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Post by Rob DiStefano on Feb 25, 2008 7:13:07 GMT -5
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Post by efnikbug on Feb 25, 2008 15:55:53 GMT -5
I was able to resist. Evidence that I have my GAS under control.
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Post by Ray M. on Feb 25, 2008 20:44:14 GMT -5
We're expecting a full review.
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Post by Rob DiStefano on Feb 28, 2008 7:14:22 GMT -5
Will do!
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Post by Rob DiStefano on Feb 29, 2008 6:46:05 GMT -5
GA-5 arrived and while allowing it a few hours to warm up to room temperature, I started checking it out ... Yes, I do believe a 10" will fit on the baffle insides - however, the TV front will block some of the speaker cone. The outside of the chassis - notice the supplied JJ tubes! It'll be easy to remove the rear panel grille, and well worth doing (for me, at least).
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Post by Rob DiStefano on Feb 29, 2008 6:46:59 GMT -5
Cool - computer plug socket, not hard-wired. Plug box - that's gotta get fixed or removed, because as is it's a pain. Sonic evaluation soon - but I did find time to run a few different guitars through it ... I need another - it's that good. Really. No kidding. Other than pulling off the rear screen and "cord box", I see no need to change a thing on this amp ... not even the speaker. Wow. I'm speechless.
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Post by gmello on Feb 29, 2008 8:48:32 GMT -5
really cool.. one day I will stop using half-stacks and switch to something like that
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Post by Rob DiStefano on Mar 1, 2008 19:30:57 GMT -5
My "nephew" Andre (guitarist for Rosie Ledet and the Zydeco Playboys) now has my 5F1 Li'l Dawg Champster Special 1x12 combo. He's been gigging with it at venues up to 3000 in the audience, and is now recording with the same li'l 5 watt 6V6 Class A amp. He's sold his '67 Twin and assorted other 50 to 100 watt tube amps and now has a trio of Little Dawg Champster Special combos - a pair of 1x12's and a 1x15. He uses a vast mixture of guitars, from Fenders to Gibsons, single coils and standard humbuckers. Hey, to each their own, and if it works for ya then just go for it ....
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Post by Rob DiStefano on Mar 8, 2008 17:21:32 GMT -5
Completed three easy GA-5 circuit mods and this REALLY opened up the amp tone BIG TIME - now it's even quieter than before, more clean headroom, fatter and fuller sounding, later and much smoother overdrive. Man, I'm glad I bought another! Put a jumper across the inline 1m/22pf (green arrow on left points to red jumper wire), lift (cut) the 1st stage 25uf cap (green arrow on right points to the cut wire) ... Add a 47k negative feedback resistor resistor (green arrow) from the yellow RCA speaker jack hot lead to pin 8 of the 12AX7 socket ...
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Post by Rob DiStefano on Mar 11, 2008 18:38:52 GMT -5
Carling off/standby/on added. I pulled the GA-5 2-way power switch and removed the brown wire that goes to the IEC socket and the twisted pair of black and black/white wires from the PT. I moved those two wires over to the Carling switch (see diagram below). I removed the short white jumper between the rectifier diodes and the first filter cap, replaced that with a twisted pair of 18 gauge stranded wires (red and green). I connected the diode/filter wires to the Carling switch (see diagram below). I installed the Carling switch so that the end without lugs faces up (flipped the switch around as it looks in the diagram below) - and bundled all the loose wires together with mini tie wraps. The switch works flawlessly.
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Post by Rob DiStefano on Mar 11, 2008 18:39:53 GMT -5
MF is getting in more GA-5 amps sometime in May, will still sell for $299/delivered.
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Post by Rob DiStefano on Mar 11, 2008 18:52:25 GMT -5
Recap of my GA-5 mods to date ...
CIRCUIT (as of 3/11) * 1m resistor and 22pf cap removed and jumpered * 1st stage 25uf cap lifted * 47k NFB added
The above three mods (the GA-5 "trinity") take the stock raunchy tweedy amp and tame it down with a fatter fuller tone, more headroom and quiets the beast down. Not that the stock tone is bad at all, it sure does sound great, but IMHO it's close to a one trick pony tone.
* 1/4" external 8 ohm speaker jack added * added a tube shield to the 12AX7 preamp tube * replaced the 2-way power switch with a Carling 3-way for off/standby/on - this will help with tube life since the rectifier is solid state
SPEAKER * Weber 8F150 - awaiting arrival next week (I hope)
CAB * remove the power cord box * remove the rear grille * rebaffle with 1/2" birch ply and cane grille - awaiting the speaker
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Post by gmello on Mar 12, 2008 20:54:47 GMT -5
I think I will get one when MF restocks them. I've been needing a small amp for a long time now (I have a HR deluxe but that amp is still very loud).
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Post by Rob DiStefano on Mar 12, 2008 21:59:35 GMT -5
A box stock GA-5 is pretty much "tweed tone personified". That's neither a good or bad thing. It is what it is. Depending on yer guitar pickups and playing style, there's a sonic niche the GA-5 will offer up for that raunchy, raspy, in-yer-face killer overdriven tone. I like that. It's not terribly versatile and not much clean headroom happening, box stock. Again, it is what it is. Swap out the 12AX7 (100% gain) for a 5751 (70%), AT7 (60%), AY7 (45%) or even an AU7 (19%) and, to some degree, that'll attenuate the 1st stage signal boost and sweeten the overall tone while lowering the overall volume. The simple mod trio is kinda all about fattening the tone a LOT, adding needed clean headroom, allows a sweeter 'n' later overdrive, definitely reduces humbuzz a LOT. IMHO, it makes the amp lots more versatile for other styles of music - BUT greatly reduces the "tweed tone" and drops the overall volume down a tad. These mods are too easy to accomplish and just as easy to reverse. No matter what, you couldn't build a GA-5 - or anything similar - for $300. Definitely quality components, build - and tone! For $299.99 - GET ONE! PS - yes, I manage to snag another new GA-5 before they sold out!
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Post by Ray M. on Mar 14, 2008 7:54:30 GMT -5
This is a great thread!! What type of guitars are you basing your evaluations on, Rob?
In my past experience, something like that could sound good with a fender then choke to death when you plug in a higher output HB guitar.
Shame on you for giving me amp GAS. I love the simplicity of this versus the pseudo simplicity of a Blues Jr.
I have three small amps, none of which get much play time.
Blues Jr....not really in the same class as this amp. Electar T-10 Roland Micro Cube.
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