5F6A Bassman Project...photo essay and audio added

[TubeGeek]

I figured if there's an amp to have, this would be it.  I am really in a tweed state of mind these days.  

This is really the beginning of a big project for me.  What I have planned will span over the next several months. Right now since this amp is built, now comes the fun of testing tubes and really digging in deep to this circuit.  I have some nice set's of tubes to choose from that I've been saving/collecting for my personal amp projects.  I am going to study Richard Kuehnel's book and put my brain to work or at least try.  http://www.ampbooks.com/home/books/bassman/

 Part two of the project will be to build a JTM-45 and do the same thing and analyze it as much as I can.


Kind of excited in the moment, had to share some pics!


edit...I have updated this project with a web page that reads like a photo essay with audio clips... http://www.glacieramps.com/Glacier_Amplification/59_Bassman.html

[Platefire]

Very nice looking Bassman there. Great Work! I built two in a much lesser crude forms as conversions on a Bogen CHB-50 and a Dukane (can't remember the model number) several years ago and am just now getting around to tweaking them. From what I discovered so far on the Bogen, a MV is a main ingredient in getting it to perform for my needs. It is a departure from stock but IMHO a very needful good departure. Between the 5F6A and the AB763--my guitar heaven is pretty much covered. I know to make the 5F6A chain complete you pretty much need that 4-10 cab like you have there but in my old age a 1-10 or 1-12 cab will suffice, outch!  Platefire

[nateflanigan]

Looks fantastic, they're very kingly amps, the 5f6's.  I spent some time tweaking my AB763 build, different tubes and speakers and some tone stack variations, lot's of listening.  It was rewarding and I think the amp sounds much better for it.  I look forward to your research.

[jjasilli]

I am going to study Richard Kuehnel's book and put my brain to work or at least try.     Somebody please explain it to me!

[stingray_65]

TG!

Those are Very impressive pics!

WOW!

Ray

[tubeswell]

Nice build tubegeek. How do you find the presence control? (I recently did the speed-up cap mod* recommended in Merlin's 1st book to a friend's '59 LTD bassman to improve reported ice-pickiness with the presence dimed).

* small cap || with the NFB resistor

[TubeGeek]

Nice build tubegeek. How do you find the presence control? (I recently did the speed-up cap mod* recommended in Merlin's 1st book to a friend's '59 LTD bassman to improve reported ice-pickiness with the presence dimed).

* small cap || with the NFB resistor

I haven't noticed any ice pick highs from my amp...I'm sure the more I play it the more I will criticize the tone and begin tweaking.  Thanks for the heads up on the mod though.

I had a buddy over tonight to record some clips with different rectifier tubes and output tubes.  I have a bunch of clips to organize now.  We compared sylvannia, rca, and  g.e. 6L6's.  I preferred the rca's the most but all of them sounded good.  As for rectifier tubes we both liked the gz34 vs. 5R4 and 5U4.

[Rev D]

 Nice looking amp! Heck yeah, everyone should have a Bassman (well you younger fella's that can heft 'em, the tweed deluxe is more my weight limit and its pushing it these days with a tore up back...), its kinda like a self contained marshall half stack... Oh yeah, it sorta is its daddy...   I wouldn't mind making one someday, same size cab with some sort of neo-mag 1x15 just to move some air and get some good bottom going on. Probably still wouldn't be much lighter than 4-10's though.. Great amps though, I got to play a few gigs with a loaner from a friend, the clubs I played though you'd really need some bodies in there though to muffle a bassman your trying to make break up... (anyone ever tried one with a VVR in it? That might be cool too). Anyway, thanks for sharing, thats a very cool amp!

Regards,

Don

Ps: Is that the edge of a fender vibratone, Leslie thing-a-ma-jigs in that one picture? Looks like you have used a few Mercury Tranny's eh? 

[jojokeo]

Ps: Is that the edge of a fender vibratone, Leslie thing-a-ma-jigs in that one picture? Looks like you have used a few Mercury Tranny's eh? 

Holy Crap! That's a helluva lot of stickers and Mercury's aren't cheap. Tell me that's not one for every tranny you've bought!? Are you really using that ultra thin red tortex pick??? No tone in those little whipper snappies. Nice builds there though. Oh yeah, what Weber speakers are those? I don't recognize the labels either.

