Final approach?

[sluckey]

This is a little project I just finished that really ties together the beginning and end of my electronics career. It may not be the last, but there will never be a more appropriate final project. It's just a simple little '60s Ampeg Jet but it's special to me. So, please have a look...

http://home.comcast.net/~seluckey/amps/RCA/RCA.htm

[kagliostro]

Hi Steve

WOW Very nice conversion 

That is really a nice looking amp !

as always fantastic execution and fabulous documentation

Ciao

Franco

p.s.: I like to think to this one as the first of the new age amp series 

[jjasilli]

 

. . .And talk abut a guitar amp with a built in tuner!  

P.S.: "This will probably be a wrap for me. I'm slipping back to my acoustic days."  If you intend to amplify your acoustic guitar, it only makes matters "worse" (in terms of electronic solutions): PU's, mic's, preamps, amps, PA's. . .

[drgonzonm]

This is a little project I just finished that really ties together the beginning and end of my electronics career. It may not be the last, but there will never be a more appropriate final project. It's just a simple little '60s Ampeg Jet but it's special to me. So, please have a look...

http://home.comcast.net/~seluckey/amps/RCA/RCA.htm

The way it sounds, you're leaving Hoffman?    I hope not. 

[Platefire]

Great Project & good story! Your right that the old radio would more than likely never have anymore AM radio action but re-pourposed as you have done has a bright furture. 

Regarding Final Approch---I became medicare bate this month. Better use it while it's still here! Platefire

  

[tubenit]

What a SUPER cool project!   Steve, that was just an incredibly great story and project! 

THANKS so much for sharing it!

Best regards and respect, Tubenit

[billcreller]

Great little project Steve.  The cabinet looks really nice. And you used octal tubes !!  You're my hero !! 

Bill

[Zipslack]

Nice work. I just hope my stuff turns out half as well.

[smackoj]

Superb....sound clip for the toniacs maybe SL?

[plexi50]

I still have that Rockola PDF you did Steve. I built one and i dont think i have heard a finer blues quality tone since. I have been meaning to build another one using 6SN7 and 6SL7 tubes. Such a smoother gain transition and no loss of gain either. I loved the one i built. I sold it fast a few years ago. Im in the process of building another one now. There are not enough words to describe the love that comes from octal preamp tubes. Great work as always Steve. 

[John]

Nice work!

[Zipslack]

Crikey!  I just realized that schematic looks pretty close to my Bogen J-15 PA that I'm getting ready to re-cap/rehabilitate, except that it uses 6L6G for the output tubes and a 6SF5 for the front preamp (3 inputs) with 6SL7GT for the PI.  Re-purpose one of the inputs for the trem and tweak a few values...hmmmmmm.  Got a soundclip anywhere? I can't find anything on the tubes for the J-12B.

[TubeGeek]

As always really nice work and awesome project Steve! Thanks for sharing.

This must be the season for octals as I just finished up a 5C3 that uses all octals too.

[sluckey]

I don't have a setup for making good quality sound clips and I'm not good at describing the tone the amp has. The tone is what you might expect from a small cathode biased 6V6 PP amp with NFB. I think the octal preamps probably contribute to the warm sound too. The clean sound is slightly compressed, plenty of bottom thump (with a big speaker), and bright enough (not harsh or brittle) with a sc bridge pup. I think the tone is well suited for the look. There's way more volume on tap than I'll ever need. I've only been up to about 2 when playing thru the little Weber speaker. You could easily gig a small club with this amp with a 12" cab. The tremolo is smooth with plenty of intensity with the NOS tubes, but was a little weak with a pair of JJs. The trem has such a nice sound that I've been playing with it on mostly, even with songs that never had trem! I was just looking for a small amp to put in a radio box, but this little Ampeg has far exceeded my expectations. Makes me wish I had my old Gemini II again.

I can't find anything on the tubes for the J-12B.

I'm not sure what that means. The tubes are 5Y3, 6V6, 6V6, 6SL7, 6SL7. The schematic is in Doug's library, or you can find the original schematic at "the Free Information Society" website. I may add the original schematic to my pdf.

[SILVERGUN]

Thanks again for taking time to share another piece of your life with us...
I came a little late to the party but it's great to have a real life role model here amongst us...
I am truly inspired by your brilliance

[weege]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.

