Anyone Else Own An Allen???

chriswuzhere · May 10th, 2005, 11:13 PM

I've got an Allen Old Flame 2x10,,, and the same amp in the head version... Anyone else have an Allen...

You ever had any problems with yours???

Thanks

Bopcat · May 11th, 2005, 01:30 AM

I got a Sweet Spot in January, 1 X 10 combo w/6V6s.
No problems at all. Sounds great clean or with an OD or fuzz pedal.

Wayne Alexander · May 11th, 2005, 01:42 AM

I had an Old Flame, which I liked but sold because I wanted a bit dirtier core sound. I've currently got a 1x15 Brown Sugar, which really sounds good. I've never had any reliability issues with Allen amps, very well made, well designed, good quality parts, etc.

pirana · May 11th, 2005, 08:12 AM

I'll be an Allen sweet spot owner today. At least I should be according to the e-mail I got from Mr. Allen. I just hope it hasn't been handled roughly by UPS. Mine's coming with 6L6's & i'll try some 6V6's later on. I'm confident from what i've read from other owners that it'll be relatively trouble free.

Rick Towne · May 11th, 2005, 08:53 AM

1x12, 2x10 and 4x10 versions. Currently using the 1x12. Excellent quality, and never an issue in 2 years of regular use.

Bopcat · May 11th, 2005, 01:37 PM

Hey pirana,

Mine made it (to California) without a scratch. Yours will, too. Like everything else he does, David Allen is meticulous in packing up the amp, double boxed and padded.

chriswuzhere · May 11th, 2005, 01:58 PM

Good,,,

I'm glad to hear it,,, I just needed a confidence boost... I had a problem with my old flame and the amp tech (reputable one here in Dallas) said I ought to sell it,,, He didn't like the design of the internal stuff... but I sure like the amp,,, no one else seems to have any trouble with them,,, and this one never gave me any trouble for over a year....

Hope they hold out fine cause I just ordered a 2x12 cab from Mr. Allen Monday....

Thanks

Wally · May 11th, 2005, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chriswuzhere

Good,,,

I'm glad to hear it,,, I just needed a confidence boost... I had a problem with my old flame and the amp tech (reputable one here in Dallas) said I ought to sell it,,, He didn't like the design of the internal stuff... but I sure like the amp,,, no one else seems to have any trouble with them,,, and this one never gave me any trouble for over a year....

Hope they hold out fine cause I just ordered a 2x12 cab from Mr. Allen Monday....

Thanks

It would be interesting to hear the specifics of your tech's misgivings about the Allen amp. The Old Flame head that I saw, #001, was meticulously laid out, the workmanship is excellent, and the quality of the components is above that of the vintage FEnders from which David gets his inspiration...examples: Mallory caps in the bypass and tone stack with silver mica's for the treble tone cap.

____
and pass the ammunition. Things are getting hairy....

chriswuzhere · May 11th, 2005, 02:27 PM

I'm trying to get more of the specifics out of him. He's saying something about the voltage switch on the back (for 6L's or either 6v's). He said something about no one should be using a voltage divider in an amp,,, something about transformer outputs not being balanced...

It's over my head...

GopherTele · May 11th, 2005, 03:00 PM

Very flexible, distinctive amp.

No problemos in 4 years.

Bob Arbogast · May 11th, 2005, 04:01 PM

I have two Hot Fudge amps. Great amps in every respect: design, components, tone. See my post for details.

Bob Arbogast

mkg · May 11th, 2005, 04:32 PM

Got the Hot Fudge w/Nuts here...excellent build, great sound.
Wally's right, David doesn't cut corners. He improves on original designs.

Hucklebilly · May 11th, 2005, 04:42 PM

As one who is getting ready to pull the trigger on an Old Flame kit, I'm a little perplexed by the aforementioned criticism of the design. Of the hundreds of posts and reviews I've read concerning David Allen's amps, this is the first negative thing I've read. I'm no amp expert, but a half power switch doesn't exactly seem like a radical design feature. Pretty standard stuff it would seem.

Rick Towne · May 11th, 2005, 07:26 PM

my nontechnical understanding is that it affects the premap and makes the tone on, e.g. a 4x10,
either more spongy, like a tweed Bassman, or tighter, like a Super Reverb. I don't believe that it's a pentode-triode switch, or a conventional 1/2 power switch. Since I like how it sounds either way, any further technical explanation is unnecessary.

KBR · May 11th, 2005, 08:06 PM

I have 3 and use em all the time, Gigs, Recording, Teaching.

