Map of Australia and New Zealand

Australian Valve Amps

Australian and NZ valve amplifiers for guitar and P.A. 1930's - 1970's.

A growing collection of circuits, pictures, data, history, observations, oddities, tips, tricks, traps, and links concentrating on Australian and New Zealand valve amplifiers for band use, guitar, bass, accordion, harp, keys, and PA.

From the Great to the Ghastly,
from the Gory to the Gold.

change is the only constant New amp listings, New articles
http://ozvalveamps.elands.com
Estd. July 2004 | Last site update: 20:43 07/02/08

Note: this site does not cover valve Hi-Fi amps except incidentally, nor physics-free speaker cables, kozmic capacitors, or the like.   Nor does it sell anything.
See Disclaimer.
Plain HTML, no advert's, cookies, popups, frames, or Java.
Photos have Rollovers, as do Links (stop cursor over to see).
Time: EAST/Zulu/CUT+10hrs    Dateform: d/m/y (and yymmdd) 		Contributor Steve Herenyi and his cranked Maxim at the Prince of Wales Hotel, Melb.
PDF-free site    Link to Any Browser Campaign    Eureka Flag
  
Australian Valve Amps     Google

Jump to...
Safety | Amplifiers by brandname | Photo Gallery | Articles | Projects | AVA100 | Vale | Contact
...or know them by the Links page they keep.
How to Submit your amp to AVA

AVA Image Search
Found an old amp? Don't just plug it in!

...REALLY dead now...
Read Caps first, then Mains.

News Briefs

   

Ross Hannaford's gear stolen RECOVERED!

Dateline: 7/2/08

Ross's van has been found with all the gear intact. Details coming.

AVA100

Dateline: 22/01/08

Grant Wills has encouraged me to publish an (incomplete) idea that has been on the back-burner since the middle of last year - a new DIY amp design concept I've dubbed “AVA100”.

Initially about 15 watts, to use all new over-the-counter parts yet cost less than $250 complete; to be buildable by teenage musicians; for weddings, parties, anything, and home studio; but also expandable and flexable to taste. Take a look.

Dud ISP's

Dateline: 18/01/08

HelloNet was eaten by MyNet was eaten by TelPacific was eaten by Wix/Blitz Group, along with G-Node and Koala. Or something. And if your ISP is any one of those it's the end of a lovely relationship. The Quality of Service has fallen to bloody shocking since the takeovers late last year. If you are using any of these and are having difficulties, despite what they will tell you, it's not your phone or Telstra, it's not your computer or software, and it's not because you are an ignorant schmuck - you are not alone!

And guess who's been using MyNet? Thankfully AVA isn't hosted there.

More here at Whirlpool.net. You can lodge a complaint with the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman online.

Yikes! Solid-State stuff!

Dateline: 18/01/08

The reality is that there are a lot of solid-state amps out there we'd all rather ignore, but sometimes it just can't be avoided. There are even a few of the classic era amps that have a bit of “sand” in them, so it helps to know your way around these too.

Yeah, I know, but purity doesn't get the amp fixed, so pragmatism wins here, okay?

Naturally this was inspired by a burst of e-mails from people having problems with Savage amps. So I have added an extensive Discussion and Modifications to the Savage page.

This is recommended reading for anyone wanting to service, or build their own, solid-state guitar amp. Yeah, we can have great fun at Savage's expense (and I do, often, 'tho it represents about the same challenge as mugging little old ladies). But these amps present a great opportunity for modders and tinkerers to get their feet wet with solid-state, and to do any poor bugger who owns one a big favour. So if you have circuits, or even repair or mod notes, I'd love to have them for the page.

New Projects Section

Dateline: 19/01/08

A “best of” re-release collection (heh heh) of projects for tinkerers from my old Techsite.

ETI Sampler

Dateline: Jan 08 Resolved

A big thank you to Ian Clark for coming up with the ETI 1402 Sampler article.

{see, I told you I'd make you famous :}

This gizmo is based on the idea of counting through a large slab of memory, reading the input using an A/D converter-filter, saving it for a while in the memory, then reading it out again via a D/A converter-filter. All hardware, no “smarts”. Think of a tape loop reverb/echo done in silicon. Redundant old computer memory chips represent some very long tape loops.

Have you converted . . .

Dateline: 23/8/07 Still looking.

