Heyboer TO20 for Blues Jr.? Has anybody tried it?

[dr.barlo]

Hi guys,

I love my Blues Jr. The only thing is the lows you know. It is lacking in that department. Not much, but still...

And from what I gather, the TO20 manufactured by Heyboer for Allen Amps (with the help of BillM) may deliver some improvement in that department.

But then again, this is all on paper. And as some of you may be aware, I value the opinion of you guys quite a lot... It maybe a long shot, but still...

Has anybody tried one with that particular ot?

B

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Heyboer TO20 for Blues Jr.? Has anybody tried it?

I have no tried that one Doc but I can say that I have tried and use several Heyboer trannys and quite like them.

However I will say this...a 15 watt single 12 combo will always lack low end for a lot of players.

I'd think you might extend the lows as much or more by going to a different speaker or maybe even a 2x12 cab is volume will permit.

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: Heyboer TO20 for Blues Jr.? Has anybody tried it?

Thanks for chiming in Christian.

The thing is, I got myself sorta 10 feet long Klotz speaker cable with neutrik jacks and all... And am sending the output from the Blues Jr. to my 1960A with V30 speakers. 2x8... So I am using only 2 speakers... So it's not only the cab thing, you see? It is sorta flubby sorta not defined, not tight, but loose (yet, not like nice kinda loose of the tweed sort you know)... I dunno, maybe I am asking too much out of this little amp. I love it, but its bass could be better you know.

B

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Heyboer TO20 for Blues Jr.? Has anybody tried it?

I hear ya and I think you might be right...

A tranny swap might fix your issues but it's still going to be a 15 watt amp, a lot of the big low end in those big amps comes from big transformers and lots of power.

One thing I will say...I don't think it's be bad for your tone!

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Heyboer TO20 for Blues Jr.? Has anybody tried it?

I love my Blues Jr. The only thing is the lows you know. It is lacking in that department. Not much, but still...

I found the same thing when i had a blues junior, man. I did all the popular mods to try to squeeze some more low end out, and ran different speakers too but the basic recipie remains the same:

15 watts via 2 el84's.

I dunno, maybe I am asking too much out of this little amp.

I think you are right. I don't think a new tranny will give you what you crave doc. You know as well as i do that big bottles give big bass.

 

[zzmoore]

Re: Heyboer TO20 for Blues Jr.? Has anybody tried it?

I have heard the improvement with that OT.
BUT, there are LOTS of variables. Whenever I hear a guitar player complain about "loose bass", I wonder what kind of music they are playing.
IMO, The Blues Junior was designed with Blues-Blues Rock in mind. If you are trying to play a more "modern" type of music, you may have the wrong, underpowered amp for the job.
I do not think that amp will ever give a lot in the way of bass response. More bass (as others have already said) usually equates to more power and "bigger iron".
best

 

[glassman]

Re: Heyboer TO20 for Blues Jr.? Has anybody tried it?

The V3 circuit in that amp is a really low headroom design that would be more appropriate if a 12AT7 were used instead of a 12AX7; this will give you a fuller response and less PI breakup. You could even try a 12AU7; it'll reduce the PI breakup even further but you will probably have to bump the volume up a bit to get to your normal output level. Give these a shot before you give up on the amp or throw permanent hardware changes at it.

edit: Later breakup equals more bandwidth at a given volume setting.

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: Heyboer TO20 for Blues Jr.? Has anybody tried it?

I hear ya and I think you might be right...

A tranny swap might fix your issues but it's still going to be a 15 watt amp, a lot of the big low end in those big amps comes from big transformers and lots of power.

One thing I will say...I don't think it's be bad for your tone!

Cool!

Thanks.

B

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: Heyboer TO20 for Blues Jr.? Has anybody tried it?

I found the same thing when i had a blues junior, man. I did all the popular mods to try to squeeze some more low end out, and ran different speakers too but the basic recipie remains the same:

15 watts via 2 el84's.


I think you are right. I don't think a new tranny will give you what you crave doc. You know as well as i do that big bottles give big bass.

Right on! I need big bottles!

That's why I was also thinking of an octal conversion for my Blues Jr. along with this TO20 OT swap. JJ 6V6's, you know, are sorta small 6L6s... So in this case it could be a good match, I think. But then again, I would have to spend a lot of money into this whole deal. Instead, I could get myself the parts and do an amp from scratch with a bigger meaner OT and 5881's...



It looks like the best option is to scratch that plan completely...

B :friday:

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: Heyboer TO20 for Blues Jr.? Has anybody tried it?

I have heard the improvement with that OT.
BUT, there are LOTS of variables. Whenever I hear a guitar player complain about "loose bass", I wonder what kind of music they are playing.
IMO, The Blues Junior was designed with Blues-Blues Rock in mind. If you are trying to play a more "modern" type of music, you may have the wrong, underpowered amp for the job.
I do not think that amp will ever give a lot in the way of bass response. More bass (as others have already said) usually equates to more power and "bigger iron".
best

Hi. Thanks for chiming in.

I am into blues/blues rock/classic rock and all... In fact, here is how my Blues Jr. sound, my playing on one of the Guitar Center's King of Blues jams:



... and here is more:

http://soundcloud.com/dr-barlo

I would love to hear of what you think regarding whether or not a TO20 would be an improvement.

Best,

B

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: Heyboer TO20 for Blues Jr.? Has anybody tried it?

The V3 circuit in that amp is a really low headroom design that would be more appropriate if a 12AT7 were used instead of a 12AX7; this will give you a fuller response and less PI breakup. You could even try a 12AU7; it'll reduce the PI breakup even further but you will probably have to bump the volume up a bit to get to your normal output level. Give these a shot before you give up on the amp or throw permanent hardware changes at it.

edit: Later breakup equals more bandwidth at a given volume setting.

Good suggestion.

I already have a 5751 in v1. Jan Phillips. Love it.

Actually I kinda like that in Fenders, in other Fender type of amps. Yet somehow I forgot this completely.... And I should have one in my drawer.

Thanks for reminding. I appreciate it.

B

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: Heyboer TO20 for Blues Jr.? Has anybody tried it?

A shameless bump... For people to see...

B :friday: