• Guys, we've spent considerable money converting the Les Paul Forum to this new XenForo platform, and we have ongoing monthly operating expenses. THE "DONATIONS" TAB IS NOW WORKING, AND WE WOULD APPRECIATE ANY DONATIONS YOU CAN MAKE TO KEEP THE LES PAUL FORUM GOING! Thank you!

Reworking some old Ebay amps. You would be amazed at the sound of some.

songsmith1950

New member
Joined
Jan 20, 2005
Messages
213
These are amps I bought on Ebay because I either liked the looks of them or they have different preamp or power amp tubes. Most were made between 1937 and 1950.
My first was a 1938 Wabash, identical to the one used in the early days of Hubert Sumlin and Howlin Wolf. What a tone it has. Push Pull 6V6's with octal preamps and an output of probably 12 watts at most.
Another Wabash is a 39 or 40 Wabash with single 6V6 output. Again an octal pre as that was what they had back then.
Also a 36 or so Oahu. Not sure but will check the dates when I go through it. This one is unique in that it uses a single 6N7 for output and if I read right has a grand output of about 1 watt. Seems like that is what so many are looking for now, doesn't it?
There is no high gain here at all. Just warm and very full octal preamps that have a magical sound. Not much for distortion either but so full you might just not need it.
I have the advantage of 30 years as an electronics tech on everything from tubes to microprocessors and that helps, but each time I bring one of these back by replacing filters and such it is like beginning all over again.
If you ever want a really full sound with no fizz or high gain character, try one of these oldies. It might just become your favorite. They are surely mine.

Tom

Songsmith
 

JoeV

New member
Joined
Mar 14, 2006
Messages
598
Very cool.

I had a similar experience with 2 Silvertones I was lucky enough to come across for free. Fantastic little amps.
 

DonP

Active member
Joined
Feb 21, 2003
Messages
3,020
No issues with the Kalamazoo's I got cheap. I prefer newer designs for easier to find tubes. Octal preamps are a little tough to find.
 

songsmith1950

New member
Joined
Jan 20, 2005
Messages
213
Just got done with the single ended Wabash and the Oahu. Very different sounds but each is a prize for recording or for bedroom level jamming. Either takes a TS9 very nicely for a little hair but sounds very full without.
The Wabash is single 6V6 and has a Champ sound, but the sound of a very early tweed or maybe more like a Champ 800. Very quiet and very clean unless you choose to load it with a TS9 or so. I also used my Fender Tube Reverb as I always do on non rev amps. Velvet comes from the octal preamps. Not the fizzy stuff you find from 12AX7's and not the overload of treble. The Strat sounded wonderful through it even on just bridge pup.
The Oahu is the triode output amp. It is a 6N7 and all of the things they have said about a true triode output amp are very true indeed. Warmth unimaginable along with the ability to give a very full range smoky bar room sound when pushed. Even then the volume is not loud but you can tell the output is being pushed nicely.Am also using the original field coil 8 inch speaker in this one and I think I am in love. . .

Will send some sound clips when I can if any want to hear what these things do. They WON"T replace your Boogie or Diezel or whatever. They won't replace a Marshall Plexi either. They won't really replace a Tweed or Blackface Deluxe either. But that said none of those amps can sound like these can either.

Sound clips when I can, more amps as I accumulate them for my collection.

Tom

Songsmith
 

leftee

New member
Joined
May 14, 2003
Messages
156
I've got a thing for old tube amps like this. I've weaked out several Bogens. My latest is an old Bell Sound Systems Pacemaker. Single-ended 6L6 sweetness.
 

songsmith1950

New member
Joined
Jan 20, 2005
Messages
213
I bet those are some nice sounding rigs for sure! My favorite at the moment is the old 30's Oahu. 6N7 triode output tube. So warm with the 335 and still warm and even pretty full with the Strat as well. True triodes are incredible output tubes. The 6N7 was only used for a very short while before 6V6 and 6L6 came along.
The latest talk about the "reinvention" of the field coil speaker makes a lot more sense now too. They are something else. Not efficient nor gainy but just a mile thick in tone.
Gotta trade sound clips sometime for the fun of it. I hope to make a few clips with both the Oahu and the 41 Wabash I rebuilt this week Saturday or Sunday. Will post in the Jamzone. Have a new slow jam I am wanting to record anyway so this is a good excuse to do both.
These amps really can give nice full driven tone at volume levels most wouldn't believe possible. The combination of the inefficient field coil speaker and a mighty 1.1 watts max from the Oahu sure does work.

Tom

Songsmith
 

LHakim

Active member
Joined
Jul 15, 2001
Messages
2,113
One of my favorite amps is my '52 Rickenbacker w/6SC7 preamp tubes. Very full clean tone but wound up sounds VERY Marshally and surprisingly focused in the low end. More so than any Fender tweed I've played. Octal tubes have a unique voice to them.
 

songsmith1950

New member
Joined
Jan 20, 2005
Messages
213
Nice work Leftee! And judging from your guitars I can imagine how you got your name. . .
Old amps are fun to restore and to rebuild into things they were not originally meant to be.
For little money we can have and use things and sounds that most will never know of. That is the sad part.
LHakim, I have heard a lot about the old Rick amps. Perhaps next I will try to find one of those to add. Also gonna pick up some of the 40's and 50's Gibsons. A few years ago I had one of the early BR9's for a while but then the father/husband thing got kinda serious and I had to sell her. Those conditions are not likely any longer thanks to God and electronics day job.
Now I still sell a few as I want to. I love to keep some and play them for a while and hear all they have to offer and then sometimes turn them to get another type or model. In that way I can experience so many tones.
But there are some, such as my 1938 Wabash and my Oahu along with the Gretsch Compact Tremverb and the 64 Deluxe Reverb clone I built myself that I will never let go.
Thanks Mitchell. Really like your avatar. If she is yours you are one lucky musician.
Stompbox and Moon, hope to have both pics and sound clips up this weekend. Probably stereo with different amps on each side. Fun!
I also have an Epi Valve Junior both in combo and head that I am tinkering with. Those will probably be sold eventually though I am really beginning to like the baby Marshall 18 you can pull from them when done just right.
So many great aspects there are to music and gear. The lucky ones are the ones who get to really taste as much of it as can be done. Guitar is a great way to do so and old amps by the dozen and half dozen sure can be something.
From the Wizard Of Oz and Hubert Sumlin tones of the old 38 Wabash to the near Marshall 18 tones of the triode output Oahu when driven with a TS9 it is wonderful to sit and experience at low volumes the sounds that so many boutique builders seem to be looking for.
It has been out there all along, sometimes we just don't know where to look.

Tom

Songsmith
 
Top