Tools, Tones and Toys for Guitarists
Such an awesome looking little amp from 1954. Photos from an online listing, I am yet to track one down in person. For a simple single-ended 6V6 based amp, it’s an interesting circuit. AWA MODEL PA-806 PA AMPLIFIER Standard inputs and controls for a small Australian PA amp from AWA. Inputs for a mic, turntable … Read more
The Vox AC6 is a departure from the Vox AC2 & AC4, in that it has a 12AX7 preamp, negative feedback, no trem, and for some reason, the tone control is before the first triode – it’s a bit of an odd-ball in the Vox lineup from the time. The 12AX7 preamp arrangement would give … Read more
Another early Vox model is the AC2. It’s often described as being the same as an AC4, but there is one key difference — the tone control. Instead of sitting in the preamp like the AC4, the AC2’s tone control is wired in the power stage, between the EL84 plate and the B+ supply (effectively … Read more
Despite the name – and even the familiar look – the original Vox AC4 has very little in common with the modern “AC4” amps wearing the same badge. The cabinet and the single EL84 output stage are about all they share. The AC4 started life as the AC2 in 1958. Fair to say that the … Read more
This is a Goldentone 1776, which is essentially a Goldentone 1774 with trem. It had been reshoused in a 2 x 10 cab with Oxford speakers (one ceramic, one alnico), with the amp chassis mounted on the bottom, with the control panel up the top. The amp would have been mounted the same way in its original … Read more
Valco made, Supro single-ended valve amp, very much the same as the Gretsch 6150 / 6151 SUPRO SUPER SIX, MODEL S6606 12AX7, 6V6, 5Y3 8″ Jensen speaker, 3.2 ohm OT 2640 PT 3036 B+ 300v 4.5w
SELMER CORVETTE SELMER LITTLE GIANT MKI & MKIII SELMER MERCURY 5
Two great little guitar amps made by Valco for Gretsch – probably best to describe them as direct competition for the Fender Champ, but with some fancier appointments for the time. Pretty sure there’s a Supro equivalent that was also made by Valco for these two as well. Supro 1606 for the 6150. Both small … Read more
I’ll start with the Fender 5F2A Princeton, as this is generally considered to be “the one” for a lot of people. Basically take a tweed Champ, and add the classic Fender one knob tone control, which has no insertion loss, and you’re in business. It’s hard to go wrong with this formula, which is why … Read more
I know these are everywhere, but humour me – this is mainly for my own reference. FENDER CHAMP-AMP, 5C1 (WIDE PANEL TWEED) Note: The Fender Champion 600 and 800 are said to use the same schematic (or at least extremely similar). Preamp: 6SJ7 pentode, grid-leak biased (no cathode resistor) Inputs: two jacks, each 75k in … Read more