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Post by Blues Pertti on Apr 21, 2007 11:17:02 GMT
I may try this. My former profession was some where close to electronics and it would be nice to make one amp for example from that TAD's kit ( if I still can ) Yours Pertti
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Post by Bill Stig on Apr 21, 2007 11:29:21 GMT
How long have you been gigging with your Champ amp Michael, and what valves do you use?
Most of the big name amps now seem to be pretty unreliable - thin circuit boards, plastic inputs etc. I use a fender pro junior for lap steel but had to get it fixed by a recommended Fender dealer when the mains transformer blew. It's not the same; it starts to break up too early. I've tried different valves but it's made little difference. It did however have a full pint of lager spilled on it last week and, up to now, still works, but I'll probably be on the look out for a decent small valve amp pretty soon.
Bill
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Post by Alan on Jun 26, 2007 18:18:17 GMT
If your after something valve to mess around with have a look a the Harley Benton GA5 £65 ( Probably the same as the Epiphone), lots of mods you can do cheaply. www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_ga5.htmAlso have a look at the Fender Champion 600 www.thomann.de/gb/fender_champion_600.htm about twice the price, but no postage. Still not point to point, but if you want to mess about theres lots of room & danger when messing about with valves.
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Post by andys on Jun 27, 2007 10:54:40 GMT
I think I have updated on another thread, but I'll respond quickly to this one I started anyway. I got a Harley Benton GA 5 from Germany, but when it arrived it didnt work, so I sent it back, no hassle, but then I thought I ought to source a bit more locally. I was very tempted by www.ampmaker.com but he seems to be temporarily out of operation. So got myself an Epiphone Valve Junior Combo, and using some of the wonderful modding sites in the States such as www.valvejunior.com, www.sewatt.com and the Gibson/Epiphone Forum, I have turned an average little amp into a little beauty with not much outlay and a few hours soldering and tinkering. Mind you the first mod you do voids the warranty, so bear that in mind. In fact judging by the latest comments on these sites, the latest Valve Juniors now have upgrades based on the mods most people do, so the new amps are now pretty good. And if you follow simple rules they are safe to work on, you just switch off at the wall, while still strumming a guitar thru it, hear the sound die away, leave for about 15minutes, and all the zappy things are discharged. Mine has an improved input stage, a control between the preamp and the power amp, a new transformer, (very helpful guys at , new JJ valves and a safety resistor on the output. It also sounds wonderful through a separate cab, and makes cheap effects pedals come alive. with a Danelectro fab Echo into it, this amp is 50s heaven. And great fun for controlled feedback slide with my Vintage reso with its humbucker. I would recommend one of these new Epiphones as a good amp, you may not need to tweak it as much as I have had to do with mine, if you get one of the latest models( at a glance, it should have at least one Electro-harmonix valve in there, for a clue). Me, Im tempted to get myself a Head version. Mind you if Ampmaker gets going again..... Andy S
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