Little Walter Amps?

[M Fowler]

To keep things straight for 5b6 amp questions Pedal Steel guys contact me at.....

Fowleramps@yahoo.com

[M Fowler]

Going to remove one input jack and install a SPST toggle switch to add in 1M and 10M grid leak resistors due to high impedance of Pedal Steel guitar 14k to 20k single/humbucker pups. That way you can use for regular guitar as well.

Using an FET circuit might be the answer with these high output pups.

Mark

[kgreene]

@ Milkman:

I checked out your amps online. Looks very high quality and sounds interesting.I'd love to give one a test drive some time.
Didn't mean to imply your prices are not justified, but I think any guitar amp in the $2 - 3K and up price range requires an explanation.

For those that have been asking, a Little Walter 50W Combo w/12" spkr is around $3000.

[vibratoking]

I read Little Walter's biography several years ago. It was a good read. He had a hard life and suffered quite a bit of abuse, even though he brought a lot of it on himself. Little Walter is a one-of-a-kind icon! Now some guy uses Walter's name as his brand? I find it completely offensive. I wonder if I could start my own amp company and call it Howard Dumble amps, or Ken Fischer amps, or Jimi Hendrix amps. The name of the company really rubs me the wrong way. This guy should have used some common decency. Somebody should be sending a cease and desist letter, unless he somehow legally licensed Little Walter's name.

I understand the amp builder aquired the nickname from his friends, but I don't think it is ethical for him to use it in a musical equipment context. He states the truth on his website and is open about it, but I still find it offensive. I doubt there is trademark infringement and this guy could be legal, but I find it distasteful and I wouldn't buy his amp based on that alone. Capitalist scumbag bullshit IMO. When guys have to stoop to that level of marketing to sell a product, I know I am about to go swimming with sharks.

[kgreene]

Is it possible he is just paying tribute to someone he respected and/or admired?

[Milkmansound]

@ Milkman:

I checked out your amps online. Looks very high quality and sounds interesting.I'd love to give one a test drive some time.
Didn't mean to imply your prices are not justified, but I think any guitar amp in the $2 - 3K and up price range requires an explanation.

oh believe me I know it! I figure there are a lot of people making amps that look like Fenders and use orange drops and weber speakers... might as well take it to the extreme with the Jupiter caps and speakers. It aint cheap but what the hell, you only live once right?

[Toppscore]

@ Milkman:

I checked out your amps online. Looks very high quality and sounds interesting.I'd love to give one a test drive some time.
Didn't mean to imply your prices are not justified, but I think any guitar amp in the $2 - 3K and up price range requires an explanation.

oh believe me I know it! I figure there are a lot of people making amps that look like Fenders and use orange drops and weber speakers... might as well take it to the extreme with the Jupiter caps and speakers.
It aint cheap but what the hell, you only live once right?

I agree! I say "Go For IT!!!" as well. You only live once

Not bragging, but sharing my amp buying philosophy . . . .
as I've studied Fender amps for some time and own the following:
1954 5D6 4x10 Bassman
1960 6G4 Super Amp ~ an early "six-pre-amp-tube" original
transitional Super Amp with a 6G8 tone circuit & 6G4A tremolo circuit
1964 Twin Reverb
1964 Super Reverb
1964 Fender Bassman = one of the last Blonde 6G6B (BP12000)
with Black Tolex, Presence Control and White Tuxedo faceplate knobs

The point is that of the five above vintage Fender amps,
there are absolutely ZERO advertised on EBay.
Last year I paid mid-market value on the four 1960s amps,
all in "near mint" condition, and didn't worry about waiting around for a
better deal. Now, it's extremely difficult to locate ANY of them in ANY condition.

I'll look at Milkman's amps, as I do want to a "Dumble clone" and
a "Trainwreck clone" in the near future . . . . . but only after studying
these amps on this Amp Garage Forum.

I've noticed there are "Dumble & Trainwreck" amp kits to build, and've
noticed several boutique amp builders of Dumble/Trainwrecks.
Knowing nothing about them except for their very intriguing reputations
Thank you for the Amp Garage Forum

Therefore, when ready and armed with proper "Amp Garage" knowledge . . . . .
I'll definitely "Go For It" and "Only Live Once" when
seeking/procuring a quality Dumble or Trainwreck clone,
instead of waiting and prying and probing and shopping and missing good opportunities.

[Toppscore]

its steep for sure, but not when you look at what is inside of the damn thing - parts alone for this amp cost more than most other amps sell for

I have thought about trying to make a less expensive version but it wouldn't sound or feel the same. It is what it is. Unfortunately the Bentley is expensive but man oh man is it fun to drive!

The amp is kind of a mish mash of Fender circuits - nothing new - but everything has been tweaked with pedal steel in mind based on my needs as a steel player.

Meanwhile the new 50W will be slightly less expensive - priced the same as the LW, actually, but I only make combo amps with reverb. $2500 is a lot for an amp with no speaker, in my opinion

Milkman. If your amp is good, do some marketing postioning
towards low-medium-high priced buyers as well as a variety of amp heads
and a variety of combo amp possibilities . . . .
as well as low-medium-high wattage offerings.

I'm very sure you know all of this.
Be great at one amp. Build a reptuation.
Add more product lines to buyers waiting in line

[M Fowler]

I noticed with the LW Vince Gill 50 model Phil went to really hefty iron to get his 6550 tubes putting out the watts.

[Milkmansound]

my guess is 25-30W on that one max, even with 6550 tubes.

Fender says 18W on the 5B6 schematic - 12VAC into 8ohms

I believe it - cathode bias is not very efficient, but it feels good, and how much quieter is 18W than 50W anyway?

[Toppscore]

I noticed with the LW Vince Gill 50 model Phil went to really hefty iron to get his 6550 tubes putting out the watts.

Who is Phil?

[M Fowler]

I noticed with the LW Vince Gill 50 model Phil went to really hefty iron to get his 6550 tubes putting out the watts.

Who is Phil?

Phil is the owner of Little Walter amps.

[M Fowler]

my guess is 25-30W on that one max, even with 6550 tubes.

Fender says 18W on the 5B6 schematic - 12VAC into 8ohms

I believe it - cathode bias is not very efficient, but it feels good, and how much quieter is 18W than 50W anyway?

In the Zottola book he says measured clean output at 500hz 30w rms into 4 ohms.

[Gaz]

I read Little Walter's biography several years ago. It was a good read. He had a hard life and suffered quite a bit of abuse, even though he brought a lot of it on himself. Little Walter is a one-of-a-kind icon! Now some guy uses Walter's name as his brand? I find it completely offensive. I wonder if I could start my own amp company and call it Howard Dumble amps, or Ken Fischer amps, or Jimi Hendrix amps. The name of the company really rubs me the wrong way. This guy should have used some common decency. Somebody should be sending a cease and desist letter, unless he somehow legally licensed Little Walter's name.

I understand the amp builder aquired the nickname from his friends, but I don't think it is ethical for him to use it in a musical equipment context. He states the truth on his website and is open about it, but I still find it offensive. I doubt there is trademark infringement and this guy could be legal, but I find it distasteful and I wouldn't buy his amp based on that alone. Capitalist scumbag bullshit IMO. When guys have to stoop to that level of marketing to
sell a product, I know I am about to go swimming with sharks.

You think that's bad - Ever heard of Reeves? It reminds me of when Kmart came out with "Levi Strauss Jeans", of course not to be confused with LEVI'S!!

[M Fowler]

Move to the new Fender Section:

https://tubeamparchive.com/viewtopic.ph ... highlight=