Happy new year Brad! These troubleshooting and repair vids are what brought me to your channel. Good to see a new one pop into my notifications. I watched so many that during Christmas break I decide to build a kit amp. For the first time working on an amp, I thought it went well, and the end result sounds killer. I was able to recall tons of knowledge from your channel. Keep up the good work my man!
Russell, I got a Mojotone Studio One, which is a 1 watt output head. The tone stack is loosely based off a JCM800 according to Mojotone. Sounds great to my ears. Clean channel has a 12AY7, and the dirty channel uses two 12ax7’s. Output section uses a single 12bh7. It’s Diode rectified. I really liked it as a first build, but I will say that soldering small 9pin tube sockets takes a little practice for a newbie. Definitely not a small sounding amp through a 4x12, just much tamer on volume.
Russell E Simonetta, that’s a good idea. I’ll have to get on there and take a look. It’s fun being able to learn a new skill like this. Hopefully do another one in a few months. The wife is gonna love it lol.
It certainly catches your attention, I have not noticed any other music throughout the whole video (maybe there isn't any other music?), but I stopped listening to whatever he was saying when this started playing.
You have no strain relief on the power cord you added. If you're going to do it wrong and use a grommet instead, you should at least tie a knot in it so it doesn't pull out the first time somebody trips over the cord.
Happy 2019! Those screw heads were a industry blunder in the 70s! They were used in just about everything, from consumer electronics to the mobile home industry. Hated by the public! Is that a Baxandall tone stack? I thought the amp was naisaly sounding. Your overall view of what the amp is and needs to be, is spot on. These service videos are so incredible! I know you may be tired of doing them, but if it weren't for you and Uncle Doug, we, your loyal followers, would be without our hit of ampoholics fix. There are so many others who do excellent service repairs, but yours are like you are in the room with you looking over your shoulder. You give a honest appraisal of the mods that work the best for the money spent. Love ya! Thanxz
My old roommate, the renowned amp guru Frank Levi III once told me that the 6u10 tubes don't hold up to the continuous hot internal climate of the amp, the adjacent tubes, and the rising heat from the upside down 6u10. And it's squatty wide girth so close to the pcb. The pcb actually retained the tubes heat. He said the Magnavox TV factory was where they built the amps, and since tube TV's rarely had tubes in upside down locations (let alone with 4 or more beam power-amp tubes heating things up), the engineers were surprised the amps were as reliable as they even were! They sure sound great though. I've gigged with several. As far as solid state amps, the Ampeg G110 fet based, guitar combo amp is so damn dynamic! Great clean to dirty picking attack. Nothing sterile or cardboard about it. Just a raw no-eq'ed acoustic guitar piezo pick-up sounds great through it. Excellent reverb and tremolo too.
I had a 56 Chevy pick up that used those clutch screws to hold the fenders onto the bed. I bet if I tear apart the garage I might be able to find them :)
Hey Brad I watch a lot of yor videos, great work. The special driver bit you need for that Chassis screw is in the Harbor Frieght driver bit set (about $9).
Hello, i have a Gu12 with a replaced tremolo module. Tremolo works but doesn't get that pronounced. I'm interested if you can demo the tremolo range on that amp since it seems to have the original clairex photomod CL1110 ! Thx
All of a sudden, the pc board design made sense to me once you mentioned that Magnavox owned Ampeg at this time. I took apart a 1964-ish Magnavox console stereo and made a blackface Fender Champ out of it, but the pc board used on the radio portion has the exact same sort of design and orientation. The board on this radio was soldered to the chassis, which made things even more difficult. Basically, Ampeg used this design of circuit board because Magnavox used it.
Happy new year! When I saw the broken AC Outlet and that the epoxy looked suspect, I think I'd have eliminated that jack in favor of a modern IEC AC entry module. Trim the panel and pop that sucker in. It's cheap insurance for only a few bucks. They even make them with built-in ground line chokes and fuses.
Blue line graphics on Ampeg usually means first run 68/69. They changed to black with sharp corners in 70 and then softened the corners on the logo by 75
I have not closely inspected date codes on this other than the cap I show with a 1968 date code. I'm beginning to this this is late 1968 or early 1969 and therefore first run of this amp, because [SPOILER ALERT] the speaker turns out not to be original to this amp as I suspected it might not be.
