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Author Topic:  Bonitron Sho Bud Studio Stage 500 Amplifier
Bobby DeMoss


From:
Kansas City, Missouri, USA
Post  Posted 14 Dec 2024 12:16 pm    
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My name is Bobby DeMoss, a Steeler in Kansas City North.
In electronics now 57 years.
I recently acquired 3 Sho Bud Studio Stage 500 amplifiers made in Nashville by Bonitron and have dissected the amp chassis. They are in 3 stages of development. The final stage is really quite good! According to what I have heard they were to compete with the Session 400's. The Peaveys were 210 watts RMS. Well, Bonitron apparently did not want anyone to pump that kind of power through a single speaker(JBL D130F). What their dirty little secret was is to build two 100 watt amplifier modules into one amplifier Chassis. If you notice from my pictures, which include 3 stages of design changes, you will see the 2 amps wired independently through two separate fuses to two speaker output jack's. This way they got out of blowing speakers under warranty and was to get you to use another cabinet/speaker loading both amp modules. Thus power of 200 watts in competition.
Sounds just awesome too. Just think, a true stereo efx loop! Currently working on a buffer stage for this!
See picture.


[img]https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/userpix2203/7504_1
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A Rig-Zumsteel 08 Anti E9th 9x10, Vegas 400's x2 Lemay Mods, B Rig-Zumsteel 99 9x10, Stroborack's X2, Lexicon MPX200's x2.
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Larry Dering


From:
Missouri, USA
Post  Posted 14 Dec 2024 9:16 pm    
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Bobby that is cool and some intriguing design information. Bet she sounds great.
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Bobby DeMoss


From:
Kansas City, Missouri, USA
Post  Posted 15 Dec 2024 5:59 pm     Sho Bud Bonitron Studio Stage 500
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Trying to decide if I should run a second speaker, which is just something else to carry around, or invert the second amp stage input signal and run the amps in bridge mode?
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A Rig-Zumsteel 08 Anti E9th 9x10, Vegas 400's x2 Lemay Mods, B Rig-Zumsteel 99 9x10, Stroborack's X2, Lexicon MPX200's x2.
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Larry Dering


From:
Missouri, USA
Post  Posted 16 Dec 2024 7:11 am    
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I can't imagine the need for that much power. I would go for the extra speaker option. Cabinets are available that are light enough and I love the sound stage when it's spread apart.
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Jerry Kippola


From:
UP Michigan, USA
Post  Posted 20 Dec 2024 5:09 pm    
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I have an early one of these amps that i haven't been able to get fixed, do you have a schematic you could share, ? Jerry
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Bobby DeMoss


From:
Kansas City, Missouri, USA
Post  Posted 21 Dec 2024 7:36 am     Bonitron Sho Bud Studio Stage 500 schematic
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Jerry, no I do not currently have a schematic but plan on reverse engineering one and possibly drawing one. I may try contacting Bonitron to see if they still have anything archived!
My final design amp sounds killer. Needs an efx loop though. One of the two prototype amps I have has Earl Skuggs Review stenciled on the back of it. The two amp modules are just that, breadboard modules but professionally done!
_________________
A Rig-Zumsteel 08 Anti E9th 9x10, Vegas 400's x2 Lemay Mods, B Rig-Zumsteel 99 9x10, Stroborack's X2, Lexicon MPX200's x2.
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