Ok, I am chiming in. I am a guitar player of 45 years and I don't know much about what you are doing, but am very interested in learning about what makes those boxes produce the beautiful sounds that they do. I really enjoy and appreciate your content. Thank God, for He has blessed us all with one talent or another. Oh, and I am really impressed with your guitar skills as well, Dude you rock! 🎼🎛️🎶📢🔌📣
A very interesting and informative video, Brad. It's great to see an original 6422 circuit. I was surprised that the two 20uf filter caps in parallel were original (although that big red cap looked a little "after the fact" :) and that, in contradiction to the schematic, both triodes of V2 were utilized, also in parallel ala the parallel 12AT7 used by Fender in this location. The reverb tank was every bit as strange and unconventional as I imagined, but it sounded darned good. Overall very entertaining with an excellent audio demo at the end. Rusty and I give this video two thumbs and two dewclaws up.
+Uncle Doug To my subscribers, if you haven't yet seen Doug's tremendous scratch built version of this Valco circuit, you need to check it out! It's EPIC!
Rusty's contributions to the world of cinematography are well known and, I'm sure, will one day be studied alongside the likes of Tarantino and Scorsese.
He is indeed a creative genius, taking time out from his exhausting video production schedule only for emergencies.....like barking at the meter reader and chasing the neighbor's cat.
Brad, great job on all that you do. I'm an older guy who cut his teeth on tube gear. I really appreciate the thorough why you go thru the amps. especially like you sharing your thoughts on your trouble shooting methods. It reinforces my own thought process when reparing. I always agree with your methods. Makes me want to watch more because I know you are sharing truths with all of us who watch. Keep dragging those schematics out and showing us what you are thinking and doing. That way we all learn. Thanks again.
Thanks, I really appreciate that, Mike. I'm glad you get something out of the videos. I know I enjoy making them and mainly enjoy the discussions they spark.
The journey of the this video is epic! From the unboxing of horribly packed amp to the trouble shooting of all the different unexpected problems made for a great informative video. By the way it was packed it is a blessing you got this amp out of the hands of whoever shipped this thing. Always great to see a video that shows the real time investigation of what is wrong with an old classic amp. Great Job!!
+Ringo Starr Thanks so much for your feedback. The fact that you liked the format means I may do more like it in the future. Without this kind of feedback, I'm left guessing whether people enjoy it or not, so thanks very much for taking the time to watch and comment! be sure to subscribe and I hope to hear more from you in future vids.
These vids are so great. Supro's have such a cool history with LZ but i myself didn't know of the connection to Airline until later. Ha, i remember looking for a used Celestion 12'' and found one at a shop in of all places, Sausalito, Ca back in the early '90s. When i got there, the owner was demoing a guitar for a 'customer' (probably a tourist) and was cranking away thru an Airline head plugged into a Marshall Lead 12 flat cab and sounded killer . When i said i'd called about the speaker and said i had a Lead 12 head with no cabs (found used), he took his power screwdriver, took out the alnico Jensen 10 he wanted to keep (can't blame him) and ran screws for the 12 and sold it to me. I was stoked, even if the grille cloth was brown from the sun. Just masked the white piping and hit it with flat black spray paint. I think he said he'd modded the tone stack or caps or something on the Airline. It sonnded awesome.
+decsnspace Thanks for watching! It's good to know someone takes an interest and follows along with these videos. Truth be told, I'd probably still make them even if no one did...just to hear myself think out loud. :P
+redfishbum Thanks a bunch, Bart! Yeah, I enjoy reading ALL my comments, but I've learned so much from Doug and his fabulous channel, it's especially nice when he and Rusty stop by.
Totally agree about Doug. I built a supro clone from scratch following his outstanding teaching.....of course, Rusty the wonder dog is a huge addition to the teaching. Btw.....forgot to mention that your guitar playing is excellent!
This amp seem to be correctly wired from the factory as per the schematic for the Supro S6622 which shows that the second node of the power supply is 10uF in parallel with 20uF as Brad found on this amp. The first node on the Supro is just 20uF feeding the output xformer. The Supro S6622 schematic also shows the correct wiring for V2 with both triodes in parallel. Brad's observation on the ceramic capacitors and their contribution to the cutting tone is significant to builder /players with good ears.
Sometimes i hear you & other youtubers say, "this vudeo is getting long" & they plan on ending the video when, I am Not ready for it to end so, I woukdn't worry about a video running on or people not liking the content, If they don't like it, they woukd watch something else...I personally lusten while im at work & watch at home when i should be practicing but, your video's remind me to play so, There is that!!! I like your video's! Good content reveals itself!!!
+umajunkcollector Thanks and very much agreed! The the secret sauce of this tremolo is its tube bias variation. The oscillator tube is connected to the cathode of V1, altering its bias. This style of accomplishing this effect is particularly pleasing. It's almost like it seamlessly drives the tube into overdrive and then to zero, etc.
