Great amp! It's rare to see them this immaculate. It's definitely got the right tone but I don't know about it being a Tremolux slayer. If anything they're both equally awesome. For the money, the Valco amps are an absolute steal and people should buy them if they have a chance. Great video and the sound is almost perfect!
What a truly outstanding little combo from a time when US made amps (like those here in the UK) were so methodically hand built with such care and pride that we are still able to hear and appreciate them in action 60 years on. btw ... I think I've seen pics of a 1956 Valco made Gretsch Electromatic with tremolo that utilised the same two oval Rola's and same model knobs/switches. Thanks Brad for showing us this little gem.
Another great upload. I love it when Brad services the same amp I have. I use my Valco with my Resonator, the Piezo and condenser sound great , they compliment each other no other amp seems to accommodate the guitar like the Trem - Tone
I'm a new sub... love hearing these tasty treats that you lovingly give just the right amount of TLC that brings out their true character... and for giving us a well played run through the different settings without torturing us with excruciating details about the exact settings.... so we can hear what the amp sounds like
Chicago 51 is the old switchboard telephone exchange from the beginning of telephony when you had to make calls through an operator. Those exchange numbers became the first 3 numbers of present phone numbers.
One of the best sounding amps I have ever had the pleasure of seeing and hearing man.I'm lovin that tele and enjoyin your chops too.Beautiful mate,thank you.
That amp really is clean. Nothing in my house ever looks that good after a month or so due to dust and smoke. I was shocked at how clean the chassis is.
At around 24:30 hanging on the wall behind you is ---correct me if I'm mistaken but--- a Domino guitar! That white one! In 1967 a friend came back from a trip to London with an album by a black guy with a crazy hair-do named Jimi Hendrix. As soon as I heard it, I knew I had to play electric guitar. I went out to the crappy music store on the highway and bought the most affordable guitar they had, that white Domino with the peculiar shape. I've been playing ever since and am now surrounded by great guitars--- Strats, Les Pauls, Juniors, Dan Electros, even guitars by Wandre di Pioli. But that Domino started it all for me. What a trip, seeing it again. Thank you!!
Now that is a commercial I watched all the way through and B&G guitars are now ingrained into my brain. Lol. I have 1962 fender tweed champ that I can plug into if I ever have enough money to buy one. Now onto the video.
Wow Brad, looks like that one had been in the living room with a plastic bag completely covering it since 1957, just like the rest of the living room furniture...no dust or rust at all. Nice!
It's amazing how much grit that amp has, coming from the days when amp manufacturers prided themselves on how low the level of distortion their amps produced. Sounds great. Did you have the volume pegged?
I have a later National Tremotone 1224 with a redesign cab. Mine also have the RCP 10W labeled capacitors, though only one of them looks like a teenagers face so I'll start replacing only that one as far as coupling caps go. I will check all other coupling caps for dc leakage once powered up. The electrolytics are very beautiful ones, marked Mallory with the - and + STAMPED/PUNCHED in the metal ends where the legs comes out from cap (axial form factor). Filter caps will be replaced, got a cap can from Haysed hamfest. Have had the amp since before I learnt about electronics, probably close to 10 years since I bought it - now I've finally ready to service it and see how it sounds :)
Very nice result. Super clean example. Valco tremolo is rich and buttery. Someone told me years ago, the trem tube can be changed from a 12AX7, to a 12AU7, etc, and it will effect to depth of fluctuations. The pot changes the speed only. Brown era Fenders and the Tweed tremolux have a nice gooey quality to the trem. Old Ampegs, as well. Blackface Fender tremolos aren't nearly pretty sounding. Cool stuff, again!
Outstanding amp! Personally I had to clone one. I thought this preamp tube line up was 6SQ7 preamp 6SQ7 trem and 12AX7 phase inverter. I shall disappear back into the night now...National Valco secret society.
I had a speaker like that in a 1961 amp 'no name'. I thought somebody had put in speakers from a car! Sounded awful live, but recorded great. Unbelievable sound.Perfect distortion.
I missed the wattage of this amp?.......and you are right about the tone.......these can kill most of the/equal wattage, Fender amps of the period and the new Supro amps do NOT even sound remotely good or similar unfortunately.......Great stuff and thank you for posting...
