Want to build amp w/ clean tone

[Phil_S]

Suggestons? Looking for PP, pair of 6BQ5 or 6V6, something like that. Other tubes considered -- I'm not hung up on it, but want it to be something in current production. Nothing fancy. Don't need reverb or tremolo. One that doesn't overdrive too easily. A Deluxe (wonderful amp!) is an example of something I'm not looking to do. Two channels would be nice. I could probably improvise if I had the appropriate basic circuit.

Thanks.

Phil

[Bob-I]

Go to ax84.com and look at the California Dreamer Lite under Classic Projects. It's basically a single channel Deluxe without the reverb or trem. I had one for several years, crystal clean and simple to build.

[Phil_S]

Thanks, Bob. Until you mentioned it, I had forgotten this was a project I started to queue up and never got to. I think I've got schematic and layout on my hard drive! I remember hearing some clips and liking it a lot. Some other project got in front of it...maybe a 'wreck

[sliberty]

Phil,
I am an owner of a 1972 (or is it 1973) HiWatt Custom 100, so the idea of building a clean amp makes a lot of sense to me. AX84 has a LoWatt circuit, but I have not built it, so I can't speak to how well it does the HiWatt thing. But as much as I like the HiWatt, it is also unusable (so freaking loud).

My most recent build is a Rocket (4xEL84), which has absolutely gorgeous cleans. it also (when cranked) has some great overdriven tones - super smooth. Just lovely. It is highly recommended.

There is always a Princeton Reverb too. Biob I just built one in fact. I am not a Fender guy, but they are lovely in their own right.

Steve

[tubetek]

+1 on what Steve says...
The Rocket is at the top of my build list; mainly for the "VOX-ON-STEROIDS"
cleans. The BFPR is another (less powerful) alternative. I'm going for the Rocket with added VVR to throttle back the power when / if needed.
Tom

[tubeswell]

Any PP amp with a couple of pre-amp tubes and a couple of 6V6s fixed bias running at about 370 Plate volts should be pretty clean sounding. If you don't care for tremolo, you could just build a 5G9 (2 input channels, LTP, fixed bias, with a 5U4GB rectifier) but without the trem circuit (or just build it with the trem circuit but don't use it (IMHO this would be a waste of a fine trem). They sound good especially with a G12 20W.

[Phil_S]

These are really good suggestions and I appreciate them. They are all within "range". If it's designed with a tremolo, I'll probably build it in. Tremolo is fun to fool with and it doesn't take too many parts. Reverb, OTOH, requires more effort, an extra tranny, and consideration for placement of the tank.

Thanks to everyone.

Phil

[dartanion]

If you are only going to use a pair of output tubes, considering doing a half power rocket. A set of ac15 transformers or 18 watt would work nicely. Use an ez81, or go SS recto.

[Phil_S]

Dart: no problem going to 4 tubes. I find that the group-think is useful, as it tends strech the imagination. I just don't want 4x 6L6/KT66, etc. I don't have any idea what I'd do with a 100-watter.

I get the feeling that a Rocket with only 2 tubes won't have the desired headroom; pushing down into 18W territory. Comments?

Thanks.
phil

[dave g]

The Ampeg Portaflex is a really great sounding (and often overlooked) little amp. It was designed as a bass amp, but works just fine for guitar - Jim Kelley added a few features/tweaks and came up with his FACS amp. The schematic calls for 7868s but you could do it with 6V6s or whatever else floats your boat. A Portaflex with a pair of 6V6s at ~400 volts (biased a lil' hot please ) running into a beefy output transformer (Dynaclone Z565, Heyboer Vibrolux) makes my mouth water!

Nice size, relatively simple circuit, and very tweak-able - but you can't go wrong with any of the suggested amps! If it were me, I would build a Portaflex, Princeton Reverb, or California Dreamer. A half power rocket will have more chime than anything else and (in my opinion) be the best sounding at low volumes, but might not have the headroom you need.