I really like watching amp techs works... Cheers to you, Mr. Carlson, Uncle Doug, etc.. for letting us watch your shop. I've done a few fixes, but I'm still a rookie. Everyone was a rookie once, so I don't let that deter me from trying. It's already broken, right?
Yeah,it's amazing what you can find out by just opening things up and seeing what's going on in there .I just saved myself some repair work by opening up the back of my Toni Ioomi sg I got awhile back and saw the wiring was preventing the toggle switch from hitting it's contact point and some bare end connections were making contact with the inputjack solder joints!Luckily just a few mini zip ties corrected both these problems.The scratchies and static is gone.Somebody probably got rid of it for these reasons!
Holy crap you are using an Ovation Ultra GS at the end of the video! I got mine for my 16th birthday. Single humbucker and it had an absolutely awful designed locking trem. I still have that guitar but it has a Chandlier neck and a Bartolini humbucker. A great little heavy metal rock guitar. Love your vids man!
This was an awesome vid, Brad...very informative. I like the way you dig for the reasons why a certain amp sounds the way it does, rather than simply regurgitating someone else's 'wisdom'...I'll have to experiment with the ceramic caps in the circuit to hear what is there...please do more of these whenever possible (maybe a Sunn?)...or, should you ever have the chance, a first generation Gibson GA-40...
+chokkan7 If I get a chance to demo a GA-40, it definitely will. Thanks for the comment! I may be wrong about the caps, but I really think having ceramics in the signal path creates a kind of microphonic feedback that makes an amps seem more 'alive' in a way. I am definitely NOT a cap snob and I don't think ceramics would sound good in all circuits, especially high gain ones.
Many thanks for your prompt and thoughtful reply! I got the RCA connectors loose from the tank, hit the female ends with sandpaper and doused both ends with connector cleaner. While I had the RCAs disconnected I took a crack at removing the cardboard outer covering of the tank but was afraid I'd rip the cardboard while trying to pull it out to get around the female RCA connectors. So left well enough alone and put it back together.... working great now. I watched with great interest your video on modding those mid 60s Gibson Falcons. A friend recently gave me a great sounding 1968 Falcon which seems to be completely different from the earlier models, the main difference being that this one uses 6BQ5 output tubes instead of 6V6s. Well, also completely different cosmetically. Wondering if you're familiar with this model and if it might benefit from the mods you did. As I wrote, it already sounds great but greater always works... Thanks again, Ed
I am aware the Falcon, as with most 60s Gibson amps, wen't through several iterations. You have what I believe to be the LAST one they produced. Probably from around 1967-68. Probably in a tall cabinet. If I recall, the one with 6BQ5 output had the tone-sucking network. There are probably some mods which could improve it.
Hi, yes, it's in a tall cabinet with a fake wood control panel. I'll go back to your Falcon video and compare my schematic with the one you show and see if I can find similarities. Thanks! Ed
Hi, just wanted to say that I enjoy your video's much more now that your are showing the schematics AND explaining what you intend to do, to either get the amplifiers to function again or to modify to your taste, as I am still learning. Even though some things my seem basic and not worth mentioning......... to us just beginning to understand schematics it is much appreciated. BTW I finally finished my 1st amp build a few weeks ago, a fender Champ/Princeton/Uncle Doug clone. Trying to video and upload to RUclips...(that will be a 1st as well) Will send you a link when I figure it out. Would really appreciate your opinion. Keep up the great work... Tom
+Bucyrus Erie12 Thanks so much for the feedback, Tom! It helps me gauge who my viewers are and what y'all would like to see more of. I'm a long time Uncle Doug subscriber too and I'll be glad to review your first build when you get video up! Thanks again, Tom.
I have a mysterious tube amp problem that maybe you can look into regarding the SUPRO 1650RT ROYAL REVERB (reissue). I am having tube Rectifier issues that is making me very frustrated and costing me money. FIRSTLY you should know there are two (2) models within the 1650RT line. A 35/45/60 rectifier config knob, and a 35/60 toggle switch line. I have the 35/60 watt toggle switch version. Bought mine USED and out of warranty. Both versions have DUAL RECTIFIERS. the 60 watt (AB) mode uses a digital rectifier that I have to crank up to 3/4 and I do get some gain, but the 35 watt (A) mode uses a tube rectifier - The CLEANS sound angelic - really nice but absolutely no gain in the 35 watt mode. I bought TWO new rectifier tube and both tubes did Not fire up, just dead in the water which lead me to believe the TUBE RECTIFIER section of this amp is down. Any way for me to test it? Maybe something simple in the amp is unplugged or unjacked? I really could use your input OR ANYONE READING THIS feel free to chime-in. Thanks in advance - I looked everywhere for any forums on the subject - but nothing. HELP !!
