Best low wattage amp?

Monkey Boy · Post by **Monkey Boy** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 7:41 pm

I am looking into a low wattage tube amp for the living room. I know there are quite a few out there. I am mostly a blues and classic rock guy, so overdrive is a must...thoughts? Suggestions? Donations?
Thanks,
Mike

10thTx · Post by **10thTx** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 8:54 pm

I'll toss out an idea in the mix of amps to consider.

How about a 7.5w Marshall type sound using 6BM8 tubes? I have one of these and have gotten more compliments on it than any amp (of 14) I have built. DaGeezer (on the Hoffman amp forum) came up with the idea. It is a VERY touch sensative amp with smooth overdrive.

Here is a schematic of the amp:
http://s28.photobucket.com/albums/c216/ ... WR-MTS.gif

And a photo of the amp in a tweed style cabinet. It's about the size of a Princeton Reverb:
http://s28.photobucket.com/albums/c216/ ... mbopic.jpg
http://s28.photobucket.com/albums/c216/ ... rbtank.jpg

And if you download ExpressSCH there are editable schematics and layouts here (so you can keep record of your own tweaks):
http://www.el34world.com/Forum/index.php?topic=562.0

I don't know if this link is still good but there had been a soundbit here:

http://www.abcw3b.com/mwt/jallenshaw_playlist.html

With respect, 1othtx

Phil_S · Post by **Phil_S** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 10:36 pm

Ardmore, Gilmore, or Gilmore Jr.
http://www.guytronix.com/
You'll find links for sound clips.

Don't miss the Ardmore blues clip...
http://www.gerhartamps.com/
http://www.soundclick.com/player/single ... i&newref=1

davent · Post by **davent** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 2:23 am

Hello,
Here's a few schematics for amps that use a 12AU7's for the output tube. They are usually refered to as 1.5-2watt amps.

Trainwreck https://tubeamparchive.com/files/MiniBl ... ess_v1.wmf

18Watt http://www.18watt.com/files/18w_au_3_201.jpg

Firefly http://ax84.com/media/ax84_m276.gif

dave

marshmellow · Post by **marshmellow** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 6:45 am

I really like the Fender Champ. Some tweaking here and there and you can get some decent overdrive also suited for rock.

Or take a look at the old Gibson designs like GA5, they are pretty similar.

skyboltone · Post by **skyboltone** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 4:58 pm

marshmellow wrote:I really like the Fender Champ. Some tweaking here and there and you can get some decent overdrive also suited for rock.

Or take a look at the old Gibson designs like GA5, they are pretty similar.

Power scale a Champ. Stick a 6F6 or a 6K6 in it.

CaseyJones · Post by **CaseyJones** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 5:06 pm

skyboltone wrote:
marshmellow wrote:I really like the Fender Champ. Some tweaking here and there and you can get some decent overdrive also suited for rock.

Or take a look at the old Gibson designs like GA5, they are pretty similar.
Power scale a Champ. Stick a 6F6 or a 6K6 in it.

Pseudo-powerscale a Champ. A PT with 170-0-170 from an old SE phonograph amp works well. A 6AQ5 is more in the zone for low voltage use.

Omit as many parts as you can. Use a tiny OT and a big speaker... although a Weber Sig8S is just IT for vintage tweed tone.

Monkey Boy · Post by **Monkey Boy** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 6:14 pm

I've been looking at the champion 600, since it is, well, cheep, and not bad looking.
Anybody know of any schematics for modding one?

CaseyJones · Post by **CaseyJones** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 6:59 pm

Monkey Boy wrote:I've been looking at the champion 600, since it is, well, cheep, and not bad looking.
Anybody know of any schematics for modding one?

Skip the Champion and build from scratch. Manly men don't mod cheap amps and besides, do the math. A Champion will cost you $199 unless you get a killer deal on a scratch 'n' dent or other distressed merchandise. You'll want to entirely gut it, all you want is the cabinet and the chassis. As far as mods go you can easily tuck a 5F1 or a 5F2 in there but you'll still be saddled with the wimpy 6" speaker. If you want to rebuild it as a head then you just paid $199 for the chassis. By the time you get done you'll have $300 tied up in the thing, easy.

A Hammond chassis will cost you $20.00 plus shipping from Angela. Buy a Hammond transformer set while you're there. I haven't checked prices lately but I can usually get a project box and iron together for less than $100.

On small parts you need three big electrolytics, two small electrolytics, two film caps, maybe a dozen resistors, two or three tubes sockets, a couple jacks, some wire, a switch and a pot. I can usually sweep up my workshop and gather the parts in the dustpan!

There are any number of old phonograph amps that contain everything you need.

If you're slightly more creative you can start with an old tube sweep generator. I buy 'em because they contain a power supply suitable for small tube amps. My favorite has half a dozen chicken head knobs. On a good day I can get 'em under $10 each at antique radio shows, chicken heads 'n' all.

I could even build the amp in the signal generator case. I'm in the camp that believes that for the most part a guitar amp should look like a guitar amp so I package it like a guitar amp.

Monkey Boy · Post by **Monkey Boy** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 7:45 pm

Sounds good to me. Thanks for the input.

Deric · Post by **Deric** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 4:15 am

I recently built the 18watt with 12AU7 Output as posted by davent. Wasn't sure if I would like it or not. It's COOL

. Screams "blues and classic rock". Not much (if any) clean headroom to be had but it grinds very nice at a VERY managable volume.

Followed the schem with the exception of the PT and OT. Used a Hammond 125a OT and a 269ex PT. I have a rough (pencil and paper) layout if you're interested.

[IMG:160:120]http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e243/stumper1/1%20point%208%20Watt%20Lite/th_18WattLite006.jpg[/img]
[IMG:160:120]http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e243/stumper1/1%20point%208%20Watt%20Lite/th_18WattLite005.jpg[/img]
[IMG:160:120]http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e243/stumper1/1%20point%208%20Watt%20Lite/th_18WattLite003.jpg[/img]

Monkey Boy · Post by **Monkey Boy** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 6:00 am

Sounds like what I am looking for...would love to take a look at what you've got.

Deric · Post by **Deric** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 4:52 pm

Here you go...
[IMG:159:116]http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e243/stumper1/1%20point%208%20Watt%20Lite/th_18Watt12AU7_Layout.jpg[/img]
Changes from schematic:
-Used Hammond 269EX PT with SS rectifier (2 x 1N4007).
-Added 220k bleeder resistor from first filter cap to ground.
-Used Hammond 125A OT. Wired 22500/8 ohm.

Hammond 10x6x2 aluminum chassis.

Pilot light, heater wires and OT wiring not shown.

Structo · Post by **Structo** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 12:19 am

That looks cool Deric.
Anyway to increase headroom for a little more clean?

What model is the chassis?

Where is the best place to buy the trannies for that?

Deric · Post by **Deric** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 5:02 am

As for clean headroom...not sure.

I just tried a different MV set-up that works great in my 18Watter to clean things up but it didn't work very good, and sounded even worse, in this amp so I changed it back. When it's not dimed it cleans up OK with the guitar volume control.

I had most everything for this build, that's what inspired it in the first place. The only things I had to order were the chassis, OT and a couple of caps.

I've never bought from them but it looks like Angela Instruments is the way to go for Hammond trannies. They have the chassis too - Hammond 1444-16.

Thanks to Casey Jones for the tip on Angela.

I'll probably be ordering some stuff from them in the future.

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