Tube-Town Surfmate 6G15 kit

warioblast

Joined: Nov 23, 2014
Posts: 98
Dijon
France

Posted on Oct 10 2017 06:13 PM

I just saw this on their website TT
I would be all over it if I had not already built a 6G15.

I'm sure some 6G15 corksniffers won't like the modified layout and power supply... Anyway I thought some of you might like the heads-up.

Besides, Tube-Town have always been super reactive with my orders.

Last edited: Oct 10, 2017 18:14:37

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SinNombre

Joined: Nov 14, 2011
Posts: 79
San Diego

Posted on Oct 11 2017 09:56 AM

It is an electronics parts kit, costing $188 in the US. After putting it together you would still need a cab, face plate and tank, and it will still not be a true Fender unit. I think a lot of people would sooner go for the FET kit at this point.

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warioblast

Joined: Nov 23, 2014
Posts: 98
Dijon
France

Posted on Oct 11 2017 10:31 AM

Warioblast wrote:

I'm sure some 6G15 corksniffers won't like the modified layout and power supply.

It sure is closer to a real 6G15 than the FET Surfy Bear.
I have a Surfy verb and a homemade 6G15. It's close but you can't beat tubes.

I understand the appeals of the Surfy reverb; cheap , easy to build & reliable... but I'd rather put an extra 110€ and get a real tube reverb. To each his own.

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dannylectro

Joined: Aug 18, 2008
Posts: 360
Orange, CA
United States

Posted on Oct 11 2017 05:56 PM

warioblast wrote:

It sure is closer to a real 6G15 than the FET Surfy Bear.
I have a Surfy verb and a homemade 6G15. It's close but you can't beat tubes.

I understand the appeals of the Surfy reverb; cheap , easy to build & reliable... but I'd rather put an extra 110€ and get a real tube reverb. To each his own.

I totally agree. No pedal, digital simulation or solid state unit will sound the same. Sorry Surfy Bear fans

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smid

Joined: Jan 30, 2016
Posts: 33
Nuremberg
Germany

Posted on Mar 08 2020 07:19 AM

I had the possibility to directly compare both, the Fender 63 Reverb Reissue and the Tube-Town Surfmate Kit:

Video on Youtube

—

see you at monokinibeach

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Joelman

Joined: Sep 07, 2006
Posts: 1472
Redlands, CA
United States

Posted on Mar 08 2020 12:47 PM

smid wrote:

I had the possibility to directly compare both, the Fender 63 Reverb Reissue and the Tube-Town Surfmate Kit:

Video on Youtube

Well it's an old post.
But you did an excellent job in your comparison video.
I couldn't tell the two apart at all.
Thank you for posting the video.
Maybe it will help settle some arguments.
Joel

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DeathTide

Joined: Apr 13, 2018
Posts: 1341
New Orleans
United States

Posted on Mar 08 2020 01:01 PM

I’d love to hear the uncompressed sound file. I’ve never personally seen any YT demo sound match anything practical.

—

Daniel Deathtide

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smid

Joined: Jan 30, 2016
Posts: 33
Nuremberg
Germany

Posted on Mar 08 2020 03:10 PM

essential audio uncomressed

—

see you at monokinibeach

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DeathTide

Joined: Apr 13, 2018
Posts: 1341
New Orleans
United States

Posted on Mar 08 2020 04:15 PM

Hey thanks! I listened on a big stereo and couldn’t really hear a difference either. Very well done demo. I did like the optional extra brightness of the Fender tho.

—

Daniel Deathtide

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Paul_T

Joined: Jan 29, 2019
Posts: 12

Posted on Apr 01 2020 06:51 AM

Tube-town are great people to deal with , especially in Europe. I bought the Surfy, but if I were doing it today I'd go for their kit for sure.

The only minor inconvenience is if you have queries. THeir forum is a bit weird... passive aggressive if anyone shows their ignorance, but there are some nice, kind people on there too. (IIRC, Smid is one of the kind, helpful ones). But that's easily balanced by the fact their stuff is well-engineered, standardised power supplies etc save you lots of money too.

Incidentally, tube-town also have a FET reverb, which is more versatile than the Surfy as it works at both instrument and line level, and a fraction of the price. Needs an output transformer. I have one, although I'm not near to building it yet.

I really wish Tube-town would produce their own harmonic trem. Would be awesome to have a combined unit with a simplified power supply...