Voice of experience here, I just last week picked up a 1947 Gibson BR-6 on ebay. When it came in the speaker baffle (1/4 plywood I believe) had broken free from the case and was lose and bouncing around inside the amp, thankfully the speaker appears to be unharmed (no way to test it at this point the amp is missing the Power transformer) But it has no holes or apparent damage and the amp it self was wrapped in bubble wrap. Newspaper is NOT a good packing material!! Use bubble wrap and or the cheap Styrofoam insulation panels you get at Lowes or Home Depot cut to fit the box with reliefs for things like handles and face plates. @ 14:08 Gotta love those old disk magnets!! lol Just kidding!! Let me do a video and see how many mistakes I make!!
I wonder how much voltage the reverse impedance transformer needed to be driven in order for it to be in the operating range since the designer had to put V2 in parallel to drive more voltage into the reverse impedance transformer.
I have this amp with a fender speaker that sounds good but not as good as this ...less bass I think. Would a time correct Jensen speaker make a huge difference.
One topic related to working on amps I was curious about is the safety issue. Do you have to bleed off all the capacitors to ground before you can safely work on these amps? I have a Crate amp from the mid-eighties that I bought new that finally stopped working. I think it's a solid state, but I'm not sure. Now I'm afraid to even take the back off the amp to look at it because of the fear of getting my heart stopped if I touch in the wrong place! :D
I have a vintage Magnatone that needs some work. I am very impressed with your work, very meticulous and professional . let me know if you are interested . Thank you.
Always luv the way you do these vids... wouldn't change a thing... I wuz wonderin', however, what speaker did you wind up using? I thought the alnico looked cool but I really dunno how it sounded... As always, another great and entertaining vid... thanx and cheers. ps: this ilk of amps are single ended puttin' out 5 to 8 watts? (wild amatuer guessing here... )
Very good video as always. I ran into a guy who was throwing away a 65 supro vibra verb 6498vr. As you can imagine, tons wrong with it but I believe it can be brought back to life. I'm having a tough time finding a schematic for it. I've looked through Valco, airline.....etc. I've get close but not exact. Any thoughts where I might find a good schematic? Thanks
You said you weren't replacing the two prong cord because of the originality but then you re capped it. Did you wind up replacing the cord? I've heard you rail on other repairs when people don't make it safe. .
Bro! I know I am going "back in time" on videos, but this was an awesome "save"!! I always love the "demos"!! Do you have a camera that will accept an "upgraded" mic??? I may have one that you could try to plant in front of amps during demos...
Hi, I've watched several of your videos and have really enjoyed them. Especially cool that you play so well. I have a Supro S6422TR which I've had for many years and really love. Several years ago the reverb stopped working but the other day I twisted the cables that go to the reverb tank and the reverb came back to life but it's still somewhat intermittent. In your video you show the cardboard tank removed from the amp but frustratingly NOT how you got it out... I'm completely stumped. I'm guessing the connectors are RCAs and have to be pulled out. Although I can twist them a bit I can't seem to pull them loose and am scared to really yank on them. If I can get them off I'll swab them down with connector cleaner and hopefully that'll do the trick. Once the cables are off do you just yank on the cardboard to get the tank apart? Sorry to ramble on and thanks in advance for any advice! Ed
Ed, thanks for your comment and for watching the videos, Glad you're enjoying them! Sorry about not covering the one thing you needed to see. I'm sure that is frustrating, especially in an hour-long vid. Never fear! The reverb tanks are easy to remove. Just unplug the RCA jacks they should come right out with a little twisting and pulling outward. After the cables are removed, you simply lift the black cardboard casing out and around the female RCA plugs still attached to the tank. The whole cardboard box top will then come on up and out. From there, it's just a matter of a couple screws holding the tank to the bottom of the cabinet. But to be honest, it sounds like you might just get away with a good cleaning of the jacks and cable ends. Get some good contact cleaner and spray the hell out of them. Use a steel or brass abrasive brush to clean them if you have to. Sometimes it also helps to bend the ground connections inward so they grip the female RCA jack socket better (that's those four pieces of curved metal on the male portion of the RCA cables. I use a pair of pliers to gently bend those inward. Then when you plug them back in, they are more snug in the socket.
Other Valco single 6v6 w/reverb include airline 9035a national model 22 and custom kraft 880(I have one of these) all feature a jensen 12". Do you know if these are the same circuit as well?
I have been, and will be, a devoted follower of Uncle Doug and crew, but when I came across your channel, I was impressed and I subscribed and I think you and U D are the best on the internet. Some may think you are a little "long in the tooth", but you cover all that is needed. I'm just getting started with your videos, so t will be great to explore what you have posted. I have wondered what U D viewed and now we know he keeps his eye on the prize and his nose to the gridstone, same as you. Why would they parallel the plats and cathodes in V2 ? Does it double the signal to the next stage? Thankz
I don't know how I missed this comment, except maybe it was right after my daughter was born and I was way tired. Anyway, thanks for your kind assessment. As for why they would parallel V2, yes, it's to get more output, intensify the signal a bit more. It would probably work without doing that anyway, but they had an extra unused 12ax7 triode to use, so they probably thought 'why not'.
