Best Single-ended 6L6 Amp?

I'm looking for something in the $700 range (or less), new or used. It has to be either a 1X12 combo or head, loud enough for jam sessions. I am not looking for gain monsters. Tube swapping amps are OK, but I'm not interested in the Univalve, as I already tried one and didn't like it. I'm also not interested in Tweed Champ clones, owned one already. I do love my Silverface Champ, however, so I am interested in Blackface Champ style amps that can run a 6L6, like the Richter 5.8. I'm also intrigued by the Emery Sound Superbaby.

Any/all suggestions within price range much appreciated--I’d love a Mercury but can’t afford one!

How about a Champ 12?

Doesn't Weber make a SE kit with a single 807 or some such? 807 is the transmitting equiv of the 6L6.

If you can find one to try out, look at a Champ 25 or 25 SE. Pre amp is SS with a 12AX7 phase inverter and a pair of 6L6GC power tubes conservatively rated at 25 watts. (The Champ 12 is all tube but 12 watts.)

Channel switching, reverb (but a little weak IMO), effects loop, line out. Too loud for a bedroom amp but plenty loud enough for jams and a lugable 38 pounds.

Under-rated and still undiscovered, they're going in the $175 - $225 range on ebay. Excellent value for the money in my biased opinion. :smile:

http://www.ampwares.com/ffg/champ_25.html

Single Ended = one power tube.

I had a Champ 12 once it really liked it -- always thought it might make a neat head project.

I also had the Champ 25 -- great amp but way more power than I'm looking for right now.

single ended ~= every power tube (however many) work on the entire wave form. You can have more than one power tube in a single ended amp. That's called parallel single ended. For an example look at Angela's Super 6V6; two 6V6s in parallel single ended. No reason you couldn't build a 4-6L6 single ended amp; if you could find the output iron for it. Forty watts the hard way.

single ended != class a, you could have a class b single ended amp, but it would sound like <insert epithet here>
single ended != cathode bias

My first build was a G5, a French project that used an EL34 single-ended. I later converted that to 6L6. The newest version has an adjustable bias for just about any octal tube. The site's in French, but take a look - www.projetg5.com. The amp sounded pretty good, but a few months ago I tore it apart and used the parts to build a tweed champ. I wasn't playing it anymore and my wiring frightened me.

pedantically yours

steven

Well, I'm pretty sure that an amp can have 2 power tubes and still be single ended, but I don't think anyone makes one. Apparently, an amp can generate much more power with a pair of tubes in Push-pull than parallel SE, so that never really caught on. As much time as I sit reading at forums like this, I can't say as I've ever heard of one. There are plenty of guys out ther willing to build you one, but I'm guessing you'd never get one custom built for you at that price.

Building your own, however, is quite plausible. I'm guessing that a single 6L6GC would make 12-15 watts, which is quite loud, but probably not very polite at drum volume.

http://www.sewatt.com/

A spin-off of the 18watt website, where you could probably find plenty of guys willing to help you on your journey. Good luck.

THD UniValve

Champ 25 SE is a parallel single ended with 2 6L6 (I recall). But it has a lot of stuff in there, I wouldn't want to try to build one.

but yeah, push-pull puts out more, and the OT is cheaper.

steven

THD UniValve

"Tube swapping amps are OK, but I'm not interested in the Univalve, as I already tried one and didn't like it."

single ended ~= every power tube (however many) work on the entire wave form. You can have more than one power tube in a single ended amp. That's called parallel single ended. For an example look at Angela's Super 6V6; two 6V6s in parallel single ended. No reason you couldn't build a 4-6L6 single ended amp; if you could find the output iron for it. Forty watts the hard way.

single ended != class a, you could have a class b single ended amp, but it would sound like <insert epithet here>
single ended != cathode bias

My first build was a G5, a French project that used an EL34 single-ended. I later converted that to 6L6. The newest version has an adjustable bias for just about any octal tube. The site's in French, but take a look - www.projetg5.com. The amp sounded pretty good, but a few months ago I tore it apart and used the parts to build a tweed champ. I wasn't playing it anymore and my wiring frightened me.

pedantically yours

steven

Actually, there is no rule that SE must equal cathode bias. It usually is, but I have seen a fixed bias single ended amp.

single ended != cathode bias

While they are rare, there are some SE amps that utilize fixed bias.

I've even built a few - the amp becomes a lot more flexible. It's nice to be able to run a great assortment of octal based tubes.

For a true SE octal amp, I'd suggest any that would allow you to run a tetrode - either an EL34, KT66, or better. They can be pretty loud mofos, IME.

I had a Champ 12 once it really liked it -- always thought it might make a neat head project.

I also had the Champ 25 -- great amp but way more power than I'm looking for right now.