[Zipslack]

Sorry, I meant the inter-tubes (The internet is like a bunch of tubes...)  I've got the tubes and iron and a pretty close amp that would only require minor mods to make it match your schematic, but I can't find any sound or video clips of that particular model with that tube lineup.  My Bogen J-15 is an old odd-duck, so no clips of it either...just the more plentiful CHBs.  Once I recap it and tweak it for guitar, I may want to convert it on over, but I'd prefer to know what it would sound like first.  Even a cell-phone recording with single-coils or P-90's would be helpful.

[HotBluePlates]

Now that is quite a beautiful and classy way to re-purpose a vintage radio. Plus you already have the pretty wood cabinet, and all its appeal! I really like it.

"This will probably be a wrap for me. I'm slipping back to my acoustic days."

During and after my Standel build, I spent the majority of my time playing various acoustic guitars. I got so used to one with 13's that I now have a set of 12's on my Tele (and believe it or not, it makes some of the Chet-licks easier to pull off).

I think my whole approach to playing is changing due to the time spent on the acoustic, probably for the better. But I'm not getting rid of the electrics or the amps! 

[Platefire]

When I went to Asheville this summer, the street musicians with acoustic instruments had a big impact on me. I didn't realize how much until a period of time after I had left and gone home. It made me realize that one man, with even marginal talent and the right song can make a big impact. Take several muscians with acoustic instruments with a little common talent and coordination---even better. Needles to say I've been playing my mandolin and acoustic guitar more than ever because of that. There is plenty of room for acoustic and electric fun. Platefire

[TIMBO]

Hmmmmmmmmmmm, Another amp, Thanks sluckey for everything, your a LEGEND. 

[Ed_Chambley]

Combining to of my favorite things.  Old radios and guitar amps.  Of course, great work.  You are an amazing guy and I am glad you are going to have the opportunity to kick back a little.  I would love to have it for my living room.

[phsyconoodler]

Are you retiring Sluckey?

Does that mean the wife is making you travel the country in the motorhome?

[Madison]

>>end of my electronics career

Uh, you wouldn't be lying to us now would you???

Awesome project.
Super workmanship, as always.

I just ran into an old time radio the other day and had thoughts.

Thanks for everything you do.
You've been a real inspiration and a HUGE help to me over the years.

Now that is quite a beautiful and classy way to re-purpose a vintage radio. Plus you already have the pretty wood cabinet, and all its appeal! I really like it.

"This will probably be a wrap for me. I'm slipping back to my acoustic days."

I think my whole approach to playing is changing due to the time spent on the acoustic, probably for the better. But I'm not getting rid of the electrics or the amps! 

What HBP said pretty much sums it up for me.
I like to crank up an amp here and there but when it comes to just sitting and playing,  writing, or study......anymore, I only need a classical guitar.Likely my retirement instrument...........WTH am I saying? Retirement? That's waaaaaay down the road for me, if ever!

[PRR]

>> end of my electronics career
> Uh, you wouldn't be lying to us now would you???

He may be truthful.

I've messed with computers since the 1960s, professionally from 1982 until retirement in 2009. Since then I have done roughly *NO* computer work. I've been so slack that I forgot how to type <HTML>, something I did 20 hours a day 6 days a week for a decade. (Back in 1996 I did a review of WYSIWYG HTML editors, but used plaintext editors because I was faster that way.) I did poke a loose wire in a friend's PC, once since retirement (I used to assemble the dept's PCs and servers).

Oh, of course I "use" a computer a lot. But it's a box, an appliance, like the TV (which I used to muck around with, but not in a long time).

[tubeswell]

Nice build Steve.

Acoustic geetars is no excuse for a man of your prodigious talents to give up building tube amps!

[6G6]

Nice work.
I like how it all seems to just fit.
It's like it was waiting all those years for you to see the amp it wanted to be.

[sluckey]

Hey guys, thanks for all the kind words. Yes, I'm really retiring from my 39 year career with the FAA on 12/31/2012. That's 18 more working days for me and I'll be sick 5 of those days! My first order of business is to smash that damned alarm clock! Then it's on to the "honey do" list. I may just tear it up. Don't have any plans for day 2 yet! 