...a 6DQ6 amp like a Goldentone or Playmaster to use different output valves? I keep being asked. We've got pix of a Goldie and a Playmaster fitted with 6L6's, but no details. So if you know something about this, or use a Goldie or Playmaster that was fitted with 6DQ6's and now uses something else, how would you like to e-mail me your experience for others to learn from?

Meanwhile, a discussion of the issues with 6DQ6 substitution.

All previous News Briefs are in the archive.

“The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side.” - Hunter S. Thompson

Introduction, Conventions - how these pages came about; and unit conventions used.

Safety

Danger! sign Shock Risk sign Valve amplifiers operate at high voltages that can kill or seriously injure.
If you are at all unsure of your skills please seek skilled assistance, or leave it to a skilled technician.

A list of valve amp tech's
by Australian State. [Update: 23/1/08]

Some safety reminders and tips on good practice.
(or for instant OH&S, touch 600 volts - you won't do it twice.)

AC v DC electric shocks - body effects.

Glen Bowker, NSW South Coast
Professional valve tweeking.

Amplifiers by brandname

Ear Protectors
New Amp Material:
Feb 2008 Melnik = Mielnik name correction, Baez u/d,
Jan 2008 Holden/Wasp 100 Reverb, Slave 200, (c,p), Playmaster 116/7 errata/mods, Farrington (name), Savage Discussion and Mods (c,p), Havila (name,p), Concord (name), Abbey (u/d), Fountain (u/d), Gunn (u/d), Fi-Sonic 5wg (c,p), Rex AG6T (c), Diason Unknown3, tallboy (u/d), Vase PA60, blond Bassman (p), Goldentone circuits (c), Rite (c), Strauss Polka 150 (c), Eston Super 20 (c)
Nov 2007 Maton Pasha
Aug 2007 Amps In Action, (also split Amps In Action and Maton pages), Fhone (p), Rex (p), Moody (p), Yamaha TA-60 speakers (p), Scion (p), E.D.A. (name), Belto (name), Image site search function
July 2007 Google Search function
June 2007 Baez history, Garl history, Goldentone 1778 (p), Goldentone 1756/7 circuit update (c), Maton serial, Playmaster 117 circuit fix (c), Steve's new build (p) Vadis LB61 (p), Wasp 50 and 100 (p)
Archive Down to New Articles   Top or press your “Home” key

Broadly the amps here represent three eras;

Even some of the more significant imported, and early solid state era amps are included.

Generally the models are arranged under each brandname from most to least powerful, then within that, less featured to more featured... generally. It's a bit arbitary. The latest contributions are (mostly) placed at the top of each section.

Look out for our mystery amps and see if you can add any information.

(p = picture, c = circuit, Circuit highlight symbol)

