National Valco Chicago 51 Schematic?

[Deleted]

I have a National Valco Chicago 51 amp, which I use for my harps.
Has anybody got one?
I love the tone of this amp, and would like to clone it. This would be my first 'build'.

Also, I wouldn't mind finding someone who might be interested in building this amp for me, or helping me with various phases of it.

Working from the actual amp will be a plus, but I would like to see a schematic to ensure that the compontents are identified, correctly.

Previously posted schematic sdon't match this model.

The amp I have has the following;

Tubes: 6V6-GT, 6V6-GT, 5Y3-GT, 6SC7, 6SQ7
Speaker Magnet: 550-3
Speaker frame: 6823
Cabinet serial number: X32879

I have several good pictures of cabinet and chassis, on my computer, but haven't figured out how to attach them to my message.

[lee holliday]

I understand at this years NAMM show the Victoria amp co unveiled an amp based on an earlier Supro, this may be worth checking out depending on where you are, also look at Michaels signature amp which has a honking sound.
Regards Lee

[Michael Messer]

I can get this amp built for you by the guy who builds my amps. He has repaired National amps for me for many years and now builds perfect 50s repro Fender/National type amps.

What part of the world are you writing from? My amp guy is based in Maidenhead, Berkshire, UK.

Shine On,
Michael.

[John]

Thanks for your response!

Am in Palm Harbor, Florida, USA.

Would like to have a schematic before making any other plans to clone my amp. I am looking to build an exact electronic copy.

Thanks,

elvisbubba

[Michael Messer]

Hi John,

If you join the forum I can get access to your email address. Then I can send you bthe contact details for Amp Doctor John and you can call him and have a chat about your idea.

I know that Berkshire is a long way from Florida, but if anyone on the planet can fulfill your request, it is Amp Doctor John. You won't find anything on the Internet about him as he is semi-retired and works part-time from home. He has been building and repairing valve/tube amps for many years. Currently his standard ready-made amps are exact replicas of early Fender Champ & De Luxe models. They are spot on, as good as, or posssibly better than any of the modern retro 'designer' amps. He has no production line, he just builds them one at a time in the garden shed. Every piece is hand assembled.

Join up and send me a private message, I will send you John's contact details. You will have to call him as he does not use email very much.

Shine On,
Michael.

[Colin McCubbin]

Hi,

Schematics for Nationals are in really short supply. The only ones I have found in 35 years of looking are the two I have posted at notecannons.

It will be easiest to identify your amp if you can post some pictures, it isn't a 'model 51' BTW, that was valco's Zip code (postal code) in Chicago, so all their amps say that!

If you can add the pics of your amp to an email and send it to either me, or to Michael via the email addresses at our websites, we'll try and help more.

Aloha

Colin

[Michael Messer]

John Kelly in Islington has drawers full of old Schematics for numerous amps. Perhaps one day when you are over, Colin, we should go and see him. He used to build Kelly amps, but these days just does repairs. I am pretty certain I have seen National & Valco stuff in that drawer full of old leaflets and schematics.

Shine On,
Michael.

[Deleted]

Michael,

I thought I had joined the forum. I have an ID and password, and do login before I post, and the forum software recognizes my ID. Don't know what else I supposed to do to 'join' forum.

Also, I have the amp photos on my desktop (Mac on OSX), but cannot figure out how to attach them to my posts. Am ready to send them, if I can figure it out, but I'm stuck as to how.

Control panel says "Valco Chicago 51" . Metal medalion on the front of the cab says "Superior".

Tubes: 6V6-GT, 6V6-GT, 5Y3-GT, 6SC7, 6SQ7
Speaker Magnet: 550-3
Speaker frame: 6823
Cabinet serial number: X32879

[Accidental visitor]

Try here:

launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/Magnatone-Valco/

They will know and have some schematics in the files section. A lot of these Valco built amps were very similar. I've got one with the same tubes as yours and it sings.

I've been told that Chicago 51 isn't the model name, but just where the Valco factory was located.

Cheers,
Mikael

[Colin McCubbin]

Thanks Mikael,

I have subscribed to that group, thanks for the information!

Colin

[Colin McCubbin]

I've just received , and added, a schematic with a very similar tube line up to the circuit diagram page at notecannons. Please take a look and let me know if it is 'the one' (should be close!)



Aloha

[Colin McCubbin]

Hi, Found these pics of your amp you had posted at Yahoo, so I took the liberty of grabbing them so I could post them here...

The only National Catalogue I have with similar pictured amp, is dated 1948, the amp was the model 1200 and was sold with the 1075 Chicagoan lap steel (the one with grey MOTS body) There were many very similar amp units made over the years with either vertical slots or horizontal with rounded ends but this is the only one I can find with horizontal, rrectangular slots.