+The Guitologist I thank you for your reply. A new baby can eat up all of your time. I don't think I congratulated you and your wife for the new daughter, so " Congrats". I have been told that I am long in the tooth. It seems when you have something to talk about that is interesting to you and others, it is so easy to go on and on, but you have to say all that is needed. I love your channel and am looking forward to all of your future posts. I may have questions to enlighten me. Thankz
Since you ask, the shaky camera is a bit annoying, I´d recommend a two camera set up. One fixed, general view. The other for details. And yes, edit the hell out of it. Very interesting videos otherwise. Keep it goin'.
ivansoley I quite like the longer videos. Maybe it's because I usually just like the sound of his voice in the background while I clean my room or whatever else.
+Stuncard Richard I bought this one from a guy on Reverb. It was clear talking to him I was going to have to work on it anyway, but not to this extent. The speaker wasn't supposed to be DOA and I at least expected half decent packaging. I won't buy from that guy again, but buying online can be a crap shoot.
Nice job Brad. Hey have a suss of the amp build uncle doug did a few months back ( specifically this video ruclips.net/video/heL90jj1O6w/видео.html at about 9 minutes) pretty sure he used similar or same schematic he reckoned the 2 20 caps in parallel was a mistake on the schematic and modified it slightly with some resistors to get a solution.
+Chris Kennedy No, the caps apparently aren't a schematic misprint. For whatever reason, they were both inside this example of the Airline version, albeit tied to the wrong cap in the can!
If people are low on money and need to sell there stuff there not going to buy bubble wrap but good tip if you're rich and don't need to sell stuff but selling it anyway
Seeing the damage caused by it being dropped durring shipping, Makes me NEVER WANT TO SHIP ANYTHING!!!! I work at a big named home improvement store(rhymes with knows) My job description is a night stocker, things get damaged durring shipping period!!!!!!!! Unless packed properly & overly protected is BEST!!!!! I would rather the serial number be burnt into the wooden cabinet myself personally/ If it were mine.
Why the fuck would you ship an amp with the tubes in? I've only done it once, took the tubes out and put them in tube boxes and separate bubble wrap, and tucked it up inside the cab with tons of tape. It takes an extra 5 minutes, it costs an extra few PENNIES, and it can make a difference of hundreds of dollars depending on what tubes they are. I hope you got a partial refund.
The Guitologist But....it's just so easy, and even if you don't have tube boxes you can still wrap them and tape them up. The retainers and shields might protect them from falling out or getting smashed by some little thing that shakes loose, but they still rattle around in there and the pins will split the glass if they move enough. UPS and Postal workers are ... well, postal. You don't know what these packages will be going through.
+Adam Rainstopper Yeah, needless to say, I wasn't happy with the packaging. Nor was I happy about the dead speaker. That didn't happen in shipping. That was supposed to be working, according to the ad.
A '65 model, just like me 😊. No wonder it sounds so good 😘. Just out of curiosity, Brad, how much does a model like this cost?? After being put into decent working order, that is.
Ok, I am chiming in. I am a guitar player of 45 years and I don't know much about what you are doing, but am very interested in learning about what makes those boxes produce the beautiful sounds that they do. I really enjoy and appreciate your content. Thank God, for He has blessed us all with one talent or another. Oh, and I am really impressed with your guitar skills as well, Dude you rock! 🎼🎛️🎶📢🔌📣
A very interesting and informative video, Brad. It's great to see an original 6422 circuit. I was surprised that the two 20uf filter caps in parallel were original (although that big red cap looked a little "after the fact" :) and that, in contradiction to the schematic, both triodes of V2 were utilized, also in parallel ala the parallel 12AT7 used by Fender in this location. The reverb tank was every bit as strange and unconventional as I imagined, but it sounded darned good. Overall very entertaining with an excellent audio demo at the end. Rusty and I give this video two thumbs and two dewclaws up.
+Uncle Doug Thanks Doug! Hope you're enjoying your scratch build version.
+Uncle Doug To my subscribers, if you haven't yet seen Doug's tremendous scratch built version of this Valco circuit, you need to check it out! It's EPIC!
You are too kind, Brad.....but Rusty and I gladly accept all free advertising :) Again, excellent video.
Rusty's contributions to the world of cinematography are well known and, I'm sure, will one day be studied alongside the likes of Tarantino and Scorsese.
He is indeed a creative genius, taking time out from his exhausting video production schedule only for emergencies.....like barking at the meter reader and chasing the neighbor's cat.
Brad, great job on all that you do. I'm an older guy who cut his teeth on tube gear. I really appreciate the thorough why you go thru the amps. especially like you sharing your thoughts on your trouble shooting methods. It reinforces my own thought process when reparing. I always agree with your methods. Makes me want to watch more because I know you are sharing truths with all of us who watch. Keep dragging those schematics out and showing us what you are thinking and doing. That way we all learn. Thanks again.