It's interesting though that you saw a 72 date code on the transformer. If it's not a replaced Transformer, then that muddles things up a bit...I would think the OEM speaker would've been a square back CTS or something like that.
Thanks Brad! I learn so much from watching your videos and they're amusing too. The straightforward approach in troubleshooting and fixing has inspired me to have a go at my own stuff, so keep up the good work and the no b.s. attitude. A word of caution though, please don't use a plastic strip as the only powercord retainer. I've seen them come loose many times ( electrician ) and you're the one responsible for the safety of the costumer. I'd use anything that clamps or squeezes by the force of a thread. Cheers and a Happy new Year! Jerker Fridh
A few months back I bought a HeathKit hifi amp to convert into a 2203/2204 JCM800 style circuit. 2x 6EU7's, a 12AX7 PI and a pair of 7591A's. Not quite what Marshall used lol, but it sounds killer into a Marshall cab. The Heathkit schematic has the 7591s really hot from the factory, which I imagine is for the clean headroom, and maybe because they probably didn't expect people to dime their hifi stereo. Anyway, I bet that Ampeg is going to be awesome when this one is done. Glad to see a project that isn't giving you an existential crisis
I only understand about 15% of what you're saying and I know you're already trying to cater to people that are not electrical engineers but I appreciate it and I'm learning. I think. I still get nervous doing pickup and pickguard swaps but someday I will tinker with amps and pedals with any luck. Thanks for showing the slow process, and the added music during soldering montages helps I'm glad you're getting good footage of each step, A+ lighting and camera angles you could produce videos for Sweetwater, HSN or QVC and make bank if you're ever hurting for cash. May the power of Jesus Christ be with you.
GasserGlass never tried, but probably if given enough time with it. Check with 12-Volt vids, blue glow electronics, or Shango066 on something like that.
Makes me miss that period of my life where I had an early 70s V4...definitely don't miss all its problems though...but damn that amp sounded awesome, and best reverb I've ever heard in an amp.
I had one of those (but with a different speaker). It had an intermittent problem that made it sound anemic 90% of the time, but the 10% of the time the problem was absent it sounded amazing. I took it to my tech, but he couldn't locate the problem. So I had no choice but to get rid of it.
Magnovox TV circuit boards of this same era looked identical and also had all sockets soldered to the circuit board... The traces are super delicate, too.
I'd wanna rip that put and put a turret board in hahahaha. Wow. I love your documentation of so many amps.. Great stuff. But im not getting enough sleep I can't sleep because I'm watching like a binge watcher of whatever that's called? Um Netflix?
I have a VT-22 still going strong. The main issue is the pads lifting from the board from my experience. I had to also redo some grounds as it was noisy when I got it.
Brad, those side bolts are called "Clutch-head". You can find the frivers in many of those multi-tip screwdriver sets with one driver and two dozen bits that fit it. They usuallt come in a little silver blow-molded case with a hinged lid. Find 'rm online or at harbor freight. They used to be used in some foreign cars, and I've actually seen them used on old American carburetors.
Re flowing broken wave solder joints was 1/3 of my business when I had my repair shop. Wave solder was great for smaller components, Large components or things that got warm, not so much.
Thank you for showing the whole process. What was always missing in previous videos were the steps you took to get where you needed to be. It always seemed incomplete. Sped up, etc.. whatever. Just show the entire repair!!
Missing footswitch on tube tremolo is all I know about now...and missing back panel..I've emailed dude on Craigslist about working order ...and all parts. Not that I need another amp..this thing looks like its seen some serious mojo blueswork in the day...hope it manifests...I'll let you know if it does
I own one of these amps... The speaker shown in this video is definitely original as mine has the exact speaker. Others I've seen also have this Jensen C12R ("C" for Ceramic magnet, 12" speaker, "R" designates 25 Watts)..... The GU-12 is a 15 Watt amp. The speaker easily handles the power output. The screws in all Ampegs of this era are called Clutch head screws. Yes, they are weird. Why Ampeg chose those types of screws is a curiosity.... they require a 5/32 Clutch bit or screwdriver. Most people change these to Phillips head screws as the are far more common and a phillips screwdriver is usually within reach. The Ampeg Logo, on this amp, in the video, is missing from the speaker grill.
