Tweed Bassman Alternatives?

[mdroberts1243]

Here's my humble take.
No worst than playing golf.

MUCH better than playing golf! Everytime I take a golf lesson my game goes to h**l, but everything I learn from this forum makes an instant noticeable improvement to my tube-amp 'game'.

[Bigsbyguy]

CJ you mind pointing me tword some Triad Tranny's? For years I've wanted to have my idea of the ideal Steel amp built. A front control chassis with 50W or 80W Tweed Twin guts, no trem or verb.
I'm at a point where although I'd love to have a real amp, the price tags are less then appealing. I could buy a couple acres of land for the average price of one. I have seen a couple affordable amps though. I know an old Fiddle player that has one in his garage and I'm gonna see him this weekend. And one of my old steel player pals has a DEC 54, 5D4 serial #0033, and he's looking around for one for me. I'm friends with a high volume vintage dealer and he's' looking too, so I should be able to find one, maybe a TV Pro too;). I'm ok with any Bassman really, recovers, chassis, what ever comes by affordable.
Now that I don't have to do it for the money, I'm starting to play out more. The Super is fine for senior centers , churches ect. Most of those crowds are quiet and the rest of the band is old enough not to want to play that loud. Bars will be a different story. I also use a Magnatone Triplex and I've got Xcabs with 10's, 12's and 15's.
I was gonna go with a BF Super Reverb for that type of gig then decided to go with a Bassman Clone. I've found a Webb Steel amp and I'm gonna buy it but it's SS.
Here's a couple shots of the chassis I'm getting. The amp will have 2 8ohm outs and 2 4ohms outs. My tube caddy's down to 1 last pair of NOS Tung Sol 5881's, and a couple pair of the RCA short Glass 6L6's. A Mullard 5AR4, several NOS 9pins. I've also got a pair of KT66 and 7027A's are they good subs?

I'm having a pine cab made and I'm gonna have a couple extra baffles made for 2x12's and a 15. I'll have the builder make it easy to swap them out.

Here's where I'm in a quandry and I'm interested in you guys opinions.

What do I cover it with? Mojo has several cool looking tolexes. I'm thinking Smooth White Tolex and Gold sparkle grille to match my Reverb unit. That would probably look great. OR, I can use Alligator with either wheat or the gold sparkle. I'd add leather corners and a steel reinforced handle like on my Magnatone. My cab builder says the gold sparkle grille is no longer available but he has enough for 1 more grille.

So whadda you guys think stay conventional or get off the beaten track?
And what about Tilt Back legs? Yes- No??
I got about another week to decide so let's hear some opinions! And Thanks.

[Funkalicousgroove]

Get a Mojo kit and have them sub out the coupling caps with PIO type, and I'll assemble it for you for a minimal fee, I build a Kick Ass 5F6-A

[JimiB]

Get a Mojo kit and have them sub out the coupling caps with PIO type, and I'll assemble it for you for a minimal fee, I build a Kick Ass 5F6-A

I would tend to believe what the man says!

[benoit]

Get a Mojo kit and have them sub out the coupling caps with PIO type, and I'll assemble it for you for a minimal fee, I build a Kick Ass 5F6-A

What does PIO mean?

Edit: Oh, would that be paper in oil?

[Funkalicousgroove]

Yeah, paper in oil.

I have a 5F6-A that I play around town and I used paper in oil caps instead of orange drops. The difference is when you turn it up it is smooth and breathy as opposed to harsh and nasaly with orange drops.

I've done direct comparisons with Clarks and Victorias, they are all similar at low volumes, at high volumes the clark and mine were neck in neck, the Victoria got harsh and buzzy.

A new re-issue bassman doesn't even come close.

I get a dealer deal with mojo and would also get it for you at my cost.

[skeezbo]

Funk, I've read many of your posts and have learned a lot. You sure seem to know what sounds good, so I guess the Mallory 150s in my tweed clone will soon be history. What about the tone caps, any reason to change those? Are the Mojo oil filled caps the PIO caps to get?
Thanks,
Skeezbo

[skeezbo]

Oops, Funk-you are replacing Orange Drops with the PIO caps. Will I get a similar benefit swapping out my M150s? I thought the Mallory caps were already less harsh than the Orange Drops in Tweed clones. What do you think?
Thanks again,
Skeez

[Funkalicousgroove]

M150's are fine in tweeds. I haven't tried the Mojo PIO's yet, but I am in process of trying them in a 5E3 build.

The caps in my bassman are only available in Japan, they are called Toichi "Vitamin Q" hence why they can't be sold here in the states.

The Mojo caps are of Brazillian origin, but I've heard they are good. The original astron caps in tweeds and brown fenders were a paper dielectric, so these are close.

