kalamazoo

[@Zenharper]

It’s prized as one of best small amps for harmonica players, that is what made them popular

[@burnsy55]

I have one of these and like it a ton. Ended up having to change all the electrolytics AND signal caps. Its popularity started with harmonica players, and its reputation is that it's one of the best harp amps. I tried to put a cathode bypass cap on V1, but it was way too boomy. Stock circuit sounds great, but pretty much only at 10.

[@drew945101]

Agreed on the bypass cap on V1. I filmed a portion where I AB'd with and without on just the preamp bypass cap, but the footage got corrupted. The bypass on the output tube however made a huge sonic difference and made it much more useful at lower volumes.

[@jasondorsey7110]

I wired mine with a 1/4" jack and I run it through a mesa 1x12 with a celestion mc-90...as expected, more headroom, more girth, less attitude...sometimes you want attitude

[@tagacale1733]

I own one of this 😊

[@aaronkohl8561]

Can you please clarify how and where to connect the white green and black wire from the three prong cord.? Where does the black wire connect to..?

[@drew945101]

Yes. Green wire goes to ground White goes directly to one of the legs of the transformer primary wires (it doesn't matter which one) Black goes to fuse, then to power switch then to the other leg of the transformer primary. Hope this helps.

[@aaronkohl8561]

@@drew945101 you’re the MAN I appreciate all your contributions to this weird and diverse tube amp community….. your directions really helped me.

[@Steve-wz5pz]

That "big glob of solder" did it's job for more than a half a century. Doesn't have to be pretty!

[@meblaw1]

What value did you use as a bypass cap on the output tube ?

[@drew945101]

25uf @ 50v

[@drew945101]

25uf is sort of the standard value you see on cathode bypass capacitors. I've seen 30uf and 50uf used, but in my experience, anything over 25uf is in the realm of diminishing returns when it comes to gain added. 25v on preamp tubes, and 50v on output tubes (only appropriate on cathode biased output circuits, not grid biased). But to be honest, you can probably do 25v caps on single ended output sections like this one here. It was certainly done in the past.

[@drew945101]

Not to ramble, but once had a guy bring in a boutique amp that had a switch that changed the value of the bypass cap on the first preamp tube from 25uf up to 50uf. The tonal difference was so subtle that he and I both though the feature was broken. Lol! I ended up modding it to go from 25uf to defeated out of circuit (what the blues Jr. "Fat" switch does) and it was way more useful IMO.

[@jasondorsey7110]

@@drew945101 what you said about the tube screamer reminded me of how the silverface champ jumped in value after Joe bonamassa was video'd using one

[@drew945101]

@@jasondorsey7110 yeah. People are weird.

[@samchoate1719]

Ooooo I like dat