I got a WHUMA to build a Fender Showman head but...

leevc5

leevc5

New member
I found a schematic:
1showman_6g14_schem.gif
Does not look like an insurmountable task? Then I went shopping for the tubes and transformers because I knew that they would make up the lions share of the cost. $570, ouch...much more than I expected.

Does anyone know of a source for less expensive transformers or a cross reference that I could use to possibly find a less expensive equivalent to the parts specified?
 
Re: I got a WHUMA to build a Fender Showman head but...

Just so you know, the vibrato on that brownface circuit there sounds very different from the vibrato on the blackface circuit.

showmanab763.gif


The nice thing, though is that the Showman uses the same transformers as a Twin from the same year, minus the reverb transformer. A Dual Showman has a different ouput transformer, but that's for a different speaker output impedance, otherwise it's the same.
 
Re: I got a WHUMA to build a Fender Showman head but...

Ceriatone sells transformers that are made in Asia. Of course you have to pay shipping from Asia as well. Don't skimp on your iron. It's the true secret sauce of great amps. Heyboer is American made and less expensive than mercury.
 
Re: I got a WHUMA to build a Fender Showman head but...

Why are you after a showman? They are really just a twin reverb in a headshell. I love twins. I think the sound is godly. I own one and I love it.
However, they really are a lot of amp not only because of their clean headroom, but also the weight of the iron. As a result i use smaller amps much more often for gigging.
Have you looked at something like a super reverb? Its still the AB763, but it has only two output tubes rather than 4, tube rectification and due to the lower wattage, smaller transformers. It will be lighter to carry, a little cheaper to build and actually more useable with a warmer tone in a club setting rather than the massive power and headroom of the showman.

The other recipe worth looking at is something like this:
http://www.tedweber.com/6a20hp-c-kt
you can get that in a headshell for less than 550.
 
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Re: I got a WHUMA to build a Fender Showman head but...

Excellant suggestion. Bast on your thought I'm taking a look at a Bassman head. No reverb or tremolo so a much more basic build.
fender_bassman_aa270_schematic.jpg
 
Re: I got a WHUMA to build a Fender Showman head but...

what are you after? just a big clean tone?
 
Re: I got a WHUMA to build a Fender Showman head but...

gibson175 said:
Why are you after a showman? They are really just a twin reverb in a headshell. I love twins. I think the sound is godly. I own one and I love it.
However, they really are a lot of amp not only because of their clean headroom, but also the weight of the iron. As a result i use smaller amps much more often for gigging.
Have you looked at something like a super reverb? Its still the AB763, but it has only two output tubes rather than 4, tube rectification and due to the lower wattage, smaller transformers. It will be lighter to carry, a little cheaper to build and actually more useable with a warmer tone in a club setting rather than the massive power and headroom of the showman.

The other recipe worth looking at is something like this:
http://www.tedweber.com/6a20hp-c-kt
you can get that in a headshell for less than 550.
Click to expand...
Honestly, I used to have a '66 AB763 Dual Showman. I loved that thing. I've always turned off the 'verb on Twins, so I can understand his desire for it.
 
Re: I got a WHUMA to build a Fender Showman head but...

leevc5 said:
A warm clean tone, a tube tone.
Click to expand...
The Bassman is a bit different than the rest of the Fenders. They tend to break up sooner.

What you could always do is build a Bassman but use the component values from a Twin/Showman. The structures of the amps are the same but they have different component values which effect tone.