I don't know why but that the epoxy job is bothering me. I know you're the regular guys tube repair dude and all and I dig that about your channel. You should watch some silicone caulk/cornstarch cheap mold tech videos to learn how to quickly mold half broken parts n knobs.
"Hard" cracked me up! Alright Brad, you're telling us you couldn't fix this in a single vid? Just because Fran's Heath Kit build is going to take 5 vids to complete doesn't mean you can slack off! Maybe that Mesar Booger damaged your spirit. Only kidding. I love all your vids.
Donald Robinson.... This is very good info for people with vintage Ampeg’s... My ‘73 810 has about five hundred 3/8" Clutch Head screws mounting all the drivers, which would’ve been a PITA for me to remove ‘em all with a flathead screwdriver or something...
The factory is still there! You should go ask the current occupant if you can do a quick film for historical purposes and upload to UA-cam! I'd watch that.
Being that I'm OCD and fairly paranoid, I prob would've literally re-flowed every single joint on that board. There aren't a ton of components, so it wouldn't have been too much of a time suck. Plus I get a weird satisfaction out of watching old joints get fresh, shiny solder after 40 years
Hi, those fasteners were called clutch . I still have my old clutch driver from 48 years ago, and the Ampeg B25 head and bottom that went with, lol the bottom had 2 -15" CTS speakers
I love that you are rerunning these, you didn’t lose me with your political views in ‘21, hopefully you are getting what you want from your channel again if you weren’t.🙂
Hope the Boogers revenge isn't too much trouble ;) Love for Ampeg started with "Get Yer Ya Yas Out", then a new release ('69 i believe, i was 12). Later in '73, a class mate stepped up his rig to a SG Standard and a V-4 full stack. Nice set up.
I remember playing through a friends Ampeg amp....it was a 2×12 and on the input it had guitar or accordion written .....it made a warm fuzzy sound, and with an overdrive it could really sing....really fat solo tone....but, very muddy trying to riff out.....still cool.....
@@TheGuitologist Sadly, true. Some companies are more than happy to provide one if you ask for it, but even they are few. I don't touch amps for repair just because I'm not that great with engineering. But I know enough to be able to look at a schematic and know what each tube is doing so I can be a bit judicious in selection.
Hey Brad did you ever try J-B Weld 5-minute epoxy? It's a lot more versatile because he dries rock hard as opposed to the other epoxy which never really gets completely hard. And it's steel grey which always looks good.
Artie Saginario saw a vid the other day where a guy compared epoxy glues, several different brands. A couple were standout winners. Can't recall which.
Schematic on the top cover was a wonderful idea. Also the layout on schematic was damn good the way they labeled the section to the related tube. Just finished watching this video and I don't really think I need it...uh...yeah...umm I think I'd like to return this. What's your refund policy?
These Ampegs came with CTS speakers with square magnets (a terrible honking sounding speaker IMO much better for bass) Optional were Altec Lansing which sounded magnificent .. basically a clean amp with lots of headroom.
The Guitologist I'm in Ohio your channel is something different I really enjoy it,,,I'm old early 70s drummer.and play junk blues guitar ,,,also a new sub👍👍🎸🎸🍻🇺🇸
PART 1: ua-cam.com/video/j9OBf3KtwZ0/v-deo.html PART 2: ua-cam.com/video/Fbwj9jiSNfM/v-deo.html PART 3: ua-cam.com/video/v9EenBGTzQ4/v-deo.html PART 4: ua-cam.com/video/xj_2EorjpDA/v-deo.html
Upside down valves? All the electrons will fall out! It's a pity manufacturers no longer include the schematic like that, I guess everything is now a single chip solution!