The new Supros are just wearing a Supro costume. It's like if I tried to dress up like Superman...I might look ok from 15 feet away, but I wouldn't be stopping any bullets with my teeth.
Wattage can be measured by RMS or Peak watts. 12 watts RMS is a pretty LOUD little tube amp, especially through a really efficient speaker. Modern tube amp makers tend to overrate their amps or use Peak watts, which is about 30% higher.
Came for the amp and as always, stayed for the jam. At 29:09 where you switched to the TV Jones neck pup, WOW, what an inspirational tone! I think, by the look on your face, that you would agree. I could just jam on that for days on end. Of course the bridge position was no slouch either. Clean or dirty there's tons of character in that little amp.
I used to do electronics assembly and your right Each amp would have been put together by all the sub-assemblies built by different employees on an assembly line and wired into the chassis piece by piece.
I worked in factories before too. One of them was doing parts for autos. We even had a wave soldering machine. At one point they brought in the Mexicans to observe how things were done so they could move the production to Mexico and our factory trained our replacements. That was that.
I was also an electronics Expediter in another Factory and worked with 300 Koreans .... They liked to use them because they had tiny hands and could 9 times out of 10 repair and solder a part inside the final assemblies without having to take it all apart again... l.o.l.
Hi Brad, I just finished watching the video and I concur... That thing sounds fantastic! Nice breakup, good "tremolo", and I bet it would clean up nice too. I have to agree with you on the can caps Valco used in the 50's, as the one in the amp I have here is still working great 66 years on.. I have had similar luck with the can caps Hammond used in their organ chassis during the 60's as well, purchasing new ones expecting to replace them, only to find there is no need to. Great video, excited to hear some of these other amps you have in the works. Take care, Tom
7 лет назад
My first amp., back in 1980, was an old Gibson Tweed. Sooo wish I still had it.
Just Love all your demo's and appreciate all the time and knowledge you put into them! What would you say is the difference between these 1224's of the 50's (6V6 tubes) and the early 60's models that used 6973 tubes ( I believe) . Cheers !
I have a lot of demo videos of Valcos, including those with 6973s. 6V6 and 6973 were the two most often used power tubes of Valco. They have differences in the cranked tone - the latter sounding meaner with a bit more of a focused upper midrange, but they sound very similar when not cranked. That's due to the similar design on most of their input stages and in most of their tone networks. Whoever was doing their design had GOLDEN EARS. You can scroll down through this playlist and pick virtually ANY of these Valcos and hear wonderful tone with all sorts of different guitars: ruclips.net/video/WzscS-bIEhA/видео.html
The speakers are holding it back. Unfortunately, the field coil design would make adding an external speaker jack a bit involved. I bet it would sound unGodly fed into a bright, efficient 12" like a Jenson C12N. Bring out the bottom end to the overdrive and less boxiness. If it were my amp I'd consider maybe wiring in a switchable Jack in a hidden spot that would disconnect the internal speaker and use an external. Other than that I wouldn't change a thing. Added bonus would be that it would save those hard to replace original speakers from the risk of blowing.
They're not field coils. They're AlNiCo. It would be interesting to hear it with different speakers, and a jack and switch would be easy enough to do, but I wouldn't bother personally. If I wanted more bass, I'd just use a different guitar. :D
I think there may be something special about 6sq7 pre tubes. I have some single ended 6v6 radios that use a 6sq7 in the preamp. I plug my guitar straight in and the clean and dirty sound great! Play soft it’s clean play medium and it starts to compress then play hard and magic. I think I’m with you on valco being king of cool
10-4 on that one. As a harp player, I will testify ! My 1960 1210 was unequaled, and was drooled over - that was in Austin TX, where people knew what they spoke of....
After chasing down a 1965 Ampeg Reverbrocket at Elderly, { I am from Michigan } I tried a new amp that had just come out. Peavey Delta Blues 210. That is what I have been playing harp on since, I sold the National on commission in Austin. The clerk, very excited, could not tell me who bought it, but he said they were very famous. I was trying to find out what amps Little Walter used on harp, and the general response was that he used whatever was on hand. Valco was made in Chicago. It was affordable. It was Likely that Walter used Valco amps.