Wild Rice Chris · May 11th, 2005, 08:40 PM

I have an Old Flame 1x15" blond with gold sparkle baffle built and signed by David Allen in October '04. Currently using 6V6's and loving it.
From http://www.allenamps.com

Quote:

Back-panel mounted preamp voltage switch allows user to select between the higher voltages associated with blackface 60's amps OR the lower tweed era voltages. Lower voltage setting allows a very subtle roll off of the highs and provides a slightly earlier breakup from the preamp.

D_Schief · May 11th, 2005, 10:00 PM

I'm close to ordering the Sweet Spot with a 15". (I love the thought of an "improved" Princeton Reverb with the 6V6 or a sort-of 1/2 size, 1/2 the weight Twin Reverb with the 6L6's.) And, I figure the 15" will deliver clean headroom without the icepick.

But, I'm not at all familiar with the Big Ben speakers -- any comments?? I'm looking for mostly clean, "warm, but defined" tone with a "polite" breakup when pushed with a pedal. (Sounds like a wine ad!)

Thanks y'all.

Wayne Alexander · May 11th, 2005, 10:06 PM

The Big Ben is a very nice speaker. I got the first one Dave had in my Brown Sugar. I had wanted something not as harsh/crystal clear as a Weber California. The Big Ben is a very balanced speaker, after it breaks in it can be chimy if your amp will do that, and a nice balanced raunch when the amp breaks up. It probably breaks up slightly less than a Weber15F150, which is the other 15" I've tried. In a couple weeks I'll be able to report on a Weber Texas 15, which I'll be trying with the Brown Sugar, but the Big Ben is a winner.

D_Schief · May 11th, 2005, 10:43 PM

Thanks, Wayne, that's really helpful, as the other main option was the California. I've had a couple 10" Cali's in a cabinet and I did indeed find them "harsh/crystal clear." I want decent headroom, but warmth. I was concerned that the Big Ben, with its high wattage rating, would be very similar to the Weber California.

Doug T. · May 12th, 2005, 11:37 AM

My Old Flame is the 3rd Allen Amp I've owned (although the first was a Class Act kit that I assembled). Never had a problem with any of them! And if I did, I KNOW that David would take care of it.

He definitely knows what he is doing in the design arena and in building an excellent amp. And, he actually cares about the amps he makes, and his customer's satisfaction!

May 10th, 2005, 11:13 PM	#1 (permalink)
chriswuzhere TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Collinsville, Texas Posts: 78	Anyone Else Own An Allen??? I've got an Allen Old Flame 2x10,,, and the same amp in the head version... Anyone else have an Allen... You ever had any problems with yours??? Thanks __________________ Praise The Lord!!!

May 11th, 2005, 08:12 AM	#4 (permalink)
pirana Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 295	I'll be an Allen sweet spot owner today. At least I should be according to the e-mail I got from Mr. Allen. I just hope it hasn't been handled roughly by UPS. Mine's coming with 6L6's & i'll try some 6V6's later on. I'm confident from what i've read from other owners that it'll be relatively trouble free. __________________ Guaranteed not to cause eternal torment in the place where the guy with the horns & pointed stick conducts his business... Frank Zappa

May 11th, 2005, 08:53 AM	#5 (permalink)
Rick Towne Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Woodland Hills, CA Posts: 825	I've had an early Accomplice and Old Flames in... 1x12, 2x10 and 4x10 versions. Currently using the 1x12. Excellent quality, and never an issue in 2 years of regular use.

May 11th, 2005, 01:58 PM	#7 (permalink)
chriswuzhere TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Collinsville, Texas Posts: 78	Good,,, I'm glad to hear it,,, I just needed a confidence boost... I had a problem with my old flame and the amp tech (reputable one here in Dallas) said I ought to sell it,,, He didn't like the design of the internal stuff... but I sure like the amp,,, no one else seems to have any trouble with them,,, and this one never gave me any trouble for over a year.... Hope they hold out fine cause I just ordered a 2x12 cab from Mr. Allen Monday.... Thanks __________________ Praise The Lord!!!

May 11th, 2005, 02:27 PM	#9 (permalink)
chriswuzhere TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Collinsville, Texas Posts: 78	I'm trying to get more of the specifics out of him. He's saying something about the voltage switch on the back (for 6L's or either 6v's). He said something about no one should be using a voltage divider in an amp,,, something about transformer outputs not being balanced... It's over my head... __________________ Praise The Lord!!!

May 11th, 2005, 01:30 AM	#2 (permalink)
Bopcat Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: California Age: 56 Posts: 204	I got a Sweet Spot in January, 1 X 10 combo w/6V6s. No problems at all. Sounds great clean or with an OD or fuzz pedal.