I've got the same amp, the C12R was almost certainly the original speaker; that's what was used in this model. It was not up to the task of what rock guitar players were going to put it through. Ampeg didn't design amps for rock guitar players until a little bit later. They didn't expect people to push the volume past noon or so, I imagine. That said, once you replace the speaker, it is a remarkably good sounding amp. I've owned many, many Ampegs over the years (my first amp back in '72 was a brand new VT-40) and here in 2019, I have to say, the GU-12 is my favorite. It captures the "Ampeg sound" and basic personality of the VT-40 but in a much smaller, much more manageable format. BTW... the use of the bass and treble controls should be VERY notable. If they aren't, there's something wrong. That is a highly effective tone circuit. Here are a couple vids of mine: ua-cam.com/video/HxAVc2bgcEs/v-deo.html ua-cam.com/video/kHWtAJ-Wl5c/v-deo.html
Always enjoy your videos! Quick question... I know the legend of the flat woods monster but is that a sticker for a band or some project you were involved with?
Happy new year Brad! These troubleshooting and repair vids are what brought me to your channel. Good to see a new one pop into my notifications. I watched so many that during Christmas break I decide to build a kit amp. For the first time working on an amp, I thought it went well, and the end result sounds killer. I was able to recall tons of knowledge from your channel. Keep up the good work my man!
Awesome, Dan! Congrats!
Russell, I got a Mojotone Studio One, which is a 1 watt output head. The tone stack is loosely based off a JCM800 according to Mojotone. Sounds great to my ears. Clean channel has a 12AY7, and the dirty channel uses two 12ax7’s. Output section uses a single 12bh7. It’s Diode rectified. I really liked it as a first build, but I will say that soldering small 9pin tube sockets takes a little practice for a newbie. Definitely not a small sounding amp through a 4x12, just much tamer on volume.
Russell E Simonetta, that’s a good idea. I’ll have to get on there and take a look. It’s fun being able to learn a new skill like this. Hopefully do another one in a few months. The wife is gonna love it lol.
Harbor Freight grommet collection.. FLEX!
The design of this amp is very thoughtful for serviceman. Accessible from the top and bottom. Thumbs up Ampeg. Great video sir.
That B2B scene is the seed that planted my desire to play guitar.
Who the flex is giving this a thumbs down? I was hoping we wouldn't have so many thumbsuckers this year... oh well, great video Brad! Carry on!
I just finished watching "Back to the future" trilogy and you hit me with that intro.
First vacation I’ve had in years, and this is what I’m doing! Love these old ampegs, thanks for sharing.
Man, I love your videos. I learn something new every time. Thanks for all your hard work!
Thanks Brad, interesting, informative and humorous yet again. Much appreciated.
Interesting version of Nirvana's Lounge Act at 22:40.
Brad has covered the whole album!
@@mstecker Ah cool. Good taste!
@@PaulJoy Search for Electric Tooth Syndrome "Whatever, Nevermind". You'll find the whole thing.
I also thought to myself - what is this zorba nirvana stuff?
It certainly catches your attention, I have not noticed any other music throughout the whole video (maybe there isn't any other music?), but I stopped listening to whatever he was saying when this started playing.
You have no strain relief on the power cord you added. If you're going to do it wrong and use a grommet instead, you should at least tie a knot in it so it doesn't pull out the first time somebody trips over the cord.
Good vid Brad and looking forward to part two, as this is sounding like it could end up a nice little combo ... Happy New Year !
Happy 2019! Those screw heads were a industry blunder in the 70s! They were used in just about everything, from consumer electronics to the mobile home industry. Hated by the public! Is that a Baxandall tone stack? I thought the amp was naisaly sounding. Your overall view of what the amp is and needs to be, is spot on. These service videos are so incredible! I know you may be tired of doing them, but if it weren't for you and Uncle Doug, we, your loyal followers, would be without our hit of ampoholics fix. There are so many others who do excellent service repairs, but yours are like you are in the room with you looking over your shoulder. You give a honest appraisal of the mods that work the best for the money spent. Love ya! Thanxz
My old roommate, the renowned amp guru Frank Levi III once told me that the 6u10 tubes don't hold up to the continuous hot internal climate of the amp, the adjacent tubes, and the rising heat from the upside down 6u10. And it's squatty wide girth so close to the pcb. The pcb actually retained the tubes heat. He said the Magnavox TV factory was where they built the amps, and since tube TV's rarely had tubes in upside down locations (let alone with 4 or more beam power-amp tubes heating things up), the engineers were surprised the amps were as reliable as they even were! They sure sound great though. I've gigged with several.
