Amp treasure hunting

psyx · 2011-12-12T08:36:42+00:00

So here's the scenario... You find yourself in some one-horse town and you decide to browse through the local pawn shop. Somewhere in the back you find a vin...

Amp treasure hunting

vic

singemonkey wrote:
Vic wrote:
"When I think of the road we're travelling on, I wonder what's gone wrong." ???

......and I can't help but wonder how did it get to this...... ??? definately not Well- used ......roadworn is also an under statement ...

nicovlogg

One of these. I've also often wondered whether there are any old Vox AC10's lying around. ???

vic

nicovlogg wrote: One of these. I've also often wondered whether there are any old Vox AC10's lying around. ???

The AC10 is rare in SA and was produced in relatively small numbers. I have one and would love to know if there are other examples around . The AC15 is also rare here...have never even seen one locally.

nicovlogg

Vic wrote: The AC10 is rare in SA and was produced in relatively small numbers. I have one and would love to know if there are other examples around . The AC15 is also rare here...have never even seen one locally.

Awesome, what does it sound like? ?

vic

nicovlogg wrote:
Vic wrote: The AC10 is rare in SA and was produced in relatively small numbers. I have one and would love to know if there are other examples around . The AC15 is also rare here...have never even seen one locally.
Awesome, what does it sound like? ?

Like an AC30, chimey, but understandably with less punch. These came with 2x10 Elac alnico speakers. The AC10 also has an EF86 in the preamp which gives nice tonal clarity. Quite loud as well.

nicovlogg

Vic wrote: Like an AC30, chimey, but understandably with less punch. These came with 2x10 Elac alnico speakers. The AC10 also has an EF86 in the preamp which gives nice tonal clarity. Quite loud as well.

That sounds like a fantastic little amp ?

TomCat

An original 65 Fender Deluxe Reverb Blackface or original 65 Princeton Reverb.....any condition......

Keira-WitherKay

I'm with tom cat here a 65 fender princeton reverb . Amazingly a vintage princeton popped up on gumtree in this past year and it disappeared before i could react , i was a bit slow so seems they out there but if you snooze you lose ? but i have to admit like alan i too have my vintage gem of a point to point 15 w that was rebuilt by jp le roux and all in all cost under 5 k and i use it at almost every pro gig i do so i am a happy camper but a 65 princeton is still the only amp that i'm intruiged by , other than my own of course.

Reinhard

one of these

vic

Reinhard wrote: one of these

NOW you're talking ! wow !

Ray

Listen, I'm asking this in all humility hey. But all the pictures here, these amplifiers look vrot. Now, I'm sure they are great amplifiers. But I'm also sure that the things can be reproduced to produce the same sound. Hand wired and all. So apart from the collector value what is the attraction? Is it like buying the road worn guitars? Sure, if I got to a shop and the scenario was like the OP said I would snap it up and away I go even if it's just to come and flog here.

vic

Ray wrote: Listen, I'm asking this in all humility hey. But all the pictures here, these amplifiers look vrot. Now, I'm sure they are great amplifiers. But I'm also sure that the things can be reproduced to produce the same sound. Hand wired and all. So apart from the collector value what is the attraction? Is it like buying the road worn guitars? Sure, if I got to a shop and the scenario was like the OP said I would snap it up and away I go even if it's just to come and flog here.

Well Ray, this is only my view....and I can only speak for Vox and (a wee bit) Fender amps. The modern AC30 for example does not sound like the vintage ones. I had two, one with blue alnicos and I sold both of them because of their tone.....lack in richness. Not bad tone, but certainly not vintage-like tone...... It may be that the speakers of the old ones are nicely broken in, it may be the quality of the components used in the old ones , I dunno, but they don't sound the same and I believe the same goes for Fender amps ?
And then of course.... the price....vintage amps are cheaper than new amps...can you believe it ? ???

vic

bottledtone wrote: :Oooh..... I always dream of an old granny pulling out a 59 Les Paul from the closet that belonged to her husband that passed and that they never had any children, so I could have it

But ampwise.... Still would love to find a fawn AC30/4

The holy grail in amp form ? There are still a few examples left...mainly in the UK...but oh yes...would love to have one of these.

Gearhead

Ray wrote: Listen, I'm asking this in all humility hey. But all the pictures here, these amplifiers look vrot. Now, I'm sure they are great amplifiers. But I'm also sure that the things can be reproduced to produce the same sound. Hand wired and all.

I guess they can copy most vintage stuff verbatim but they don't seem to get the trannies down. Given an old OPT, my bet would be you can get super close to vintage sound.

vic

Gearhead wrote:
Ray wrote: Listen, I'm asking this in all humility hey. But all the pictures here, these amplifiers look vrot. Now, I'm sure they are great amplifiers. But I'm also sure that the things can be reproduced to produce the same sound. Hand wired and all.
I guess they can copy most vintage stuff verbatim but they don't seem to get the trannies down. Given an old OPT, my bet would be you can get super close to vintage sound.

Very important components I forgot to mention in particular. Also some of the older caps' and resistors' values drift a bit from spec which also could play a role in the sound of vintage amps. Those are also of the components which should not be replaced if they aint broke ?

bottledtone

Was beat to it....
But anyway,... Older amp builders were restricted to the components they could get, and so the only filter caps of great value were around 16uf not like the 220uf we can use now. Voltages also were not that high. Carbon comp resisters too gave a "resistor distortion", but also a hiss ?. Speakers also get softer over time and mellow out any "spikeiness".
This all boils down to warm, wide range (due to low voltage) that break up (not the cab) early.
There are exceptions to this of course. Oh and many amps having lack of a negative feedback loop.

bluesman

Great topic and reading. How many times have I hoped to stumble across a 40's Gibson G type amp?

I'm to lazy to post the pic a 65 Silvertone Twin Twelve amp found at a garage sale in NY, with Johnny Otis written inside the speaker cab.

A mid 60's Magma single ended 6V6 amp covered in mother of toilet seat bought with a early 60 hollow body Harmony Stratoliner for $40.00 at a garage sale in San Francisco

A 1966 Ampeg B12 XT Porta Flex amp bought at another Garage sale in Millbrae, California and on the same day at another garage sale another Harmony blond Stratoliner axe for 3 dollars!

A Nomad Bluesman EL84 amp at a garage sale for $40.00 not working, and it now has a superb tone (made in either Berkeley or Hayward Calif., these are rare)

Bought 800 new tubes (valves) for 5 cents each at a San Mateo Garage sale, $40.00....whew!

Plenty of vintage mics too.

Mark

It's too bad South Africa isn't into garage sales, the very best way to spend a Saturday morning, and records? too many to even mention, valve audio amps too!

Mark

Nicholas-L

I'd love to find a matamp series 2000 the first orange amps ?