I have had a number of Nationals. Currently down to 4, Tremotone, Stage Star, Aztec and 1948 1X12 amp. I am happy enough with the Aztec to keep it and sell the Trem and Stage Star. Aztec uses 3 - 6.5X11 Rolas, trem has 2 and Stage Star 4. Aztec is just as good as or better than both for me. The 1X12 is a little different with the 12" speaker, works well in small spaces.
Brad, it's fun watching you lapse into a transe as the Valco harmonic soup envelopes you.Great to see a specimen in such amazing condition. Was that a Closet Queen?
About the notation "Chicago 51": the '51' was what was known as the "postal zone". Today it is still the last two digits of the zip code. You will hear a reference to this in Elvis Presley's "Return to Sender". The refrain in the song says, "Return to sender. Address unknown. No such number, no such ZONE."
I like to wipe down / clean the tubes when I clean the sockets. I think the OT is a huge factor in this amps tone. That OT was massive compared to most others I've seen for a pair of 6V6s! It did not appear to be connected to field coil speakers. Or maybe only one FC speaker if it is. The metal plate shielding the inputs is a nice and important feature.
The speakers are AlNiCo. No field coils. And yes, the shielding is just one little touch that showed Valco knew what they were doing and cared about tone.
A beautifully constructed and sounding amp. Nice job with the servicing too. RCA's are nice but being from New Jersey I have always been partial to Tung Sol's for an amp like this. I would have retubed with all Tungs but that's just personal preference. Cheers!
Man, that is so awesome. I am really curious where you found that beauty and any other history you have on it. I am super sentimental and nostalgic so I hate to see anything modified or replaced on old things unless really necessary. I sense that you also appreciate the originality and pristine condition of something like this and keep it that way as much as possible. I would leave that 12AX7 in that socket as well just because it is original, so as to keep it that way out of principle. Just discovered your channel tonight and can't stop watching. Got my sub :).
The 51 in Chicago 51 is the zone and would have become the last two digits of the zip code when implemented, most likely 60651. Other possibilities were 605, 601, and 600.
Rola and MSP in Australia made 9x6 inch speakers. I still have an MSP 9x6 in my possession. Some smaller models of the Goldentone amps (Australian) used the 9x6 inch speaker (Rola) - I have one of these as well - it is about 8-10 watts with a pair of 6GW8/ECL86 push-pull output.
I kinda doubt that's stock. The 6GW8 is a triode/pentode. They were used in the Hammond AO-44, but that's pretty low power. What are they using the triodes for? What's the entire tube compliment?
That's correct - each triode is used for the phase splitter and the tremolo. Here is the link to the schematic www.ozvalveamps.org/goldentone/suitcasecctrdw.gif
I have heard from various people that the paper caps and such have a different sound. I think it's something my ear can't catch but apparently some people can and I have heard of amp tech taking those paper caps out and the owner of the amp being Furious about it
Check your plate/anode resistors too. I know from experience that these can tend to go high impedance, probably due to internal localised breakdown/arcing due to the HT. Cool amp though, I have an early 60's AC30, love it.
Hey I've got the exact same tiesco Tulip guitar that you've got in the background hanging. It's a real beater but it's so cool man. Fat bottomed girls by queen on that thing is a perfect match!
You wouldn't happen to want to work on a 1960 vibrasonic is what the who use when they first started please let me know. Great Chow very educational watch it all the time.
Nice amp, and good sound and playing. It's nice to see someone who have real gear knowledge and can play too. I got some questions: I see there is only one knob for the tremolo: is this for the rate, or depth or just an on/off switch ? I did a little search on 6sq7 tube: "double diode triode". What is the use of the diode part in this circuit ? I don't think i ever see the use of tube diodes in guitar amps ( not talking about about rectifiers) but my knowledge is limited.