As far as solid state amps, the Ampeg G110 fet based, guitar combo amp is so damn dynamic! Great clean to dirty picking attack. Nothing sterile or cardboard about it. Just a raw no-eq'ed acoustic guitar piezo pick-up sounds great through it. Excellent reverb and tremolo too.
Good vid Brad ... Hurry up with part 2 ... Them darn kids ... Lol ...
Happy new year brad. yep gotta help the little 1s. :-)
Your chassis screws on the side of the case are called "Double D" in the old automotive world. lol
Brad, Great video! I hope it makes you 9k this month.
Commonly know as clutch head screws.
I had a 56 Chevy pick up that used those clutch screws to hold the fenders onto the bed. I bet if I tear apart the garage I might be able to find them :)
Very common in/on Campers & older truck caps.
Clutch head...double Ds...sounds about right. :)
Hey Brad I watch a lot of yor videos, great work. The special driver bit you need for that Chassis screw is in the Harbor Frieght driver bit set (about $9).
Ok, good. Back to regularly scheduled programming!
Hello, i have a Gu12 with a replaced tremolo module. Tremolo works but doesn't get that pronounced. I'm interested if you can demo the tremolo range on that amp since it seems to have the original clairex photomod CL1110 ! Thx
All of a sudden, the pc board design made sense to me once you mentioned that Magnavox owned Ampeg at this time. I took apart a 1964-ish Magnavox console stereo and made a blackface Fender Champ out of it, but the pc board used on the radio portion has the exact same sort of design and orientation. The board on this radio was soldered to the chassis, which made things even more difficult. Basically, Ampeg used this design of circuit board because Magnavox used it.
Great Video Brad!Never should have sold my Ampeg Rocket, even though it was the first amp to shock me . Much has been learned since then!
Happy new year! When I saw the broken AC Outlet and that the epoxy looked suspect, I think I'd have eliminated that jack in favor of a modern IEC AC entry module. Trim the panel and pop that sucker in. It's cheap insurance for only a few bucks. They even make them with built-in ground line chokes and fuses.
Blue line graphics on Ampeg usually means first run 68/69. They changed to black with sharp corners in 70 and then softened the corners on the logo by 75
I have not closely inspected date codes on this other than the cap I show with a 1968 date code. I'm beginning to this this is late 1968 or early 1969 and therefore first run of this amp, because [SPOILER ALERT] the speaker turns out not to be original to this amp as I suspected it might not be.
It's interesting though that you saw a 72 date code on the transformer. If it's not a replaced Transformer, then that muddles things up a bit...I would think the OEM speaker would've been a square back CTS or something like that.
Flex
Thanks Brad! I learn so much from watching your videos and they're amusing too. The straightforward approach in troubleshooting and fixing has inspired me to have a go at my own stuff, so keep up the good work and the no b.s. attitude. A word of caution though, please don't use a plastic strip as the only powercord retainer. I've seen them come loose many times ( electrician ) and you're the one responsible for the safety of the costumer. I'd use anything that clamps or squeezes by the force of a thread.
Cheers and a Happy new Year!
Jerker Fridh
A few months back I bought a HeathKit hifi amp to convert into a 2203/2204 JCM800 style circuit. 2x 6EU7's, a 12AX7 PI and a pair of 7591A's. Not quite what Marshall used lol, but it sounds killer into a Marshall cab. The Heathkit schematic has the 7591s really hot from the factory, which I imagine is for the clean headroom, and maybe because they probably didn't expect people to dime their hifi stereo. Anyway, I bet that Ampeg is going to be awesome when this one is done. Glad to see a project that isn't giving you an existential crisis
I only understand about 15% of what you're saying and I know you're already trying to cater to people that are not electrical engineers but I appreciate it and I'm learning. I think. I still get nervous doing pickup and pickguard swaps but someday I will tinker with amps and pedals with any luck. Thanks for showing the slow process, and the added music during soldering montages helps I'm glad you're getting good footage of each step, A+ lighting and camera angles you could produce videos for Sweetwater, HSN or QVC and make bank if you're ever hurting for cash. May the power of Jesus Christ be with you.
The only Channel I don't fast forward thought the sponsor portion of the video.
What kind of a set up is the digital meter sitting on the variac? Does it have the donut whole to run the wires through?
tom474e I made a video on it. Search for "pimp my variac".
