Tube amps: clearing out the shop

[Powdog]

After building tube amplifiers for over 20 years, I’ve amassed a lot of vintage monoblock tube amps. Mostly 50s and 60s organ power amplifiers, PA amps and HI-FI amps. I always thought that when I retired I’d be building rat-rod guitar amps from the boneyard of old iron. No such luck. I’m busier than ever and I need to clean house.

If anyone is interested in building their own guitar amp and feel crafty, here’s the chance. I have lots of iron and it’s all really nice stuff. I can post pics and if anyone is interested I’ll box it up and ship it off. All I ask is that you cover shipping and intend to use it. I could just sell it on ebay if money was the issue. There might also be some cabinets, speakers and other goofy stuff but it’s all cool.

I’m a member of other guitar/amp forums but I’m only posting this stuff here. I found the Gretsch community via The Gretsch Pages forum and met a lot of really cool people there.

Cheers.

 

[Powdog]

 

[Powdog]

 

[twangmanster]

Wow!
I can't use any of it myself but this is what dreams are made of!
I'm sure you'll have no problems with this.

 

[DougWheeler74]

View attachment 182464

Drool, drool, so many interesting things!

What are the the blue amp/cabinet and burgundy/white items near the black tool box? Amps? cabinets?

 

[Powdog]

The blue one is a Magnatone Oahu type and the burgundy one is a Supro Spectator. The Maggie is a “death amp” (no power transformer) and the Supro is still on the bench getting new filter caps.

 

[hcsterg]

I can post pics and if anyone is interested I’ll box it up and ship it off. All I ask is that you cover shipping and intend to use it.

@Powdog : Maybe that little Blue Moter of Toilet Seat Magnatone Oahu amp would interest me, just to go along with my FS-52 LH-Ized Lap Steel :

Can I have more pictures ? I am way much more concerned by the cosmetics of the cab, chassis and hardware than the electronics, to be honest.

Intend to use it and take care of it ? No issue - have a quick look there : https://guilhemamplification.jimdofree.com/

I am located in France, and USPS 1st Class works fine with La Poste - without crossing by the French Customs, unlike USPS Priority...

Thanks to let me know,

A+!

 

[swivel]

Don't tempt me!

 

[drmilktruck]

The blue one is a Magnatone Oahu type and the burgundy one is a Supro Spectator. The Maggie is a “death amp” (no power transformer) and the Supro is still on the bench getting new filter caps.

I had a Rex amp (Gretsch affiliated) from the 40s similar to the Magnatone, down to the faux mother of pearl covering. Sold it to someone on the GDP, forget who, maybe BZ?

 

[Ricochet]

I've got a ton of guitar projects I'll never be able to finish in this lifetime. Maybe we can trade? J/K!

Is that an empty 6161 cab hiding behind the wooden panels?

 

[Powdog]

I've got a ton of guitar projects I'll never be able to finish in this lifetime. Maybe we can trade? J/K!

Is that an empty 6161 cab hiding behind the wooden panels?

Yea, that’s a cab for a 6161 amp I rebuilt a while ago. A 15” in front and two 8”s in the wrap around. I still have to finish that one, but if you’re in need of a 6161 cab I can always build you one.

 

[DougWheeler74]

The blue one is a Magnatone Oahu type and the burgundy one is a Supro Spectator. The Maggie is a “death amp” (no power transformer) and the Supro is still on the bench getting new filter caps.

I am would like the Supro Spectator. I am in Wisconsin and kick myself for letting a similar amp slip through my fingers a few years back.

Should we switch to PM to conclude details?

 

[General_Lee]

Stunning workspace. Looks like the mutual history of all our tube amp loving alumni. What is the green speaker (with magnet cover on the the top shelf)? Looks a like a classic Jensen or Weber alnico. I'm thinking that puppy would do well my Princeton - if its one of the items you're interested in moving. In all cases this room looks like it provided you with tons of fun and success projects. I hate to think that another of our great craftsmen is hanging up his soldering iron...

 

[Powdog]

Stunning workspace. Looks like the mutual history of all our tube amp loving alumni. What is the green speaker (with magnet cover on the the top shelf)? Looks a like a classic Jensen or Weber alnico. I'm thinking that puppy would do well my Princeton - if its one of the items you're interested in moving. In all cases this room looks like it provided you with tons of fun and success projects. I hate to think that another of our great craftsmen is hanging up his soldering iron...

That’s a modern Jensen P12N and the main reason I don’t use SICA made Jensens. It’s one of two that the big alnico structure just broke off. Really poor construction methods. I’ve only kept it to show people, but I’d be glad to send it your way if you would like to try and re-cone it. Or maybe you need a paper weight? Lots of cobalt there.

 

[Powdog]

Stunning workspace. Looks like the mutual history of all our tube amp loving alumni. What is the green speaker (with magnet cover on the the top shelf)? Looks a like a classic Jensen or Weber alnico. I'm thinking that puppy would do well my Princeton - if its one of the items you're interested in moving. In all cases this room looks like it provided you with tons of fun and success projects. I hate to think that another of our great craftsmen is hanging up his construction methods. I’ve only kept it to show people, but I’d be glad to send it your way if you would like to try and re-cone it. Or maybe you need a paper weight? Lots of cobalt there.

Not hanging up the iron quite yet, I just need to clear some of this out.

 

[Powdog]

I am would like the Supro Spectator. I am in Wisconsin and kick myself for letting a similar amp slip through my fingers a few years back.

Should we switch to PM to conclude details?

That’s fine.

 

[cielski]

You've got the same David Bogen PA head that I do (1st pic, under the Bassman head). Always thought that the six position tone switch was weird.

 

[General_Lee]

QThat’s a modern Jensen P12N and the main reason I don’t use SICA made Jensens. It’s one of two that the big alnico structure just broke off. Really poor construction methods. I’ve only kept it to show people, but I’d be glad to send it your way if you would like to try and re-cone it. Or maybe you need a paper weight? Lots of cobalt there.

Wow, good to know about the P12N. I actually have several Jensen 10s (a P10Q and 3 P10R-F) that I'm using in my Bandmaster and Princeton at the moment. I think that the limited run P10R-Fs that Fender used for the Bandmaster 3-10 Tweed RI are incredibly musical sounding alnicos. So far I've had no issues with any of the Jensens but I'll let you know if a magnet falls off. Shouldn't, as the magnets are fairly lightweight - but time will tell I suppose. I'm glad to know about the P12N though, as I had been considering putting one in the Princeton (ie upping the size from 10-12"). Definitely will reconsider that move now though.

BTW, I'm glad to hear that you are carrying on your amp building efforts. Somehow, I got the idea you were clearing the decks completely and entering retirement. Keep up the great work...

 

[Powdog]

@Powdog : Maybe that little Blue Moter of Toilet Seat Magnatone Oahu amp would interest me, just to go along with my FS-52 LH-Ized Lap Steel :

Can I have more pictures ? I am way much more concerned by the cosmetics of the cab, chassis and hardware than the electronics, to be honest.

Intend to use it and take care of it ? No issue - have a quick look there : https://guilhemamplification.jimdofree.com/

I am located in France, and USPS 1st Class works fine with La Poste - without crossing by the French Customs, unlike USPS Priority...

Thanks to let me know,

A+!

PM me. Cheers.

 

[Andy Fortune]

I went through a similar bit of clearing out a while back, albeit on a smaller scale--very generous of you to think of others on this friendly forum. What's that little bit of tweed peeking out? I might be interested in that.