Thanks, I really appreciate that, Mike. I'm glad you get something out of the videos. I know I enjoy making them and mainly enjoy the discussions they spark.
The journey of the this video is epic! From the unboxing of horribly packed amp to the trouble shooting of all the different unexpected problems made for a great informative video. By the way it was packed it is a blessing you got this amp out of the hands of whoever shipped this thing. Always great to see a video that shows the real time investigation of what is wrong with an old classic amp. Great Job!!
+Ringo Starr Thanks so much for your feedback. The fact that you liked the format means I may do more like it in the future. Without this kind of feedback, I'm left guessing whether people enjoy it or not, so thanks very much for taking the time to watch and comment! be sure to subscribe and I hope to hear more from you in future vids.
These vids are so great. Supro's have such a cool history with LZ but i myself didn't know of the connection to Airline until later. Ha, i remember looking for a used Celestion 12'' and found one at a shop in of all places, Sausalito, Ca back in the early '90s. When i got there, the owner was demoing a guitar for a 'customer' (probably a tourist) and was cranking away thru an Airline head plugged into a Marshall Lead 12 flat cab and sounded killer . When i said i'd called about the speaker and said i had a Lead 12 head with no cabs (found used), he took his power screwdriver, took out the alnico Jensen 10 he wanted to keep (can't blame him) and ran screws for the 12 and sold it to me. I was stoked, even if the grille cloth was brown from the sun. Just masked the white piping and hit it with flat black spray paint. I think he said he'd modded the tone stack or caps or something on the Airline. It sonnded awesome.
Ramble on... I love all thing tube amps and seeing how you troubleshoot these old amplifiers is really cool! Thanks!
+decsnspace Thanks for watching! It's good to know someone takes an interest and follows along with these videos. Truth be told, I'd probably still make them even if no one did...just to hear myself think out loud. :P
Great video and repair as always. Just as an aside, I love that little squeal you get in some of your runs.
Great video! Glad to see Doug's comments.
Thanks for posting this amp review and repair!
Bart
+redfishbum Thanks a bunch, Bart! Yeah, I enjoy reading ALL my comments, but I've learned so much from Doug and his fabulous channel, it's especially nice when he and Rusty stop by.
Totally agree about Doug. I built a supro clone from scratch following his outstanding teaching.....of course, Rusty the wonder dog is a huge addition to the teaching.
Btw.....forgot to mention that your guitar playing is excellent!
This amp seem to be correctly wired from the factory as per the schematic for the Supro S6622 which shows that the second node of the power supply is 10uF in parallel with 20uF as Brad found on this amp. The first node on the Supro is just 20uF feeding the output xformer. The Supro S6622 schematic also shows the correct wiring for V2 with both triodes in parallel. Brad's observation on the ceramic capacitors and their contribution to the cutting tone is significant to builder /players with good ears.
Very nice sounding Amp. I love your playing style. Great demo. Thank you for all you do.
Sometimes i hear you & other youtubers say, "this vudeo is getting long" & they plan on ending the video when, I am Not ready for it to end so, I woukdn't worry about a video running on or people not liking the content, If they don't like it, they woukd watch something else...I personally lusten while im at work & watch at home when i should be practicing but, your video's remind me to play so, There is that!!! I like your video's! Good content reveals itself!!!
Wow that does sound great! Articulate but not harsh
There's something about old tube tremolo... sweet! I shared this on my Fakebook. An impressive little amp, much enjoyed. Thankx, Don
+umajunkcollector Thanks and very much agreed! The the secret sauce of this tremolo is its tube bias variation. The oscillator tube is connected to the cathode of V1, altering its bias. This style of accomplishing this effect is particularly pleasing. It's almost like it seamlessly drives the tube into overdrive and then to zero, etc.
👍 your commentary is entertaining as anything. Keep the camera rolling. It’s interesting to watch you go through the diagnostic process.
This is the first amp I had! I traded a bag of weed for it in the mid 70's. Great amp!
Wow! That's the best sounding amp I've ever heard!!
That's Valco for ya, man. Welcome to the darkside.
I really like watching amp techs works... Cheers to you, Mr. Carlson, Uncle Doug, etc.. for letting us watch your shop. I've done a few fixes, but I'm still a rookie. Everyone was a rookie once, so I don't let that deter me from trying. It's already broken, right?
+DeadKoby The only way to learn is to do, I think. Keep it up! I make mistakes all the time, but I just fix 'em and move on.
Yeah,it's amazing what you can find out by just opening things up and seeing what's going on in there .I just saved myself some repair work by opening up the back of my Toni Ioomi sg I got awhile back and saw the wiring was preventing the toggle switch from hitting it's contact point and some bare end connections were making contact with the inputjack solder joints!Luckily just a few mini zip ties corrected both these problems.The scratchies and static is gone.Somebody probably got rid of it for these reasons!