I hate it when my things get jostled. Happy New Year to you and all those You Love.
Ahhh a good standard amp maintenance video. Great stuff. Comforting somehow. And I'm still loving my Native Sons strap on my p-bass.
did you try an allen wrench to remove them bolts? Looks like a hex slot that too many people used slotted screwdrivers instead of hex bits...
Enjoying this so far. All the best for 2019 from Hobbiton NZ
The actress who's playing your toddler sounds adorable lol.
LightningDogg she's very convincing. Even wakes me up in the middle of the night. Method actor! :)
Wow, I'm impressed. That thing sounds awesome!
Really digging the drum and bass in the background! 👍
amazing to watch you do this
Hey Brad, what's the music around 14:30 - 17:40?
The owner should probably stock up some of those compactrons, they seem obsolete, even for tubes.
This is exactly how all of my damn repairs end lol
Ampeg also used a 6K11 compactron tube in the V4 series amps for an active midrange control it's pretty cool and interesting
Can you repair old Browning CB Base Stations?
GasserGlass never tried, but probably if given enough time with it. Check with 12-Volt vids, blue glow electronics, or Shango066 on something like that.
Ampeg: An interesting way of doing things. Never seen the inside of one before, interesting to see how things are done half way around the world.
Love these!
Excellent stuff sir.
@ 15:11 You didn't resolder the triplet on the right.
Makes me miss that period of my life where I had an early 70s V4...definitely don't miss all its problems though...but damn that amp sounded awesome, and best reverb I've ever heard in an amp.
I had one of those (but with a different speaker). It had an intermittent problem that made it sound anemic 90% of the time, but the 10% of the time the problem was absent it sounded amazing. I took it to my tech, but he couldn't locate the problem. So I had no choice but to get rid of it.
I had the same problem, had to let it go.
Does that 1M linear volume pot sound very well?
Back to the future intro:)
Magnovox TV circuit boards of this same era looked identical and also had all sockets soldered to the circuit board...
The traces are super delicate, too.
I'd wanna rip that put and put a turret board in hahahaha. Wow.
I love your documentation of so many amps.. Great stuff.
But im not getting enough sleep I can't sleep because I'm watching like a binge watcher of whatever that's called? Um Netflix?
Thanks for watching.
I have a VT-22 still going strong. The main issue is the pads lifting from the board from my experience. I had to also redo some grounds as it was noisy when I got it.
Happy New year to you & your family.
@ 4:40 clutch head screws (very difficult to find the drivers)
Nonsense!
You can find the screwdriver for those screws at a mobile home parts shop. The trailer I grew up in had those everywhere.
Brad, those side bolts are called "Clutch-head". You can find the frivers in many of those multi-tip screwdriver sets with one driver and two dozen bits that fit it. They usuallt come in a little silver blow-molded case with a hinged lid. Find 'rm online or at harbor freight. They used to be used in some foreign cars, and I've actually seen them used on old American carburetors.
Back in the day every mobile home had clutch head screws in everything lol. I have so many I can't find them anymore lol.
Peavey used compactron tubes in the early 70s vintage, which was a tweed bassman copy with reverb and 100 watts.
I have a question what wire cutters are those? I’m an avionics tech and those seem perfect for my job and this work too.
The ones I have are Ripley. Made in USA. There are crappy knock offs out there too, but here are the Ripleys:
amzn.to/2RnMh95
Actually, mine are Model 100, now that I look. The ones in the link are close, but slightly different.
Thank you so much!
Re flowing broken wave solder joints was 1/3 of my business when I had my repair shop. Wave solder was great for smaller components, Large components or things that got warm, not so much.
Thank you for showing the whole process. What was always missing in previous videos were the steps you took to get where you
needed to be. It always seemed incomplete. Sped up, etc.. whatever. Just show the entire repair!!
Brad have you ever done the ken Fisher master volume mod to any of the v series amps? A pot across the power tube grids.??? Omg !!!!!!!
No.
Is 200 bucks a good deal on a worn Silvertone 1333 that works.?..seems to have original tubes and speaker but missing back panel
That's a smoking deal if it's all there.
@@TheGuitologist thanks Brad!
