LSC
272 posts
Aug 17, 2012
9:14 AM
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I just scored a quite unique amp that I thought I'd show off a bit. I know there are more than a few gear heads out there.
1965 National Westwood 6422TR built by Valco. Uses 5y3, 4 x 12ax7, 1 x 6v6. Has both Tremelo and Reverb. Twin 8" alnico Jensens. She is in pristine condition and quiet as a church mouse at idle. Came with all but one NOS RCA tubes all of which look virtually new. There is one Amprex Bugle Boy in V1.
Sound is sort of a cross between a Champ and a Kalamazoo but of another order of quality. The twin 8s are like having a 16" speaker! Sucker throws some air out there. Cuts like a pissed off chain saw. Super versatile as well in that it's a great guitar amp. Very chimey up to 12 0'clock on the volume then starts to break up wonderfully.
If anybody is interested I'll get some recording samples up after I've had a chance to work with it a bit and get dialed in.
Photos to follow as soon as I can shrink them.
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LSC
Last Edited by on Aug 17, 2012 9:16 AM
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SuperBee
510 posts
Aug 17, 2012
5:55 PM
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Twin 8s! You've inspired me to finish wiring my 2x8 cab.
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LSC
273 posts
Aug 17, 2012
8:51 PM
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@SuperBee- Go for it dude. This is my first experience of twin 8s and I love it. A lot has to do with the Jensens. They've got some reasonable size magnets on them for their size. Smaller than a P8R. Can't find a model or serial number on them.
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tmf714
1201 posts
Aug 18, 2012
8:29 AM
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I was the owner of that amp-hated to let it go,but needed the bread-it's a killer little amp in great condition.
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LSC
275 posts
Aug 19, 2012
1:17 PM
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Here's pics of this great little amp. I've got a Kinder AFB+ in front in this photo but I'll be trying a lesser gain 12at7 to see if I can get the same result. I'm also still experimenting with perhaps using this as a guitar amp. If so the 12ax7 will remain.
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LSC
Last Edited by on Aug 19, 2012 1:20 PM
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tmf714
1202 posts
Aug 19, 2012
1:33 PM
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Thats it-I sold it to Paul Cavanugh -he said he thought it would make a great amp for steel guitar,which was its original intended use.
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LSC
276 posts
Aug 19, 2012
1:46 PM
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You sure it's the same amp and not one just like it? I bought this from a guy named Jeff out in Georgia. Out of curiosity, is there a catalog reference or something that mentions it was designed as a steel guitar amp?
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LSC
Last Edited by on Aug 19, 2012 1:47 PM
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rbeetsme
814 posts
Aug 19, 2012
2:03 PM
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I saw that one too, didn't want to pay that much, but it looks like you scored a killer amp.
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tmf714
1203 posts
Aug 19, 2012
2:10 PM
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It's the same amp-the color scheme was very unique.
I purchased it from a guitar player in Sebastian ,Fl-
He told me most of the National/Valco amps made during that time-1966-were manufactured with Steel/Lap guitar players in mind.
Could have ended up in Jeff Bakers hands-
Here's my photos of the amp when I owned it-
Last Edited by on Aug 19, 2012 2:13 PM
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LSC
277 posts
Aug 19, 2012
4:51 PM
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Just being the pedantic bastard that I am, pretty sure that is not the same amp. The color scheme is unique relative to the usual Tolex but of course every National Westwood built at the same time would have had the same cover/grill cloth. I particularly like the gold sparkle grill cloth. Gives it kind of a Cadillac look. I've seen another National of the period with one 8" speaker that has the same cosmetics.
I think the one you had is a very nice example of the breed as well but if you compare our two sets of photos there are several detail differences.
1) Mine has the original plastic handle. That belt design in your photo I would have thought is a replacement.
2)Mine has the original thin white power cord with two prong plug. Amp in your photo has had the power cord replaced. Very doubtful somebody would have taken that off and put on the old one.
3) Not quite sure what that is in the photo going over the top of the box that contains the reverb spring. Some sort of support maybe? Whatever it is mine doesn't have it.
4)Mine has a clear plastic cable tie securing the two wires that go to the reverb box screwed to the baffle. This may have been added at a later date but is very tidy and might be original.
5) There is a white chalked x on the baffle between the speakers on mine. Again, not quite sure what it's there for or why and could have been added at a later date.
6) Mine is a 1965 not 1966.
As to the steel guitar thing, not much info is available on Valcos and I'm only a recent convert but it doesn't make much sense that they would compromise the majority of their range specifically for steel/lap players. Valco did produce lap steels and they did market Oahu amps which may well have been designed with steel players in mind but they also produced electric guitars, pretty cool ones at that. Why would they narrow their market by trying to please lap steel players through the range at the expense of electric guitar players? Not to mention that the tube layout of the Westwood does not allow for much clean sound when you start to crank it up. Cool for lap perhaps but not steel guitar unless you're going for that Lloyd Maines/Robert Randolph thing. Which is way cool but this amp wouldn't have anything like enough volume. Having said all that, I'm no expert and anything is possible.
Don't know the history of mine beyond the guy I bought it from who's name is Jeff Smith, something of a Valco fanatic who apparently also has a large collection of tweed Fenders, JMI Marshalls, etc.
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LSC
Last Edited by on Aug 19, 2012 4:54 PM
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LSC
278 posts
Aug 19, 2012
6:38 PM
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@rbeetsme - Yes, I paid more than I would normally but this amp has so many things going for it I threw out the maximum I was willing to go and got it for just under. I was worried I might have paid over the odds but looking around at other Valco built amps and considering it's condition and originality I may not have been a bargain but it was certainly a not unreasonable price.
As an investment I suspect that Valco built amps will continue to rise or at least hold their value. There's one model of the Supro that's going for crazy money based on the strength of an as yet unproven rumor that Jimmy Page used one on most of Led Zeppelin "1".
All that aside my philosophy is that whenever you spend money and you're happy with what you bought then that was a good buy. I'm into developing and evolving my own sound, tone as well as detail of design.. This National 6422TR has all that in spades and I just begun to explore it. I've been lucky enough to have had at one time or another amps both vintage and contemporary by Fender, Vox, Music Man, Masco, Kalamazoo, Premier, Vampower, all kinds of tube PA heads and both a SJ Super Cruncher and Avenger. To find something which is somehow unique is exciting.
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LSC
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rbeetsme
815 posts
Aug 19, 2012
6:54 PM
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It absolutely should hold it's value and continue to increase, but the market can be fickle. None of that matters though if it has the sound you want. Clearly you're pleased, Let 'er rip!
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