Holy crap you are using an Ovation Ultra GS at the end of the video! I got mine for my 16th birthday. Single humbucker and it had an absolutely awful designed locking trem. I still have that guitar but it has a Chandlier neck and a Bartolini humbucker. A great little heavy metal rock guitar. Love your vids man!
...could be your best video yet. I have to watch every vide, your noodling is the best. Thanks Brad.
This was an awesome vid, Brad...very informative. I like the way you dig for the reasons why a certain amp sounds the way it does, rather than simply regurgitating someone else's 'wisdom'...I'll have to experiment with the ceramic caps in the circuit to hear what is there...please do more of these whenever possible (maybe a Sunn?)...or, should you ever have the chance, a first generation Gibson GA-40...
+chokkan7 If I get a chance to demo a GA-40, it definitely will. Thanks for the comment! I may be wrong about the caps, but I really think having ceramics in the signal path creates a kind of microphonic feedback that makes an amps seem more 'alive' in a way. I am definitely NOT a cap snob and I don't think ceramics would sound good in all circuits, especially high gain ones.
Nice one Brad. BTW, the tribute rocked in my opinion.
+Dan79istheman Like that? :P
It was the tribute to the best demo in the world. Lost in the ether now, like Ozzy Osbourne's sanity.
Love the sound on these amps.
Many thanks for your prompt and thoughtful reply! I got the RCA connectors loose from the tank, hit the female ends with sandpaper and doused both ends with connector cleaner. While I had the RCAs disconnected I took a crack at removing the cardboard outer covering of the tank but was afraid I'd rip the cardboard while trying to pull it out to get around the female RCA connectors. So left well enough alone and put it back together.... working great now.
I watched with great interest your video on modding those mid 60s Gibson Falcons. A friend recently gave me a great sounding 1968 Falcon which seems to be completely different from the earlier models, the main difference being that this one uses 6BQ5 output tubes instead of 6V6s. Well, also completely different cosmetically. Wondering if you're familiar with this model and if it might benefit from the mods you did. As I wrote, it already sounds great but greater always works...
Thanks again,
Ed
I am aware the Falcon, as with most 60s Gibson amps, wen't through several iterations. You have what I believe to be the LAST one they produced. Probably from around 1967-68. Probably in a tall cabinet. If I recall, the one with 6BQ5 output had the tone-sucking network. There are probably some mods which could improve it.
Hi, yes, it's in a tall cabinet with a fake wood control panel. I'll go back to your Falcon video and compare my schematic with the one you show and see if I can find similarities. Thanks!
Ed
Hi, just wanted to say that I enjoy your video's much more now that your are showing the schematics AND explaining what you intend to do, to either get the amplifiers to function again or to modify to your taste, as I am still learning. Even though some things my seem basic and not worth mentioning......... to us just beginning to understand schematics it is much appreciated. BTW I finally finished my 1st amp build a few weeks ago, a fender Champ/Princeton/Uncle Doug clone. Trying to video and upload to RUclips...(that will be a 1st as well) Will send you a link when I figure it out. Would really appreciate your opinion. Keep up the great work... Tom
+Bucyrus Erie12 Thanks so much for the feedback, Tom! It helps me gauge who my viewers are and what y'all would like to see more of. I'm a long time Uncle Doug subscriber too and I'll be glad to review your first build when you get video up! Thanks again, Tom.
I have a mysterious tube amp problem that maybe you can look into regarding the SUPRO 1650RT ROYAL REVERB (reissue). I am having tube Rectifier issues that is making me very frustrated and costing me money. FIRSTLY you should know there are two (2) models within the 1650RT line. A 35/45/60 rectifier config knob, and a 35/60 toggle switch line. I have the 35/60 watt toggle switch version. Bought mine USED and out of warranty. Both versions have DUAL RECTIFIERS. the 60 watt (AB) mode uses a digital rectifier that I have to crank up to 3/4 and I do get some gain, but the 35 watt (A) mode uses a tube rectifier - The CLEANS sound angelic - really nice but absolutely no gain in the 35 watt mode. I bought TWO new rectifier tube and both tubes did Not fire up, just dead in the water which lead me to believe the TUBE RECTIFIER section of this amp is down. Any way for me to test it? Maybe something simple in the amp is unplugged or unjacked? I really could use your input OR ANYONE READING THIS feel free to chime-in. Thanks in advance - I looked everywhere for any forums on the subject - but nothing. HELP !!
48:10-56:10 KILLER SOUNDING AMP! AND PLAYER!
Thanks. You made junk into sensation. What a great sound!
Voice of experience here, I just last week picked up a 1947 Gibson BR-6 on ebay. When it came in the speaker baffle (1/4 plywood I believe) had broken free from the case and was lose and bouncing around inside the amp, thankfully the speaker appears to be unharmed (no way to test it at this point the amp is missing the Power transformer) But it has no holes or apparent damage and the amp it self was wrapped in bubble wrap. Newspaper is NOT a good packing material!! Use bubble wrap and or the cheap Styrofoam insulation panels you get at Lowes or Home Depot cut to fit the box with reliefs for things like handles and face plates. @ 14:08 Gotta love those old disk magnets!! lol Just kidding!! Let me do a video and see how many mistakes I make!!
