ampage Tube Amps / Music Electronics	For current discussions, please visit Music Electronics Forum.

ampage archive

Vintage threads from the first ten years

previous: Steve Slick You two turds quit knocking my PVs.... -- 5/23/2000 3:07 AM

Re: Food for thought on junk amps.

5/23/2000 9:30 PM
T.B.	Re: Food for thought on junk amps. Hi Steve, I had nearly finished a reply to your post and AOL knocked me off. Talking about being pissed! Oh well. So here's another try. Bought my Deuce VT brand new in about '78. Had it in storage for several years. Brought it out, went through it, put in some new Svetlana 6L6 GC's (originally had Sylvania STR 387's (one broke, got three of em). Replaced filter caps, etc. Amp never sounded as smooth and warm overall as my '72 Twin, of course not, it's not a Twin, ha, ha. But I like its kick ass and punch ability. And the channel switching/combining. Never cared too much for the distortion but with a distortion pedal got some decent sounds. I've not used the power amp in jack but will try that with my H&K Cream Machine, might sound good, hope. I can't tell much difference between biasing from about 24 ma to 35 ma. Just playing at strong practice volume in my soundproofed garage. So maybe closer to wide open will tell a different story. Do you have any opinions on a decent sounding current for that amp? The voltage is about 480 plates and 474 screen grids. I had to get rid of some of the lower punchy range. So I replaced the .03 bass and .1 mid caps with .022's and replaced the 47k slope resistor with a pot adjusted between 100k and 150k. With the stock values, the tone structure was different but that .1 mid cap just sucked too much lows and left a harsh punchy sound to my ears. I'm all ears to hear what others have done to their Deuces or similar amps. BTW, I've got the original Black Widow speakers in it. I've tried it with Celestion Vintage 30's and Classic Lead but the Widows seem fine for that amp. Bottom line is I generally like to keep an amp as stock as possible if for nothing else just to maintain a diversity of sound. Whew!! Didn't get knocked off this time. Take care, have fun, T.B.

5/23/2000 9:30 PM

T.B.

Re: Food for thought on junk amps.

Hi Steve, I had nearly finished a reply to your post and AOL knocked me off. Talking about being pissed! Oh well. So here's another try.

Bought my Deuce VT brand new in about '78. Had it in storage for several years. Brought it out, went through it, put in some new Svetlana 6L6 GC's (originally had Sylvania STR 387's (one broke, got three of em). Replaced filter caps, etc.

Amp never sounded as smooth and warm overall as my
'72 Twin, of course not, it's not a Twin, ha, ha. But I like its kick ass and punch ability. And the channel switching/combining. Never cared too much for the distortion but with a distortion pedal got some decent sounds. I've not used the power amp in jack but will try that with my H&K Cream Machine, might sound good, hope.

I can't tell much difference between biasing from about 24 ma to 35 ma. Just playing at strong practice volume in my soundproofed garage. So maybe closer to wide open will tell a different story. Do you have any opinions on a decent sounding current for that amp? The voltage is about 480 plates and 474 screen grids.

I had to get rid of some of the lower punchy range. So I replaced the .03 bass and .1 mid caps with .022's and replaced the 47k slope resistor with a pot adjusted between 100k and 150k. With the stock values, the tone structure was different but that .1 mid cap just sucked too much lows and left a harsh punchy sound to my ears.

I'm all ears to hear what others have done to their Deuces or similar amps. BTW, I've got the original Black Widow speakers in it. I've tried it with Celestion Vintage 30's and Classic Lead but the Widows seem fine for that amp. Bottom line is I generally like to keep an amp as stock as possible if for nothing else just to maintain a diversity of sound.

Whew!! Didn't get knocked off this time. Take care, have fun, T.B.

Replies:

Steve Slick T.B.Can't recommend... -- 5/23/2000 11:01 PM