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1953
Fender Deluxe: Possibly the most famous guitar amp circuit (5C3) of all
time. This was my first amp (1973) loud enough to annoy the neighbors with.
It had been in an apartment fire and most of the tweed was toasted off
of it. Worked fine with only occasional use till I had it restored a couple
of years ago. I've owned dozens of amps through the years and this is still
(THE ONE!).
The electronics were conservatively restored
to preserve as much original flavor as possible. Originally I traded a
Harmony or Danelectro beginner guitar and amp that was bought used for
$20 for the Deluxe!
(Cabinet and electronic restoration by local
tube amp guru Rick Potter.)
1952
Gibson Gibsonette: The one the new "Gold Tone" GA-15 is styled after. This
was inherited from late Mom-in-law's estate along with a beautiful Gibson
lap steel with matching leatherette case. Both spent most of their life
in the closet after none of the kids took to it.
1961
Epiphone Pathfinder: Based on the Gibson circuits since that's who built
them! Wow what a reverb sound. A real little screamer. It has a factory
monitor out that's good for sending to the low level input of non-reverb
amps. Purchased on eBay for a fair price.
Teisco
model 71R: Ok this is the one I lost my head over and paid too much for
(eBay bid war) but it was the smallest vintage amp I had ever seen with
reverb and it is the coolest purple color with just a sprinkling of glitter.
Well I thought I paid too much until I saw one go recently for over $275
USD.
Mid
60's Vox Pacemaker: This is one of the solid state models made in the USA
by Thomas Organ. Its living proof that not all old solid state amps sound
bad. It has a respectable amount of clean power and the gold "Bulldog"
speaker has got some bite behind its bark! I bought it from an old man
that only played it on sunday at church. No joke, it lived in the choir's
robe closet Monday-Saturday! (He's a personal friend and sold me the Hoyer
archtop seen on my guitar page too.)
1969
Sunn Sonoro: My first Sunn amp, but not my last I hope! These have got
to be one of the best kept secrets of the amp world. The circuit uses 3-12ax7's
and 2-6550 power tubes to achieve a very 60's - 70's Marshall tone with
a HUGE amount of thump and grind when cranked! May have been targeted at
bass players, but it has a lot to offer for guitar, and in this case, simplicity
is beauty. You don't need all those extra knobs if the amp has TONE to
start with!
1964
Kay/Harmony: It may be small in stature but at full tilt it crunches like
a big dog! This has got to be more fun per pound than any old cheapo practice
amp I've played. It was another Item left to me by my generous in-laws.
1965
Gibson GA-45RVT Saturn: This one started as a bit of a problem child. I
bought it on ebay knowing that it needed work but what I didn't count on
was FedEx dropping it so hard they knocked the magnets off the speakers!
Fortunately that was the only damage done in shipment and after a re-cone
and a few capacitors it has a fine, fat blues tone and deep reverb that
Dick Dale could surf on.
Very
early Peavey Classic: I don't know when Hartley Peavey went into production
after starting as a Fender modifier but this is one of the oldest Peavey
amps I've seen around. You can see by the tattered condition that this
old war-horse has seen many gigs. It is a hybrid design with the tubes
in the power section (where I think they belong in such beasts).
I know I'm in the minority, but I think Hartley
Peavey deserves to be held in high regard. He beat the Japanese and other
competition when other American industries gave up. And in the process,
provided many musicians (including yours truly) with affordable, reliable
gear all while keeping jobs, that otherwise would have been exported, in
the USA.
Here
are some of my other amps but the Trace Elliot and Peavey Classic 100 head
are gone. Not pictured are a couple of vintage Gibsons and a Sunn Sorado
head that I've taken a real liking to.
Contact me at:
kingsx@swbell.net