ElDorado
Joined: May 23, 2007
Posts: 23
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Posted on Jan 26 2008 04:17 PM
I just bought a handmade Fender 6G15 unit, from an old amp builder. It uses a 6k6 and a 6X5, plus two 12ax7's (or 12at7). It sounds very good, no extra hum, and I think its exactly like an old 6G15. It turns on with the mix knob and also has a line for an on/off footswitch. It is in an old wire recorder box with the top open and the reverb tank attached to the back. I think I need to cover it, and do something with the tank. I compared the reverb to my onboard Fender Princeton II reverb and the Princetons was almost as good...but the 6g15 unit has more control and will probably sound better at louder volume.
heres the link to the ad..
http://vancouver.craigslist.ca/msg/550338218.html
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DannySnyder
Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 11078
Berkeley, CA
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Posted on Jan 26 2008 04:36 PM
Looks like a good deal. Try plugging it into the tank in your princeton to see if it sounds better/worse. Take the better tank and build a new cabinet for it.
— Danny Snyder
"With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo
I am now playing trumpet with Prince Buster tribute band 'Balzac'
Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta
Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party
Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF
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flatwound01
Joined: Mar 03, 2006
Posts: 464
Western MA
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Posted on Jan 26 2008 04:43 PM
An interesting find - however, the 6G15 circuit doesn't use a 6X5 (that's a rectifier), so I don't know why the seller claimed it has "EXACT DUPLICATE CIRCUITRY" - don't think that's the case. I wonder what the rectifier does . . .
But it if sounds good to you, it doesn't matter . . . enjoy!
-Dick
— Fender Reissue Cap Mod Site
http://home.comcast.net/~rmessick2/
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ElDorado
Joined: May 23, 2007
Posts: 23
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Posted on Jan 26 2008 05:13 PM
When we were talking about the unit, he said it was a 5y3 rectifier. Then I looked again at home and it was a 5x6 tube. I dunno, it seems to work fine.
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spy
Joined: Mar 29, 2007
Posts: 815
Athens, Greece
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Posted on Jan 27 2008 03:10 AM
flatwound01
I wonder what the rectifier does . . .
Instead of diodes he is using a tube. Not a bad idea....
— Every word is like an unecessary stain on silence and nothingness.
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LHR
Joined: Aug 23, 2006
Posts: 2123
The jungle
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Posted on Jan 27 2008 03:21 AM
The 6G15 had a diode rectifier. A quick wikipedia dive will get you up to speed on what those do. Hoffman, among others, sell plans and parts for the 6G15 with tube rectifier. The tube in yours is doing the job of the 5Y3 in the Hoffman (et al.) plans. I have never heard of a 5X6 type, though. Maybe it is Moroccan- or Estonian- or Navajo-made or something.
I have a reverb with a tube recitifer. (An old Brimar 5Y3. to be precise.) What is the sonic difference? Well, if you listen to the ampliphiles they will say that tube rectifiers increase an amp's "sag". Um, whatever that is. I think they they mean a slight offset between the first impulse of a signal (a note, say) and its getting to full power. Like a super-quick "fade in" or "volume swell" effect, if you know what I mean. I have not noticed this effect.
Who cares about all that Eric Johnson crap anyway... The main benefit is that when you shut the damned thing off, you are being kinder to the tubes and power supply with a tube recitifier. That is the purpose of the standby switch on amps; it allows the tubes to discharge gracefully. For whatever reason, Fender did not put a standby switch on the 6G15. Maybe they never figured people would still be playing them after all this time.
FYI: it is a 10-dollar/2-minute fix to put a diode rectifier in the socket instead of the tube. No harm will be done except the aforementioned power supply stress.
— SSIV
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Diggey
Joined: Sep 23, 2007
Posts: 571
State College
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Posted on Jan 27 2008 09:00 AM
SOme tube amps such as the tweed era amps with the size trannies and Rectifier tubes have "sag", which is a decay in the signal basically. Old Marshalls had it also.
Some amps tonal characteristics in the hands of a Tweed player were really brought out well. (The Stones Crunch for example, or Neil Young.)
It is really about feel though and what you like. I don't care for the decay so I like the Blonde Era Bassman. But, Buddy Guy sure makes a tweed one sing like angels.
— Peace to you, not on you
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ElDorado
Joined: May 23, 2007
Posts: 23
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Posted on Jan 27 2008 11:03 AM
I think its cool to have a tube rectifier in the reverb unit. I dunno if the rectifer gets enough electricity to "sag". After playing it for a bit and comparing it to my amps reverb it can get very deep and dark, maybe the rectifier tube helps that sound. The 6X5 is an old Canadian Marconi. I would like to try the reverb with 12at7's insted of 12ax7. What preamp tubes do you guys use?
Check out this guys homemade reverb unit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8D6-Hyf0oI
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dubtrub
Joined: Sep 22, 2007
Posts: 245
Bakersfield CA.
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Posted on Jan 27 2008 11:35 AM
That's a nice sounding reverb, I wonder if it's a kit or assembled from miscellaneous parts. I like his simple blues based guitar licks plus he does a pretty darn good rendition of Little Wing.
Danny
— Danny Ellison aka dubtrub
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LHR
Joined: Aug 23, 2006
Posts: 2123
The jungle
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Posted on Jan 28 2008 12:12 AM
ElDorado
... What preamp tubes do you guys use? ...
I have a really nice collection of old RCA, Sylvania, and Mullard 12AX7As and 12AT7s. Yet more and more, I am really digging what I get from the rather unassuming lower-gain 1980s-vintage Philips 12AT7WC (JAN). They are still available NOS and being a milspec tube, they really handle the demanding Fender reverb circuit pretty well. No weird noises in any of the ones I have used. They do not "break up" as soon so I get more clean "headroom" from my preamp.
I use them in my amps as well as the standalone reverb. I have used them in places where you might normally find a 12AX7 and I am pretty happy with the results. (In both mini sockets of the 6G15 circuit, for example.) They have also found a home in my Blues Jr. where there were formerly the truly poor Fender-branded 12AX7.
— SSIV
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