SuperBee
2943 posts
Nov 06, 2015
8:07 PM
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I just sold my hot rod deluxe and picked up this old Jet as part of the deal:
i'm not sure, but i think thats a late 50's or early 60s model. its hardly original..its running 6L6 tubes for starters, and the 5Y3 is a sovtek, which iirc is hardly a 5Y3 at all
Speaker is a Celestion G12S-50..
what interested me is the 6SL7 preamp..
i expect i'll get some 6V6s in it...and the volume hits feedback very quickly so i'll see what can be done about that..anyway...i'm glad to see that HR Deluxe go somewhere other than my spare room...it was a repossession and every time i saw it i guess it just reminded me of a bad scene...
Last Edited by SuperBee on Nov 06, 2015 8:42 PM
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clyde
443 posts
Nov 06, 2015
9:59 PM
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Can you show the top and back?
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SuperBee
2944 posts
Nov 07, 2015
12:48 AM
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sure
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Kingley
3955 posts
Nov 07, 2015
1:11 AM
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Ampeg Jets are nice amps for harp. A friend of mine had an original (mid 60's I think) and a reissue one. The original had a far better tone for harp. Although both had fairly low feedback thresholds from what I remember. Pretty cool amps for duo/small gigs and recording though.
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SuperBee
2945 posts
Nov 07, 2015
3:08 AM
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I thought the 12" might project a little better than my Princeton. And it's kinda cool. Quite a nice tonal quality. Be nice to have a bit more sweep on the volume but it's quite loud pre feedback, just comes on a bit suddenly
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kudzurunner
5747 posts
Nov 07, 2015
5:29 AM
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That's a reissue, not an old Jet.
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Barley Nectar
935 posts
Nov 07, 2015
6:12 AM
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I don't know about that Kudzu. Shouldn't it have the blue checker tolex or black speckle airplane cloth. Looks like it may have been recovered but the rivets on the corners look stock. Lets see some good gut shots. Supe, what is the tube lineup. There may be a schmo inside??
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SuperBee
2947 posts
Nov 07, 2015
1:14 PM
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Reissue had 6sl7s?
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SuperBee
2948 posts
Nov 07, 2015
1:21 PM
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Big can cap, 5y3, currently a pair of 6l6 but previous owner put those in, 6v6 was stock, 2 6SL7 in preamp. Tremolo, tone, volume. No reverb. I'll take the back off and photograph it soon.
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Barley Nectar
937 posts
Nov 07, 2015
2:49 PM
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Looks like vintage Jets run 6SL7 whereas RI runs 12AX7.
http://www.schematicheaven.net/ampegamps/ampeg_j12t_jet_ri.pdf
Gota see the layout to see tube type.
The vintage Jets are here, drawn by Rod Piazza.
http://www.unofficialampeg.com/schematics.html
I'm thinking the 7591a tube may run in that amp also but may need the power tube socket rewired. 7591's are good tubes.
This is cool...BN
Last Edited by Barley Nectar on Nov 07, 2015 4:37 PM
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clyde
444 posts
Nov 07, 2015
3:18 PM
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The late 50's models had slightly different screen, a rough upholstery, and the controls had markings under the knobs.
I lost two in a flood my dad's and mine.
The handle seems the same
Last Edited by clyde on Nov 07, 2015 3:19 PM
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SuperBee
2949 posts
Nov 07, 2015
4:48 PM
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Last Edited by SuperBee on Nov 07, 2015 4:56 PM
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SuperBee
2950 posts
Nov 07, 2015
4:52 PM
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SuperBee
2951 posts
Nov 07, 2015
4:54 PM
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SuperBee
2952 posts
Nov 07, 2015
5:09 PM
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the fella who had it has rewired one of the inputs to take a footswitch for the tremolo...and he may have rewired the tone pot...he lives close by and said he'll send me the schematic...he's probably the hardest working local blues guitarist...seems to be working somewhere every night, and has been at it for at least 30 years...i first caught his act on my 21st birthday...he told me that for jazz gigs, if headroom wasn't an issue, this is his favourite amp. But headroom IS an issue on his jazz gigs...hence his interest in my HRD...which despite its HR circuitry is still pretty much just a deluxe on the clean channel.
anyway...i suspect an old amp is always a project...
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Barley Nectar
938 posts
Nov 07, 2015
5:16 PM
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Oh Man! Home built.
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SuperBee
2954 posts
Nov 07, 2015
6:02 PM
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well yeah i see what you saying...oh well...the electrons wont mind
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alaska129
3 posts
Nov 07, 2015
6:51 PM
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Looks like a reissue to me. I play a 1961 Jet 12-b that with a little help from Mark B is a killer amp
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harpdaddy
8 posts
Nov 07, 2015
7:31 PM
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Looks like it has had a lot of work done to it. They originally had red Astron caps in them. As far as the 6SL7 preamp tubes. They have less gain than 12AX7's and have a nice deep fat tone. Really sort of perfect for harp. If the inputs are normal and bright it's a reissue.
