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Blockhead Firstborn

Jollyb

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Jan 3, 2021
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16
I remember playing through one of these over a decade ago. Basically a cloned 18w Marshall Bluesbreaker type amp. Always wanted one.I got the chance to get one in a trade and jumped on it. Mine Is the 2x12 celestion blues model.

When I got it it was extremely noisy with single coils, and it hates pedals. Feedsback almost instantously . (Not in a good way) not the experience I remembered. I could have returned it, but I really want this circuit in my life.

Gonna start with the tubes . Two EL84 Output, EZ81 Rectifier, (3) ECC83 Preamp Tubes. Any other Suggestions if they don't do the trick?
 

el84ster

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 10, 2001
Messages
1,420
Hopefully new tubes will solve it, but after that it’s time for a tech if not. Might be some of the grounding has come loose or corroded.
Do you know if it’s been messed with? Sometimes well-intentioned mods go awry.
 

Jollyb

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Jan 3, 2021
Messages
16
Hopefully new tubes will solve it, but after that it’s time for a tech if not. Might be some of the grounding has come loose or corroded.
Do you know if it’s been messed with? Sometimes well-intentioned mods go awry.
I was told it was stock. It certainly appears to be in very good to Excellent condition. It could be a grounding issue for sure though. Luckily I live pretty close to Mark Kane , I'll see if I can get an appointment with him. Thanks!!
 

el84ster

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Sep 10, 2001
Messages
1,420
There you go.
that circuit is just so good. The best distorted tone I’ve ever had in my life! That amp just begs to be turned up.
 

Jollyb

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Jan 3, 2021
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16
No doubt. It kills with a tele and a Les Paul. I'll get ths one straight. Thanks!
 

Wally

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Joined
Feb 27, 2003
Messages
3,535
you could try a 12AY7 in V1. If that is too much of a gain cut, try a 5751.
 

Jollyb

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Jan 3, 2021
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I actually have a spare one.......it's at my Techs as we speak. He plugs it in and the thing played great! But he knew exactly where to tap it and it went bonkers.

He believes it just needs a good cleaning. It was sitting for a bit. Probably not in a A/C controlled environment. One input was definitely loose.

He will go through it for me and make it right.
 

Jollyb

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Jan 3, 2021
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OK Got the amp back from Mark Kane yesterday. I'm thrilled!!! He traced the issues back to the trem circuit. It wasn't original and had been poorly replaced. Mark suggested a really fantastic mod that has transformed this amp!
The regular circuit , Volume and tone are untouched. He just cleaned it up some. The Trem circuit was modded with a master volume. The speed and intensity with a full tone circuit of Bass/Treble/and middle.
It sounds glorious! I havnt tried any pedals with it because I don't see the need. Boosting the Master you get this glorious Stonesy /Black Crows overdrive , cleans up really well with the guitars volume knob. I have a strat with a 25 db boost Clapton mod I'm going to try out later today. Really really pleased!
 

el84ster

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Sep 10, 2001
Messages
1,420
Killer! I always liked the non-trem channel
more. Now it sounds like you have 2 killer channels.
yeah you don’t need pedals with that amp.
 

JCAman

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Aug 3, 2021
Messages
3
I recently got a purple tolex firstborn in a trade and couldn’t be happier.
I did go down the NOS tube rabbit hole and currently have a set of Siemens in power section that sound fantastic along with some RCA for preamp tubes.
 

Jollyb

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Jan 3, 2021
Messages
16
I recently got a purple tolex firstborn in a trade and couldn’t be happier.
I did go down the NOS tube rabbit hole and currently have a set of Siemens in power section that sound fantastic along with some RCA for preamp tubes.
Seriously.......The only way to possibly improve this amp would be to make it purple!! Sweet. NOS tubes are coming.........:sneaky: Lets see a picture!
 

JCAman

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Aug 3, 2021
Messages
3
Seriously.......The only way to possibly improve this amp would be to make it purple!! Sweet. NOS tubes are coming.........:sneaky: Lets see a picture!
Haha.
I wouldn’t mind that master volume mod though. Don’t use vibrato much if at all.
8F8968B3-6791-4B83-88FF-67992D26A9ED.jpeg5B9EDFD7-A2B5-4811-899C-81AA75457E35.jpeg09F96BEB-7C37-46FB-A20B-3A7A619E1447.jpeg
 

Jollyb

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Jan 3, 2021
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I can get you in touch with Mark Kane if your interested in that mod. Just ship the chassis to him. He does these in his sleep. Really made the amp more useable IMO.
 

JCAman

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Aug 3, 2021
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I can get you in touch with Mark Kane if your interested in that mod. Just ship the chassis to him. He does these in his sleep. Really made the amp more useable IMO.
Thank you. I tried googling Mark but kept coming up with different Marks ;)
The player in me says ‘do the mod’ but the sentimental in me says ‘leave it untouched’ :)
 

Jollyb

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Jan 3, 2021
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Mark makes incredible amps! I own a Kane overdrive special like this one:

He makes an incredible version of the Trainwreck called a Kane wreck:

He can do really anything , and improve everything. I'm really lucky he moved close by. He's got real dumbles. early 60's marshalls all in for repairs.

He's in St Lucie County Florida. Great guy. Incredible ear.
 

Jollyb

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Jan 3, 2021
Messages
16
One day I went over to Marks and Jim Weider was calling him. Mark mods his stuff too. We got to talking / he sent me a set of his Analogman Fralin Big T tele pick ups. Another really down to earth guy.
 
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