  1. Abbey - circuits Boogie (p,c)
  2. Amplivox (see also Farfisa) - the oldest guitar amps? (p,c)
  3. AWA/STC circuits (incl. Philips)- AWA PA774 (p,c), PA826 (p), PA827 (p), PA828 (p,c), STC PA1001 (p), AWA PA1002BY (p), AWA PA1003Z (p), STC 6CM5 rebuild, 55W 6DQ6 (p), Philips LowLine 10 PA (p)
  4. Baez - ?
  5. (Barclay) - 3W amp
  6. Belto - (Gary Kurzer, Sydney)
  7. Betts - ?
  8. Challenge - see Mielnik
  9. Chandler circuits (Guitar City, Sydney) - 40W head (p,c) ?
  10. Claybridge - ?
  11. Coltone - ?
  12. Concord - ? [New: 19/1/08]
  13. Conqueror - 6V6 PA (p) ?
  14. Cord - 4x 6CA7 head (p)
  15. Diason - tallboy (p), Bovine (p), Baby (p), Diason 30 (p), unknown 2, 3 and 4 (p), Solid State 40 Bass (p)
  16. E.D.A. - (Brisbane) see Overeem
  17. Electravox - ET10 (p), BR40 (p,c), BR60 (p), G?60 (p)
  18. Eminar - circuits 200 Watt, 2x 15 Celestions (p), 150 Watt PA (p,c), 100 Watt PA (p), 100 Watt (p), Apollo 80 (p), 50 Watt PA
  19. Eston - Super 20 (p)
  20. (Farfisa) - Amplivox-18 (p)
  21. Farrington - ? [New: 15/1/08]
  22. Fhone - Century (p)
  23. Fi-Sonic circuits - combo, head, 5wg (c,p)
  24. Flame - (p)
  25. Fountain - Thunderbird
  26. Garl - (p)
  27. Goldentone - circuits all models, galleries, and advert's.
  28. Gunn - Classic 100 (p), 50
  29. Havila Company Victoria - Rock Bender [New:19/1/08]
  30. Holden/Wasp - circuits 4x 6550 Slave 200, Wasp 50 and 100 (p), 4x KT88 (p), Holden 100 4x 6CA7 (p,c), 4x KT88 Slave (p,c), Holden 50
  31. Jade - (s.s. only?) ?
  32. Jansen - Bass 100 (p), Eight-25 (p), Bassman 50, Bass 75 (p)
    Circuits for most valve and MOSFET models (Conquest 220, 8-200 MOSFET, Crusader Bass 440, SR200T, SR400T, SR600T)
  33. Leed - ?
  34. Lenard - circuits GB 200 (p), SGB 200 6x 6CA7 Head (p,c), PA output stage (c)
  35. Maton - circuits History, AM-1 (p), AM-2 (p), AM-3 (p), Pasha (p), SRG75 (p), Starline T506 (p), Tremolux 30x (p), V-606 (p), Vibra Tone V202 and V202 EP (p), Hi-Mark 15, Powerpack Studio (p), Opal T-30 (p), Mastersound 10 (p,c), CPA80 (p)
  36. Maxim - Slide Combo (p), KT88 Head (p)
  37. Martstone (current builder) - Blues Breaker (p), 807 “Lounge Toy” (p,c), KT66 amp (p)
  38. Mielnik (Zoltan J Mielnik)
  39. Moody - circuits Ultratone 18 (p), GA60 (p,c), GA40 (p,c,cabinet), Ultratone Custom 40 (p), BA40 (p,c), GA35 (p,c), BA17 (p,c), GA12 Vibralux 10/12
  40. “No name” and homebuilt - Steve's build (p), circuits Phil's DiyWatt 10 (c), Derek's 6CA7 (p,c), Shaun's AX84 (p), Howard's 6CA7 (c), Panky's 6CA7 (c), anon 6BQ5 (p), Tweed re-creation (p), Anthony's “Warthog” (p), NalinD's mystery (p), GraemeD's mystery (p)
  41. Nova Sound - see Strauss
  42. Overeem - ?
  43. W.H.Paling - mystery amp ?
  44. Philips - see AWA/STC
  45. Phoenix - ?
  46. Playmaster circuits (R,TV&H, EA) - Old amps, Guitar Speakers, “Leslie”, Unit 2 (c,p), 102 (p), 103 (c,p), 112, 113, 115, 116 (c,p), 117 (c,p), 125 (c,p), 134, 136, KT88 PA (c,p), valve tremolo (c), transistor tremolo (c), fuzzbox (c,p), phase vibrato (c), compressor (c), Miniwatt Hi-Z buffer (c)
  47. Reynolds-valveart - (current builder, opens site in new window)
  48. Rex - circuits Mascot (p), Bassking BA200A (p,c), AG6 (p), AG6T Combo (p)
  49. Rite circuits - Travis 100 (c,p).
  50. Savage circuits - 85 (p), 100 (p) - a vintage solid-state warning (heatsink tips), Discussion and Mods (o/p stage) [New: 18/1/08]
  51. Scion - ?
  52. Sonata by ACE Radio 2x 6DQ6 (p)
  53. Sonola - ? made in Adelaide, 60's and 70's by Manfred Bear(?) for Ron Pearce Music
  54. Stradivarius - Special (p)
  55. STC - see AWA
  56. Strauss - circuits NS120 (p), Lancer (p), Polka 200 (p), early 60W (c), Mouse (p), '200W' KT88 PA (c), Solid-state (p)
  57. Stud - s.s. Combo
  58. Travis - see Rite
  59. Trent - Invicta, Invicta Super, Bobcat T60 (p), Bobcat Super T60, Cougar (p), Super Cougar, Panther, Super Panther, Panther Bass, Super Panther Bass, Panther P.A. (p), Tygon (p), Tygon P.A. (p), Sonic Boom A/B/C/D (p), Sonic Boom P.A., Wildcat A/B/C/D (p), B150 (p)
  60. Ultratone - see Moody
  61. Vadis - 408R (p), LB60 (p), LB61 (p), 601 (p), PA60 (p), ET10 112 Combo (p), Escort (p)
  62. Vase - Split/Sound KT88's (p), PA 200 (p), Bassman 150, Bassman 120, Bassman 100, Trendsetter 120 Deluxe, Bassman 80 (p), Dynabass (p), Trendsetter 60 Deluxe, PA60
  63. Vedette - see Mielnik
  64. (Vox) - circuits AC30 (p,c), Build your own
  65. Wasp - see Holden
  66. Woogie (current builder) - 100 watt heads
  67. (Yamaha) - “Flexion” speaker TA-30, TA-60, TA-90 (p)
  68. ZJM - see Mielnik

