The Ultimate Pedal Amp?

11 Gauge · June 24th, 2008, 06:19 PM

By sheer luck, I found an original Polytone Mini Brute that my brother abandoned when he moved to the west coast...

I know that these things are going for stupidly high dollars, but I just had to try this one out through a few peds...

If you really want to hear what your pedal is doing, this is the amp for it, IMO. Even without peds, the thing sounds big and deep, even though the enclosure is just big enough to house a 10" speaker. And the reverb is unbelievably good as well.

I tried a bunch of high dollar and extra cheapo peds through it, and it was like hearing some of them for the first time. Any little bit of snot or strange oscillations are all clearly audible. If you think your pedal is amp-like, this is the amp to judge that statement by.

Did I mention that the little sucker is LOUD? I can now walk into a modest gig with this little monster and an auxillary pedalboard and get the job done. I had every intention of selling this thing, but I just had to try it like a dummy...

beep.click · June 28th, 2008, 04:51 AM

I like my Epiphone Blues Custom 30 for pedals. Some other amps get mushy, or don't have enough high end. This amp still sounds musical when you throw stuff at it -- pretty unusual, in my experience.

winny pooh · July 1st, 2008, 10:07 AM

FWIW my Classic 50 is great with pedals

e-merlin · July 1st, 2008, 12:10 PM

Got pics?

iansmitchell · July 1st, 2008, 11:34 PM

Epiphone valve junior.

hal · July 1st, 2008, 11:48 PM

Sounds like a broken record(or do we say CD now) on the TDPRI, but a Deluxe is always a great way to go. I just recently went back to my 66 Deluxe. Set it for great clean tone and let the pedals do the rest.

11 Gauge · July 1st, 2008, 11:52 PM

Well, like I said - I had to try it, like a dummy...

I was going thru my 5th round of different pedals when it cut out...then silence...

I took the back panel off and started measuring voltages - everything is kosher in the chassis, but the power amp is in the bottom of the cabinet! Even though it's solid state, the amp has a power tranny and filter caps just like a tube amp.

So I guess the value of the amp just dropped a bit, huh? Just as well - someone hacked it a bit by dropping in a Peavey Scorpion speaker, and the bass pot has half of the split shaft missing (and the knob that is a style that I haven't seen in over 20 years).

What are the odds of pooching a SS amp, especially a Polytone?

I've got new gear coming in, so pics will probably come shortly.

Did I mention that the 'verb was great? It's got a short tank mounted vertically in the side of the cabinet.

Jeffscreamedcorn · July 1st, 2008, 11:53 PM

Any tube Fender amp.

Some Boogies (with selective peds).

Some Marshalls (with selective peds).

jonzer · July 2nd, 2008, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hal

Sounds like a broken record(or do we say CD now) on the TDPRI, but a Deluxe is always a great way to go. I just recently went back to my 66 Deluxe. Set it for great clean tone and let the pedals do the rest.

Yep!

Beatbx · July 2nd, 2008, 02:20 PM

The only caveat I can think of is with higher gain amps and overdrive/distortions. The od pedal is a bit redundant with high gain channels and will come off as 'mushy.' Other than that I think it's wide open. I personally like the amp just on the verge of clean vs. dirty.

Pickalittle · July 13th, 2008, 05:49 AM

Musicman 112 Sixty-Five Combo amp from the 70's. Best amp I've ever heard....ever!
Phenomenol as a performing amp at miked at performance levels. Even better with my Fulltone OCD and Distortion Pro boxes!

aberrant · July 15th, 2008, 03:50 PM

Fender Deluxe, Twins, Super

Vox AC15, AC30

imo

Vol. Knob · July 17th, 2008, 12:23 PM

Anything that gets a good clean tone and gets the guitars natural tone. I have a '69 Teisco Checkmate 15 that prefers to be run with effects, especially overdrives and distortions.

francis57 · July 29th, 2008, 04:37 PM

I run pedals according to Hoyle through a Tone King Comet 20 with Teles:

The Comet is crisp, warm and super clean on the rhythm channel with plenty of headroom and provides superb effect definition. if you want to hear what your effects really sound like, it's the best amp short of a good Twin Reverb.

MBradford6288 · July 30th, 2008, 01:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeffscreamedcorn

Any tube Fender amp.

Some Boogies (with selective peds).

Some Marshalls (with selective peds).

I disagree. I think that a deluxe or a vibrolux accepts pedals great, but I have never heard a distortion pedal I like into a twin creating anything other than a buzzy, horrid sound.

YMMV

Scott S · July 30th, 2008, 02:02 AM

I've played around with a Polytone Mini-Brute -- definitely a clear, neutral-sounding amp. That said, I think some distortion effects actually *benefit* from a lo-fi tube amp adding nonlinearities and rounding off the high harmonics...

- Scott

Al Watsky · August 1st, 2008, 01:50 AM

Had good luck in the past replacing chips in Poly's, upstairs in the preamp you'll find a couple of plug in chips. Its likely one or more failed. They are pretty standard cheap and easy to replace.
In the past any standard chip would do, though I'll bet PT would be happy to sell you a set.
If you use generic replacements they might be a different tolerance.
Which you can sometimes hear.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 11 Gauge

Well, like I said - I had to try it, like a dummy...

