Australian Valve Amps |
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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.
Estd. July 2004 | Last site update: 16:22 28/06/09 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) |
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...or know them by the Links page they keep.
How to Submit your amp to AVA
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Found an old amp?
Don't just plug it in! 
Read Caps first, then Mains. |
He's baaaak ...Dateline: 19/6/09 - Cue: theme from Twilight ZoneThe AVA “5-wheeler” has finally made it home. 
AVA101-3 Harp amp buildDateline: 20/6/09
Craig Moore has seriously blown me away with his really stunning AVA101-3 Harp amp build. It is, in a word, simply gorgeous. Significant features include 15 watt 6V6 output, cathode-coupled PI, and tamed 12AY7 pre with 5meg input impedance. Craig's attention to detail, both technical and physical, is something to aspire to - check it out. Incidentally: some new ideas are too radical for some skeptical folk, so it has been suggested in some circles that the AVA100 quadrupler PSU isn't a good as claimed, and/or that there is something wrong with using recovered electrolytics and/or cheap output trannies. Well in a word “Bollocks!”. Just blather on guys while the rest of us are occupied producing a string of just such builds that are passing the all-important tone test. Just who, I wonder, could object to people building their own affordable guitar amps? Some sourpuss who dropped a bundle on an imported tranny wound with gold Litz wire by Peruvian virgins on the full moon? Components simply are what they are, the measurement were as reported, and these are all perfectly satisfactory. Melbourne AmpfestYeah, I missed it too, but you can drool over some very cool hardware pix at AGGH's, a write up, and some heavy hardware that was on show. Thanks to our e-Bay spy PaulC for the links. AVA104 - “Redboard-30”Dateline: 9/12/08 Ralph Parkhurst has completed his quad 6BQ5 which he has dubbed “Redboard-30”. Ralph has done a printed circuit board which he may supply if there is sufficient interest. Meantime here is a preliminary writeup of his build. Sending Photos and CircuitsDateline: 24/11/08 FAQ: “Do you want photos/circuit?” And the answer is always “yes” - very welcome. And serial numbers, etc., too. BUT ... I ask for multiple images to be bound together in a single Zipfile before sending. This is because Yahoo imposes a mind-numbing times-ten overhead on each and every attach download, so one large file is very much quicker for me than a raft of indvidual images. But some of you are having trouble creating Zipfiles. So, as an alternative, you can upload your images to one of the many free on-line fileservers, and just send me their direct download addresses in an e-mail. I can then simply drop this list into my download manager (WebLooper 3v6) and it will fetch and file them for me in the background. Addendum 22/6/09: photos via photobucket.com work well. FAQ: “My amp won't go - what's wrong?” Always happy to help, but that's not a lot to go on. A few clear pix, particularly of the underchassis, can tell me a lot and allow me to suggest possible tests to isolate and repair the problem. If you have a problem you want help with, then save us both time by setting out the problem as fully as possible in the first instance, and include pix as above. FAQ: “Do you have ... ?” If it isn't on the site, no. “Important” information such as circuits are posted as rapidly as possible. These are AVA's treasure and they are only as valuable as they are available. I fully understand that you want/need it right now. But if there is no circuit flag Have you converted . . .Dateline: 23/8/07 Still looking - standing request. ...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. ThompsonIntroduction, Conventions - how these pages came about; and unit conventions used.
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.
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A list of valve amp tech's
Some safety reminders and tips on good practice.
AC v DC electric shocks - body effects. |
Professional valve tweeking. |
| New Amp Material: | |
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| June 2009 | AVA101-3 Harp amp build (p,c), Abbey 100 (p), Goldentone 1750 (p), Rex Bassking BA50 (p), AG6 (p), Noyce - name only, Eston Super 20 (p), Electravox - Solid state tallboy (p), Playmaster - 101 (article, c), 102 (article, c), Soundmaster (name), Farfisa Transicord (c), Concord (u/d), |
| Mar 2009 | Holden/Wasp 200XL (p), Fi-Sonic 60 (p), EL84 2x12 (p), Fuzz-Blender MKIV (p), 2x12 extension cab (p), Strauss Lancer (p), Vase Trendsetter 80 (p), Bassman 80 (p), 2x12 cab (p), EL34 Vedette underchassis (p), VASE PA100 (p,c), Phoenix (p), Lenard GB 60 (p), Maton Mystery (p), Rex Bassking BA200A restoration (p), Eminar memories, Diason Tallboy circuit (c), David Timson's 6L6 build (p), Maxim (notes), Safety - additional tips, Eston - broken links fixed, |
| Archive | 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.
