jbone
1285 posts
Jun 22, 2013
8:24 AM
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This amp is more or less a copy of the Fender Princeton. !2" speaker, 6v6 power tubes, and 2 12a class pre amp tubes.
I'm looking to squeeze a bit more volume out of this amp and retain tone as well. The last one I had I put a Fender Jensen ceramic speaker in and it improved it some. I sold the last one to get this one which has a much nicer cabinet.
I'd like to hear opinions on speaker options and also how much real difference vintage power tubes would make in this 17-25 watt amp?
It's excellent as is for duo stuff but when I get on stage with drums, bass, guitar and keys I am fairly outgunned.
Another option is possibly getting a Fender VibroChamp but I expect that would cost about $400. A speaker and tube swap I imagine would be less costy.
Opinions please?
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Kingley
2785 posts
Jun 22, 2013
8:29 AM
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Why not just mic it up in the PA when you need to for band gigs?
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timeistight
1270 posts
Jun 22, 2013
9:54 AM
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A Vibro Champ is half the wattage of your Silvertone, so it would be even more "outgunned" in a loudness contest.
People swap power tubes looking for subtle tone differences, not increased volume. And while a more efficient speaker might be louder, it may also feedback more easily.
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Rick Davis
2003 posts
Jun 22, 2013
2:56 PM
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Well, the Sivertone 1482 is not 17-25 watts. More like 12 to 15 watts. That could be why your are outgunned.
Kingley is right. You could try mic'ing it up, or better yet getting a good line out jack installed.
There is not much you can do to make the amp louder by itself, except perhaps installing a more efficient speaker. I like the Eminence Cannabis Rex. Its sensitivity is 102 dB. That is a lot of sound per watt.
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-Little Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
Tip Jar
Last Edited by Rick Davis on Jun 22, 2013 2:57 PM
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6SN7
324 posts
Jun 22, 2013
3:04 PM
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There is not much you can do except buy a bassman and stick it on top of it :^)
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528hemi
370 posts
Jun 22, 2013
3:15 PM
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What I read, these amps were 10 watts increasing to 15Watts in 1963 so depends what year your amps is dated.
528hemi
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rbeetsme
1260 posts
Jun 22, 2013
6:24 PM
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I have a tube ART pre-amp someone told me I needed to buy to run my mic into my amp (long time ago) Didn't need it, but it also acts as a direct box and can boost your signal. I would have sold mine but I see they go really cheap on ebay (under 40.00) so just kept it. It acts like a gain, really does boost the volume to a PA, might work with your amp too. I also found a boost pedal in my gear case, I think I got this in a trade of effects lots. I haven't seen a need for it but I did try it and it also really boosted the volume without turning up the volume. Maybe one of these would work too.
Last Edited by rbeetsme on Jun 22, 2013 6:25 PM
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rbeetsme
1261 posts
Jun 22, 2013
6:30 PM
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Here's one like mine on ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/ART-Tube-MP-Professional-Tube-Mic-Preamp-/221242910012?pt=US_Preamps_Channel_Strips&hash=item33831ae53c
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jbone
1286 posts
Jun 23, 2013
5:42 AM
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I am not sure of the year. Any input on reading number codes on one of these amps?
The previous one I had was a bit louder maybe but I attribute that to the speaker swap I did to a Jensen ceramic special. That amp may have been louder.
Part of this is amp placement. That venue is very tight so stage volume overall is confined. My amp is blowing out past my knees and there was really no room even to tip it back. I've been considering a line out jack as well.
My original question was also about quality of power and pre amp tubes. Do y'all favor higher quality on these? I probably have Chinese pre amp tubes, the power tubes are original I think.
I notice the smaller magnet on this stock 12" speaker and the Jensen I had was bigger.
Adam has a video someplace where he did a side by side on 4 or 5 amps, from a 4x10 bassman down to a Premier Twin 8, and the twin actually cut through the backing track much better. I do believe it's more about freq than raw power. It can also just been amp placement and band volume. Most times I can hear pretty well but I also think, if I can use better quality components and work the amp less hard, that would also be a good thing.
I'm going to look at the Eminence Cannabis Rex just for giggles.
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http://www.reverbnation.com/jawboneandjolene
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000386839482
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wa7La7yYYeE
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jbone
1288 posts
Jun 27, 2013
4:03 AM
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I spotted a Weber 12S ceramic that I'm wondering about. Sure could use some guidance here!
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http://www.reverbnation.com/jawboneandjolene
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000386839482
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wa7La7yYYeE
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Rick Davis
2018 posts
Jun 27, 2013
9:16 AM
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Weber speakers are not very efficient. If what you are after is more volume per watt then there are better choices.
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-Little Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
Tip Jar
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Harpaholic
247 posts
Jun 27, 2013
10:58 AM
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Jbone, transformers, pots and speakers all have date codes on them
usually six digits, the fourth digit is the year and the last two digits is
the week of production.
Some transformers have seven digits disregard last digit and read like six, from my experience.
The first three digits on speakers are manuf codes e.g, 220 Fender, 285 Rola, etc:
This is assuming parts are original
.
Last Edited by Harpaholic on Jun 27, 2013 11:01 AM
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easyreeder
389 posts
Aug 14, 2013
12:21 AM
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Last summer our drummer was cleaning out his family home for sale and came across one of these Silvertone 1482 amps. They almost tossed it into a dumpster! But then he remembered me, and I told him that I was his dumpster, so he gave it to me for nothing.
It works, but has hum issues and low feedback threshold with a 520D. Based on this thread and others it seems it might be worth putting a few bucks into. I'm not worried about making it louder, just want to lose the hum and be able to turn it up.
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jbone
1330 posts
Aug 14, 2013
3:29 AM
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Not sure about the hum on that, could need a cap or 2. I do know a 12ax7 in p1 and 12au7s after that works for mine to cut gain and reduce feedback to volume ratio.
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http://www.reverbnation.com/jawboneandjolene
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000386839482
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wa7La7yYYeE
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