I still have a couple amp project ideas. One is a separate reverb amp using a Hammond AO44 amp. And after building this little Ampeg, I've kinda got a little bug to build an Ampeg Superb Reverb R-15-R and put it in the Ampeg cab that currently has a Marshall 18W. We'll see.

I've really enjoyed this little J12 though. It's still in the shop, sitting right where the pics were made. I can crank it up to a small roar out there without disturbing anyone. And that little Weber 6" Signature Alnico is a perfect match. I highly recommend that speaker for any small projects if you want a warm slightly compressed sound.

I'll still be here every day. It's a good place to enjoy a cup of coffee!

[Willabe]

Are you retiring Sluckey?

Does that mean the wife is making you travel the country in the motorhome?

IIRC, he's up for retirement at the end of this December? Good for him!

I know your only kidding with him but maybe he'd like to go around the country a little too? Why not? Lot to see in America. Eat some good food across the country you may never have tried before? Meet some nice people along the way?

As far as electric verses acoustic playing, peoples tastes and musical interests change over time. He's said before he was (and still is) into Dan Fogelberg (so am I) since he was young plus many other acoustic players, so nothing new there. IIRC that's part of how he won his wifes heart by playing acoustic guitar for her?

Steve I wish you well where ever the road leads (if you are going) for you and your wife and in all you both do, as I'm sure all the guys do.



       Thank You,    Brad        

[Willabe]

I'll still be here every day. It's a good place to enjoy a cup of coffee!

They have coffee here?


            Brad     

[sluckey]

Sure. Unless it's after 2:00PM. Then they serve Ice House!

[Willabe]

They got beer here too! Oh man, you guys must have a hidden section/room here.

I'll have a MGD and some of those crawfish.     


            Brad     

[Ed_Chambley]

They got beer here too! Oh man, you guys must have a hidden section/room here.

I'll have a MGD and some of those crawfish.     


            Brad     

Beer and mudbugs.  I'll pass on the mudbugs.  I have tried them more than once, beer too for that matter.  As a matter fact, I have to pass on the Ice House as well.  It has been said "Ed doesn't drink well with others or by himself".

Sluckey is getting short.  I decided to retire 5 years ago, just don't know when I will.  I have been doing print so long it doesn't seem like work, it is just what I do.  This electronics with push from you guys has really become a relaxing and frustrating hobby.

Thanks Steve for insisting on drawing schematics and the needed kick occasionally.

[Tom_Hull]

thats great..

enjoy ,,,,

tom..
ps

same idea,,,,i am  enjoying this m12 and maybe a ,,r 12 r  ,,for my son in law .

[Willabe]

As a matter fact, I have to pass on the Ice House as well.  It has been said "Ed doesn't drink well with others or by himself".

Truth be told a lot of us are that way, sooner or later.   


            Brad     

[sluckey]

You remember everything, don't you Brad. 

[Willabe]

No I don't any more too much MGD. (When I played/worked in the blues bars it was free.) 

Now I remember just enough to get me in trouble.


             Brad      

[plexi50]

I didnt drink for 25 years. And then one night i said: go to the store damit. So i drink only on friday nights once a month. Once a month has now turned into once a week. And friday is now saturday.too!

[Madison]

>>I did 20 hours a day 6 days a week for a decade.

Sheet mon.
Doing most anything that much will cause burn out.
Enjoy the lawn tractor and Maine!
My wife creates web sites p/t and refuses to look at a computer on her days off.

>>I still have a couple amp project ideas. One is a separate reverb amp using a Hammond AO44 amp. And after building this little Ampeg, I've kinda got a little bug to build an Ampeg Superb Reverb R-15-R and put it in the Ampeg cab that currently has a Marshall 18W. We'll see.

Ah ha!
I knew it!

>>39 year career with the FAA
Wow interesting.
My uncle worked for them most of his life.
He passed away 10 years ago.
He was located in S. Jersey.

>> I have been doing print

Like in paper?
Noooooo!
I was in that industry for over a decade.

Me likes beer.

ooops hi jack.

Can't wait to see Steve's next works of art.

[Zipslack]

FAA? You ever come across any Potter/Spectrum Control power control units when the towers upgraded about 15 years ago?

[sluckey]

Sorry. I've been working enroute radar, not terminal radar.

[PRR]

> anything that much will cause burn out

Looks like I forgot how to type. Or read. Or something. Half a FT job, not a all-waking-hours job.