http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-60s-Tube-Amp-Marvel-brand-w-tremolo-Original-Premier-harp-gtr-/121078364580?pt=Guitar&hash=item1c30d539a4
Last Edited by tmf714 on Mar 09, 2013 6:35 AM
It is the same circuit as my little Marvel amp but with a 10-inch speaker, a tone control, and tremolo. It is essentially a Premier Twin 8 with a single 10-inch speaker. I am SO tempted to bid, but I already have a Marvel and a Twin 8. I gotta be reasonable here...
The tube lineup is the same as in my amp. And right now it is my favorite amp in my collection. It has a ripping crunchy tone that just screams old school juke joint blues harp.
Whoever buys this will be one happy blues harp player. I'll pass along any wisdom I can about its care and feeding, but be prepared to take it to a Tech and have some work done. Those 50 year old parts wear out, and the Marvel was a low cost amp even back then. It sounds like this one has been serviced well, though.
Side Note: Why do people fib about wattage? The amp does not make anywhere near 15 watts. You don't need to "estimate" as the seller says. He had it in to a tech for service so he should know that the amp makes about 6 watts at clipping.
Still, I think the amp is well worth the starting bid price. I paid $50 for mine, but it was one of those rare pawn shop gems. I think they had it priced low because when you plugged it in it smelled like it was about to burst into flame. Actually, that is normal for old tube amps that have been idle for years. As Bruce Collins says, it is the smell of beeswax and mouse turds heating up.
The biggest difference is the power tube. Kalamazoo amps use an EL84 tube, while this Marvel uses a 7591. The 7591 is a slightly stronger 6V6 tube, and the 6V6 was used to power many great vintage tube amps, such as the Fender Champ, Princeton, and Deluxe, and many 50s Gibson amps.
The two tubes give the amps different sonic characters. Both good, but different.
Wow! Nobody bid on the Marvel amp at $235. As I said, it is essentially a Premier Twin 8 with a single 10-inch speaker. Amazing. I guess Marvel amps are just too obscure. They are the best kept secret in blues-harp-amp-dom.
