cliffy
64 posts
Dec 09, 2013
7:55 AM
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Hello MBH’ers,
I was playing my regular gig at a local place (the band is a little bit loud) and I got the opportunity to try a different amp.
A guy who is a local amp builder came in with his new build… a 5F6A (tweed Bassman) clone, except it was set up with two 10” speakers instead of 4. The amp was in a “Sommatone” style cabinet, not a tweed one, because he had it lying around or something like that. It definitely looked way cool because it was different from tweed amps I normally use.
He said it wasn’t fully from a kit; that he prefers certain brand parts to others and he has to source them all individually. He also installed a “half-power” switch called a pentode/triode switch to make the amp go from 40 watts to 20 watts. The amp has two “Ragin Cajun” speakers… do any of you know anything about them?
The amp sounded great, plenty loud with a lot of ‘cut’ that my main amp just doesn’t have. So I want it.
Is $700 a good price for this amp?
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Greg Heumann
2503 posts
Dec 09, 2013
8:01 AM
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If you like the amp and it has Bassman class power then I think- $700 is a good price
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/Greg
BlowsMeAway Productions
See my Customer Mics album on Facebook
BlueState - my band
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HawkeyeKane
2196 posts
Dec 09, 2013
8:57 AM
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+1 on Greg's advice. Considering that used Fender Bassman reissues tend to go for around a grand, and this is a clone with some pretty nifty sounding additional features, better quality components than a kitjob, and a more travel-friendly configured 2X10, I'd say $700 is a fair price indeed.
Eminence Ragin Cajuns have a very good reputation. I've not heard them in a Bassman yet though. A lot of Bassman players like to put a couple Emi Lil Buddies in for better low end response, but they're working with a 4X10 so the stock alnicos help deliver the high end in conjunction with them. In the 2X10 configuration though, I'd be willing to bet the Cajuns would be a good choice for harp. They've got an edge over the Lil Buddies in the area of efficiency.
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Hawkeye Kane
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cliffy
65 posts
Dec 09, 2013
9:24 AM
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Thanks guys!
Yeah, I'm pretty sure I'm going to get the amp. It sounds great. Not too crunchy, not artificially distorted, but nice tones. The sound reminded me a little of Magic Dick's amplified tone on the Bluestime album - kind of horn-like, clean if you breathe lightly, with an increase in raunch if you lean into the notes more.
The builder-guy had said he could change some "resistor values" to make the amp slightly more harp-friendly, and that he could change out the volume pots to ones with more "sweep", which would help, along with changing some of the preamp tubes.
My only problem, and it's not really much of a problem at all, was that the volume was plenty loud and I only had between 0 and 1.75 or so on each of the volumes as "useable"... after that the amp is deafeningly loud and feeds back (but all Bassman amps are like that). The amp builder said that he could replace the volume pots to (I guess less-sensitive) ones where I'd actually have more room to twist the knobs. As it is, moving the knob a half a millimeter is a huge change. I don't want to worry about finding my sound onstage and screwing it up by turning the knob a tenth of one degree too much. I had the same problem back when I had a RI Bassman.
My main amp right now is a RI Bassman that I had sent to Kendrick to gut and rewire it with their "Texas Crude" amp circuit. It sounds great by itself, but it doesn't have enough cut; with a full band it sounds too muffled. Also, the raunch on the notes is less dynamic... it sounds almost equally dirty when playing lightly as well as playing hard. Is that because it's a Class A amp? I though maybe the quality I liked so much in the new amp, that the tone is dependent on what you put into it, was because it is a push-pull amp (is that class AB?)
cliffy
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HawkeyeKane
2199 posts
Dec 09, 2013
10:02 AM
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"Is that because it's a Class A amp? I though maybe the quality I liked so much in the new amp, that the tone is dependent on what you put into it, was because it is a push-pull amp (is that class AB?)"
Yes, Class-A means single ended and Class-AB means push-pull. I'm not familiar with that Kendrick Bassman mod, but I don't think it'd make it single ended. I could be wrong, but putting the two 6L6's into a parallel single ended configuration would almost completely redesign the circuit.
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Hawkeye Kane
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LSC
550 posts
Dec 09, 2013
10:31 AM
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If he holds to that price including the modifications, I would agree that is a pretty decent price. I would suggest that you put him in contact with Greg Heumann or someone else that is very experienced with modifying amps specifically for harmonica before ordering the changes. If you just let him cut loose without being sure he is familiar with harp specific amps it might not turn out as well as it could.
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LSC
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528hemi
429 posts
Dec 09, 2013
10:35 AM
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HawkeyeKane,
"A lot of Bassman players like to put a couple Emi Lil Buddies in for better low end response"
How many players do you know replaced 2 speakers?
I only know of Rick Davis? I have a Bassman RI and thinking about changing 2 speakers. Did they all think it was a big improvment?
528hemi
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HawkeyeKane
2200 posts
Dec 09, 2013
10:40 AM
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@528hemi
I know three other Bassman players who've implemented the Lil Buddies. One is a local harp player, and a good friend. He absolutely loves them, and I have to say, I think it sounds kickin' myself. Nice low end delivered in a slightly percussive fashion.
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Hawkeye Kane
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arnenym
244 posts
Dec 09, 2013
10:53 AM
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Cliffy wrote: "The builder-guy had said he could change some "resistor values" to make the amp slightly more harp-friendly, and that he could change out the volume pots to ones with more "sweep", which would help, along with changing some of the preamp tubes."
I believe you should take this offer. Tell him to put in CTS 1M audio pots. They have a better sweep than Alpha and many other brands of pot's.
If he want to change the voltage dropper to preamp to get a 12AX7 at V1 to appr. 120 volts or a 12AY7 in V1 to 100 volts you get a better bass response.
Change the tailresistor to 10K, for less feedback.
Change slope to 100k, bass cap to .1 uf and middle cap to .047 will give you a huge bass response.
( Hi MarkB.. Have i learned my lesson?)
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cliffy
66 posts
Dec 09, 2013
1:07 PM
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does it matter at all that most of my mics are CM's and not crystals? would that affect any choices i would make to amp mods?
and i'll post a picture of the amp if someone can tell me how to do it. The cabinet is cool-looking, different from the usual tweed.
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Barley Nectar
209 posts
Dec 09, 2013
5:26 PM
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LOL, We learned a lot from Mark eh.
Cliffy, Go for it, then do as Arney said.
I run Cajuns also. Mine are paired with vintage P10P's. I really like Cajuns for harp. Huge smooth tone...BN
Crystals want to see a 5M R to ground at the input jack. This will not affect your dynamic mics.
Let's see....Gut shot too please.
Last Edited by Barley Nectar on Dec 09, 2013 5:36 PM
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walterharp
1248 posts
Dec 10, 2013
2:01 PM
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I am a bit mystified why this amp would give you more cut than a modified RI Bassman? They are the same circuit and wattage are they not? Maybe the speakers? Most of the mods to make 5f6a more harp friendly enhance bass and do not necessarily boost the cut.
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