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NEW OLD VASD

Big Al

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Joined
Apr 24, 2002
Messages
14,537
Some of you know of my love for the old industrial PA mono tube amps. I live in Rochester, NY home of the old powerhouse Stromberg Carlson Co. I like to grab these and have found a few favorite models, my all time favorite being the Industrial Two Tone Green AU-58B. This heavy duty massive iron loaded mono tube amp has it all. Coke Bottle 6L6's, octal preamp goodness, 6SN7GT's 5AR4 rectifier and tone that is chewy, fat and rich with touch dynamics you wouldn't believe.

I found a matching 50's Industrial Green Stromberg Carlson Suitcase Speaker Cabinet that opens up and becomes two separate open backed 12' speaker cabs. Grill cloth has some superficial wear, just enough to look cool. The speakers are original 50's Stromberg Carlson 12 inch Alnico's. Tiny Alnico plug and the speakers look to be Rolas, but I'm not sure. I am sure that I would fry those bastards extra crispy if I used them with that head and any one of my guitars so I am going to replace and save the original speakers with some appropriate Webber Alnicos, maybe a Blue Dog and Silver Pup?

I am a sucker for this stuff. My high School band used a similar S&C PA back in the day and I just love the look and the utility!!!

Seriously, if you can find a clean AU-58B JUMP ON IT. So easy to convert to guitar and you can have three different channel voices. I got mine for less than $300. and they are worth many, many times that IMO. The transformers are HUGE and I am sure the guys with a good understanding of all things tube like Wally and B Ingram could whip one of these into truly fearsome amps.

Post pics when I can.:teeth
 

CoyotesGator

Active member
Joined
Jul 9, 2012
Messages
714
Hell yeah brother!

I just love those old PA's.

SC's, Masco's, Bogens, you name it.

Big iron for the wattage, older ones had octal preamp tubes, lotsa goodness all around.

I've never had another player try my Masco without giving a big nod of approval.

Cheers to you!

Pics when you get a chance.

:jim
 

Big Al

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 24, 2002
Messages
14,537
I use to rock a Masco, wonderful amps. Dukanes, [sp], and those super cool RCA? the ones with dial meters above each knob.
I just settled on the hometown favorite, but even so, I prefer them. Some have some odd ball tubes and I prefer octals and coke bottles.
 

corpse

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Joined
Jun 9, 2007
Messages
4,876
I love cool re purposed stuff- I used to make bongs out of.. oh did I say that out loud...
I have been watching the local Craig's list for these- might have to look "bigger".
 

Kris Ford

New member
Joined
Jan 6, 2007
Messages
4,003
My buddy had a Bogen PA, (modded for guitar) , unsure of tubes, but on tape, it sounded like a wound up Plexi!!
Congrats Al!!
What is required mod wise to make them suitable for use as a guitar amp?:hmm
 

Xpensive Wino

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Joined
Nov 3, 2012
Messages
6,079
My buddy had a Bogen PA, (modded for guitar) , unsure of tubes, but on tape, it sounded like a wound up Plexi!!
Congrats Al!!
What is required mod wise to make them suitable for use as a guitar amp?:hmm

I found these instructional videos online for DIY enthusiasts:






 

Big Al

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 24, 2002
Messages
14,537
My buddy had a Bogen PA, (modded for guitar) , unsure of tubes, but on tape, it sounded like a wound up Plexi!!
Congrats Al!!
What is required mod wise to make them suitable for use as a guitar amp?:hmm

I am NOT an amp tech. All you need do, as I did, replace the screw on mic input jacks for 1/4 inch phone jacks. I replaced the screw on speaker wire terminal strip with 1/4 inch jacks with a switch to change from 4/8/16 ohms. Mandatory 3 prong power plug. Regular maintenance stuff like caps IF NEEDED.

Now the smart dudes could probably wire up the channels to cascade, put in master Vol or whatever. Beyond my feeble abilities to change or mod the circuit.

All I did was replace the out molded input and output jacks and power cord. I run the original circuit and it is wonderful. Has Bass and Treble tone controls and the weaker/cleaner phono jack is a great input channel for clean tones.

I cannot stress how great this model AU-58B is. The cleans are extraordinary and when you wack it up it has a very Tweed/Marshall like character that I find additive.

The Bogen amps I tried sound great, but most have oddball tubes and 12AX7's. I prefer the octal preamp tubes for tone and regular Rectifier and power tubes as it is easy enough to find them. You can use any 6L6 type in this model, I suppose, as they are so heavy duty, but I am very pleased with the older 6L6GA and B tubes, and they look great.
 

Big Al

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 24, 2002
Messages
14,537
Skip Simmons mods old PA heads for guitar and harp. http://www.skipsimmonsamps.com/amps.html

Also, At Mars produces some stunning guitar amps built from old tube film projectors.




Those are great. Already modded and most with replaced cabinetry. They cost 3 times what I am into mine for and half the fun for me is finding and doing it myself. Also the S&C is just an amplifier. There isn't a lot of extra circuitry to wonder about or rewire. I believe Renderit has a killer AtMars film projector amp conversion.

My own Stromberg Carlson sounds like that but beefier/louder at 30 watts or so.
 

B Ingram

Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2016
Messages
730
... Seriously, if you can find a clean AU-58B JUMP ON IT. So easy to convert to guitar and you can have three different channel voices. ... I am sure the guys with a good understanding of all things tube like Wally and B Ingram could whip one of these into truly fearsome amps. ...

True, the sky's the limit with that amp. Already 4 octal sockets and possibly more-gain-than-needed even in its stock form. As Al says, converting to standard input jacks and some routine safety/maintenance, and it's ready for use without any major changes.

And switching from relatively expensive 6SN7's to 6SL7's would both save money (on NOS tubes) and raise the gain potential. There's really a lot of room in that amp/circuit to do whatever you want.
 
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