Love your channel.It's interesting watching you service these old amps and I enjoy your playing.You remind me of Rory Gallagher the way you dig in to the strings and play a lot of minor blues lines. Very nice.
sounds beautiful , the trem is sweet as a nut, they should have fitted a speed adjuster as they always seem too rapid , but hey just picky ! have you done afender 30 -2x10 in your travels brad? i have one and would relish seeing your take on it, whats good or nor so good ? plenty to go at tho here, its very much appreciated ,
Such a thing of beauty! A rare find indeed. Pretty awesome tone (23:44) ... reminds me of a Fender Bassman with a Rangemaster Treble Booster (or so my ears lead me to think!) ... Rory Gallagher would be looking down on this guy with a smile :)
It seems - with all the capacitor replacements required on old electronic equipment; that they should have designed / manufactured them with sockets too. Heck - it's not uncommon on old amps to leave the good old tubes - but replace the caps !!
Hey Brad i bought this sweet amp from you. Couple questions. What is the best high end tube to replace one of the 12ax7 for even better tone? And do you recommend a Supro national Val-Verb 1260?
Tubes are subjective. I recommend getting an old piece of equipment like a reel to reel recorder or something that already has 2 or 3 old 12ax7 in it, so you can get some options to tube roll for cheap. Change the V1 tube for the biggest affect on tone.
I once had a 1960 National 1210. It also had the unusual sized oval speakers {2}. I used it for harmonica and it sounded AMAZING.
Great amp! It's rare to see them this immaculate. It's definitely got the right tone but I don't know about it being a Tremolux slayer. If anything they're both equally awesome. For the money, the Valco amps are an absolute steal and people should buy them if they have a chance.
Great video and the sound is almost perfect!
Love watching you’re videos. It must be very rewarding being able to bring these old amps back to life and getting to play through them:)
Totally, Timmy. I live for this shit. Now I just need a sponsor to pay me to do it all day.
What a truly outstanding little combo from a time when US made amps (like those here in the UK) were so methodically hand built with such care and pride that we are still able to hear and appreciate them in action 60 years on. btw ... I think I've seen pics of a 1956 Valco made Gretsch Electromatic with tremolo that utilised the same two oval Rola's and same model knobs/switches. Thanks Brad for showing us this little gem.
Yes, there was an equivalent Gretsch.
Another great upload. I love it when Brad services the same amp I have. I use my Valco with my Resonator, the Piezo and condenser sound great , they compliment each other no other amp seems to accommodate the guitar like the Trem - Tone
I'm a new sub... love hearing these tasty treats that you lovingly give just the right amount of TLC that brings out their true character... and for giving us a well played run through the different settings without torturing us with excruciating details about the exact settings.... so we can hear what the amp sounds like
Thanks, man. That's the goal. I don't always succeed, but I try.
What a great sounding amp! Thanks for doin’ your thing over there.
Wow, what a tone. Sounds great
Dude! That thing sounds killer...even on the camera mic!
Chicago 51 is the old switchboard telephone exchange from the beginning of telephony when you had to make calls through an operator. Those exchange numbers became the first 3 numbers of present phone numbers.
It's not a mess, it's organized chaos...
A clean desk is the sign of a sick mind
Oh man! I love-love-love this little amp!
One thousand times I thank you.This post was like a time machine for old Chabunga.
One of the best sounding amps I have ever had the pleasure of seeing and hearing man.I'm lovin that tele and enjoyin your chops too.Beautiful mate,thank you.
Yeah, this one was a real gem.
Wow! The beef in that thing! Rockin'!
@theguitologist this channel is quickly becoming one of my favs. I always learn something from your vids.
Good to have you, John. Thanks.
Only you would get hounded by a bee.LOL.Just another example of the authenticity if you and your channel.
Great video.
hahaha...Flying insects and I have a long, complicated history. :D
almost a cross between a fender and a Marshall to my bad ears :). sounds friggin awesome though!
Yeah, the grittiness and character is what I love about them.
I wanted to hear it with that Junior. a P90 would scream through that thing
That amp really is clean. Nothing in my house ever looks that good after a month or so due to dust and smoke. I was shocked at how clean the chassis is.
