Tools, Tones and Toys for Guitarists
Another AWA valve PA amplifier from the PA100X series, from the late sixties. Very utilitarian looking, and very sturdy. It’s a little bit tight in the chassis – not much room to work in there. AWA PA1005 PA AMPLIFIER Standard mic, PU (record player) and tone controls. Bass cut control on the rear, which is … Read more
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
This amp is a bit of a classic from my hometown, Brisbane. Vase Trendsetters were very common back in the day, and many are still floating around. If you couldn’t afford a Marshall, there was a good chance that you had a Vase. They were mostly fairly simple amps, and pretty well made – I’d … Read more
I saw this one pop up recently and decided to take a punt on it (thanks Damian). For the money, I figured it was worth a look even if it only ended up being a decent chassis and set of transformers. Turns out that this amp is a testament to the quality work that Goldetone … Read more
I posted another AWA PA872 a while back, but realised I never actually shared this one. It had been sitting on the shelf for months – one of those projects that was nearly there, but never quite finished. I finally got around to wrapping it up this weekend. This looks to be an earlier unit, although … Read more
Picked up another Bell & Howell Gaumont today, with the speaker cab – a Model 601 from 1950 (based on the capacitor dates). Nice to see the original speaker still in the cab – I gave a quick test, sounds fine. The 601 is the same amp as the 621 (full details here). The 601 … Read more
GIBSON GA-30 GUITAR AMPLIFIER SCHEMATICS This is one of the GA-30 amps – there were a few by the sounds of it. While they share a similar topology, there are clearly some differences from the one above. Apart from changing the circuit, their appearance also varies over time – I’m not going to try and … Read more
6SJ7 preamp, 6SN7 paraphase inverter, 2 x 6V6 with local negative feedback. GIBSON BR6-F GUITAR AMPLIFIER SCHEMATIC Clearly a bit of work has been done on this one – just using the pic as an example of circuit construction. Low impedance input 6SJ7 PRE Ra 220k Rk 2k2 20u bypass Screen 2m2, 50n bypass 10n … Read more
5879 pentode premap, which is an improved version of the E8F6 – uses a Vox style cut control across the plates of the phase inverter. Paraphase inverter, driving 2 x cathode biased 6V6. GIBSON GA-40 GUITAR AMPLIFIER SCHEMATIC
Ignoring the gigantic and overly complicated trem section – this is one of my favourite sounding AC amps, which is most likely the inspiration for the Matchless DC30 pentode channel. VINTAGE VOX AC-15 SCHEMATIC Version: NO V-1-5 / OA/031 Apparently this schematic is a v3, redrawn by Thomas Organ, with some different component numbering. … Read more