My New Custom Designed/Built Amp Arrived!

[Al.C]

As some of you may know my brother designs and builds custom amps. The last amp he built was the 'mother of all amps'. It has three disticnct pre-amps;vox,early Marshall/Bassman,blackface. It's output section can be switched between:4xEL84,2x6L6,2xEL34,4X6v6. It also has a few extra's added like reverb, and extra gain stage for the Marshall pre. Well with that amp I didn't think I would ever need anything else (besides my Mesa Boogie MK ll C+). Well I was visiting him in September and we got to talking about things I don't have. We started with a simple tweed style amp and one thing lead to the next and next thing we had decided on was an EF86 pre-amp tube, tweed style tone stack into cathode biased EL84 power tubes (selectable between 15 or 30 watts). Oh and a fancy hardwood cabinet.
The EF86 is a small miniature pentode preamp tube used in the old vox's as well as Dr Z's in the pre-amp section. Also used in old condenser mics, mic amps, audiophile components etc. Well it arrive a few days ago.
Check it out

Simple amp. One channel. "fat switch","bright switch",volume control ,tone control,output control,reverb control, 15 watt/30watt switch,standby switch, on/off switch.

Very different from my other amps. Definely not high gain. SWEET at quieter volumes. But open up the EL 84's and it just starts to sing,can also get a nice little growl going on. One of the best classic rock/blues rhythm sounds I have ever heard. Makes me want to form another band so I can open it up a bit and let it do it's thing.

Still getting aquainted with it. will post clips later.

Here is his web site http://www.gcamplifiers.com/

 

[rashayritto]

Re: My New Custom Designed/Built Amp Arrived!

wow that is beautiful! i bet it sounds great too!

 

[darnright]

Re: My New Custom Designed/Built Amp Arrived!

That truly is gorgeous!! Almost too pretty to play!! I'll bet it does sound good.

-dave

 

[rivera213]

Re: My New Custom Designed/Built Amp Arrived!

Al.C, with the PRS guitar in your avatar & this amp, do i smell tone?

Sniff sniff sniff, i think i do!

Your brother is no doubt an extremely talented man.

I agree with DarnRight, it looks too good to play! Ha ha.

 

[Rich_S]

Re: My New Custom Designed/Built Amp Arrived!

My main amp is a DIY 18-Watter-ish thing with a 12AX7 preamp. I have another Bogen donor chassis, and want to build a second amp with an EF86 preamp. Basically just the EF86 channel of an AC15. I want to hear what all the EF86 hype is about.

Beautiful amp, BTW.

 

[Al.C]

Re: My New Custom Designed/Built Amp Arrived!

. I want to hear what all the EF86 hype is about.

That was one of my reasons as well. So far what I have noticed in the short time I have played it. Very clear ringing tones, good sustain, less gain than a typical 12AX7. My brother did call it a miniature pentode preamp tube with only one stage but don't quote me on the technical stuff. He sent me two EF86's to try. A EH EF86 and a TUngSol EF806. THe 806 is supposed to be a high quality 86 (both Russian made, probably same factory). I actually notice considerably more chime and harmonic content to the 806. I was so taken with the difference between these two that I ordered a couple NOS tubes to try out, they are to arrive Wednesday. I will try and post some clips in the next few days.

 

[donahue]

Re: My New Custom Designed/Built Amp Arrived!

You are so lucky to have a brother that builds amps for you. It doesn't get any better, unless you had another brother that was a master luthier.

 

[Curly]

Re: My New Custom Designed/Built Amp Arrived!

nice amp ... is that cab bubinga?

my 'Wreck Rocket clone is similar in the power section -- 4 - EL 84s with a half power switch. I do wish it mine was cathode biased though.

I don't have an EF-86 preamp, but everything I've read says that current production tubes don't stand up next too NOS tubes, so it will be interesting to hear what you have to say after you do some tube swapping.

enjoy.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: My New Custom Designed/Built Amp Arrived!

18-22 watts is where it's at! Looks beautiful. Looks like cherry to me...is it? Gorgeous cabinet.

 

[Al.C]

Re: My New Custom Designed/Built Amp Arrived!

The cab is in fact bubinga. This particular piece has spectacular figuring. I must admit the build quality of the cabinet is great. My brother has always been a great amp builder but his cabinets are now top notch. The vent on the front was actually a last minute add. I think it really adds to the look, also very functional.

 

[Rich_S]

Re: My New Custom Designed/Built Amp Arrived!

...everything I've read says that current production tubes don't stand up next too NOS tubes...

Actually, that's turning around somewhat. With all the EF86 interest in recent years (thanks to Matchless, Dr. Z, etc...) a few companies have started paying attention and building reliable EF86's. Look at the descriptions on the Tube Depot website.

The EF86 pentode is actually higher gain than a single 12AX7 triode, but less than what you'd get with both sides of a 12AX7 cascaded. Dave Hunter wrote a review of the Vox AC15 in Vintage Guitar not too long ago that really makes me want to try one out.

 

[wahwah]

Re: My New Custom Designed/Built Amp Arrived!

Looking forward to hearing that beautiful looking amp. That's also an interesting combination of pre and power tubes. I'd be expecting warmth and some jangle at the same time! I have a feeling that a nice old 60's Mullard EF86 would be just right for that amp. I've got a matched quad of black plate Sylvania EL84's around here somewhere if your brother is interested in those.




Cheers..............................wahwah

 

[Al.C]

Re: My New Custom Designed/Built Amp Arrived!

Looking forward to hearing that beautiful looking amp. That's also an interesting combination of pre and power tubes. I'd be expecting warmth and some jangle at the same time! I have a feeling that a nice old 60's Mullard EF86 would be just right for that amp. I've got a matched quad of black plate Sylvania EL84's around here somewhere if your brother is interested in those.




Cheers..............................wahwah

It definitely does have the jangle of the el84's. Push it with the power tubes and it also gets the el84 crunch/growl I love.

 

[Skarekrough]

Re: My New Custom Designed/Built Amp Arrived!

That's pretty, but will it ever leave the house?

 

[Al.C]

Re: My New Custom Designed/Built Amp Arrived!

That's pretty, but will it ever leave the house?

It sounds too good to stay at home. It has been about 5 years since my last band. When we were designing it I specifically requested it have a 15/30 watt switch to be able to play where ever I may take it.

 

[Fender_Punk]

Re: My New Custom Designed/Built Amp Arrived!

I'd be interested in trying an amp with EF86, 12AX7 and 12AU7 tubes in the preamp section. Be an interesting overdrive sound when cranked on a lead channel.

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: My New Custom Designed/Built Amp Arrived!

What iron did you use?

 

[Iron Horse]

Re: My New Custom Designed/Built Amp Arrived!

One word: Clips

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: My New Custom Designed/Built Amp Arrived!

I need another amp!

(punches self in face) hahaha

 

[Al.C]

Re: My New Custom Designed/Built Amp Arrived!

What iron did you use?

Hammond winds its transformers in my brother's town. He uses their Classic Tube Series. We used a "boutique hand wound" transformer in another one of my amps but he is pleased with the quality of the local Hammonds.


Clips will hopefully be available SOON.