Cool new (to me) amp day

S

sublimerules9604

New member
So, I found out today that my wifes grandma used to play a mean pedal steel and that she had this amp that she used to play it through. Sure enough the thing is from what it looks like to be a champ clone that is made by National sometime in the 50's it sounds like. I think it probably has a different voicing than the champs did because it is super bright, but it is still pretty sweet amp. It has an old RCA 12ax7 as well as RCA 6V6 and 5Y3 Tubes.

Anyways just wanted to share some old amp guts.

AmpGuts2.jpg

AmpGuts1.jpg
 
Re: Cool new (to me) amp day

That is one super-complicated circuit. I dont think even a Nasa engineer could figure that out.
 
Re: Cool new (to me) amp day

jerryjg said:
That is one super-complicated circuit. I dont think even a Nasa engineer could figure that out.
Click to expand...

I have to say after looking a the champ layouts, that the wire management on this is a little lacking, and I would have to say that it has to play a role in some of the hum it puts off.

SonofaMitch said:
so...how does she sound?
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It was made for pedal steels, so it has more highs than im used to. Taking that into consideration, it sounds really nice for never being serviced in 50 years. Unfortunately I have never played anything quite like it before, so I dont have much to compare it to.

My only concern is the filter caps are going, especially after the cap change thread earlier. It could be the 8" speaker as well, but there is nearly no bass response, and it smells kinda funny after some time playing it.
 
Re: Cool new (to me) amp day

^ probably the dust on the tubes heating up after years of non-use and then a sudden 250 degree celsius exposure.
 
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