- the early era, pre-war to the 50's, typified by a small, cubic, single-speaker unit, such as the Amplivox to the Maton AM-3,
- the middle era of the 60's typified by Goldentone and Fender Twin look-alike combos, and lastly,
- the monolithic era of the 70's typified by towering Strauss and Trent stacks and brutal heads.
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,
)
Boogie (p,c) - the oldest guitar amps? (p,c)
(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)
(Guitar City, Sydney) - 40W head (p,c) 
tallboy (p,c), Bovine (p), Baby (p), Diason 30 (p), unknown 2, 3 and 4 (p), Solid State 40 Bass (p)
200 Watt, 2x 15 Celestions (p), 150 Watt PA (p,c), 100 Watt PA (p), 100 Watt (p), Apollo 80 (p), 50 Watt PA
Super 20 (p,c)
ETI456 Rocker (c)
- combo, head, 5WG (c,p), 60 (p), EL84 2x12 (p), Fuzz-Blender MKIV (p), 2x12 extension cab (p)
all models, galleries, and advert's.
200XL (p), 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
Circuits for most valve and MOSFET models (Conquest 220, 8-200 MOSFET, Crusader Bass 440, SR200T, SR400T, SR600T)
GB 60 (p), GB 200 (p), SGB 200 6x 6CA7 Head (p,c), PA output stage (c)
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)
- Blues Breaker (p), 807 “Lounge Toy” (p,c), KT66 amp (p)
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
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)
(R,TV&H, EA) - Old amps, Guitar Speakers, “Leslie”,
Unit 2 (c,p), 101 (article), 102 (p), 103 (c,p), 112, 113, 115, 116 (c,p,article), 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)
Mascot (p), Bassking BA200A (p,c), AG6 (p), AG6T Combo (p)
- Travis 100 (c,p).
- 85 (p), 100 (p) - a vintage solid-state warning (heatsink tips), Discussion and Mods (o/p stage)
made in Adelaide, 60's and 70's by Manfred Bear(?) for Ron Pearce Music
NS120 (p), Lancer (p), Polka 200 (p), early 60W (c), Mouse (p), '200W' KT88 PA (c), Solid-state (p)
- BR20 (p), 408R (p), LB60 (p), LB61 (p), 601 (p), PA60 (p), ET10 112 Combo (p), Escort (p,c)
- Split/Sound KT88's (p), Bassman 150, Bassman 120, Bassman 100, Trendsetter 120 Deluxe, Bassman 80 (p), Dynabass (p), Trendsetter 80 (p), Trendsetter 60 Deluxe, PA 200 (p), PA100 (p,c), PA60 (p)
AC30 (p,c), Build your own
For more complete valve data sources please see Links page.
If your amp should be in this archive please see How to Submit.
Build your own valve guitar amp and save heaps.
- Modular mix-n-match designs,
- newbie friendly to advanced,
- co-operatively user-builder developed.
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.
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
Essays, discussions, considerations, opinionated raves...
| New Articles: | |
|---|---|
| June 2009 |
Solid-State Amp Repair - how to
“Electric Guitar Amplifier Handbook” 1965-73 by Jack Darr |
| Mar 2009 | ZIP files FAQ - add Mac Zip links. |
| Jan 2008 | “Techsite” small projects, 6DQ6 substitution in Goldies |
| Aug 2007 | ZIP files FAQ, Pickups (u/d) |
| Archive | Up to New Amp Listings Top or press your “Home” key |
Why valves and not later technologies?
Not infatuated, just pragmatic.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Found an old amp? Don't just plug it in! Read this first.
How to fix (almost) anything.
Faultfinding in valve amps.
Solid-State Amp Repair - output stage arrangements and repair techniques. [New: 21/6/09]
Transformer Testing - Basic testing of power and output transformers.
Overheating transformer - fault diagnosis.
6DQ6 substitution in Goldies, Playmasters, Matons, etc.
“Electric Guitar Amplifier Handbook” 1965-73 by Jack Darr [New: 25/6/09]
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.
Small but useful construction projects.
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
Review of the Countdown Spectacular at the Rod Laver Arena 9/9/06.
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 thesite 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.
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.
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.
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.
Established July 2004 Page URL - http://www.ozvalveamps.elands.com/index.htm - thanks to Jeff Nicols and the E-Crew Whole site Copyright © 2004 - 2009 R.Roper. |