I was going thru my 5th round of different pedals when it cut out...then silence...

I took the back panel off and started measuring voltages - everything is kosher in the chassis, but the power amp is in the bottom of the cabinet! Even though it's solid state, the amp has a power tranny and filter caps just like a tube amp.

So I guess the value of the amp just dropped a bit, huh? Just as well - someone hacked it a bit by dropping in a Peavey Scorpion speaker, and the bass pot has half of the split shaft missing (and the knob that is a style that I haven't seen in over 20 years).

What are the odds of pooching a SS amp, especially a Polytone?

I've got new gear coming in, so pics will probably come shortly.

Did I mention that the 'verb was great? It's got a short tank mounted vertically in the side of the cabinet.

11 Gauge · August 1st, 2008, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Al Watsky

upstairs in the preamp you'll find a couple of plug in chips.

The chips all seemed to spec out okay - not so sure about the mosfets. I haven't had a chance to take the power supply (in the bottom) out and inspect it for issues - the filter caps look pretty old from the outside.

I know it's a SS amp, but it does use filter caps and a power tranny that looks dang similar to a Deluxe Reverb.

Either way - thanks for the tip. I'll go back in w/my meter and probe some more.

Any idea what the stock speaker was? I pulled the Scorpion.

Al Watsky · August 3rd, 2008, 03:09 AM

.011,
They were 4 ohm eminence , I "suppose" they were "optimized" for the amp by P-tone. Usually the only thing the new speakers do in there is make the amp a "bit" louder, if they were more effecient. Some folks played lotsa' gigs through these and doubled on bass. We call em' "clubdates" , elsewhere , GB's.
So they would wear out the stock speakers every 2 years or so. If they didn't attempt to replace the stock speaker you might find anything in there.
FWIW Ive owned and played PT's for 32 years, all mine have the stock speaker in them. Guess I only have 2 now, used to have 3 , sold my first one a 102-D to a pal. Its still working in his rehearsal space with no repairs or modifications, 33 years old. Pretty good. Transistor amp.
I like the stock speaker in there, they will handle anything you throw at them and they are light. Ceramic Mags.

Spidercaster · August 3rd, 2008, 11:04 AM

I think pedals sound great through any of my Dr. Z's.

11 Gauge · August 3rd, 2008, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Al Watsky

Its still working in his rehearsal space with no repairs or modifications, 33 years old.

So what's going on in the power supply in the bottom of the amp? Is it simply that - just a power supply, or is the output section of the amp located down there, as well?

waters · August 3rd, 2008, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spidercaster

I think pedals sound great through any of my Dr. Z's.

Agree, maz jr works great with them.

Al Watsky · August 3rd, 2008, 09:10 PM

One thing to look for in the P-tone is the power amp fuse which is below. Covered with all that fiberglass matting. That fails on occasion. I do believe as you noted the preamp is on top the Power on bottom. Theres caps for the powersupply the usual gaggle of stuff.

June 24th, 2008, 06:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
11 Gauge Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: The East Coast Posts: 3,015 10 Photos	The Ultimate Pedal Amp? By sheer luck, I found an original Polytone Mini Brute that my brother abandoned when he moved to the west coast... I know that these things are going for stupidly high dollars, but I just had to try this one out through a few peds... If you really want to hear what your pedal is doing, this is the amp for it, IMO. Even without peds, the thing sounds big and deep, even though the enclosure is just big enough to house a 10" speaker. And the reverb is unbelievably good as well. I tried a bunch of high dollar and extra cheapo peds through it, and it was like hearing some of them for the first time. Any little bit of snot or strange oscillations are all clearly audible. If you think your pedal is amp-like, this is the amp to judge that statement by. Did I mention that the little sucker is LOUD? I can now walk into a modest gig with this little monster and an auxillary pedalboard and get the job done. I had every intention of selling this thing, but I just had to try it like a dummy... __________________

June 28th, 2008, 04:51 AM	#2 (permalink)
beep.click Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: California Age: 49 Posts: 1,966	I like my Epiphone Blues Custom 30 for pedals. Some other amps get mushy, or don't have enough high end. This amp still sounds musical when you throw stuff at it -- pretty unusual, in my experience. __________________ "It looked like a giant green gum drop to me."

July 1st, 2008, 10:07 AM	#3 (permalink)
winny pooh Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: South London Posts: 1,612 7 Photos	FWIW my Classic 50 is great with pedals __________________ my afro ambient side project: http://www.myspace.com/theswyambusessions

July 1st, 2008, 11:34 PM	#5 (permalink)
iansmitchell TDPRI Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Gainesville, Florida Posts: 94	Epiphone valve junior. __________________ ... Please do not insinuate anything sexual from that.

July 1st, 2008, 11:48 PM	#6 (permalink)
hal Tele-Holic Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 835	Deluxe... Sounds like a broken record(or do we say CD now) on the TDPRI, but a Deluxe is always a great way to go. I just recently went back to my 66 Deluxe. Set it for great clean tone and let the pedals do the rest. __________________ Wherever you go, there you are.

