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Post subject: Low Watt Amp Selections?
Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2014 5:48 pm
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So I've been looking for a low-watt tube amp for practice/recording or quieter jam sessions for some time now. I usually try to avoid the big box-type stores when I can, and buy from fellow musicians if possible.
It's generally feast or famine around here, but lately there have been a few interesting options poking up on the local C/L.
Here's a few that have caught my interest:
A 1972 Musicmaster Bass Amp-looks very clean and has new caps and tubes, otherwise owner claims it is all bone stock-asking $325.00.
Mid-sixties Harmony H 410 with tremolo. Super clean, new tubes, original Jensen speaker, original "Harmony" tubes included-asking $200.00.
Mid-sixties Vibro-Champ Clone, hand built by a well known local guy who pulls old iron from nearly anything that had tubes, and does his own PTP wiring to Fender specs. Looks to be housed in a newer Champ-style cab with vintage tubes, and what appears to be an old yellow label Eminence speak-asking $275.00.
I believe that there is definitely some wiggle room in all of these prices-I mean wiggling down.
So, I find all of these offerings intriguing, and might be what I'm looking for.
What would/would not intrigue you, and why?
What questions would you ask of the seller?
What on-site testing would you go through?
What pricing seems reasonable/unreasonable?
Thanks for any answers/opinions/experiences!
Been away from the forums for awhile, so I hope all is well with all in Fenderland!
Thanks, O...


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Post subject: Re: Low Watt Amp Selections?
Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2014 6:33 pm
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I'd take a good look at the Vibro Champ clone first -- among the options, it sounds the most promising.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Low Watt Amp Selections?
Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2014 7:35 pm
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Thanks, Arjay! I had a feeling you might be the first to chime in.
The "Vibro-Clone" guy is a local amp tech/repair/builder outside of B-more who builds clones of "vintage-style" amps-different models of Fenders/Supros/Magnatones, etc., generally housed in found or salvaged cabs. His work looks pretty good to me.
As always, tone, durability, reliability are always more important to me than name recognition or potential down the road re-sale value, as I tend to hold on to what I like forever. Thanks again, o...


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Post subject: Re: Low Watt Amp Selections?
Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2014 7:44 pm
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Yes, I too would check out the Champ clone. Have a talk with the builder and see if you can have 5-10 day return policy. That should be plenty of time to decide if it's what you need. Art

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Post subject: Re: Low Watt Amp Selections?
Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2014 9:21 pm
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+1 (2) on the VC. 8)

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Post subject: Re: Low Watt Amp Selections?
Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2014 7:42 am
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Nuther vote for the VibroChamp

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Post subject: Re: Low Watt Amp Selections?
Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2014 10:20 am
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My second choice would go to the Musicmaster Bass Amp but only if it's the later version with the 6V6GT output stage. With a carefully-selected speaker these amps sound quite good.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Low Watt Amp Selections?
Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2014 1:14 pm
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Thanks, you guys are the BEST!
The Vibro-Clone would have been my first choice, too.
Thing is I have had no experience with the Harmony Amps, which seem to have recently had a surge in popularity with those going for the low-watt swamp/grunge tone thing-funny how some of us used to sneer at these cheapy amps back in the old days-sounded small and boxy and just didn't look like they had the quality of construction that the Fender amps had. Guess everything comes around again-I can't understand the popularity of the Silvertone/Harmony/Kent/any cheapo '60's Japanese knock-off of classic American guitars-most were hard to play and sounded like crap then, I can't imagine their tone and playability have improved since then. :P


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Post subject: Re: Low Watt Amp Selections?
Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2014 11:32 pm
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One caveat on old Harmony amps. Several models had no power tranny. They linked tube heater lines in series, to get 118-120VAC. These amps use unique 35Z5, 35W5, and/or 50L6 tubes. These amps will not pass today's code and are fire hazards.

To use one of these amps, you'd need to place a 1:1 isolation tranny between the outlet wiring and the first tube of the amp.


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Post subject: Re: Low Watt Amp Selections?
Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2014 2:00 am
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BMW2002Ti wrote:
One caveat on old Harmony amps. Several models had no power tranny. They linked tube heater lines in series, to get 118-120VAC. These amps use unique 35Z5, 35W5, and/or 50L6 tubes. These amps will not pass today's code and are fire hazards.

To use one of these amps, you'd need to place a 1:1 isolation tranny between the outlet wiring and the first tube of the amp.

I used to have one of those. The model was "Kent" but that is exactly the configuration. Power directly into a rectifier - there was a massive power resistor in there.. Had I known then what I know now it never would have been plugged in.

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Post subject: Re: Low Watt Amp Selections?
Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2014 8:31 am
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Here's a good site on the "how-to" add an iso-tranny to one of these old amps.


http://www.instructables.com/id/Isolati ... /?ALLSTEPS


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Post subject: Re: Low Watt Amp Selections?
Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2014 12:22 pm
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BMW2002Ti wrote:
One caveat on old Harmony amps. Several models had no power tranny. They linked tube heater lines in series, to get 118-120VAC. These amps use unique 35Z5, 35W5, and/or 50L6 tubes. These amps will not pass today's code and are fire hazards.

To use one of these amps, you'd need to place a 1:1 isolation tranny between the outlet wiring and the first tube of the amp.


+1

I think the old Silvertone amp that was built into a guitar case used a similar configuration. My Dad repaired one for a friend of mine after it blew a rectifier. He called the design "sleazy", and rightfully so.

:lol:

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Low Watt Amp Selections?
Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2014 9:38 pm
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BMW2002Ti wrote:
Here's a good site on the "how-to" add an iso-tranny to one of these old amps.


http://www.instructables.com/id/Isolati ... /?ALLSTEPS


Why?

Waste of money, and isolating the neutral will do nothing for the "fire hazard".

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Post subject: Re: Low Watt Amp Selections?
Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2014 7:34 am
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shimmilou wrote:
Why?

Waste of money, and isolating the neutral will do nothing for the "fire hazard".


True. Should have said many of these transformer-less amps lack a fuse on the power lines. In general, they are of very cheap quality. But, some ppl like them for vintage OD tones. Like Blues Harp players.


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Post subject: Re: Low Watt Amp Selections?
Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2014 5:43 pm
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Certain amps just aren't worth the bother and are only good for scrap and not much at that.

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