May 11th, 2005, 01:42 AM	#3 (permalink)
Wayne Alexander Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA Posts: 1,083	I had an Old Flame, which I liked but sold because I wanted a bit dirtier core sound. I've currently got a 1x15 Brown Sugar, which really sounds good. I've never had any reliability issues with Allen amps, very well made, well designed, good quality parts, etc.

May 11th, 2005, 01:37 PM	#6 (permalink)
Bopcat Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: California Age: 56 Posts: 204	Hey pirana, Mine made it (to California) without a scratch. Yours will, too. Like everything else he does, David Allen is meticulous in packing up the amp, double boxed and padded.

May 11th, 2005, 03:00 PM	#10 (permalink)
GopherTele Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 959	Old Flame 2 x 10 here Very flexible, distinctive amp. No problemos in 4 years.

May 11th, 2005, 04:01 PM	#11 (permalink)
Bob Arbogast Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Columbus, Ohio, USA Age: 48 Posts: 558	Dessert time I have two Hot Fudge amps. Great amps in every respect: design, components, tone. See my post for details. Bob Arbogast

May 11th, 2005, 04:32 PM	#12 (permalink)
mkg Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Kentucky Posts: 165	Nuttier dessert Got the Hot Fudge w/Nuts here...excellent build, great sound. Wally's right, David doesn't cut corners. He improves on original designs.

May 11th, 2005, 04:42 PM	#13 (permalink)
Hucklebilly Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 821 2 Photos	Old Flame As one who is getting ready to pull the trigger on an Old Flame kit, I'm a little perplexed by the aforementioned criticism of the design. Of the hundreds of posts and reviews I've read concerning David Allen's amps, this is the first negative thing I've read. I'm no amp expert, but a half power switch doesn't exactly seem like a radical design feature. Pretty standard stuff it would seem.

May 11th, 2005, 07:26 PM	#14 (permalink)
Rick Towne Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Woodland Hills, CA Posts: 825	My OF has the 'voltage' switch on the back... my nontechnical understanding is that it affects the premap and makes the tone on, e.g. a 4x10, either more spongy, like a tweed Bassman, or tighter, like a Super Reverb. I don't believe that it's a pentode-triode switch, or a conventional 1/2 power switch. Since I like how it sounds either way, any further technical explanation is unnecessary.

May 11th, 2005, 08:06 PM	#15 (permalink)
KBR Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 662 10 Photos	Allen's Rule, imho I have 3 and use em all the time, Gigs, Recording, Teaching. __________________ KBR http://home.earthlink.net/~blueray/

May 11th, 2005, 10:00 PM	#17 (permalink)
D_Schief TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 40	Big Ben 15"?? I'm close to ordering the Sweet Spot with a 15". (I love the thought of an "improved" Princeton Reverb with the 6V6 or a sort-of 1/2 size, 1/2 the weight Twin Reverb with the 6L6's.) And, I figure the 15" will deliver clean headroom without the icepick. But, I'm not at all familiar with the Big Ben speakers -- any comments?? I'm looking for mostly clean, "warm, but defined" tone with a "polite" breakup when pushed with a pedal. (Sounds like a wine ad!) Thanks y'all.

May 11th, 2005, 10:06 PM	#18 (permalink)
Wayne Alexander Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA Posts: 1,083	Big Ben The Big Ben is a very nice speaker. I got the first one Dave had in my Brown Sugar. I had wanted something not as harsh/crystal clear as a Weber California. The Big Ben is a very balanced speaker, after it breaks in it can be chimy if your amp will do that, and a nice balanced raunch when the amp breaks up. It probably breaks up slightly less than a Weber15F150, which is the other 15" I've tried. In a couple weeks I'll be able to report on a Weber Texas 15, which I'll be trying with the Brown Sugar, but the Big Ben is a winner.

May 11th, 2005, 10:43 PM	#19 (permalink)
D_Schief TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 40	Big Ben Thanks, Wayne, that's really helpful, as the other main option was the California. I've had a couple 10" Cali's in a cabinet and I did indeed find them "harsh/crystal clear." I want decent headroom, but warmth. I was concerned that the Big Ben, with its high wattage rating, would be very similar to the Weber California.

May 12th, 2005, 11:37 AM	#20 (permalink)
Doug T. Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 118	Allen Amps My Old Flame is the 3rd Allen Amp I've owned (although the first was a Class Act kit that I assembled). Never had a problem with any of them! And if I did, I KNOW that David would take care of it. He definitely knows what he is doing in the design arena and in building an excellent amp. And, he actually cares about the amps he makes, and his customer's satisfaction!