At around 24:30 hanging on the wall behind you is ---correct me if I'm mistaken but--- a Domino guitar! That white one! In 1967 a friend came back from a trip to London with an album by a black guy with a crazy hair-do named Jimi Hendrix. As soon as I heard it, I knew I had to play electric guitar. I went out to the crappy music store on the highway and bought the most affordable guitar they had, that white Domino with the peculiar shape. I've been playing ever since and am now surrounded by great guitars--- Strats, Les Pauls, Juniors, Dan Electros, even guitars by Wandre di Pioli. But that Domino started it all for me. What a trip, seeing it again. Thank you!!
It'll be for sale at some point. I need to do a complete setup on it first.
Interesting, the first thing that came to mind when I saw that pimply capacitor was smallpox.
I agree!
Gotta watch the whole thing to get the treat at the end! No wonder this channel is growing like a weed! Good work!
I know, right. Crazy. I don't think I'm really doing anything different either.
Beautiful little amp! Sounds great.
Looks more like leprosy imo.
Sorry about that comment it popped up on your comment
Now that is a commercial I watched all the way through and B&G guitars are now ingrained into my brain. Lol. I have 1962 fender tweed champ that I can plug into if I ever have enough money to buy one. Now onto the video.
Wow Brad, looks like that one had been in the living room with a plastic bag completely covering it since 1957, just like the rest of the living room furniture...no dust or rust at all. Nice!
Very cool old amp!!!
I'm not a technician, but that was fascinating. Thanks for uploading.
I own one of these from 1955! Found it in my grandpa’s attic after he passed away. It has all original tubes and speakers. Kicks sooooooo much booty
It's amazing how much grit that amp has, coming from the days when amp manufacturers prided themselves on how low the level of distortion their amps produced. Sounds great. Did you have the volume pegged?
I have a later National Tremotone 1224 with a redesign cab. Mine also have the RCP 10W labeled capacitors, though only one of them looks like a teenagers face so I'll start replacing only that one as far as coupling caps go. I will check all other coupling caps for dc leakage once powered up. The electrolytics are very beautiful ones, marked Mallory with the - and + STAMPED/PUNCHED in the metal ends where the legs comes out from cap (axial form factor).
Filter caps will be replaced, got a cap can from Haysed hamfest. Have had the amp since before I learnt about electronics, probably close to 10 years since I bought it - now I've finally ready to service it and see how it sounds :)
Had to revisit this tube...its just that good! Thanks Brad
Very nice result. Super clean example.
Valco tremolo is rich and buttery.
Someone told me years ago, the trem tube can be changed from a 12AX7, to a 12AU7, etc, and it will effect to depth of fluctuations. The pot changes the speed only.
Brown era Fenders and the Tweed tremolux have a nice gooey quality to the trem. Old Ampegs, as well.
Blackface Fender tremolos aren't nearly pretty sounding.
Cool stuff, again!
Valco trem is among the best there is. Tweed era Gibson is up there as well.
Outstanding amp! Personally I had to clone one. I thought this preamp tube line up was 6SQ7 preamp 6SQ7 trem and 12AX7 phase inverter. I shall disappear back into the night now...National Valco secret society.
I had a speaker like that in a 1961 amp 'no name'. I thought somebody had put in speakers from a car! Sounded awful live, but recorded great. Unbelievable sound.Perfect distortion.
I missed the wattage of this amp?.......and you are right about the tone.......these can kill most of the/equal wattage, Fender amps of the period and the new Supro amps do NOT even sound remotely good or similar unfortunately.......Great stuff and thank you for posting...
The new Supros are just wearing a Supro costume. It's like if I tried to dress up like Superman...I might look ok from 15 feet away, but I wouldn't be stopping any bullets with my teeth.
And the wattage was? Sorry I skipped around Also. But I did not hear it. Love your videos
Two 6V6 is usually good for about 12W
Very cool thank you sir!! I thought it would have been a little hotter. Like 15 to 25 watt. Sweet Gem you have there!!
Wattage can be measured by RMS or Peak watts. 12 watts RMS is a pretty LOUD little tube amp, especially through a really efficient speaker. Modern tube amp makers tend to overrate their amps or use Peak watts, which is about 30% higher.
Another amp that gets overlooked with great vibrato and tweed sound are the Magnatones. Specifically the 213, 413, 440, 260 and 280 models.
Wow! What a beautiful and large sound from such a small unassuming package! Nothing wrong with those speakers at all!
