Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum

Amp Stuff => Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs => Topic started by: TubeGeek on January 20, 2024, 09:21:10 pm

Title: Gibson Ensemble GA-86 on the bench
Post by: TubeGeek on January 20, 2024, 09:21:10 pm
This cool one was in for repair this weekend. Don't see these everyday. 1960.


The 6V6 is used in a way I am not familiar with. 5VAC to the filaments. I had to double check what I was looking at.  I haven't figured out exactly what the 6v6 is being used for but I'm thinking some kind of voltage/current regulator? I didn't have a bunch of time to analyze, had others to repair.
Title: Re: Gibson Ensemble GA-86
Post by: TubeGeek on January 20, 2024, 09:21:40 pm
pic
Title: Re: Gibson Ensemble GA-86
Post by: TubeGeek on January 20, 2024, 09:22:00 pm
pic
Title: Re: Gibson Ensemble GA-86
Post by: TubeGeek on January 20, 2024, 09:22:20 pm
pic
Title: Re: Gibson Ensemble GA-86
Post by: TubeGeek on January 20, 2024, 09:23:12 pm
pic.


It's a rats nest.  I did not do the cap job. That was completed before it came to me.
Title: Re: Gibson Ensemble GA-86
Post by: TubeGeek on January 20, 2024, 09:23:50 pm
pic
Title: Re: Gibson Ensemble GA-86 on the bench
Post by: sluckey on January 20, 2024, 09:52:49 pm
The 6V6 is used in a way I am not familiar with. 5VAC to the filaments. I had to double check what I was looking at.  I haven't figured out exactly what the 6v6 is being used for but I'm thinking some kind of voltage/current regulator?
Not quite a regulator but it is used to drop the B+ for the screens and all nodes downstream.
Title: Re: Gibson Ensemble GA-86 on the bench
Post by: PRR on January 20, 2024, 10:10:08 pm
Related thread:
https://el34world.com/Forum/index.php?topic=25203.0

This is a cheap cheat. The regulating tube (they didn't have MOSFETs) needs an elevated heater b/c the insulation won't stand 300+V. An added winding seems wise, but costly for setup and inventory/spares. A readily-available(!) 6V6 can pass about 5 times the current sucked by the power stage screens and all the preamps. Even if run at 80% of rated heater voltage, it can probably do the job. So a stock distributor power transformer works.
Title: Re: Gibson Ensemble GA-86 on the bench
Post by: TubeGeek on January 20, 2024, 11:29:30 pm
Thanks for the info and clarification Sluckey and PRR. :worthy1:
Title: Re: Gibson Ensemble GA-86 on the bench
Post by: Jonas on January 21, 2024, 09:11:16 am
TubeGeek,

I really like that circuit and use it in several of my amps. You can also find it on the Grommes Model 260A and the Sho-Bud Compactra 100 (W/ 6L6).

I use 6V6 for screen supply only and prefer the 100K/220K divider ratio