Some data for commonly used valve types.

For more complete valve data sources please see Links page.

If your amp should be in this gallery please see How to Submit.

AVA100-Series

New: 22/1/08

A design for a DIY valve guitar amp that is cheap and easy to build using available parts, and is expandable with a full range of popular options, for gigging and recording.

Hip Pedlars, Wauchope Arts Festival 2001

Amps in Action

A picture gallery of valve amplifiers in use.
...and some singular looking amps from around the world.

22/8/07 restructured :

“A rock show is just like cooking in a busy kitchen - hot, loud, smells funny . . .
. . . you always get burned, and someone invariably complains” - Dan Kelly

Articles

Essays, discussions, considerations, opinionated raves...

New Articles:
Jan 2008 “Techsite” small projects, 6DQ6 substitution in Goldies
Aug 2007 ZIP files FAQ, Pickups (u/d)
May 2007 The Death Set
Apr 2007 Biggest Guitar Amp (u/d)
Dec 2006 Repairs: Electrolytic caps, Repairs: Transformer Testing, Repairs: Overheating transformer diagnosis
Nov 2006 Plugpacks for musicians, Note Frequency Table - (another) correction, Tremolo LFO filter, Faultfinding in valve amps, A/B/C/D Switch/Fx selector, Tonestacks
Archive Up to New Amp Listings   Top or press your “Home” key
“In our book, anything above 1% harmonic distortion is gross.”
Silicon Chip reply to Sean Kerrigan re: valve preamp, Jan 2005

Overview

Why valves and not later technologies?
Not infatuated, just pragmatic.

Significant circuit collection
The stages of a typical valve guitar amplifier, from input to output. (large page, 26 circuits, 5 photos)
A walk-through tour of common period guitar amp practice.

Particular issues

Danger! sign Bringing the mains into the amplifier. No need to die for your art.

Heaters, wiring, and hum. Bright and quiet is good.

Internal signal grounding arrangements. Many amps can be noise-improved.

Tonestacks, how they work, and some popular ones considered. Endless tinkering fun.

Stability problems in valve guitar amplifiers. Symptoms and what they mean.

Standby switching, why, and what's the best way? Some cherished guitarists myth exploded.

How to build stomp switches that are tough, neat, and road-worthy. A good first project.

Some reverb lines compared electrically. Operation in detail. Put the “boing” back in your amp.

Reverbs, tremolos, and other add-in's. Fit missing features.

Tremolo LFO filter for speaker “pumping” on older amps. A simple and effective solution.

Pickups - magnetic and piezo, as a signal source. The character of your amp signal source.

Variable Damping, current feedback, and “Damping Factor”. Sort the gems from the hype.

Applying 100-volt PA line transformers as valve output transformers, including examples.
New build or repair, this is the answer to a prayer.

Data on larger transformers from A&R Sonar and Ferguson, power and output.
Some popular period tranny info.

Mains filters, theory, construction. Reduce “noises off” in performance and recording.

Decoding factory and date codes on old valves. Find where and when was it made.

Valve abuse, some failure modes illustrated.

Voltage regulator tubes data, applications, and some other gas tubes. These still turn up.

Theory (lite)

Mixing and modulation theory - tremolo, vibrato, ring mixers, Leslie's.

Formants - how do all those frequencies go down one wire?

Not really tone but sonics, beer, cabinets, drivers, output stages. And sheep.

Do you break out in a cold sweat if somebody mentions maths? A phrasebook for tourists.

Etcettera

Generators and DIY stage power. Shows in the Bush.

Tape-loop echo units. Keeping them going.

Scope soldering irons, and some soldering and desoldering tips.

Valve-based test equipment - VTVM's, Oscillators, and CRO's

History and some really old valves (slow page, lotsa big pix).