Came for the amp and as always, stayed for the jam.
At 29:09 where you switched to the TV Jones neck pup, WOW, what an inspirational tone!
I think, by the look on your face, that you would agree. I could just jam on that for days on end.
Of course the bridge position was no slouch either. Clean or dirty there's tons of character in that little amp.
Great playing! That little amp sounds terrific. You've really got me jazzed for these vintage amps. Thanks for sharing
I used to do electronics assembly and your right Each amp would have been put together by all the sub-assemblies built by different employees on an assembly line and wired into the chassis piece by piece.
I worked in factories before too. One of them was doing parts for autos. We even had a wave soldering machine. At one point they brought in the Mexicans to observe how things were done so they could move the production to Mexico and our factory trained our replacements. That was that.
I was also an electronics Expediter in another Factory and worked with 300 Koreans .... They liked to use them because they had tiny hands and could 9 times out of 10 repair and solder a part inside the final assemblies without having to take it all apart again... l.o.l.
Reminds me of the movie "Crazy People" ruclips.net/video/iicJYTAApbA/видео.htmlm23s
l.m.a.o.
Hi Brad, I just finished watching the video and I concur... That thing sounds fantastic! Nice breakup, good "tremolo", and I bet it would clean up nice too. I have to agree with you on the can caps Valco used in the 50's, as the one in the amp I have here is still working great 66 years on.. I have had similar luck with the can caps Hammond used in their organ chassis during the 60's as well, purchasing new ones expecting to replace them, only to find there is no need to. Great video, excited to hear some of these other amps you have in the works. Take care, Tom
My first amp., back in 1980, was an old Gibson Tweed. Sooo wish I still had it.
Just Love all your demo's and appreciate all the time and knowledge you put into them! What would you say is the difference between these 1224's of the 50's (6V6 tubes) and the early 60's models that used 6973 tubes ( I believe) . Cheers !
I have a lot of demo videos of Valcos, including those with 6973s. 6V6 and 6973 were the two most often used power tubes of Valco. They have differences in the cranked tone - the latter sounding meaner with a bit more of a focused upper midrange, but they sound very similar when not cranked. That's due to the similar design on most of their input stages and in most of their tone networks. Whoever was doing their design had GOLDEN EARS. You can scroll down through this playlist and pick virtually ANY of these Valcos and hear wonderful tone with all sorts of different guitars: ruclips.net/video/WzscS-bIEhA/видео.html
That's pure Americana, sounds absolutely amazing!.
I'd take a Valco like this over a Fender deluxe anyday.
Old Premier amps are killer too!.
Who ever sneezed at 0:53 Bless you.
The speakers are holding it back. Unfortunately, the field coil design would make adding an external speaker jack a bit involved. I bet it would sound unGodly fed into a bright, efficient 12" like a Jenson C12N. Bring out the bottom end to the overdrive and less boxiness. If it were my amp I'd consider maybe wiring in a switchable Jack in a hidden spot that would disconnect the internal speaker and use an external. Other than that I wouldn't change a thing. Added bonus would be that it would save those hard to replace original speakers from the risk of blowing.
They're not field coils. They're AlNiCo. It would be interesting to hear it with different speakers, and a jack and switch would be easy enough to do, but I wouldn't bother personally. If I wanted more bass, I'd just use a different guitar. :D
The Guitologist you can always mike the amp.
I think there may be something special about 6sq7 pre tubes. I have some single ended 6v6 radios that use a 6sq7 in the preamp. I plug my guitar straight in and the clean and dirty sound great! Play soft it’s clean play medium and it starts to compress then play hard and magic. I think I’m with you on valco being king of cool
Love your channel - VERY educational
Thanks for watching!
Valco amps and this Tremotone are great amps for harp players as well. Highly prized.
10-4 on that one. As a harp player, I will testify ! My 1960 1210 was unequaled, and was drooled over - that was in Austin TX, where people knew what they spoke of....
As far as 50s amps go, for harp, the best stuff seems to be Valco, Danelectro, and some tube PA gear.
Agree.