[TubeGeek]

Nice looking amp! Heck yeah, everyone should have a Bassman (well you younger fella's that can heft 'em, the tweed deluxe is more my weight limit and its pushing it these days with a tore up back...), its kinda like a self contained marshall half stack... Oh yeah, it sorta is its daddy...   I wouldn't mind making one someday, same size cab with some sort of neo-mag 1x15 just to move some air and get some good bottom going on. Probably still wouldn't be much lighter than 4-10's though.. Great amps though, I got to play a few gigs with a loaner from a friend, the clubs I played though you'd really need some bodies in there though to muffle a bassman your trying to make break up... (anyone ever tried one with a VVR in it? That might be cool too). Anyway, thanks for sharing, thats a very cool amp!

Regards,

Don

Ps: Is that the edge of a fender vibratone, Leslie thing-a-ma-jigs in that one picture? Looks like you have used a few Mercury Tranny's eh?  

My all time fav is the 5E3 deluxe too.  This bassman is the big daddy to it. :)  If you're interested, here is my 5e3 project  http://www.glacieramps.com/Glacier_Amplification/Red_Deluxe.html

I am indeed considering installing VVR to this amp.  It won't be for a while but it's a possibility when I get to that part of the project.

That is a Leslie Model 16 cabinet in the pic there.  It's the 1967 model, just before they called it the Vibratone.  

yep, I've used a few MM transformers!

[TubeGeek]

Ps: Is that the edge of a fender vibratone, Leslie thing-a-ma-jigs in that one picture? Looks like you have used a few Mercury Tranny's eh?  

Holy Crap! That's a helluva lot of stickers and Mercury's aren't cheap. Tell me that's not one for every tranny you've bought!? Are you really using that ultra thin red tortex pick??? No tone in those little whipper snappies. Nice builds there though. Oh yeah, what Weber speakers are those? I don't recognize the labels either.

It's not for everyone I have used in a build.  I am only at around 30-40 for that.  They sent me a stack of them stickers to give out to customers, friends, tone-hounds...as you can see I decided to use "some" of them to decorate my tool chest. (shhhh, don't tell MM!)  It's funny because lots of my customers, friends, buddies notice those stickers and want those transformers used in their projects.  So it all works out.

That is an orange tortex pick, the 60mm.  It gives me a little bit more tone than the red one!.

The speakers are Weber 10A125's.

[TubeGeek]

Spent this afternoon starting a webpage to document my project...

http://www.glacieramps.com/Glacier_Amplification/59_Bassman.html

Lots of audio clips added too.  Les Paul, Strat, tele with RCA, Sylvania, G.E. 6L6GC's and GZ34 and 5U4 rectifiers.

[Willabe]

I love that big schematic on the window shade, that is a great idea.

I'm gonna take my time and look at all your builds on your site.


                      Brad     

[TubeGeek]

Yeah I kinda went nuts with them...

[Willabe]

I wouldn't need my reading glasses and the schemo wouldn't get in the way on the bench.   


                Brad     

[sluckey]

You've traveled far, Grasshopper. I'm very impressed!   

[TubeGeek]

You've traveled far, Grasshopper. I'm very impressed!   

 

I have learned valuable troubleshooting skills from you Steve!

Been busy too!

[nateflanigan]

Dude, SWEET space! 

There's a Ben Franklin quote that's something like...
"take care of your shop and your shop will take care of you"

[Ed_Chambley]

Yeah I kinda went nuts with them...

That is so funny.  I have a large format printer and my workshop walls are filled with posters of schematics, resistor and cap charts.  I made a flip chart for schematics and layouts.  Some of my friends laugh at me but it is really nice to be able to se them withot my reading glasses.

[Ed_Chambley]

Very nice build.  I love my bassman and yes everyone should have one.  I play lots of chicken pickin and have a tele with 12's on tuned to D.  It sounds just like Don Rich.  I tried a VVR with heat sink and fan. Wired it both ways, to adjust the power tubes and control the whole amp.  They are loud when you get to the sweet spot.  The VVR changed the amp to much for me.  When I dialed it down it lost punch and clarity.  I did install a master which I kept.  I did the LarMar PPIMV.  I don't really like it either, but it is somewhat useable.  If I dime the MV and turn the volume to 8 or more, that is THE sound, but it is loud as hell.