Missing footswitch on tube tremolo is all I know about now...and missing back panel..I've emailed dude on Craigslist about working order ...and all parts. Not that I need another amp..this thing looks like its seen some serious mojo blueswork in the day...hope it manifests...I'll let you know if it does
What band is that playing Lounge Act?
Electric Tooth Syndrome
I own one of these amps... The speaker shown in this video is definitely original as mine has the exact speaker. Others I've seen also have this Jensen C12R ("C" for Ceramic magnet, 12" speaker, "R" designates 25 Watts)..... The GU-12 is a 15 Watt amp. The speaker easily handles the power output. The screws in all Ampegs of this era are called Clutch head screws. Yes, they are weird. Why Ampeg chose those types of screws is a curiosity.... they require a 5/32 Clutch bit or screwdriver. Most people change these to Phillips head screws as the are far more common and a phillips screwdriver is usually within reach. The Ampeg Logo, on this amp, in the video, is missing from the speaker grill.
I don't know why but that the epoxy job is bothering me. I know you're the regular guys tube repair dude and all and I dig that about your channel. You should watch some silicone caulk/cornstarch cheap mold tech videos to learn how to quickly mold half broken parts n knobs.
"Hard" cracked me up! Alright Brad, you're telling us you couldn't fix this in a single vid? Just because Fran's Heath Kit build is going to take 5 vids to complete doesn't mean you can slack off! Maybe that Mesar Booger damaged your spirit. Only kidding. I love all your vids.
Brad, when will you be pulling out your recently acquired Gold Les Paul Classic for some demo action?
The proper name for those fasteners are called clutch head screws
Donald Robinson.... This is very good info for people with vintage Ampeg’s... My ‘73 810 has about five hundred 3/8" Clutch Head screws mounting all the drivers, which would’ve been a PITA for me to remove ‘em all with a flathead screwdriver or something...
Neat, I live rite next to linden. Wasn’t aware they were ever made in NJ.
My first guitar amp (in 1959) was a 1x12 Ampeg Jet, from Linden, very near my home in Summit.
Google "Jess Oliver" who was the tech wizard at Ampeg in the 50's. He designed the Porta Flex bass line.
The factory is still there! You should go ask the current occupant if you can do a quick film for historical purposes and upload to UA-cam! I'd watch that.
I'm near Linden the one in Texas. A lot if music from here.
@@TheGuitologist I'll give it a shot, worse thing that can happen is I get shot.
Do you ever get to work on the older ( 80's-90's ) Carvin x100 tube amps?
jgmopar I've owned a couple. Been so long since I had them, I don't recall anything about servicing details.
HEY GUITOLOGIST! what a great little amp!! and by the way that ring 10:10 is pimped out my bother!
Flex!
Being that I'm OCD and fairly paranoid, I prob would've literally re-flowed every single joint on that board. There aren't a ton of components, so it wouldn't have been too much of a time suck. Plus I get a weird satisfaction out of watching old joints get fresh, shiny solder after 40 years
Hi, those fasteners were called clutch . I still have my old clutch driver from 48 years ago, and the Ampeg B25 head and bottom that went with, lol
the bottom had 2 -15" CTS speakers
I love that you are rerunning these, you didn’t lose me with your political views in ‘21, hopefully you are getting what you want from your channel again
if you weren’t.🙂
Good video Brad, bit worried with your last one
Hope the Boogers revenge isn't too much trouble ;) Love for Ampeg started with "Get Yer Ya Yas Out", then a new release ('69 i believe, i was 12). Later in '73, a class mate stepped up his rig to a SG Standard and a V-4 full stack. Nice set up.
I remember playing through a friends Ampeg amp....it was a 2×12 and on the input it had guitar or accordion written .....it made a warm fuzzy sound, and with an overdrive it could really sing....really fat solo tone....but, very muddy trying to riff out.....still cool.....
The 70s ones you can usually dial in enough midrange to get a nice AC/DC Marshall tone.
I picked up one of these off of Offer Up for $100 with all of the original paperwork and hangtags and other goodies. I flipped it for around $350.
Those screws are boogered up clutch heads. Love your videos
That's one thing I wish they would still do in this decade. Include a schematic. Whether it's a pedal, an amp, anything.
Isher they won't unless consumers learn to demand it again.
@@TheGuitologist Sadly, true.