After chasing down a 1965 Ampeg Reverbrocket at Elderly, { I am from Michigan } I tried a new amp that had just come out. Peavey Delta Blues 210. That is what I have been playing harp on since, I sold the National on commission in Austin. The clerk, very excited, could not tell me who bought it, but he said they were very famous. I was trying to find out what amps Little Walter used on harp, and the general response was that he used whatever was on hand. Valco was made in Chicago. It was affordable. It was Likely that Walter used Valco amps.
I have had a number of Nationals. Currently down to 4, Tremotone, Stage Star, Aztec and 1948 1X12 amp. I am happy enough with the Aztec to keep it and sell the Trem and Stage Star. Aztec uses 3 - 6.5X11 Rolas, trem has 2 and Stage Star 4. Aztec is just as good as or better than both for me. The 1X12 is a little different with the 12" speaker, works well in small spaces.
Great little amp, as ever I love watching your videos. Thanks Brad.
Thanks, Martin.
You got it going on there at 28:35...I like that part...nice amp
that tremolo sound is one of the best I've heard.
This amp is just dripping with that perfect od, good low end, it really got me drooling. I got to hear it here first!
The foot switch looks like something I saw attached to mom's Singer sewing machine in the late 50s, early 60s.
one other thing the tele honks too love it
Brad, it's fun watching you lapse into a transe as the Valco harmonic soup envelopes you.Great to see a specimen in such amazing condition. Was that a Closet Queen?
I don't think it was quite a closet queen, but it was damn close. Miraculously, I don't think the owner even smoked, by the look of it.
About the notation "Chicago 51": the '51' was what was known as the "postal zone". Today it is still the last two digits of the zip code. You will hear a reference to this in Elvis Presley's "Return to Sender". The refrain in the song says, "Return to sender. Address unknown. No such number, no such ZONE."
Rex Robards Post office installed zip codes in 1967.
I like to wipe down / clean the tubes when I clean the sockets. I think the OT is a huge factor in this amps tone. That OT was massive compared to most others I've seen for a pair of 6V6s! It did not appear to be connected to field coil speakers. Or maybe only one FC speaker if it is. The metal plate shielding the inputs is a nice and important feature.
The speakers are AlNiCo. No field coils. And yes, the shielding is just one little touch that showed Valco knew what they were doing and cared about tone.
It may be old hat to some but you really taught me a lot and those tips are greatly appreciated!
outstanding
Thanks.
love that old link wray sound in this .
That tremolo kinda brings to mind Robby Krieger in Riders On The Storm, one of my fave tremolo pieces.
Sweet tone!! Those oval speakers are still good..!!
Love the channel, mang. So many tones!
Sounds pristine! You are one of the best amp techs I've seen!
Beautifull piece of history there.
A beautifully constructed and sounding amp. Nice job with the servicing too. RCA's are nice but being from New Jersey I have always been partial to Tung Sol's for an amp like this. I would have retubed with all Tungs but that's just personal preference. Cheers!
Thanks for watching.
Man, that is so awesome. I am really curious where you found that beauty and any other history you have on it. I am super sentimental and nostalgic so I hate to see anything modified or replaced on old things unless really necessary. I sense that you also appreciate the originality and pristine condition of something like this and keep it that way as much as possible. I would leave that 12AX7 in that socket as well just because it is original, so as to keep it that way out of principle. Just discovered your channel tonight and can't stop watching. Got my sub :).
Those capacitors look like pretzel logs lol.
Sounds wonderful, nice looking amp also, thanks for sharing, I enjoy it.
Wow! This amp is a beast. Would never expect it from those crazy speakers
This is a wonderful old amplifier.
You did a good job.
Thx!
Thank you for saying so. Hopefully the new owner feels the same way.
The 51 in Chicago 51 is the zone and would have become the last two digits of the zip code when implemented, most likely 60651. Other possibilities were 605, 601, and 600.
Fantastic! That tone!
2 6v6 power tubes can give 20 watts usually or a little less if cathode bias was used !
Class A/B push pull at 20 watts gets real loud !
Rola and MSP in Australia made 9x6 inch speakers. I still have an MSP 9x6 in my possession. Some smaller models of the Goldentone amps (Australian) used the 9x6 inch speaker (Rola) - I have one of these as well - it is about 8-10 watts with a pair of 6GW8/ECL86 push-pull output.
