Author Topic: Problem with my vintage amp please read (Read 5364 times)

Brow · « **on:** March 28, 2007, 06:42:01 PM »

Hey guys.

A local shop of mine has a Early 70s (73' or 74 he thinks) Carlsbro (a UK company for those who don't know) '50 Top' amplifier head (handwired clone of a Plexi from what I can tell) for sale at £350. The amp has recently been fully serviced and re-valved.

The amp is a single channel amp with 2 EL3s, 2 inputs (bright and normal I think), Bass, Middle, Treble and Volume controls.

I tried the amp with my BKP Mule loaded Gibson Les Paul and the amp sounded warm, Fat and seems that it would suit my Classic Rock come Indie Rock sound well :)

There's a Re-issue of this amp (also handwired) currently on Ebay with a starting price of £200.

I know I'm interested in 1 of these amps, but I'm having trouble deciding which would be a 'better' purchase. At £350 the vintage amp is a little overpriced for what they currently sell for, while the re-issued amps were original sold for over £600, so neither would be a bad buy.

In my position, which would you do and why?

PhilKing · « **Reply #1 on:** March 28, 2007, 07:48:23 PM »

Did they replace the capacitors with the service? I used to be a Carlsbro dealer in the 70's and the amps were pretty good, though more often used for bass. Find a Selmer T&B if you want an older bargain amp.

No idea on the reissue, does it use all the same components? If it does it sounds like a better deal.

horsehead · « **Reply #2 on:** March 28, 2007, 07:56:24 PM »

Personally I'd go for the shop one, you've always then got somewhere to take it back to, you've tried it & liked it...peace of mind is worth £150 to me

£200 difference & I'd have the same problem though :P

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #3 on:** March 28, 2007, 08:04:37 PM »

I'd buy the old one - offer them £300 and I'll be surprised if they say no (be prepared to walk if they twist and say no).

The old Carlsbro Top50s have Partridge transformers as far as I can remember - you want to make sure it has these!!!

They are ok amps but I'd get a Selmer T&B off ebay myself - much nicer amp (very close to a Marshall Bluesbreaker in tone but punchier in the bass end and a more 'open' tone).

The Carlsbro isn't a Marshall clone, it's got a completely different circuit using a Baxendall tonestack (popular in hi-fi systems)

:twisted:

Twinfan · « **Reply #4 on:** March 28, 2007, 09:25:39 PM »

If you like the sound of the one you tried, I'd buy that. The new one might be a dog.

But then I'm slightly biased towards early 70s valve amps ;)

Brow · « **Reply #5 on:** March 29, 2007, 05:35:17 PM »

Thanks for your opinions guys :)

The guy in the shop said it'd recently been fully serviced 'with a few bits replaced that were getting worn out', so he could very well mean Capacitors etc.

I'm thinking about using the Ebay auction as leverage and trying to get the price down on the Vintage amp. A sale is better than none at all eh? :lol:

I'd only heard it mentioned that it was some sort of a Marshall clone, I actually know next to nothing about the insides of amps myself! :roll:

I just had a look on Ebay for Selmer amps and the only 1 I could find was $3000?! How much do the Selmer T&Bs usually go for?

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #6 on:** March 29, 2007, 08:54:44 PM »

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SELMER-TREBLE-N-BASS-MKIII-50WATT-GUITAR-AMPLIFIER_W0QQitemZ330103455582QQcategoryZ10171QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SELMER-TREBLENBASS-50R-SV-AMPLIFIER_W0QQitemZ120102523835QQcategoryZ10171QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

either of the above would be fine for classic rock and indie - stick a pedal in the front and you've got hard rock.

I'll admit that they're not the prettiest amps, but they sound GREAT.

:twisted:

Brow · « **Reply #7 on:** March 29, 2007, 10:10:40 PM »

Quote from: HEAVIER THAN HELL

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SELMER-TREBLE-N-BASS-MKIII-50WATT-GUITAR-AMPLIFIER_W0QQitemZ330103455582QQcategoryZ10171QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SELMER-TREBLENBASS-50R-SV-AMPLIFIER_W0QQitemZ120102523835QQcategoryZ10171QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

either of the above would be fine for classic rock and indie - stick a pedal in the front and you've got hard rock.

I'll admit that they're not the prettiest amps, but they sound GREAT.

:twisted:

Thanks for the links :)

That top 1 looks great :)

1 thing: the top amp you linked to says it has 3 silicone rectifiers whereas another auction for the same amp says it has a GZ34 (I think) valve rectifier. Which in your opinion is 'correct'?

Brow · « **Reply #8 on:** March 31, 2007, 05:23:49 PM »

I got the vintage Carlsbro today :)

I'm using it at a gig tonight, so I'll post back tomorrow with my findings :)

Twinfan · « **Reply #9 on:** April 01, 2007, 07:13:57 PM »

Excellent - let us know how it goes!

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #10 on:** April 01, 2007, 07:34:08 PM »

Quote from: Brow

Quote from: HEAVIER THAN HELL
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SELMER-TREBLE-N-BASS-MKIII-50WATT-GUITAR-AMPLIFIER_W0QQitemZ330103455582QQcategoryZ10171QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SELMER-TREBLENBASS-50R-SV-AMPLIFIER_W0QQitemZ120102523835QQcategoryZ10171QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

either of the above would be fine for classic rock and indie - stick a pedal in the front and you've got hard rock.

I'll admit that they're not the prettiest amps, but they sound GREAT.

:twisted:

Thanks for the links :)

That top 1 looks great :)

1 thing: the top amp you linked to says it has 3 silicone rectifiers whereas another auction for the same amp says it has a GZ34 (I think) valve rectifier. Which in your opinion is 'correct'?

some of the earlier T&B head had GZ34 rectifier valves (the mkII ones and maybe some of the very early mkIII heads).

the black front ones I've seen have all had silicon diode rectifiers - two for the actual DC rectification on the HT winding and another for the bias supply.

:twisted:

Brow · « **Reply #11 on:** April 01, 2007, 10:27:02 PM »

Hey guys.

I used the Carlsbro at my gig last night along with my new Award Session 1x12 cab with a Celestion Classic Lead 80 speaker and it sounded great (imo at least :lol: )

It sounded very clean and clear with a bell like tone to single notes, and it also seems to handle pedals well, which is good for me :)

The gig was recorded, so I may be able to post clips at some point :)

Twinfan · « **Reply #12 on:** April 02, 2007, 10:40:53 AM »

Excellent - good stuff!

Hell Hound · « **Reply #13 on:** April 02, 2007, 01:58:59 PM »

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SELMER-TREBLE-N-BASS-MKIII-50WATT-GUITAR-AMPLIFIER_W0QQitemZ330103455582QQcategoryZ10171QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

GAS! Do you think it'll work well with distortion pedals? Silicon rectifier must makes it tighter right?
That thing with an AB box and 2 line of effects sounds like the perfect setup for me :twisted:

Kilby · « **Reply #14 on:** April 02, 2007, 06:11:32 PM »

Quote from: Hell Hound

GAS! Do you think it'll work well with distortion pedals? Silicon rectifier must makes it tighter right?
That thing with an AB box and 2 line of effects sounds like the perfect setup for me :twisted:

Well Dave Gilmour used them in his early Floyd days (Syd Barrett had been using them previously) so they should definately cope well with Germanium fuzzes, univibes and wah

Rob...

Author Topic: Problem with my vintage amp **please read** (Read 5364 times)

Author Topic: Problem with my vintage amp please read (Read 5364 times)