Hard to tell from your description exactly what you were looking for but both seemed to fit the basic criteria and cerntainly were within budget.

And what the heck, most people aren't familiar with either, never mind having actually owned both. Wasn't prepared for that possibility! :shock:

Actually, there is no rule that SE must equal cathode bias. It usually is, but I have seen a fixed bias single ended amp.

!= = not equal. we are agreeing here.

steven

Just scored one yesterday.

For a single ended 6L6 it is a very good amp.

I think it's probably been said a thousand times: the clean is fantastic. Crank up the volume and you get that really cool compressed sound happening. Sounds fantastic with a tele or strat. Nice break up, great tone, no ear bleeding.

As for the o/d channel...you might find a use for it. I have at very low settings.

I changed the 12ax7's for a JAN 5751 and a JJ ECC83s. Sounds better than the no name 12ax7's in there originally.

I used to have a Super 60 head and 4x12 cab. The Champ 12 to me sounds like little brother. I just really dig that clean channel.

How about either of these?

http://www.frenzeltubeamps.com/id12.html

http://www.frenzeltubeamps.com/id26.html

The best I've played in that vein is a Savage Macht 12, which is parallel 6V6 for 12 watts. Might be a bit out of your price range, unless you find a used one (try Willie's American Guitars in St Paul... they're a big Savage dealer and often have used ones, and they do lots of mail order). That Savage was a MONSTER, sweet and sensitive and just the perfect volume. Definitely an iron fist in a velvet glove sort of sound.

I've seen those Frenzel Champs, but what bugs me about the description is he says they are based on the "classic 60s 5E1" circuit and uses the word Blackface in the description, but the 5E1 is a Tweed Champ. That may be picky, but it's definitely a red flag for me.

!= = not equal. we are agreeing here.

steven

Hummm....never seen the "!=" before. Not familiar with that one, sorry!

Build this, or have somebody build this. Allen doesn't make them anymore but still sells the iron. I'd use something like a Marshall 18 watt chassis and make it a combo with a warehouse Veteran 12". Shouldn't be over about $6-7 hundred. Unless you build it yourself, then maybe $350 or so.
http://i9.tinypic.com/8brpco2.jpg

Frenzel amps are fantastic. Richter amps are fantastic. I've owned both, and I don't think that you would be disappointed with either one. They both produce very classic Fender tones and they are both very well built. Great values for the money, but more than that, they are impressed me more than many amps that sell for more money.

The THD Univalve is a very interesting design, and is a very cool idea. I don't that that it ever translated well into reality. The Uni is a very stiff amp that sounds tight and cold at anything less than full volume. Even at full throttle, the amp is just OK. Make sure that you try before you buy.

So many great amps out there right now. I'm sure you'll have fun in your search!

Hummm....never seen the "!=" before. Not familiar with that one, sorry!

Sorry, it's an old 'C'-programmer habit. I should watch it.

steven

Build this, or have somebody build this. Allen doesn't make them anymore but still sells the iron. I'd use something like a Marshall 18 watt chassis and make it a combo with a warehouse Veteran 12". Shouldn't be over about $6-7 hundred. Unless you build it yourself, then maybe $350 or so.
http://i9.tinypic.com/8brpco2.jpg

Notice that the schem allows for tetrodes, which I suggested above. That should give the extra push needed.

Well, I'm pretty sure that an amp can have 2 power tubes and still be single ended, but I don't think anyone makes one.
How 'bout the Victoria Regal II (http://www.victoriaamp.com/visitor/show_model/14)? I just recently got one, and I'm currently using a Mullard xF2 EL34 and an RCA 6L6G to power it. The original Regal Victoria sold used a single power tube, but this one uses one or two power tubes, in parallel single-ended operation.

The Regal II has reverb, tremelo, and a 15" Weber AlNiCo speaker, all in one compact package. Cool beans!!

- Thom

Swart makes some pretty impressive sounding single ended amps. Check their website.

Tom

Opaltone, those amps look the bomb. It is numero uno on my GAS list right now. I actually have a Vicky dealer not 25 minutes away and he's sold two of 'em in the last year. I always see 'em when I stop by with the missus, but decline to play 'em as we're usually enroute to somewhere else, then when I come back alone, it's gone.

Something about a 15" speaker and reverb makes me all warm & fuzzy inside...

Something about a 15" speaker and reverb makes me all warm & fuzzy inside...
And there's something about being able to use an EL34 and a 6L6G, at the same time, that thrills me in the most deliciously perverse way :wink:

- T

I think I have it narrowed down to the Emery Sound Superbaby or the Frenzel Champ SuperSportster. Anyone with any information on either of these, or other suggestions, please chime in.

Frenzel Champ Super Sportster:

http://www.frenzeltubeamps.com/id26.html