I kinda doubt that's stock. The 6GW8 is a triode/pentode. They were used in the Hammond AO-44, but that's pretty low power. What are they using the triodes for? What's the entire tube compliment?
That's correct - each triode is used for the phase splitter and the tremolo. Here is the link to the schematic www.ozvalveamps.org/goldentone/suitcasecctrdw.gif
Here is a link to some photos: www.ozvalveamps.org/goldentone4.htm#suitcase
I have heard from various people that the paper caps and such have a different sound. I think it's something my ear can't catch but apparently some people can and I have heard of amp tech taking those paper caps out and the owner of the amp being Furious about it
I'm not sure it beats Fender for clean tone but it has a nice over-driven sound.
Keep up all the great content! I learn so much.
Beautiful little amp!!! I want two....Ha Ha Thanks as usual Brad!!! Awesome job!!!
A bit to tremalou ee if thats a word. But that was deep music. 👍playing some licks
Sounds killer. Good shape too.
Sounds great!
sweet amp! Would be nice to see a sound test with a strat on this thing :)
Super clean, but with just the right bite ! nice licks also... 👍
Check your plate/anode resistors too. I know from experience that these can tend to go high impedance, probably due to internal localised breakdown/arcing due to the HT. Cool amp though, I have an early 60's AC30, love it.
"do the naughty business " lol
:D I was wondering when someone would comment on that.
Hey I've got the exact same tiesco Tulip guitar that you've got in the background hanging. It's a real beater but it's so cool man. Fat bottomed girls by queen on that thing is a perfect match!
You wouldn't happen to want to work on a 1960 vibrasonic is what the who use when they first started please let me know. Great Chow very educational watch it all the time.
Very nice! The amp cleaned-up good. Sounds Great.
Nice amp, and good sound and playing. It's nice to see someone who have real gear knowledge and can play too.
I got some questions:
I see there is only one knob for the tremolo: is this for the rate, or depth or just an on/off switch ?
I did a little search on 6sq7 tube: "double diode triode". What is the use of the diode part in this circuit ? I don't think i ever see the use of tube diodes in guitar amps ( not talking about about rectifiers) but my knowledge is limited.
Love your channel.It's interesting watching you service these old amps and I enjoy your playing.You remind me of Rory Gallagher the way you dig in to the strings and play a lot of minor blues lines. Very nice.
I'll take it. :D
sounds beautiful , the trem is sweet as a nut, they should have fitted
a speed adjuster as they always seem too rapid , but hey just
picky ! have you done afender 30 -2x10 in your travels brad? i have one
and would relish seeing your take on it, whats good or nor so good ?
plenty to go at tho here, its very much appreciated ,
Such a thing of beauty! A rare find indeed. Pretty awesome tone (23:44) ... reminds me of a Fender Bassman with a Rangemaster Treble Booster (or so my ears lead me to think!) ... Rory Gallagher would be looking down on this guy with a smile :)
Your channel is to put it simply..... Guitar Amp Heaven.
Best thing on RUclips. Even the most stupid guitar player would surely dig this. Well done.
new subscriber, really interesting in depth unique review of a great amp, thanks and best to all from Manhattan, New York City, USA !
those old caps look like pretzels. lol thats is what i always thought. i thought it was funny when you said it looks like a teenagers face... lmao
It seems - with all the capacitor replacements required on old electronic equipment; that they should have designed / manufactured them with sockets too. Heck - it's not uncommon on old amps to leave the good old tubes - but replace the caps !!
Hey Brad i bought this sweet amp from you. Couple questions. What is the best high end tube to replace one of the 12ax7 for even better tone?
And do you recommend a Supro national Val-Verb 1260?
Tubes are subjective. I recommend getting an old piece of equipment like a reel to reel recorder or something that already has 2 or 3 old 12ax7 in it, so you can get some options to tube roll for cheap. Change the V1 tube for the biggest affect on tone.
Great job as always, i just love the way you give life in those wonderful devises..Thanos, Athens Greece
😎 i dig it thanks for the knowledge had not previously knowed alot of the things you told us in the vid.