Sound City amps

Re: Sound City amps

Ive got a sound city MKIV.Most of the old sound citys your gonna have to throw a Master volume in.No big problem, its just that design runs wide open in a manner of speaking four stright gain stages stright into the main volume and they are all very noisy at volume.Im not certain the one you want is the same basic design. My tech said he thought it was similar in layout to an Ampeg, but to me its a po mans Hiwatt. I was gonna sell mine but decided I cant live without her.Great sounding amp Yo.
 
Re: Sound City amps

Just to represent the other side, Ritchie Fliegler, author of AMPS! The Other Side OF Rock And Roll , and product development manager at Marshall writes..."I once saw two full Sound City stacks in the GARBAGE outside of a New York recording studio...I didn't stop." I'm not saying for or against, this is just food for thought.
 
Re: Sound City amps

Just to represent the other side, Ritchie Fliegler, author of AMPS! The Other Side OF Rock And Roll , and product development manager at Marshall writes..."I once saw two full Sound City stacks in the GARBAGE outside of a New York recording studio...I didn't stop." I'm not saying for or against, this is just food for thought.

If I saw two full sund city amps in the garbage I would stop. Yea, the Hiwatt, whiuch was an evolution of the original Sound City is withpout question a superior design, and the Sound City. has some issues with layout and wiring(according to my tech) yet still, those are vintage partidges in there and its a turret baord Pt. to Pt. design in the grand british style. They are some pretty coveted ampage considering waht a similar production amp would cost presently.Most are going to need the ususal recap and a mod for npoise,but those heads are nicey!
 
Re: Sound City amps

Actually the Sound City amps MKII, III, and IV were evolutions away from HIWATTs. Dave Reeves produced a run of amps for Ivor Arbitor that were badged Sound City. These became known as "Mark I" even though they were never officially designated as such.

Reeves took the money to help develop HIWATT and buy the house his widow still lives in in New Malden.

Reeves had no involvement with the Mark II,III or IV SC amps.

-Clayton
 
Re: Sound City amps

Just to represent the other side, Ritchie Fliegler, author of AMPS! The Other Side OF Rock And Roll , and product development manager at Marshall writes..."I once saw two full Sound City stacks in the GARBAGE outside of a New York recording studio...I didn't stop." I'm not saying for or against, this is just food for thought.

LOL...I have no opinion on Sound City amps, but that is just funny.
 
Re: Sound City amps

DO NOT BUY INTO INTERNET BULL...Sound City's are killer amps!

They are hand wired true PTP (which is not as neat looking at eyelet boards, terminal strips or turrets) and use the same prized caps you'll find in vintage Marshalls the same iron you'll find in prized vintage HiWatts and very versitile tone stacks...

Now, all that said the new SC amps IMO are nothing like the old (real) Sound City amps...
 
Re: Sound City amps

Sound City amps are very powerful tone machines. One of the guitar players from my old (1998~2002 era) band play one.... Killer!
 
Re: Sound City amps

The new ones are more made in China el cheapo valve amps. Not bad, but not different.

The old ones rock my socks off.
 
Re: Sound City amps

so, i assume the new product line (including SC-20 VC) is not worth, right?

I haven't tried them and to be honest I more than likely won't...it's just not something that interests me. However an old Sound City is not only a beast but a tone monster if you take the time to learn to use them and forget all the crap you read on the internet.
 
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Re: Sound City amps

I haven't tried them and to be honest I more than likely won't...it's just not something that interests me. However an old Sound City is not only a beast but a tone monster if you take the time to learn to use them and forget all the crap you read on the internet.

Ritchie published his book before the internet was invented, and as a manager at Marshall, I trust his opinion WAY more than anyone on this-a-here internet site!!:werd:
Not every point-to-point circuit sounds great just cause it's PTP.
 
Re: Sound City amps

Ritchie published his book before the internet was invented, and as a manager at Marshall, I trust his opinion WAY more than anyone on this-a-here internet site!!:werd:
Not every point-to-point circuit sounds great just cause it's PTP.

I know AMPS was published before the internet and if you trust Richie more than me thats fine...however just because he worked for Marshall doesn;t make him an amp guru or anything.

Im not making my opinion of SC amps based on the internet, a book or second, third or fourth hand information. My opinion of SC amps is based on my personal knowledge of amps, both old and new and the fact that I own a 1974 Sound City 50+ and would gladly stack it up against most, if not all of the amps I've owned in the past 15 years.
 
Re: Sound City amps

But I wonder if he's stop now. Two full Sound City Stacks could be worth about 5 grand or more, depending on the model. But since Marshall is Dirty and Sound City is Clean, it may have been a difference of phiolosophy he was making a point about.
The Sound City Clean is shimmering and Glassy- a lot like a fender. It has a very pleasing slight breakup as well.It sounds excellent. The dont make those handwound X-fromers like the y used to and the Partridges are some of the very best ever.
 
Re: Sound City amps

FWIW, Sound City's were not budget amps at all...ever in fact.

Now, on to something else...I can't belive I've never hooked my Beano Boost up to the old 50+ and cranked it up!!!
 
Re: Sound City amps

Sound City's might have cost less than a Marshall or a Hiwatt but they were far from budget...

It's not the best time to try and blow the roof off this place right now but rest assured I will soon! I really dig the SC but to be hoenst since I got my 62 deluxe I've not really plugged into anything else!
 
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