W15 Companion practice amp

[machine71]

Hello,

Found this site while looking for info on installing a VVR in my Hot Rod Deluxe. I hate to register someplace and begin by ask questions (those are coming soon), it seems friendlier introduce myself first and at least share pictures of something some of you might find interesting before I start picking your brains.

So hi, my name is Dave and here's an old amplifier I got from e-Bay last year, I think it was around $60. It had a 1/4" plug so I took a chance that I could plug my guitar in and it works!

I added a three prong cord, but being an amateur at electronics that's all I did, besides, I just want to plug in and play and it does that just fine.

The table is wood with a sheet of glass on top, hence the reflections.

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[IMG:800:600]http://i337.photobucket.com/albums/n364 ... mp/top.jpg[/img]

[IMG:800:600]http://i337.photobucket.com/albums/n364 ... inside.jpg[/img]

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[machine71]

Forgot one:

[IMG:800:533]http://i337.photobucket.com/albums/n364 ... /tubes.jpg[/img]

[Sonny ReVerb]

Welcome aboard! Very cool little amp you have there. It looks like a similar tube complement to an amp I built from the parts from an old film projector. I used a hybrid Selmer/Epi circuit. It's one of my favorites. Those 6AQ5s sound quite good. They're known as a 6V6 in a smaller bottle, but they can't take the plate voltage of a real 6V6.

Bring on the questions.

[David Root]

She sure is cute, and in good shape too. Looks like one restoration on it judging by the plastic sheathed wire and newer carbon comps here and there.

6AQ5s are the Rodney Dangerfield of power tubes, they don't get no respect. I built a tweed Harvard some time ago with all 7-pin tubes including 6X4s in parallel and two 6AQ5s. It rocks!

Sonny is right about the plate voltage on these babies though. 300V is about it. I have a cheapo Japanese Champ type practice amp from about 1960 or so that had a single 6AR4 power tube, I replaced it with a NOS 6AQ5 and probably got an extra watt out of it. That one has 308V on the plate and it hasn't croaked yet, but it hasn't seen alot of hours either.

[Cliff Schecht]

EEK! Make sure that electrolytic is good and replace those paper in wax caps. Both could cause you a lot of problems and it's better to be safe instead of sorry. The electrolytic can be checked for leakage but this is a HV job so if you aren't sure about what you are doing, perhaps get someone to help you. The paper in wax caps are known to melt eventually under the heat of a tube amp and either open (hopefully) or short (hopefully not). It's a cool little amp and in clean shape, but just be warned that those things usually need updating to be considered safe by modern standards. Perhaps just keep it as a showpiece for now..