Hello,
As I return to this forum after a length absence, it seems that I never introduced myself. I'm an old dude (60+) who is partners in a clean energy firm that employs 70+ staff. But on to tubes:
It started years ago when I was walking through a flea market and spotted a Princeton Reverb. I asked the guy selling it for the story and the price. It stopped working years ago and $60. were the answers. I probed to make sure it was not stolen and brought it home. Two years later I spotted it when cleaning the basement. Opened it up - found a broken connection, and the rest is history. I have now rebuilt/repaired about 60 amps, converted about a dozen old PA and organ amps, and have scratch built 7 amps. Some that come to mind - with some comments:
Gibson GA-5 - the ones with single 6V6 - bought 3 non-working years ago on Ebay for $40 each. Love them.
Gibson BR-6s and early GA-20s - similar stories. Gibson used lousy filter caps and mounted them (sort of) where heat killed them. Fix em and they sound great.
Fender Brown Concert - bought cheap, non-working, and the guy's tech could not find the problem. Low power he said. Yup - no B+. An amp with a very cool tremolo.
Loney SE 6V6 - Loney was a Chicago music store. Amp turned out to be a Valco. 6SJ7>6V6. Very cool amp.
Gibsonette - A grinder. I like Dave Hunter's books but to take credit for the Two-Stroke as original is a joke. Same circuit.
Gibson GA-25 - 2 6v6 - one 8" and one 12" speaker - what's not to love.
National - All octal 2 6v6 - 2 8" speakers - Bird grill cloth - so cool.
Vibrolux Reverb - Had been hacked with a different transformer and SS rectifier - brought it back to BF specs.
Spitfire clone - built in Watts Tube Audio chassis. Hate it - should be called ice pick.
Gretsch 6155 - All octal Valco - Ebay - owner said works great. Opened it up, wires chewed and dead mouse. Owner said it worked fine when he packed it. Mouse must has snuck into the box eh?
2 Valcos with 6973 power tubes - one Gretsch one National. Hard to work on - sound great cranked, otherwise, not so much.
Several old octal PA amps - rewired as various Fender/Gibson/Valco 2 6V6/6L6 amps.
Smokin' Joe 1 - Weber - built into 5E3 type chassis - Have tried everything include Vox AC-4 circuit - not impressed with SE EL84
Z-28 type - 2 channel - one with EF86, one with 5879 - scratch build with VVR - love this amp - like the 5879 better than EF86
Brownface Deluxe - scratch build with VVR - tighter than the above - like it better than my Princeton Reverb
Route 6V6 - scratch build - nice and gritty - 6SJ7>6SL7>2 6V6 - Dr Z type tone stack that I don't seem to have right
1940s Supro Supreme SE 6SL7>6V6 scratch build with 10" Weber - favorite small amp.
Gibson GA-40 Les Paul - bought from a shipping company that damaged it. My favorite larger amp.
Others - but I'm starting to think I'm crazy, so will stop now.
Cheers,
B Mac
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