July 1st, 2008, 11:52 PM	#7 (permalink)
11 Gauge Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: The East Coast Posts: 3,015 10 Photos	Well, like I said - I had to try it, like a dummy... I was going thru my 5th round of different pedals when it cut out...then silence... I took the back panel off and started measuring voltages - everything is kosher in the chassis, but the power amp is in the bottom of the cabinet! Even though it's solid state, the amp has a power tranny and filter caps just like a tube amp. So I guess the value of the amp just dropped a bit, huh? Just as well - someone hacked it a bit by dropping in a Peavey Scorpion speaker, and the bass pot has half of the split shaft missing (and the knob that is a style that I haven't seen in over 20 years). What are the odds of pooching a SS amp, especially a Polytone? I've got new gear coming in, so pics will probably come shortly. Did I mention that the 'verb was great? It's got a short tank mounted vertically in the side of the cabinet. __________________

July 1st, 2008, 11:53 PM	#8 (permalink)
Jeffscreamedcorn Tele-Holic Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: beantown Age: 51 Posts: 786	Any tube Fender amp. Some Boogies (with selective peds). Some Marshalls (with selective peds).

July 2nd, 2008, 02:20 PM	#10 (permalink)
Beatbx Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Jacksonville, FL Age: 37 Posts: 150	The only caveat I can think of is with higher gain amps and overdrive/distortions. The od pedal is a bit redundant with high gain channels and will come off as 'mushy.' Other than that I think it's wide open. I personally like the amp just on the verge of clean vs. dirty. __________________ -Joe http://www.myspace.com/celestialsrock http://www.myspace.com/handofthehost

July 13th, 2008, 05:49 AM	#11 (permalink)
Pickalittle Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: USA Age: 56 Posts: 316	Musicman 112 Sixty-Five Combo amp from the 70's. Best amp I've ever heard....ever! Phenomenol as a performing amp at miked at performance levels. Even better with my Fulltone OCD and Distortion Pro boxes! __________________ Don't die with the music still in you! Psalm 150

July 15th, 2008, 03:50 PM	#12 (permalink)
aberrant TDPRI Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 72	Fender Deluxe, Twins, Super Vox AC15, AC30 imo

July 17th, 2008, 12:23 PM	#13 (permalink)
Vol. Knob Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 567 79 Photos	Anything that gets a good clean tone and gets the guitars natural tone. I have a '69 Teisco Checkmate 15 that prefers to be run with effects, especially overdrives and distortions. __________________ I have a few bands: 7 Mysteries Zerababyl Inflammatory Rhetoric

July 29th, 2008, 04:37 PM	#14 (permalink)
francis57 NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Niagara Posts: 3	I run pedals according to Hoyle through a Tone King Comet 20 with Teles: The Comet is crisp, warm and super clean on the rhythm channel with plenty of headroom and provides superb effect definition. if you want to hear what your effects really sound like, it's the best amp short of a good Twin Reverb.

July 30th, 2008, 02:02 AM	#16 (permalink)
Scott S Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: SW CR IA US NA PE Age: 28 Posts: 1,718	I've played around with a Polytone Mini-Brute -- definitely a clear, neutral-sounding amp. That said, I think some distortion effects actually benefit from a lo-fi tube amp adding nonlinearities and rounding off the high harmonics... - Scott

August 3rd, 2008, 03:09 AM	#19 (permalink)
Al Watsky TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: New Jersey Age: 56 Posts: 92	.011, They were 4 ohm eminence , I "suppose" they were "optimized" for the amp by P-tone. Usually the only thing the new speakers do in there is make the amp a "bit" louder, if they were more effecient. Some folks played lotsa' gigs through these and doubled on bass. We call em' "clubdates" , elsewhere , GB's. So they would wear out the stock speakers every 2 years or so. If they didn't attempt to replace the stock speaker you might find anything in there. FWIW Ive owned and played PT's for 32 years, all mine have the stock speaker in them. Guess I only have 2 now, used to have 3 , sold my first one a 102-D to a pal. Its still working in his rehearsal space with no repairs or modifications, 33 years old. Pretty good. Transistor amp. I like the stock speaker in there, they will handle anything you throw at them and they are light. Ceramic Mags.

August 3rd, 2008, 11:04 AM	#20 (permalink)
Spidercaster Tele-Afflicted Join Date: May 2005 Location: New York Posts: 1,070 5 Photos	I think pedals sound great through any of my Dr. Z's. __________________ "Just keep one thing in mind............I may remember it all differently tomorrow." - Neil Young http://www.youtube.com/user/Richeray

August 3rd, 2008, 09:10 PM	#23 (permalink)
Al Watsky TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: New Jersey Age: 56 Posts: 92	One thing to look for in the P-tone is the power amp fuse which is below. Covered with all that fiberglass matting. That fails on occasion. I do believe as you noted the preamp is on top the Power on bottom. Theres caps for the powersupply the usual gaggle of stuff.