on February 03, 2012, 03:30:21 pm: Dan,

The knobs do indeed turn the dials above via a wacky pulley setup. I accidentally let one unwind on me, and it took an hour to get it working again. :laugh:
Title: Re: Ladies and Gents: The Blowhole
Post by: TubeGeek on February 03, 2012, 05:11:18 pm: :huh: :thumbsup:

Nice work!

Can we see more pics?

Very cool knob controls, never seen that before.
Title: Re: Ladies and Gents: The Blowhole
Post by: HotBluePlates on February 03, 2012, 07:33:28 pm: Now that's pretty fun!! Very nice looking work!
Title: Re: Ladies and Gents: The Blowhole
Post by: Tone Junkie on February 04, 2012, 01:55:10 am: Looks Kiiller
:headbang: :thumbsup:
I love the dials
Title: Re: Ladies and Gents: The Blowhole
Post by: archaos on February 04, 2012, 08:01:00 am: Wow, very cool rarity !
Title: Re: Ladies and Gents: The Blowhole
Post by: spacelabstudio on February 04, 2012, 10:55:48 am: Wow! Amazing work. I've often fantasized about a powder coated chassis.
Title: Re: Ladies and Gents: The Blowhole
Post by: stratele52 on February 04, 2012, 11:22:40 am: Very very nice
Title: Re: Ladies and Gents: The Blowhole
Post by: jjackson7 on February 06, 2012, 04:13:29 pm: Nice! If you ever have it apart I'd like to see the linkage on the knobs. Though, if I were you I would keep that little gem to myself. Cheers!