I've been a serious audio and music reproduction guy for close to 40 years now. I've always had a desire to actually play some of the music (particularly Blues and Bluegrass) I have loved, but I really didn't want to revisit the only marginally successful 6-string guitar efforts of my youth. A couple two/three years back, I found my instrument in the 3-string cigarbox guitar and have been having a blast with it ever since.
Along with building a handful of geetars, I've been building or buying up amps searching for "my tone". Audio gear can get pretty spendy when compared to low powered guitar amps so it's been a bit of a free for all purchasing wise when I find something new to try. I'm now having difficulty finding places to put them. I think this free for all has gotten out of hand.
Besides the project tubers waiting to become something and ones I have built myself, this is the menagerie so far:
Fender Excelsior
Gibson Les Paul Jr.
Weber 5F1
Kalamazoo Model 1
Epi Valve Jr
Kustom Defender 5H
Magnasync Moviola
Danelectro Dirty 30
Stromberg Carlson Signet 33
Gregory Mark XV
Univox U45
Jet City Pico Valve
They are all cool but to be honest, the one I have the most fun with is my $60 used Roland Micro Cube :)
I have a difficult time letting go of stuff but maybe it's time to thin the herd.
RC
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Hey Wes, I really like my own builds using those 5w amp harnesses also. Fun to build, sound cool as heck and no hum at all with the 9V.
The only one's I actually spent real money for were the Gibson, Fender and Weber 5F1. Even so,all were bought used and found on the cheap.
I've only had the Micro Cube for about a month and it's been a dream to use for late night playin, I'm a tube guy at heart and didn't think I would like a SS modeling amp but figured I would give it a shot. Not sure about others but really digging this little guy! I like them all for various reasons but for portability and dial in overall tone, this thing rocks. It kinda makes me question if I need all these other amps sitting around waiting to get played.
RC
Holy cow! That's not a collection. That's a museum! Way AWESOME amps there Ron! If I wasn't playing on any of those amps they'd be displayed in my living room. Like art! I have space if you looking to toss em.... : )
I've heard a lot of really good things about the Roland cube. From both Jazz and classical forums. Then really bad things from rock forums. So it would go to say they're really good at clean.
I'm the same way you are about looking for the right sound. I've gone overboard with overdrive pedals. Got my sights on a VooDoo Lab Sparkle Drive. My fav as of right now is a Vox all tube Big Ben Overdrive.
The Micro Cube does the clean thing well (in my rookie estimation) but having built in effect other than tone is really nice. I have it set at blackface with trem and a bit of delay thrown in. Dang, sounds really good.
I like the others also but take the Gibson for example, I can't get "dirty" out of it unless I have it cranked or throw a pedal at it. That's not the end of the world necessarily but I do most of my playing after everybody's gone to bed. I can stand on it a bit but don't want to get to crazy. The Cube does what I want at low volume and I don't have to hook up a bunch of shite to it. The Gibson is a dang fine amp by most accounts but I think I'm going to let it go.
I know what you mean about pedals. They are fun and even the nice ones be found on the cheap if your patient. I picked up a Heavy Electronics Radio Havana a few weeks back. Not something that a guy would use a lot I suppose but it's a fun one to use to add a little of that Low-Fi, ol' timey thing.
I haven't heard the Sparkle Drive in person but have listened to guys playing through it on YouTube. Sounds like a very nice overdrive!
RC
Yes, It's a little mid 60's, tube rectified, single ended 6BQ5/EL84 combo. Harp guys seem to like these but they really take to the CBG blues, twang thing. They tend to get silly money for these on ebay and the like. These were just cheap little practice amps in their day. Mine could stand to have a supply and signal path re-cap but fine for now.
Here is a good site for some info and history on Kalamazoo.
http://www.rru.com/~meo/Guitar/Amps/Kalamazoo/
My camera battery is dead or I would put up a photo right now. I'll charge it up and post a photo or two for you a little later.
RC
Cool Collection of stuff, there are a few on here with similar extended collections.. (think i'm up to around 12 amps too, but not as exotic)
Cube is easy to get great results and things dont buzz in it, im not sure why..(my vox mini they all buzz in that!)
I would be interested to know what you think is best... me I love valves..valve reverbs and valve over drivers..
But find it easier to switch on an amp an go...than plug loads of stuff together...
What's that excelcior like? and what's ya favourite?
Thanks bug, I like to grab up old tubers when the opportunity arises and they are not too spendy.
I think the Excelsior is a pretty nice amp for the money. They come with cheap Chinese tubes that are pretty much dreck. I re-tubed with NOS black glass 6V6 and 12AX7 and that improved everything overall. I'm probably not going to do anything in the way of circuit mods for it (if I keep it) other than replace the dark/bright tone switch with a tone pot. I'm going to replace the stock speaker with a Jensen P15Q or Eminence 1518 I have if I ever get around to it. Nice amp with good tremelo but kinda big and heavy. I may keep this one for nostalgic reasons. This was my first "big boy" amp purchase ;)
The Univox and Gregory have had a bit of an attitude adjustment (not a full overhaul) and I like the heck out of both. Great trem and reverb.
The Valve jr and Kustom are not bad for inexpensive 5 watt tubers but need a pedal or two to get them to do what I want them to do. I haven't modded these and just running stock tubes. The Jet City Pico Valve is my favorite head amp. I'm using that one to drive that twin 15 Altec cab I built.
The Stromberg Carlson Signet 33 is a really nice sounding amp also but just too much power for my use. One thing I have figured out is that 5-10 watt tube is about all I need for home use. It''s fun to crank up the volume every now and then but 20-30 watt tube can blow out the windows and bring the roof down ;)
Almost all tube my amps exhibit varying amounts of buzz/hum. Some more than others because of noisy lines and dependent on where I plug in.
Like you said though, the Micro Cube is as silent as a church mouse and that's plugged in and not running off battery. Maybe that's one of the reasons I like it so much.
RC
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