Last edited: Apr 01, 2020 06:58:53

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warioblast Joined: Nov 23, 2014 Posts: 98 Dijon	Posted on Oct 10 2017 06:13 PM I just saw this on their website TT I would be all over it if I had not already built a 6G15. I'm sure some 6G15 corksniffers won't like the modified layout and power supply... Anyway I thought some of you might like the heads-up. Besides, Tube-Town have always been super reactive with my orders. Last edited: Oct 10, 2017 18:14:37 Top
SinNombre Joined: Nov 14, 2011 Posts: 79 San Diego	Posted on Oct 11 2017 09:56 AM It is an electronics parts kit, costing $188 in the US. After putting it together you would still need a cab, face plate and tank, and it will still not be a true Fender unit. I think a lot of people would sooner go for the FET kit at this point. Top
warioblast Joined: Nov 23, 2014 Posts: 98 Dijon	Posted on Oct 11 2017 10:31 AM Warioblast wrote: I'm sure some 6G15 corksniffers won't like the modified layout and power supply. It sure is closer to a real 6G15 than the FET Surfy Bear. I have a Surfy verb and a homemade 6G15. It's close but you can't beat tubes. I understand the appeals of the Surfy reverb; cheap , easy to build & reliable... but I'd rather put an extra 110€ and get a real tube reverb. To each his own. Top
dannylectro Joined: Aug 18, 2008 Posts: 360 Orange, CA	Posted on Oct 11 2017 05:56 PM warioblast wrote: It sure is closer to a real 6G15 than the FET Surfy Bear. I have a Surfy verb and a homemade 6G15. It's close but you can't beat tubes. I understand the appeals of the Surfy reverb; cheap , easy to build & reliable... but I'd rather put an extra 110€ and get a real tube reverb. To each his own. I totally agree. No pedal, digital simulation or solid state unit will sound the same. Sorry Surfy Bear fans Top
smid Joined: Jan 30, 2016 Posts: 33 Nuremberg	Posted on Mar 08 2020 07:19 AM I had the possibility to directly compare both, the Fender 63 Reverb Reissue and the Tube-Town Surfmate Kit: Video on Youtube — see you at monokinibeach Top
Joelman Joined: Sep 07, 2006 Posts: 1472 Redlands, CA	Posted on Mar 08 2020 12:47 PM smid wrote: I had the possibility to directly compare both, the Fender 63 Reverb Reissue and the Tube-Town Surfmate Kit: Video on Youtube Well it's an old post. But you did an excellent job in your comparison video. I couldn't tell the two apart at all. Thank you for posting the video. Maybe it will help settle some arguments. Joel Top
DeathTide Joined: Apr 13, 2018 Posts: 1341 New Orleans	Posted on Mar 08 2020 01:01 PM I’d love to hear the uncompressed sound file. I’ve never personally seen any YT demo sound match anything practical. — Daniel Deathtide Top
smid Joined: Jan 30, 2016 Posts: 33 Nuremberg	Posted on Mar 08 2020 03:10 PM essential audio uncomressed — see you at monokinibeach Top
DeathTide Joined: Apr 13, 2018 Posts: 1341 New Orleans	Posted on Mar 08 2020 04:15 PM Hey thanks! I listened on a big stereo and couldn’t really hear a difference either. Very well done demo. I did like the optional extra brightness of the Fender tho. — Daniel Deathtide Top
Paul_T Joined: Jan 29, 2019 Posts: 12	Posted on Apr 01 2020 06:51 AM Tube-town are great people to deal with , especially in Europe. I bought the Surfy, but if I were doing it today I'd go for their kit for sure. The only minor inconvenience is if you have queries. THeir forum is a bit weird... passive aggressive if anyone shows their ignorance, but there are some nice, kind people on there too. (IIRC, Smid is one of the kind, helpful ones). But that's easily balanced by the fact their stuff is well-engineered, standardised power supplies etc save you lots of money too. Incidentally, tube-town also have a FET reverb, which is more versatile than the Surfy as it works at both instrument and line level, and a fraction of the price. Needs an output transformer. I have one, although I'm not near to building it yet. I really wish Tube-town would produce their own harmonic trem. Would be awesome to have a combined unit with a simplified power supply... Last edited: Apr 01, 2020 06:58:53 Top

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Tube-Town Surfmate 6G15 kit