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Topic: Small Tube Amp for Steel |
John Palumbo
From:
Lansdale, PA.
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Posted 26 Sep 2012 5:07 pm |
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| Looking for a small tube amp with reverb for playing at home at low volume, any opinions on the Vox AC15? any other suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks |
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Ken Jameson
From:
Alaska, USA
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Posted 26 Sep 2012 9:28 pm
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| I have an Alamo jet that is pretty cool as well as a Fender vibro champ. |
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Howard Montgomery
From:
Topeka, KS US
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Posted 27 Sep 2012 5:54 am
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| Princeton Reverb |
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Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 27 Sep 2012 6:53 am
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The Vox AC15 should be fine. I use a Fender Pro Junior and am very happy with it, but it doesn't have reverb. For that you'd need the Fender Blues Junior.
_________________
Bradβs Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars |
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Tim Marcus
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 27 Sep 2012 8:07 am
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I designed the Milkman 20W to be steel friendly:
about 20W, with plenty of low end for steel, and only 35lbs - plus its got the same reverb circuit as a Twin Reverb
_________________
Milkmansound.com |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 27 Sep 2012 10:19 am
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| that's nice, tim! reminds me of my old brown princeton. what's the price on that? |
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Tim Marcus
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 27 Sep 2012 11:50 am
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$2499 with new production tubes - $2899 with New Old Stock
I used mine last night to play at the Great American Music Hall here in San Francisco. For a small gig, or a big gig where there is a proper sound system its really great. If you are trying to fill up a large venue with just the amp, you will need more power.
The amp is built to a very high quality standard - you will be passing it along to your grandchildren 
_________________
Milkmansound.com |
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Michael Hummel
From:
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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Posted 27 Sep 2012 12:14 pm
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I have a Fender Princeton Recording amp that I bought a few years ago for recording 6-string. Don't use it much for that any more but it makes a nice amp for steel. Some might find the low end a little lacking with its 10" speaker, but for the things I do the low end isn't that important. It's about 20 watts with a pair of 6V6s in the output.
I replaced the original Fender (Jensen, I think) speaker with a Weber unit recommended for the amplifier and it takes away the Fender ice-pick highs and smooths things out nicely.
Mike
_________________
MSA Classic 5+4
Too many 6-strings and amps to list |
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LARRY COLE
From:
LANCASTER, OHIO, USA
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Posted 27 Sep 2012 8:07 pm
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| How does the Milkman compare with the Allen amps? |
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Tim Marcus
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 27 Sep 2012 8:47 pm
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there are a few differences - the main being that the Milkman 20W amp has cathode bias where the Allen has fixed bias. I prefer the sound of cathode bias on a low power amplifier, and it makes it very easy to swap output tubes.
Because of the bias difference, there is a difference in the tremolo circuit which probably does not apply much to steel playing.
Also, Allen makes his own transformers - Milkman uses Mercury Magnetics.
From what I can tell, Allen builds with carbon film resistor, compared to the carbon composition that my Milkman has.
Allen uses either teflon or PVC wire, I use cloth covered wire. He uses Mallory caps, I use Jupiter... you get the idea
You can compare gut shots starting with Allen on top and Milkman underneath:
_________________
Milkmansound.com |
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LARRY COLE
From:
LANCASTER, OHIO, USA
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Posted 27 Sep 2012 8:57 pm
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| I was just curious. I built and Allen Accomplice last year. It is 22 watts(6v6s) or 42 watts(6l6s). It is the best sounding amp I have ever played in my 50 years of playing. I have been wanting to build another one or two of them. Have never heard the Milkman. |
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Tim Marcus
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 27 Sep 2012 9:40 pm
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why am I having a hard time believing that you gain 20W from simply substituting tubes? How does that work?
On my amp the output power is still about 20-22W regardless of tube type. It is limited by the size of the transformer and plate voltage. I have tested RMS and Peak output from my amp and regardless of tube its always nearly the same - what you get from changing tubes on my amp is a different tonal and headroom character.
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Milkmansound.com |
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Howard Montgomery
From:
Topeka, KS US
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Posted 28 Sep 2012 6:55 am
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| Some Allens are cathode biased, I have a Brown Sugar that is 30W cathode biased with 6L6's and GZ34, or 15W with 6V6's and a 5Y3. It can also use EL34's. Amazing sounding amp. Not sure why you are confused with the power difference between 6V6's and 6L6's. |
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Tim Marcus
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 28 Sep 2012 7:25 am
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I'm not sure why I am either!
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Milkmansound.com |
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b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
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Posted 28 Sep 2012 7:45 am
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I use an old Fender Princeton in my music room at home. Mine doesn't have reverb, so I use a Holy Grail stomp box that does a pretty good job of emulating the old springs. To my mind, this is the perfect living room amp for steel guitar.
Technically, Mrs. Lee owns the Princeton (long story) so I'm not "allowed" to gig with it. If I could afford it, I'd buy the Milkman.
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-πππ- (admin) - Robert P. Lee - Recordings - Breathe - D6th - Video |
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LARRY COLE
From:
LANCASTER, OHIO, USA
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Posted 28 Sep 2012 3:53 pm
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| Normally the Accomplice is 22/35(6V6/6L6) watts but I got the bigger transformer that is supposed to do 42 watts with 6L6s. I don't know a lot about checking power. I built it with step by step instructions. Piece of cake. I can solder and change parts but can't troubleshoot electronics. |
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Tim Marcus
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 28 Sep 2012 5:57 pm
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I did some sniffing around and if you use 6V6 he drops the plate voltage with a 5Y3 rectifier tube. Clever. But tubes can not be interchanged - you set it up for one or the other and that's why you get such a wide swing of wattage. His Amos have a great reputation - and I am glad your kit came together without strange oscillations or buzzes!
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Milkmansound.com |
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John Palumbo
From:
Lansdale, PA.
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Posted 29 Sep 2012 4:32 pm
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Thanks everyone for all your input, much appreciated I would not of known where to even start, Tim that's an awesome amp.
John |
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Michael Dulin
From:
Indiana, USA
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Posted 2 Oct 2012 5:42 am small tube amp
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| Try a Fender Super Champ...you'll be pleasantly surprised! MD |
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