Another question about tube amps

[holmis63]

Ok, i recieved the Harley benton head and the epi cab this tuesday and have fooled around with it every evening this week. I ´have to say that my ibanez Gits drive the litle 5 Watter to tone heaven , everything from nice ringing cleans to singing overdrive! No boxes, just the guitar and amp.

My fenders don´t drive the tubes up to singing overdrive, just to the break up point when everything is set at max! I´m going to invest in a Bad Bob Boost pedal or something like that and then it´s all there. I´ll say this GA5H is a real bang for the buck deal, pro tone for 200 euros, not earwrecking high volumes but pro tones. I´m curious how it´ll handle a band rehearse situation?

[sunil]

"I´m curious how it´ll handle a band rehearse situation?"

Let us know when you find out!
 

[holmis63]

I´m sure going to report to you gyus, it´ll take a while though since my next rehearse is a week ahead!

[backer60]

Chuck,

I dont know how many watts you're looking for, but the old{mid 90's} Trace Elliot "Vellocettes" were nice small amps. 15 watts, 10 inch speaker, the muscle you'd like to get some of that "growl", but small, dependable, and wont blow anyones ears out in a smaller pub. I used one for a while and I was well satisfied, perfect for smaller places. I saw one on the bay a couple months ago that went for 325. Ive seen them used for around 400 bucks in local trade papers as well. If you can find one locally, plug in and check it out. Bill

[ChuckE99]

I bought an Epiphone Valve Jr. 5 watts of extreme mojo. I'm lovin' it at the moment.

[holmis63]

Ok, i´ve noticed that the eminence speaker must have been quite stiff when brand new! Now, after maybe 10 playing hours it´s much smoother and even the Fenders break up real nice when everything is set at almost (amp eq at halfway and git volume at 9) max.

Nice quack and ringing from the strats and i tested the AR500 yesterday, wow, that guitar amaze me everytime i touch it!

I´d say, if you don´t have tried the epi valve junior or this harley benton GA5H, do it before you buy something else at low wattage!

[seattledan]

   I recently picked up a used epi valve jr. combo with upgraded tubes and upgraded jensen speaker for $100 off CL.  I like it a lot, but that hum is driving me nuts.  Recently I found an internet site that sells a kit to turn the amp into hand wired amp with the huge battery-lookin caps.  I can't seem to find that site again, anybody know it or have experience with this mod?

---- I was looking for a small tube amp for a while now, and really wanted to go vintage.  After being shocked by 3 separate vintage amps at 2 separate stores I decided to just buy something new and mod it to my liking.

-------I hooked up my Marshall JCM800 4210 into the dry out on a 1981 AD-9 and the wet signal to my valve jr.  I was able to get a clean tone from the marshall and distorted delay from the epi.  They were both at the same volume  (the epi cranked to 8 and the marshall down to like 2 or 3).  Anyone else have tips on cool stereo setups?

[sunil]

When I was gigging, I played stereo through a Furman floorboard effects platform.  I played through two Mesa Dual Rectifier T-Verb 100W amps dropped to 50W each by pulling the two outer or inner tubes.  One Dual Rec was a head with a 2x12 cab, and the other Dual Rec was a 2x12 Combo to give me a total 4x12.

The tones were unlimited, and you could use 6L6s or EL34s in the Dual Recs, so that would mix it up even more.   Then, you could of course foot switch both amps independently between clean & dirty channels.   Then add in numerous effects and a wah, and you were off the hook.

Was all that needed?  Of course not, but you know....

If I started gigging again, I would get a second Marshall JTM-30 1x12 combo and run those stereo in place of the Mesa's.

[backer60]

Dan,
My old man builds stereo amps and speakers. He said to just google your search, he's seen multiple companies that make kits to redo hi-fi amps as well as guitar amps. He did however remind me that when putting in those "garbage can caps" to make sure you discharge them after every usage. There is little danger unless you have the amp open to work on it, but when you do work on it you must make sure they have been discharged. Even if the amp is unplugged they carry enough juice to kill you. He said grounding the tube for about a minute to a minute and a half should eliminate any risks. You probably know this already, but my dad told me to make sure I mentioned it. Bill

[seattledan]

   Yeah, i've been hesitant to work on any tube amps as of yet.  I figured if I'm gonna get into the guts of any tube amp it should been one with a very low wattage.  I have been known to play pretty fast and loose with standard house 110V, but I think I'll be  ultra careful, with these caps.  I don't want to end up as a blurb in "The Stranger" (seattle's free paper).

    Anyone have any experience with the newer Ibanez tube amps?

[ChuckE99]

I've read some of the instructions for redoing the amps and they recommend that newbies keep one hand behind their back, stuck in their back pocket, to minimize the danger of discharging the capacitor.

[holmis63]

Well, yesterday evening i did my first rehearse with the harley benton GA5H. The litle tube amp didn´t have any problem coming thrue, used a homemade closed insulated cab with a Celestion G12 and a Marshall blues breaker for boosted sounds and it was avesome!!

Gigmates was stunned, is that only 5 watts?? And i´m stunned too, 110 us dollars and real singing or ringing tube tones and no problem commig thrue, amazing!

The two best things, the weight, like a feather compared to the super twin reverb i use till now and the fact that you can´t heart your ears with earwrecking sound levels.