Been playing some guitar again after a few year hiatus and am reminded how great my current setup is. So I thought I would share!
The guitar. When I bought this back in '89 I was told it was a 64.....who knows for sure.
Mid 60's Vox Tornado thin hollowbody. Modified with grover tuners, a Gibson classic 57 humbucker in the neck position and a Seymore Duncan 59'er in the bridge. Wired as two volumes only and no tone control. The neck developed a backwards bow after gigging with it for a few years so I flattened the fretboard, re-radiused it to the standard gibson 12" radius and refretted it. I love this thing with all my heart. If I were to change anything it would be to install a Classic 57 bridge model in place of the Seymore duncan. It turns out I prefer the Gibson pickup.
The amp!
I have built 6 or 7 valve amps over the years. I keep coming back to the single 6V6 based fender champ schematics. It just suits my playing style. An old 6V6 tube kicked into full output clipping is a beautiful thing.
This is the most recent amplifier. I started with the 5F2A Fender Princeton schematic.
Changed a few values here and there. Deleted the negative feeback circuit and beefed up the output transformer with a Hammond 125E.
The cabinet was made out of discarded maple plywood from shelving and covered with tan tolex and oxblood grille cloth. The chassis was folded from aluminum sheet, the power transformer, choke, valves and sockets were salvaged from old radios. 2 Celestion 12' speakers make sure that enough volume is generated to be heard over a drummer. It may only put out 6 watts, but at full clip through a pair of 12's I have been asked to turn it down plenty of times.
No pedals, No effects just a guitar, cord and amp.
The guitar. When I bought this back in '89 I was told it was a 64.....who knows for sure.
Mid 60's Vox Tornado thin hollowbody. Modified with grover tuners, a Gibson classic 57 humbucker in the neck position and a Seymore Duncan 59'er in the bridge. Wired as two volumes only and no tone control. The neck developed a backwards bow after gigging with it for a few years so I flattened the fretboard, re-radiused it to the standard gibson 12" radius and refretted it. I love this thing with all my heart. If I were to change anything it would be to install a Classic 57 bridge model in place of the Seymore duncan. It turns out I prefer the Gibson pickup.
The amp!
I have built 6 or 7 valve amps over the years. I keep coming back to the single 6V6 based fender champ schematics. It just suits my playing style. An old 6V6 tube kicked into full output clipping is a beautiful thing.
This is the most recent amplifier. I started with the 5F2A Fender Princeton schematic.
Changed a few values here and there. Deleted the negative feeback circuit and beefed up the output transformer with a Hammond 125E.
The cabinet was made out of discarded maple plywood from shelving and covered with tan tolex and oxblood grille cloth. The chassis was folded from aluminum sheet, the power transformer, choke, valves and sockets were salvaged from old radios. 2 Celestion 12' speakers make sure that enough volume is generated to be heard over a drummer. It may only put out 6 watts, but at full clip through a pair of 12's I have been asked to turn it down plenty of times.
No pedals, No effects just a guitar, cord and amp.