I wonder how much voltage the reverse impedance transformer needed to be driven in order for it to be in the operating range since the designer had to put V2 in parallel to drive more voltage into the reverse impedance transformer.
Great sounding amp
I have this amp with a fender speaker that sounds good but not as good as this ...less bass I think. Would a time correct Jensen speaker make a huge difference.
That's not bad packaging, we had someone send in a computer server for forensic examination one time, the only packaging was the shipping label.
Sounds great
One topic related to working on amps I was curious about is the safety issue. Do you have to bleed off all the capacitors to ground before you can safely work on these amps? I have a Crate amp from the mid-eighties that I bought new that finally stopped working. I think it's a solid state, but I'm not sure. Now I'm afraid to even take the back off the amp to look at it because of the fear of getting my heart stopped if I touch in the wrong place! :D
What is the correct impedance of the reverb tank?
Wow nice amp. I don’t see any twist on the filament supply wires is it dc.
I have a vintage Magnatone that needs some work. I am very impressed with your work, very meticulous and professional . let me know if you are interested . Thank you.
That Valco MOJO!
wow, what a great player!
Always luv the way you do these vids... wouldn't change a thing...
I wuz wonderin', however, what speaker did you wind up using?
I thought the alnico looked cool but I really dunno how it sounded...
As always, another great and entertaining vid...
thanx and cheers.
ps: this ilk of amps are single ended puttin' out 5 to 8 watts? (wild amatuer guessing here... )
Sweet!
Very good video as always. I ran into a guy who was throwing away a 65 supro vibra verb 6498vr. As you can imagine, tons wrong with it but I believe it can be brought back to life. I'm having a tough time finding a schematic for it. I've looked through Valco, airline.....etc. I've get close but not exact. Any thoughts where I might find a good schematic? Thanks
Is there a difference between 9025 and 9025a ?
Is this the same as Wards Airline from Montgomery Ward? Or is this a totally different Airline brand.
+Thevinylking69 The same. Montgomery Ward, as in Wards Catalog.
You said you weren't replacing the two prong cord because of the originality but then you re capped it. Did you wind up replacing the cord? I've heard you rail on other repairs when people don't make it safe. .
If I didn’t do it on this one, it’s not a decision I’d repeat today.
Bro! I know I am going "back in time" on videos, but this was an awesome "save"!! I always love the "demos"!! Do you have a camera that will accept an "upgraded" mic??? I may have one that you could try to plant in front of amps during demos...
My camera will accept an 1/8" jack with phantom power. If you have something you think might work, sure, I'll try it out. Thanks for the offer.
They used red planet caps in those, airlines, silvertones, etc . There is a date code on it.
I enjoy it!!!
God I want this amp!
+dan peabody It's for sale. I haven't posted it yet, but say the word and she's yours.
Is this the first video?
Hi, I've watched several of your videos and have really enjoyed them. Especially cool that you play so well.
I have a Supro S6422TR which I've had for many years and really love. Several years ago the reverb stopped working but the other day I twisted the cables that go to the reverb tank and the reverb came back to life but it's still somewhat intermittent.
In your video you show the cardboard tank removed from the amp but frustratingly NOT how you got it out... I'm completely stumped. I'm guessing the connectors are RCAs and have to be pulled out. Although I can twist them a bit I can't seem to pull them loose and am scared to really yank on them. If I can get them off I'll swab them down with connector cleaner and hopefully that'll do the trick.
Once the cables are off do you just yank on the cardboard to get the tank apart?
Sorry to ramble on and thanks in advance for any advice!
Ed
Ed, thanks for your comment and for watching the videos, Glad you're enjoying them! Sorry about not covering the one thing you needed to see. I'm sure that is frustrating, especially in an hour-long vid. Never fear! The reverb tanks are easy to remove. Just unplug the RCA jacks they should come right out with a little twisting and pulling outward. After the cables are removed, you simply lift the black cardboard casing out and around the female RCA plugs still attached to the tank. The whole cardboard box top will then come on up and out. From there, it's just a matter of a couple screws holding the tank to the bottom of the cabinet. But to be honest, it sounds like you might just get away with a good cleaning of the jacks and cable ends. Get some good contact cleaner and spray the hell out of them. Use a steel or brass abrasive brush to clean them if you have to. Sometimes it also helps to bend the ground connections inward so they grip the female RCA jack socket better (that's those four pieces of curved metal on the male portion of the RCA cables. I use a pair of pliers to gently bend those inward. Then when you plug them back in, they are more snug in the socket.
Other Valco single 6v6 w/reverb include airline 9035a national model 22 and custom kraft 880(I have one of these) all feature a jensen 12". Do you know if these are the same circuit as well?