Also, if you're gonna go Bassman, use this version. Starting with AB165 they had that stupid balance bias setup which always introduced a hum. Real AB165 amps did come during the Blackface era but they were really the start of the Silverface design scheme. I have an AB568 from '69 that I converted to AA864 at it sounds a million times better.

bassman_aa864_schem.gif
 
Re: I got a WHUMA to build a Fender Showman head but...have found more economic path

Re: I got a WHUMA to build a Fender Showman head but...have found more economic path

Found this schematic with a 6L6 amp tube, parts came up to ~$150 in parts. Plan is to build an amp head that is light and powerful enough to match up with a variety of speaker cabinets. Any advice regarding pro and cons of this design would be greatly appreciated.
6L6amp.jpg
 
Re: I got a WHUMA to build a Fender Showman head but...have found more economic path

Re: I got a WHUMA to build a Fender Showman head but...have found more economic path

leevc5 said:
Found this schematic with a 6L6 amp tube, parts came up to ~$150 in parts. Plan is to build an amp head that is light and powerful enough to match up with a variety of speaker cabinets. Any advice regarding pro and cons of this design would be greatly appreciated.
View attachment 71306
Click to expand...

Actually, that's a 6V6 and looks somewhat similar to a Fender Champ. Definitely on the other end of the spectrum from the Showman. That will drive 5-10 watts, depending on how the tube is biased, but you won't have much clean headroom.

Are you just looking to build something to get experience or do you have a specific goal for an amp?
 
Re: I got a WHUMA to build a Fender Showman head but...have found more economic path

Re: I got a WHUMA to build a Fender Showman head but...have found more economic path

"Actually, that's a 6V6 and looks somewhat similar to a Fender Champ. Definitely on the other end of the spectrum from the Showman. That will drive 5-10 watts, depending on how the tube is biased, but you won't have much clean headroom.

Are you just looking to build something to get experience or do you have a specific goal for an amp?"

Plan is to build to get experience before I jump into a $600 build. I want to build this for practical reasons as a small tube amp I can easily take anywhere. I think the output will be enough for small practice and jamming sessions.
Secondly I want to have a test bed to experiment with mods. I am going to put it together on a breadboard with enough room to add and make changes. To begin with I will add tone an active mid range boost and see if I can come up with a circuit that will allow me to overdrive the preamp section and get a true tube sounding overdrive sound out low volume. I'm also thinking about trying to add a pedal loop but not sure about that yet. Also, I want to try using a 6L6 for higher output (I have been researching this and it seems that the W02272 transformer is compatible with the 6L6 with some minor changes). I also want to see how small I can make it by adding a computer like fan for cooling. I will obviously put it in a box that allows easy access for making changes.
 
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Re: I got a WHUMA to build a Fender Showman head but...

single ended amps like that are fun and can sound great but youll need an efficient speaker to get above a drummer even if the amp is cranked all the way up. a 6l6 will get you a little more headroom and volume than a 6v6 but if the voltages are the same you wont get as much as you could. you might get 4w from a 6v6 and 7w from the 6l6.

also make sure you get a tranny made for se use
 
Re: I got a WHUMA to build a Fender Showman head but...

jeremy said:
single ended amps like that are fun and can sound great but youll need an efficient speaker to get above a drummer even if the amp is cranked all the way up. a 6l6 will get you a little more headroom and volume than a 6v6 but if the voltages are the same you wont get as much as you could. you might get 4w from a 6v6 and 7w from the 6l6.

also make sure you get a tranny made for se use
Click to expand...

I'm using a W022772 xfrmr and from what I have found it sounds like it will support the 6L6 but I'm not completely sure and I definitely don't want to blow the xfrmr. Do you have any advice on this?
 
Re: I got a WHUMA to build a Fender Showman head but...

thats a power transformer. when you buy the output transformer, make sure it is suited for single ended use. 15w will be plenty
 
Re: I got a WHUMA to build a Fender Showman head but...

This thread has me looking at Marshall 1987 kits again... Darn...
 
Re: I got a WHUMA to build a Fender Showman head but...

,,JTM45 gives up a lot of big clean gone especially loaded with KT66's.
 
Re: I got a WHUMA to build a Fender Showman head but...

If you want to build a low watt kit, mojo and Weber both are good options. If you want a bit of hand holding and expert advice dispensed with a lot of patience, call Bruce at Mission and build one of his 5E3's. You won't regret it.
 
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