I would imagine that the Pio's vs M150's would have a bigger bass and a less pronounced midrange. FWIW, I am not a big fan of M150's but please don't go run ripping them out of your amps because I said so

[Tubetwang]

you may get some here http://www.specialtyguitars.com/electronics/caps.html

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/attachme ... a91169934d

I get the Jensen copper from www.partsconnexion.com and Russian paper in oil from www.thetubestore.com

http://www.ecp.cc/cap-notes.html

[Funkalicousgroove]

that's great!! Only thing is if you can persuade someone in Japan to go to akihabra and pick them up they are $4 each instead of $11.

[CaseyJones]

CJ you mind pointing me tword some Triad Tranny's? For years I've wanted to have my idea of the ideal Steel amp built. A front control chassis with 50W or 80W Tweed Twin guts, no trem or verb..

I'm going to keep quiet about the several sources of vintage Triads I use. It seems every time I find something that's affordable and cool at the same time someone else posts a "Hey... look what I found" thread on the 'web and my nice affordable parts aren't affordable anymore.

I'll say this... if you want to build an amp for steel that will part your hair look into salvaging old hi-fi amps. Use a PT that will support four EL34s and you'll have plenty of current available. An OT from an Ampeg V4 or equivalent might be interesting.

I'm at a point where although I'd love to have a real amp, the price tags are less then appealing. I could buy a couple acres of land for the average price of one. I have seen a couple affordable amps though.

If you set up your criteria so you absolutely MUST have a vintage amp then it's going to be expensive, apparently there are a few other people out there who absolutely MUST have a vintage amp! On the other hand if you shop around and build your own you'll end up with something special for substantially less money. Dumble or Fischer didn't have Dumbles or Trainwrecks to lust after so they built them!

[Tubetwang]

http://www.triodeelectronics.com/dytr.html

[Bigsbyguy]

Thanks for all the feedback. I saw a really nice stock model W/dogbone handle, a few weeks back for 4K. I couldn't jump that minute and when I got back to the seller a couple days later it was sold.

Casey, I've got an old Hammond reverb amp that's got a honking transformer on it, and a couple of 50's HiFi's amps. I guess if I decide to have another built, that'll be the time to hunt up trannys to use.

I was just at a Texas Playboys deal and there were 3 Tweed Twins on the Bandstand, a 57, 58, both 4 tubers, and a clone of the 58. (Used by the Fiddle players) I gave the guy that owns the 58 a Twin~Amp badge I've had for years and he asked what he owed me. I asked him to stop by on his way out of town and let me try the amp with my Bigsby. So far he hasn't and I'm loosing hope he will.

Funk, I kinda think we met last year. Do you run an amp shop on Broadway, I think it is? I've got Mark Moser building me a chassis already, but heck I could have 2!. Back in the day Tom Morrell and Billy Braddy each used 2 brand new Bassman amps with their brand new Sho~Bud 9 string Pedal Steels in the legendary Western Starlighter's.
I had attached shots of Mark's amp but I don't see them in my last post. He's been easy to deal with and very accomidating. I'm anxious to A/B it with my pal's 54.

I'm really looking for input on what to cover the cab in. I was thinking about Mojo's Alligator Tolex with leather corners and leather handle, Think it would look too much like a Suitcase? What about the Grille? Wheat or the Tweed style? And tiltback legs?
Anyone covered a big amp in that Western tooled looking tolex?
I'm leaning tword Smooth White and gold with BF era handle and legs. A more conventional look might be better if I decide to sell it.
Another idea is to build the Alligator cab too and have it cut to fit my 58 Super.

[CaseyJones]

Thanks for all the feedback. I saw a really nice stock model W/dogbone handle, a few weeks back for 4K. I couldn't jump that minute and when I got back to the seller a couple days later it was sold..

$4k is a nice price for a used car, I can't see spending that much for a "work" amp. Look at it this way... a real tweed Bassman is a nice portable package with a handle on the top, take your eyes off it just ONCE after a gig and some tweaker will have it out in the alley before the next time you blink.

I can build an amp as good or better than an original tweed Bassman for less than a grand my cost. If it gets stolen or the house burns down around it just bring more money, I'll build you a better one next time!

Casey, I've got an old Hammond reverb amp that's got a honking transformer on it, and a couple of 50's HiFi's amps. I guess if I decide to have another built, that'll be the time to hunt up trannys to use..

That replica Dynaco iron is nice and much less expensive than MM for instance...

I'm really looking for input on what to cover the cab in. I was thinking about Mojo's Alligator Tolex with leather corners and leather handle, Think it would look too much like a Suitcase? What about the Grille? Wheat or the Tweed style? And tiltback legs?
Anyone covered a big amp in that Western tooled looking tolex?
I'm leaning toward Smooth White and gold with BF era handle and legs. A more conventional look might be better if I decide to sell it.
Another idea is to build the Alligator cab too and have it cut to fit my 58 Super.

That's like when your ol' lady asks, "Does my ass look too fat in these jeans?" There really isn't any correct answer, is there?!