Wow! Monster Single ended amp

[JD0x0]

I thought the guys over here would appreciate this. One of a kind amp built for the guitarist Shawn Lane. Monster of an amp. Really good video, here.
The amp was used on Shawn's 'Powers of Ten' record, which can also be found on youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMChRSUVkLk

Bob may even be a member here

[JD0x0]

2nd video of the amp
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ge71Pj_GyvE

[Naronda]

Cool Thanks for sharing

[Leo_Gnardo]

I'm more knocked out by the size of the power transformer. From your intro, had the notion the amp had a big-ass radio transmitter tube like a 211A or GM70. Shawn's sounding good though, no complaints there!

It's surprising how good a single-ended amp can sound cranked up, even a little one with single EL84 or 6V6. Put a Champ thru some big speakers, a gain box ahead of it, let 'er rip tater chip. Juicy tones at ear-friendly volume.

[John_P_WI]

I'd certainly like to know more about the amps architecture, especially since it is 25 years old and would have been used back during Shawn's shedding and legato style period.

I don't know why, but I've always associated Shawn with Marshalls? Anyone know what he used with H L S?

Oh, and yeah the amp sounds great in the first vid, even though it was a complete different style played.

[JD0x0]

Yeah, I've really been getting into the idea of building a sweet SE amp, lately. Something I can dime and just have sing...
Must be something about the 2nd order Harmonic generation.

Found another video. Lap Steel guitar this time and talks about it some more. This one is the same preamp with a PushPull output. 8x EL34 If i'm not mistaken.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8IjVp9iOHE


John P, not sure what he used with HLS, I think this amp was used for the first tour, but I've read that Shawn started using Solid State amps in the later periods, I'm assuming, using his stompbox Tube drives for the OD sound. The Solid State makes sense in the later period, as they make much lighter amps to travel with, especially compared to the monster in these videos. I wish there was more info about the mid years, but it kind of sounds like he used this amp, for some time.

Temporal Analogues of Paradise sounds like it could be the same amp. I remember a quote from Shawn..

"Temporal was the first recording that captured my true guitar sound (dinosaurs slipping and blocks of wire whittled with a feather). The mood of the world was different and yet music (sculpted time) always is there waiting to be manifested. "

[John_P_WI]

Foe SE check out David Root, meat&beer and search on ghetto ul (if there is any info left....)

[Colossal]

That's a great sounding amp. I have iron for a 4xEL84 SE build.

[Structo]

It would be cool to build an amp that can accommodate a range of octal power tubes.

[Leo_Gnardo]

It would be cool to build an amp that can accommodate a range of octal power tubes.

THD's done it with UniValve, BiValve & Flexi50, all excellent amps. Of course there's some non-ideal plate/OT primary matches but so what, if it sounds good it is good. DO try this at home.

[davent]

It would be cool to build an amp that can accommodate a range of octal power tubes.

I have a 5F2a style amp that has adjustable fixed or cathode bias, parallel preamp sockets for 12A_7, 6S_7 or 6eu7's and a pretty hefty, 20w Heyboer dual primary OT. Built it as a test bed for the various tubes i have kicking around.

dave

[LeeMo]

Shawn Lame used a solid state Holmes Bluesmaster made in Mississippi. Now out of business since the '90's.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDq0Bedbhtw

Lance Keltner claims Bob Gjinka designed the Retro channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ml3_rpyz1S4

[Firestorm]

The challenge with SE is to have a transformer that can accommodate large standing current (what transformer guys call bias current) without saturating. For Hi-Fi use, they are enormous. For MI use, they can be smaller, especially if parallel. Current doubles with two of the same size, but inductance halves, so you lose low frequency the other way. If you need to go down to 80Hz (let alone 40Hz) the transformer will be so big, you'd think it belongs at CERN.

[keltner]

Shawn Lame used a solid state Holmes Bluesmaster made in Mississippi. Now out of business since the '90's.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDq0Bedbhtw

Lance Keltner claims Bob Gjinka designed the Retro channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ml3_rpyz1S4

Actually he designed that tube pre, not the power amp.

[R.G.]

The best sounding amp I ever built myself was built with transformers from a Magnavox hifi (not stereo, mono) furniture style record player console I found in a used-furniture "antique" shop. It had a single 6AQ5 output tube.

It was all of maybe two or three watts, and had the sweetest transition into distortion I've ever achieved.

Single ended is nice. Not loud, or not practical in power over about 10, but nice. Mike up something like this and run it into your kilowatt Class D speaker driving monster for doing hockey rinks and arenas.