Some companies are more than happy to provide one if you ask for it, but even they are few. I don't touch amps for repair just because I'm not that great with engineering. But I know enough to be able to look at a schematic and know what each tube is doing so I can be a bit judicious in selection.
they are clutch head screws,I have many Ampeg amps of that era,the screwdrivers are still avable.
@@goodun6081 Damn. Sorry I missed that deal.
I will look for my clutch driver collection. I only ever used one on a 1960s Ford dashboard radio. Decades ago.
You should do Q&A videos more often !
At least it has that access plate on the other side
It has a back door, but you have to pull some nuts to get in it.
Hey Brad did you ever try J-B Weld 5-minute epoxy? It's a lot more versatile because he dries rock hard as opposed to the other epoxy which never really gets completely hard. And it's steel grey which always looks good.
Artie Saginario saw a vid the other day where a guy compared epoxy glues, several different brands. A couple were standout winners. Can't recall which.
I do recall the quick stuff was the worst.
Schematic on the top cover was a wonderful idea. Also the layout on schematic was damn good the way they labeled the section to the related tube. Just finished watching this video and I don't really think I need it...uh...yeah...umm I think I'd like to return this. What's your refund policy?
Tommy conan Coates returns permitted and encouraged...100% restock fee.
Brad, that epoxy job on the AC outlet ain't 'zactly your bright shining moment.
Much respect for the Nirvana.
A thought, using the 1 minute epoxy in the tubes, mixes in the tube and goes into place nicely, no messy fingers and work bench, i love the stuff
Gonna finish this one?
These Ampegs came with CTS speakers with square magnets (a terrible honking sounding speaker IMO much better for bass) Optional were Altec Lansing which sounded magnificent .. basically a clean amp with lots of headroom.
Happy New Year, buddy! That's my favorite Nirvana song.
maluorno when the screams kick in on the last verse...hell yeah.
haha! That's for sure! I have some Nirvana covers from my band on my channel if you feel so inclined. :^V
Where are you located Brad,,,Tennessee???
Louisville, KY
The Guitologist I'm in Ohio your channel is something different I really enjoy it,,,I'm old early 70s drummer.and play junk blues guitar ,,,also a new sub👍👍🎸🎸🍻🇺🇸
Part 2? Where it be?
PART 1: ua-cam.com/video/j9OBf3KtwZ0/v-deo.html
PART 2: ua-cam.com/video/Fbwj9jiSNfM/v-deo.html
PART 3: ua-cam.com/video/v9EenBGTzQ4/v-deo.html
PART 4: ua-cam.com/video/xj_2EorjpDA/v-deo.html
@@TheGuitologist you freaking rock brother!!! Watching them now.
Hey Brad, cool video as always. Say, what was that song while you resoldered the tube sockets?
J.B. Weld man, not epoxy! lol. Nice job but not enough flexing.
I got to flex my strippers. ;)
Jb weld is epoxy.
Upside down valves? All the electrons will fall out! It's a pity manufacturers no longer include the schematic like that, I guess everything is now a single chip solution!
"Daddy!" - stopped. ROFL.
I've got the same amp, the C12R was almost certainly the original speaker; that's what was used in this model. It was not up to the task of what rock guitar players were going to put it through. Ampeg didn't design amps for rock guitar players until a little bit later. They didn't expect people to push the volume past noon or so, I imagine.
That said, once you replace the speaker, it is a remarkably good sounding amp. I've owned many, many Ampegs over the years (my first amp back in '72 was a brand new VT-40) and here in 2019, I have to say, the GU-12 is my favorite. It captures the "Ampeg sound" and basic personality of the VT-40 but in a much smaller, much more manageable format.
BTW... the use of the bass and treble controls should be VERY notable. If they aren't, there's something wrong. That is a highly effective tone circuit.
Here are a couple vids of mine:
ua-cam.com/video/HxAVc2bgcEs/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/kHWtAJ-Wl5c/v-deo.html
I'm hoping the customer will want you to increase the volume*...
Looking f'ward to part two.
*(if poss.)
thanx for a great vid, Brad and...
cheers
Always enjoy your videos! Quick question... I know the legend of the flat woods monster but is that a sticker for a band or some project you were involved with?