What I really think of “High Fidelity”.

Silicon Chip 12AX7 preamp - why, and who for? Failed to exceed my already low expectations.

Plugpacks/wallwarts for musicians. Selection, and repair tips - FAQ.

A/B/C/D Switch/Fx selector - more than just an A/B box. A couple of design ideas for tinkerers.

Repairs

Found an old amp? Don't just plug it in! Read this first.

General

How to fix (almost) anything.

Faultfinding in valve amps.

Danger! sign Electrolytic caps - How to bring up an old amp without fireworks.

Transformer Testing - Basic testing of power and output transformers.

Overheating transformer - fault diagnosis.

6DQ6 substitution in Goldies, Playmasters, Matons, etc. [New: 20/1/08]

Examples

XLR cable capers.

Gibson G-70 combo resurrection (S.S.).

Roland Cube-40 investigation (S.S.).

Farfisa Transicord Deluxe electronic piano accordion. Organ voices.

Leem Pro 4-Channel mixer.

E-Mu Proteus/1 rack-mounting flagstone.

Roland D-50 Synth common socket fault.

The Superboard - the shortcomings of instruments. Calibration and standards.

Projects

Small but useful construction projects. [New: 19/1/08]

Performing (etc)

Don't forget to connect the speaker before switching on!

Posters and other ways to promote your band.
   (what the Melbourne Hot-Rod Show 2006 organisers should have read before putting the dates and prices on their web site. ;)

Related chords for all major and minor keys; working out songs.

Transposing instruments, or why the brass is in “B-flat”.

Some of those moments when things go wrong on stage.

More moments when things go wrong (2).

More wrong (3) - greyplanet reviews the motherf**king death set.

New Years Eve 2001.

Electro-Quackery “Looks great, but whatsit do?”

The Worlds Biggest Guitar Amp

Sony BMG virused their music CD's? Yep. Read all about it on my omnibus blog. (Now archived on the WayBack Machine.)

Review of the Countdown Spectacular at the Rod Laver Arena 9/9/06.

Directory

Bibliography - a list of books that people have found useful when working with valves.

Table of frequencies for musical notes.

Project numbering systems used by Australian electronics magazines. EA, SC, ETI, AEM, HE

A glossary of PA, lighting and stage terms.

Alphabetical keyword page index of headings and highlighted words and phrases on this site.
22/8/07 This has been removed as the Google site search now provided at the head of this page is much more effective and up-to-date.

ZIP files FAQ - The what, why and how of using ZIP files.

Links

Can't find it here? Selected links to valve data, circuits, circuit theory, and related material; with reviews.

Spread the word about AVA with this small poster you can print out for your favorite music shop or musicians hangout, cafe, laundrette, web shop, etc. Put one on your fridge door for your mates.

Forums (Fora?)

ANZAmps Yahoo! group (requires simple free registration).

A single thread mainly frequented by amp techs and builders, and technically-inclined musicians.

Aussie Guitar Gear Heads forum (requires simple free registration).

Multiple threads on general equipment matters of interest to the serious guitarist.

Vale - the halt, the sick, and the lame, and obituaries.

Disclaimer - read this at least once.

The Fine Print:
While every care is taken to keep this compilation as accurate as possible, by its nature the information is presented “as-is” without warranty of any sort. It is intended only to provide assistance to those struggling with repairing an amplifier who have no other information. You should keep in mind that any information here may be wrong or misleading. Corrections are most welcome.

Privacy

I hate pop-ups, spam, marketing calls, junk mail, door knocking, trojan mailing list or address-book hacking or mis-use.
E-mails received may be quoted or used on this site and may be edited.
All contributions will be credited to the e-mail name unless otherwise requested.
Contributor e-mail addresses will not be published except by specific request.
Specific requests for information I can't directly supply may be forwarded with your e-mail address for direct reply to, an editor, contributor, or ANZamp forum.

I love to get your e-mails, but I am a technician, not a trader.
I do not buy or sell amps or parts nor provide valuations.

Valid HTML 4.01 Transitional
Established July 2004
Page URL - http://www.ozvalveamps.elands.com/index.htm - thanks to Jeff Nicols and the E-Crew
Mirror Site URL - http://www.ozvalveamps.lucidtone.com/index.htm (currently offline) - thanks to Darren Inwood of Lucidtone in NZ
Whole site Copyright © 2004 - 2007 R.Roper.