Congrats Red Plate amps Vintage Guitar Mag

[heisthl]

Congrats heisthl! Is there a story or anything behind the name Red Plate and your love for red? If so, could you share it?

The name came from running output tubes on the edge of thermal meltdown and the fallacy of players who thought that's where an amp sounded best. The color is just brand recognition (like ORANGE amps).

[heisthl]

Mmmmm, biscuits...

So what was it like, working with Elvin Bishop? How demanding was he? How far off were your first two attempts? What finally clicked for him?

Last time I saw him, he was playing through a Fender Stage 60 - didn't seem all that discerning at the time.

My whiskey-headed buddies...

No matter how much you pay attention to what someone says they want, what they really want cannot be expressed with language. In this case the first request for an amp came from Elvin's guitar tech (Chris Hanson) who requested the smallest 100 watt amp possible with reverb and "lot's of distortion". I had a Yamaha TC100 that I gutted and rebuilt in the style of amps on this board with the added feature of reverb. It was a great sounding amp but to Elvin it didn't have enough treble and was too loud.
After a conversation about likes and dislikes I redid the amp to 50 watt with a Blackface Deluxe style preamp. It was better received but to Elvin it seemed too "Marshally" at louder volumes. Kid Andersen is currently using that amp. I had been doing quite a few "TweedyVerbs" (tweed front end amps), so I abandoned the original platform, and instead made an amp that I thought would work. 40 watt cathode bias with a tweed type front end modified to have lots of treble (can make a 355 sound like a strat) and fairly early breakup. I used a TonkerLite to keep the weight down for the airplanes. I was so sure it was going to work I named the model III Charm for "third times a charm".

[Zippy]

Thanks for that, Heisthl.

No matter how much you pay attention to what someone says they want, what they really want cannot be expressed with language...

1) I had a Yamaha TC100 that I gutted and rebuilt in the style of amps on this board with the added feature of reverb. It was a great sounding amp but to Elvin it didn't have enough treble and was too loud...

2) After a conversation about likes and dislikes I redid the amp to 50 watt with a Blackface Deluxe style preamp...

3) I abandoned the original platform, and instead made an amp that I thought would work. 40 watt cathode bias with a tweed type front end modified to have lots of treble (can make a 355 sound like a strat) and fairly early breakup...

I was so sure it was going to work I named the model III Charm for "third times a charm".

That was my guess as soon as I saw the faceplate.

Good for you. I'm betting Elvin is loving diggin' into that amp.

[mlp-mx6]

Wow - if Elvin wanted THAT much treble, I have to wonder how much high-frequency hearing loss he has.

[fullerplast]

For years Elvin used a BFPR modified by Owlsey Stanley. I think Elvin definately goes for the "wolf in sheeps clothing" approach.

Congrats on some good press and exposure.

[JImmyD]

For years Elvin used a BFPR modified by Owlsey Stanley. I think Elvin definately goes for the "wolf in sheeps clothing" approach.

Congrats on some good press and exposure.

Is Owlsey related to Owsley Stanley?


Thx,
Jim

PS: Henry is good people. I'm very impressed with his D'lator.

[fullerplast]

For years Elvin used a BFPR modified by Owlsey Stanley. I think Elvin definately goes for the "wolf in sheeps clothing" approach.

Congrats on some good press and exposure.

Is Owlsey related to Owsley Stanley?


Thx,
Jim

PS: Henry is good people. I'm very impressed with his D'lator.

Owsley is also known as Bear, also the Dead's early sound guy/financial supporter, and the source of much 60's LSD. He was the main guy behind the famous "Wall of Sound" that the Dead used for a year or two. Incredible system, a logistical nightmare for touring, but amazing sound.

Not the same guy as musician Will Owsley, who goes simply by Owsley.

[stelligan]

Here is another Tweedy Verb player. Jacob Petersen. Currently with Curtis Salgado at times, formerly with Janiva Magness. Cool Strat amp Cool vid - It butters my biscuit!!

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=LjyDn_wGbMc

[Structo]

Nice demo!

Sounds very good Henry.

[heisthl]

Thanks Structo, on the subject of Owsley, I think he's living in the Australian outback and is a strict meatatarian (sp?). He's doing Dead compilations, artwork and other interesting stuff.

[JImmyD]

Thanks Structo, on the subject of Owsley, I think he's living in the Australian outback and is a strict meatatarian (sp?). He's doing Dead compilations, artwork and other interesting stuff.

For more Bear info, check out

http://www.thebear.org/index.html