NAD - we all like blondes

MikeM · 2011-11-11T16:09:48+00:00

Will update thread with some more shots, editing now ? As usual with my threads, click the picture for a larger image (2x the size).

Keira-WitherKay

Vic wrote
Keira WitherKay wrote glad you bought it and it's gone to someone who'll appreciate this old lady .......
Keira, there's nothing better than a blonde old lady ! ?

damn right there vic ?

MikeM

Not sure if this is rude, now that she's an old blonde lady ?

nick

MikeM wrote Not sure if this is rude, now that she's an old blonde lady ?

That looks remarkably clean for a '63!

vic

Must say...I've a very soft spot for 60's amps, not just for the sound and built quality but also for the fact that vintage amps are excellent value for money...I mean just compare the store price of new valve amps to that of vintage amps on the market. Granted, vintage amps may be expensive to restore (if needed) but overall it's all worth it. And guess what, you'll always get your money back when selling for some or other reason.

nicovlogg

OK so I have to add my own little find here, because Mike and I actually went together and I picked up another amp that Rob had lying around, what seems like a '68 Bassman. The tremolux also sounds really amazing, pretty damn raunchy for such an old lady.

My photos aren't as sexy as Mikes but I have to say I am flippen pleased, thing sounds sweet and was an awesome deal.. also scored a cool tweed case for my tele. Thanks Keira from me as well!

vic

Veeery nice Nico ! Congrats.
Your amp looks to be in very good condition as well. Looks '68 with its aluminium drip edge. Check for the circuit code and date code on the chart tube. There's nothing wrong with the tone of these earlish silver faces. I have a SF Showman and its tone is to die for.

MikeM

Yea Vic we have been chatting about how it can be tweaked. I personally have no probably modifying SF amps. First thing to be worked on is the bias control. Contemplating sneaking a hum balance in there as well as I am really curious as to how they perform. And the spare triode in the bassman is just heresy in my books! So might be trying to convince Nico the "normal" channel might benefit from a cathode follower before the tonestack.

MikeM

I have a sickness... When I found out it was a July built amp, I started wondering if it's really a 6G9-b....... One quirk about these is that they have tapped pots. Yup that means a pot with 4 lugs instead of 3. It's a 350k pot with a tap at 70k. Weird. This is what it looks like...

And this is the naked blonde ?

vic

So what's the verdict Mike ? Which circuit is it ?

MikeM

6G9-b. That oddball pot in the first pic is evidence enough, it also doesn't have the usual trem circuit in it ?

You can't really see in the picture, but on the bottom left of the right hand of the middle pot, a yellow wire joins a lug there.

vic

MikeM wrote Yea Vic we have been chatting about how it can be tweaked. I personally have no probably modifying SF amps. First thing to be worked on is the bias control. Contemplating sneaking a hum balance in there as well as I am really curious as to how they perform. And the spare triode in the bassman is just heresy in my books! So might be trying to convince Nico the "normal" channel might benefit from a cathode follower before the tonestack.

I'm told one could mod it to BF for not too much....the AA165 and AB165 that is.
Circuit order (from'68-'81) is AA165, AB165, AA270, AA371, AA568, AC568, AA864

nicovlogg

Vic wrote
MikeM wrote Yea Vic we have been chatting about how it can be tweaked. I personally have no probably modifying SF amps. First thing to be worked on is the bias control. Contemplating sneaking a hum balance in there as well as I am really curious as to how they perform. And the spare triode in the bassman is just heresy in my books! So might be trying to convince Nico the "normal" channel might benefit from a cathode follower before the tonestack.
I'm told one could mod it to BF for not too much....the AA165 and AB165 that is.
Circuit order (from'68-'81) is AA165, AB165, AA270, AA371, AA568, AC568, AA864

Yup, it's an AB165 circuit. Pretty close to BF specs and with a few tweaks apparently even more versatile. ?

vic

MikeM wrote 6G9-b. That oddball pot in the first pic is evidence enough, it also doesn't have the usual trem circuit in it ?

You can't really see in the picture, but on the bottom left of the right hand of the middle pot, a yellow wire joins a lug there.

Great !

Here are some pics of the guts of a '62 Tremolux for what its worth

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=757398

nick

nicovlogg wrote
Vic wrote
MikeM wrote Yea Vic we have been chatting about how it can be tweaked. I personally have no probably modifying SF amps. First thing to be worked on is the bias control. Contemplating sneaking a hum balance in there as well as I am really curious as to how they perform. And the spare triode in the bassman is just heresy in my books! So might be trying to convince Nico the "normal" channel might benefit from a cathode follower before the tonestack.
I'm told one could mod it to BF for not too much....the AA165 and AB165 that is.
Circuit order (from'68-'81) is AA165, AB165, AA270, AA371, AA568, AC568, AA864

Yup, it's an AB165 circuit. Pretty close to BF specs and with a few tweaks apparently even more versatile. ?

Same as mine, lovely things! congrats 8)

MikeM

Thanks Vic ? Wonder why I have some green caps in there.. Time to research Doublier.

vic

MikeM wrote Thanks Vic ? Wonder why I have some green caps in there.. Time to research Doublier.

Those are Cornell-Dubilier caps aka "greenies"....high quality amp components used in the 50's and 60's.

chris77

Oooo-la-la!! :applause:

MikeM

Planning to replace these resistors, is the one on the bottom right standard? Haven't seen resistors like that before..

Vic, does the transformer look age appropriate? Someone on another forum mentioned that it may actually be the correct export transformer. It seems possible, but I don't have much experience with these things, I just looked at the age of the wires and the overall typology being the same. I assume I should double check the code?

Gearhead

What would you say is nonstandard about them? Look very very normal to me. You must be a real freak to go and replace resistors, the only downsides to cheap ones being noise and thermal drift.

MikeM

I am a real freak. This amp is almost 50 years old, and I'd like it to be as period correct as I can get it, in terms of performance and aesthetics.

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