Goldentone Reverbmaster? [Archive] - Telecaster Guitar Forum
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Goldentone Reverbmaster?

cacibi
August 15th, 2007, 04:21 PM
Anyone know anything about these amps? Just saw an Australian blues/rock band that had one - amp sounded really good, but can't seem to find too much info about them online.

Dacious
August 15th, 2007, 09:50 PM
Goldentones were either Rose Morris in Australia or made by Rose Morris. I have a Diason 15 watt 1 x 12 using 2 x 6GW8s, which are basically a EL84 with a 12AX7 triode in one. It's a little screamer and very voxish.

http://www.ozvalveamps.elands.com/diason/diasonebayfrontda_12_sb.jpg

Basically identical to the similar Goldentone. The Reverbmaster uses a pair of sweep tubes, 6DQ6As or 6DQ6Bs which have an interesting tonal variation to more common 6L6s or EL34s. I think they were cheap and plentiful because Oz makers tended to use them. They put out between 20-60 watts depending on biasing scheme. The combos used a smaller output transformer and different biasing for 40 watts, the head put out 60 watts.

http://www.rockdog.com.au/goldentone/Goldentone%20head%20and%20cab%20front%203.JPG
http://www.rockdog.com.au/goldentone/Goldentone%20back%20square%20on.JPG

Just to show they weren't straight copies of a Fender, they use a Vox-type tremolo with a network of capacitors. They also use a 6GW8 to drive and recover a short-pan echo/reverb which is more like an atmospheric slap delay. They do 60's rock/pop very well. Basically a sweet-dirty tone as they start breaking up, not tons of bass.

http://www.ozvalveamps.elands.com/diason/diasonebayinsideright74_12_sbq.jpg

Soundwise, they are a little Fender, a little Marshall, a little Vox. There's a big variation between models and years. Moodys and Eminars (which Ritchie Blackmore loved when he came to Australia in the 70's) are other big brands.

If you like the sound of the Hoodoo Gurus, they often used them on recordings.

Mat
August 16th, 2007, 01:36 AM
Ah yes Goldentone - when I started gigging in the 70's these were often the workhorse amps. Cheap, relaible and a great tone of their own. Anyway fast forward 30 to 40 years and they're now collectors items.

There's a great website which has a lot of information on Goldentone and other Australian amp manufacturers which is a great read for anyone interested in this gear.

http://www.ozvalveamps.elands.com/

In fact if you look at my profile shot the amp there is a 1956 Maton AM2, single ended 6L6 amp - very sweet!