Sound City (NAD) Now with pictures.

[maverickf1jockey]

I went down to a music shop today and bought myself an old sound city L120 (in need of a new handle), which was listed at £250.
After asking whether a discount was possible I was informed that the shop could let it go for £210
I then managed to wrangle myself a free patch lead to bridge the inputs.
I also bought myself a patch lead (which was a nice one with proper Neutrik jacks) listed at £16.99.
Taking a glance at this the shopworker incorrectly identified it at £5 (by then I think he wanted me out probably) making a total saving of over £50.
I still need to finish clearing it out (it is a bit dusty in there) but to my surprise as I peered inside I found a sizeable family of old mullards nesting in the cabinet (which was made out of solid wood rather strangely) what do I do to set them on their way :lol:

I will try to post some pictures later.

I think I can easily put out more volume than most amps on the forum now, about on par with the original marshall plexis (it has a very similar panel too with volumes for each channel but no master)

I can't wait to give it a short blast though my 4X12" with my HT-Dual.

As you can probably tell I'm a bit chuffed my end.

Now I just need to repay the cash I borrowed from my dad to pay for all this.

[Denim n Leather]

Ah, nice find!!

[MrBump]

I didn't think that you could find stuff like that anymore...  Thought EBay had put an end to it.

[Will]

I think I can easily put out more volume than most amps on the forum now, about on par with the original marshall plexis (it has a very similar panel too with volumes for each channel but no master)

Is that a challenge  :twisted:

I bet that sounds sweet though, and a great price. You could probably sell the mullards and have it for half price

[Oli]

Ah you bar-steward! I've been wanting a Sound City for ages, but the prices (on eBay) seem to be going up for them... when they rarely appear there now! Good find :)

[maverickf1jockey]

Sound city aren't fashionable to my knowledge (at least round my way).

You can't give them away a lot of the time.

The same goes for W.E.M./Watkins I think.

The recent trend for multiple channel high-gain amps has put an end to the popularity of many vintage amp brands as people are looking to get as much as they can out of a small box.

This is all the better for someone who is looking for a simple amp with the least to go wrong as possible.

These are things you can only find in small shops.

I know the bloke who owns the shop and he knew exactly what it was but couldn't sell it for shite; people were too put off by the transformer hum (which stays at a constant volume so isn't a problem at all for live shows), the plastic knobs and the rusty grilling and so didn't give it much of a chance. I think he'll be pleased to see it sell rather than sit unused on top of an ENGL Fireball head.

I think that I would be very foolish to try and move it to overdrive given that a marshall plexi will blast out our ears before breaking up and that this has a higher wattage rating (not that that would make a huge impact) and is cleaner at high volume anyway (Take the sound of The Who during the '70s coming from the backline live at Wembley Stadium as this was essentially the amp they would use).

I am quite tempted to make use of the slave outputs and have six cabinets running at once (somewhat of a pipe dream).

Should I feel the need there is a headphone socket too.

[Twinfan]

I think I can easily put out more volume than most amps on the forum now, about on par with the original marshall plexis (it has a very similar panel too with volumes for each channel but no master)

Ahem.  You will not 'easily put out more volume' than this, my moddified Laney Klipp.  It outputs 120w clean, and it's estimated around 200w when fully cranked  :o  :D

[MrBump]

I think I can easily put out more volume than most amps on the forum now, about on par with the original marshall plexis (it has a very similar panel too with volumes for each channel but no master)

Ahem.  You will not 'easily put out more volume' than this, my moddified Laney Klipp.  It outputs 120w clean, and it's estimated around 200w when fully cranked  :o  :D

That's fighting talk.

I sense an "amp-off" on the horizon...

[MrBump]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Sound-City-30C-Valve-amplifier-footswitch-as-new_W0QQitemZ320327304824QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_MusicalInstr_Amplifiers_RL?hash=item320327304824&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72:1298|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318

[maverickf1jockey]

That's a similar rating to mine (I can't say it's the same due to them being different manufacturers and so some discrepancy in the measurement method is guaranteed) .

One testimonial on the amp claims that his clocked 118db (that's almost one per wattRMS).

We'll probably do best to call l this one a dead heat.

EDIT: @MrBump; I assume that's for Oli?

I also neglected to mention it was a mark four custom build (as reads the legend under the neon power lamp).

[Will]

You two aren't thinking about speaker efficiency ;)
Will wins!

[maverickf1jockey]

Fair point but with a cabinet set as a constant value there isn't a lot in it.

Besides, mine is ULTRA LOUD!!! as is written on the pricing ticket :lol:

[Twinfan]

What transformers have you got in the Sound City?  Mine's got soem big old Partridges, and I'm assuming yours has too?

You need to get some pics up  :)

[Adam.M]

*looks at the 1,200 watts to his left*

I win.

 :D

[maverickf1jockey]

I will get some pictures but I need to clean it first.

I might take a couple of pictures of the inside too whilst I'm there.

If I'm correct Partridges would have yellow paint, is that correct?

The transformers have a yellow paint on them but it is transparent and coming off, possibly the same person who managed to wipe the print off of some of the valves wiped some of the paint off.

I shall do you some pictures.