Tools, Tones and Toys for Guitarists
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 one turned out to be slightly different to the others I’ve worked on – it’s a Bell & Howell Filmosound, Model 156 Projector Amplifier (Part No. 13817), field-coil speaker version. Apart from field-coil speakers, there are clear differences between the 1576 vs the more common Filmosound 621 & 179 models. The tone control and … Read more
Just as someone asked me about this recently, I was curious, so I looked it up – Fuzz Face with a 3-way rotary, selecting from 1k5, 2k2 and 3k3 instead of the stock 470 ohm. Mostly NTK275 transistors from what I have seen. No plans on making one, just jotting this down as a note. … Read more
As I was recently playing around with the Colorsound booster made by Steve Williams of Pig Dog fame, I noticed some similarity to the Guild Treble Booster, AKA the Brian May Box. I made a slightly simplified version of the Guild, without the buffer based on one of the Fryer Boosters. I kind of free-styled … Read more
It’s been a while – and I’ve probably scared most of you away with obscure amp content, but I have to have a crack at this one. Yes, it could have been a smaller layout, but to be honest, I’d still be adding some room around the edges for proper mounting points. I also … Read more
Philips 976B – I have had one previously that I documented here. PHILIPS MODEL 976B VALVE PA AMPLIFIER This is a small Australian-made valve PA amplifier from the mid to late fifties – about 8 watts, intended for 100v line systems running multiple speakers. These were also sold as Steanes Sounds Systems using 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
