Electrical Novice - Newbie - Advice on potential mod for Supro 1-watter

[Revor]

Hi folks - I joined the forum because I've been into Tube amps for about a decade now and own several.  I also have wanted to try my hand at building one of the simpler designs - but not sure I'm ready for that - but I now know where to go for help if I do.

Today - I'd like to get advice and opinions on possibly upgrading an amp I just bought:  Supro Blues King 8, 1-watt combo with 8" speaker.

I'm wondering if it's possible to change out the PT and/or the OT and get more wattage (and volume) out of this amp?  I *really* like the sound and tone of this amp - it sounds just like a Supro should (I have a Coronado 1690T 2 x 10 combo as well) and it's really pretty amazing for a 1 watter.

I guess the simplest way to get more volume out of any low watt amp is to put a more efficient speaker into it (I have a new one on the way now).

But:  is it possible with an amp of this type/build to modify it electrically to boost wattage/volume?

All thoughts and comments welcome - if you have one of these - let me know how you like it also.

I will post a few pics of the amp in a bit once I get the photos resized to meet the size restrictions of this forum.

Thanks.


 

[Bieworm]

You are the first I know that wants to get more volume out of a 1W amp...seriously?😃😃😃😃
Do uou want to gig with it?

[sluckey]

That looks like a very specialized amp. I doubt you will be able to do any mods, especially anything to increase power.

[Revor]

Pics:

[Revor]

More pics:

[Revor]

Bieworm - I'm not expecting it would ever be loud enough to gig - but I would like to be able to coffee shop it or have it be loud enough to use for practice (non-drummer strings only practice I mean)

I have gotten it to a respectable level of volume with a a MXR Micro Amp and a Compressor pedal in front of it.  But, it gets very dirty really quick when you boost it that way and if you try to keep it clean, it can only do clean-clean at very low volume.

Also, for informational purposes - you can see the OT and PT specs in the pics - the tubes it uses are: 1-12AX7 and 1-12AU7C



Thanks.

[TitaniumValhalla]

Perhaps you could get a slight volume increase out of swapping the 12AU7 power tube to a 12BH7, which is something that has been done on some of the other 12AU7 1-watter amps out there with success, but it will be pushing the limits of the little Chinese power transformer. I don't know if I'd risk it on a brand new amp. It looks like Supro makes a beefed-up version of this amp with a 6V6 in the power section, which is probably a better fit for what you're looking for.

[Revor]

Perhaps you could get a slight volume increase out of swapping the 12AU7 power tube to a 12BH7, which is something that has been done on some of the other 12AU7 1-watter amps out there with success, but it will be pushing the limits of the little Chinese power transformer. I don't know if I'd risk it on a brand new amp. It looks like Supro makes a beefed-up version of this amp with a 6V6 in the power section, which is probably a better fit for what you're looking for.

Hi - thanks for the info and suggestion.  I was going to ask next about any tube swap that might also yield more volume.  Yep, Supro has a 5-watt and a 15-watt version of this same Blues King amp design - so, definitely, I could sell this one and upgrade to the "V8" engine I suppose.

So, regarding the "little Chinese power transformer" - knowing virtually nothing about how the PT works with an amp of this nature - can I buy and install a *better* PT - and will doing so increase the output volume?  Or would both PT and OT need to be upgraded?  Can either of them even *be* upgraded/replaced in this type of mass produced commercial tube amp?

Thanks.

[Bieworm]

I'm very very sorry.. I didn't mean to mock you in any way. I just found it funny... most of us try to do 1/4 power switch, VVR ,.. all to make the amp as silent as possible, expecting an amp that goes from 20 to 5 watts to be bedroom quiet, whilst we actually need a 1W amp for that.. and I just was imagining the opposite manoeuvre.. so funny,  but no offence intended

[Revor]

I'm very very sorry.. I didn't mean to mock you in any way. I just found it funny... most of us try to do 1/4 power switch, VVR ,.. all to make the amp as silent as possible, expecting an amp that goes from 20 to 5 watts to be bedroom quiet, whilst we actually need a 1W amp for that.. and I just was imagining the opposite manoeuvre.. so funny,  but no offence intended

No offense taken - at all - I thank you guys for tuning in on my questions and offering this friendly info and advice.

All good.........

[TitaniumValhalla]

Perhaps you could get a slight volume increase out of swapping the 12AU7 power tube to a 12BH7, which is something that has been done on some of the other 12AU7 1-watter amps out there with success, but it will be pushing the limits of the little Chinese power transformer. I don't know if I'd risk it on a brand new amp. It looks like Supro makes a beefed-up version of this amp with a 6V6 in the power section, which is probably a better fit for what you're looking for.

Hi - thanks for the info and suggestion.  I was going to ask next about any tube swap that might also yield more volume.  Yep, Supro has a 5-watt and a 15-watt version of this same Blues King amp design - so, definitely, I could sell this one and upgrade to the "V8" engine I suppose.

So, regarding the "little Chinese power transformer" - knowing virtually nothing about how the PT works with an amp of this nature - can I buy and install a *better* PT - and will doing so increase the output volume?  Or would both PT and OT need to be upgraded?  Can either of them even *be* upgraded/replaced in this type of mass produced commercial tube amp?

Thanks.

There's a lot to unpack here. A different PT isn't going to make the amp louder on its own but it may be capable of supplying the different voltages or higher currents of a different power tube, which could actually make the amp louder. That's what Supro would have done in creating the 6V6 version of this amp. There are a number of issues with this approach as the consumer: transformers are expensive; finding one with the right specs may be difficult; depending on how the amp is physically built, you might not find one that fits or mounts in the way you need (particularly in tight modern PCB amps like this as opposed to old-school big-chassis stuff where you have more wiggle room). Long story short, once you go that route, you may be money and time ahead to get another amp, or build yourself something to your own specs. In terms of just a 12BH7 swap, it wouldn't be worth it just for the small increase that might provide.

[Revor]

Right - I completely understand what you are saying.  All good points.  I may very well forego the idea of electrically modifying this amp - and wait and see how the new speaker affects the volume.

I guess I was just wanting to understand the feasibility of a Mod.

Thanks.

[brewdude]

What size speaker?
Which replacement did you choose?
What kind of cabinet?

[thetragichero]

if this is a new amp, are you able to return it? the blues king 10 appears to be a hundred bucks more and you'd end up spending more trying to turn this into one, with likely less good results and a voided warranty