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SuperBee
2957 posts
Nov 07, 2015
10:30 PM
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When were they reissued? Can someone tell me why they think this could be a reissue? I reckon BN is closer to the mark with his home made call. I'm in Australia and this is running on 240 vac., I can't see a chassis number, it's put together with tag board and eyelet board, no markings on the chassis face, red Jewel lamp...6sl7 preamp and phase splitter, 5y3 rectifier...did they really put out a reissue with all that old gear?
The inputs have been altered. There are no markings. One takes a footswitch for the tremolo.
All the pictures I can find of reissues have PCBs. Is that right? Are my photos not showing up?
Looks very like a J-12A, Or B. Except no original caps or resistors. I'll have to take it out and check the transformers. I thought even the cab was non original for a while but maybe it's authentic...hard to say. Not factory tolex, looks like some chipboard in there too.
Last Edited by SuperBee on Nov 07, 2015 10:52 PM
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SuperBee
2958 posts
Nov 07, 2015
11:40 PM
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Bill sent me a schematic for J-12a. He's been working on it using this schem...but he also confirms that when he got it, it was running 6v6 tubes, which were used in the J12b circuit...but again...apparently am peg was well known for messing about with part substitutions..,and..,given the evident complete gutting this amp has had, it's gonna need close attention to see what the heck is going on.
Bill also said he'd modified it for more headroom but whatever he did isn't obvious. What is obvious is that whatever he did it's not what he said he did. So I dunno...
I'm gonna take it steady on this thing. It's no collector piece...but it may be a cool harp amp anyway.
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pharpo
778 posts
Nov 08, 2015
8:24 AM
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I have an old one - They came with "Blue Diamond" tolex and jensen speakers.
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Procrastinator Emeritus
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SuperBee
2960 posts
Nov 08, 2015
11:14 AM
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Yes....my Tolex is clearly non-factory and my speaker is not original...for a whole I doubted any part was original but now I suspect that there was an ampeg amp involved at some point.
The cab specs are pretty much spot on, and I can't see someone cloning the cab to this extent and then doing such a crummy job in other respects...so I reckon they at least started with a factory cab.
As for being a reissue...I'd really love to know from those folks who consider it to be so, what is the giveaway?
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Barley Nectar
939 posts
Nov 08, 2015
3:07 PM
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That is NOT a RI. Maybe vintage Ampeg cab recovered, and chassis. Probably has at least one OEM tranny. It's a Frankenamp! If you like the way it sounds, put the covers back on and play it. If not, have your way with it like a cheep whore!..BN
Last Edited by Barley Nectar on Nov 09, 2015 8:11 AM
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kudzurunner
5748 posts
Nov 08, 2015
6:44 PM
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BarleyNectar knows better than I do. I had several vintage Ampegs back in the day; they both had that blue diamond Tolex. This looks much too clean. But Frankenamp? Maybe.
My Rocket looked like this:
http://s711.photobucket.com/user/terryward1520/media/Ampeg%20Rocket/AmpegRocket008_zps19db0157.jpg.html
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Barley Nectar
941 posts
Nov 09, 2015
8:34 AM
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Here is a thread on a vintage Jet with the 7591 power tubes. Good pics.
http://www.thefenderforum.com/forum/showthread.php?49197-1963-Ampeg-Jet
I always wanted to try a Jet. Love those octals. Supe, you can sub in a 6SN7 in either/both sockets to lower gain on that amp if you so desire. Rock on Brother...BN
Last Edited by Barley Nectar on Nov 09, 2015 8:34 AM
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pharpo
779 posts
Nov 09, 2015
9:47 AM
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I have a Rocket as well Adam. I got it from Ronnie ( Delta music) in Clarksdale. Deak said if I didn't buy it, he was going to !!! It's a pretty clean sounding amp, but with a 12au7 swap and a lone wolf pedal it gets crunchy when I need it to.
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Procrastinator Emeritus
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Barley Nectar
944 posts
Nov 09, 2015
10:26 AM
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pharpo, If you try a higher gain tube in place of the 12AU7, that amp will distort sooner. (crunch up) This may make the amp feedback sooner also. Try a 12AY7...BN
Last Edited by Barley Nectar on Nov 09, 2015 10:27 AM
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pharpo
780 posts
Nov 09, 2015
5:11 PM
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BN - I have an AY7 for it but my problem is feedback. Most of the venues I play right now I am right on top of the amp.....no room on the stage to get away from it. The AU7 gives me some extra volume before it starts to scream.
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Procrastinator Emeritus
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