Great amp!
I have been, and will be, a devoted follower of Uncle Doug and crew, but when I came across your channel, I was impressed and I subscribed and I think you and U D are the best on the internet. Some may think you are a little "long in the tooth", but you cover all that is needed. I'm just getting started with your videos, so t will be great to explore what you have posted. I have wondered what U D viewed and now we know he keeps his eye on the prize and his nose to the gridstone, same as you. Why would they parallel the plats and cathodes in V2 ? Does it double the signal to the next stage? Thankz
I don't know how I missed this comment, except maybe it was right after my daughter was born and I was way tired. Anyway, thanks for your kind assessment. As for why they would parallel V2, yes, it's to get more output, intensify the signal a bit more. It would probably work without doing that anyway, but they had an extra unused 12ax7 triode to use, so they probably thought 'why not'.
+The Guitologist I thank you for your reply. A new baby can eat up all of your time. I don't think I congratulated you and your wife for the new daughter, so " Congrats". I have been told that I am long in the tooth. It seems when you have something to talk about that is interesting to you and others, it is so easy to go on and on, but you have to say all that is needed. I love your channel and am looking forward to all of your future posts. I may have questions to enlighten me. Thankz
I appreciate you.
The more real the better!!
Power transformer bent out of shape.Shook the power tube out of its socket.
.Valco "Airline Amp " Wonder if it was shipped United Airlines? :-)
524 is Triwec Transformer Company of Chicago
Since you ask, the shaky camera is a bit annoying, I´d recommend a two camera set up. One fixed, general view. The other for details. And yes, edit the hell out of it. Very interesting videos otherwise. Keep it goin'.
Thanks for the feedback.
ivansoley
I quite like the longer videos.
Maybe it's because I usually just like the sound of his voice in the background while I clean my room or whatever else.
There's a loose nut in front of the amp
Where did u purchase this amp from so i know who not to buy from Thanx Richard
+Stuncard Richard I bought this one from a guy on Reverb. It was clear talking to him I was going to have to work on it anyway, but not to this extent. The speaker wasn't supposed to be DOA and I at least expected half decent packaging. I won't buy from that guy again, but buying online can be a crap shoot.
Need a head mount for the camera
That red electrolytic looks like it's labeled "Hallicrafters".
Nice job Brad. Hey have a suss of the amp build uncle doug did a few months back ( specifically this video ruclips.net/video/heL90jj1O6w/видео.html at about 9 minutes) pretty sure he used similar or same schematic he reckoned the 2 20 caps in parallel was a mistake on the schematic and modified it slightly with some resistors to get a solution.
+Chris Kennedy No, the caps apparently aren't a schematic misprint. For whatever reason, they were both inside this example of the Airline version, albeit tied to the wrong cap in the can!
How much?
+dan peabody I was going to ask $700.
That amp sounds like it wants Zepplin to be played on it. Plug in a tele or les paul and let us know how it sounds.
If people are low on money and need to sell there stuff there not going to buy bubble wrap but good tip if you're rich and don't need to sell stuff but selling it anyway
+Timothy Puckett plenty of packing materials in big box dumpsters.
True
Seeing the damage caused by it being dropped durring shipping, Makes me NEVER WANT TO SHIP ANYTHING!!!! I work at a big named home improvement store(rhymes with knows) My job description is a night stocker, things get damaged durring shipping period!!!!!!!! Unless packed properly & overly protected is BEST!!!!! I would rather the serial number be burnt into the wooden cabinet myself personally/ If it were mine.
Doggie!
Just a little Jimmy Page Supro from the 1968 Zeppelin album. 🤣
Go-pro cameras dude
Why the fuck would you ship an amp with the tubes in? I've only done it once, took the tubes out and put them in tube boxes and separate bubble wrap, and tucked it up inside the cab with tons of tape. It takes an extra 5 minutes, it costs an extra few PENNIES, and it can make a difference of hundreds of dollars depending on what tubes they are. I hope you got a partial refund.
+Adam Rainstopper I usually don't bother on tubes with retainers and shields, but on ones like this, heck yes.
The Guitologist But....it's just so easy, and even if you don't have tube boxes you can still wrap them and tape them up. The retainers and shields might protect them from falling out or getting smashed by some little thing that shakes loose, but they still rattle around in there and the pins will split the glass if they move enough. UPS and Postal workers are ... well, postal. You don't know what these packages will be going through.
+Adam Rainstopper Yeah, needless to say, I wasn't happy with the packaging. Nor was I happy about the dead speaker. That didn't happen in shipping. That was supposed to be working, according to the ad.
The Guitologist What's the impedance of the speaker?
8 ohm
Lots of swingers in the 60's.. Lol
A '65 model, just like me 😊. No wonder it sounds so good 😘. Just out of curiosity, Brad, how much does a model like this cost?? After being put into decent working order, that is.