bennyguitfiddle Posted May 2, 2007 Share Posted May 2, 2007 where can i find some info on how much old tube amps are worth I have an old National tube amp I'm guessing it is 40's or 50's I tried serching for anything on this amp and have been hitting a lot of foul ball all the info is trivial ya know what I mean Why do you lay down? I say that it beats standing up! whats got you feeling so down? I hold up my empty cup! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdrs Posted May 2, 2007 Share Posted May 2, 2007 Hey Benny.....you came to the right place!! I need more info about the amp, and I'll look it up for you. What model is it? Are there any identifying labels, or other specifics you can give me? The two best sources I know are the "Blue Book of Guitar Amplifiers" by Zachary R. Fjestad, and "The Official Vintage Guitar Mag. Price Guide". With some more info, I'll gladly look it up for you. My books are in hand, and warmed up...... Don "There once was a note, Pure and Easy. Playing so free, like a breath rippling by." http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=574296 http://www.myspace.com/imdrs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdrs Posted May 2, 2007 Share Posted May 2, 2007 I just did a little reading about Nationals, and apparently they didn't name their amps too specifically. If you could describe what it's covering is...Tweed? Wood? If you had a photo, that might help. Don "There once was a note, Pure and Easy. Playing so free, like a breath rippling by." http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=574296 http://www.myspace.com/imdrs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bennyguitfiddle Posted May 2, 2007 Author Share Posted May 2, 2007 doc I'm at work right now I'll try to get some photos and serial number late tonight or tommarrow after noon thank for looking http://a364.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/00662/36/38/662258363_m.jpg this is the back of it only photo i could find Why do you lay down? I say that it beats standing up! whats got you feeling so down? I hold up my empty cup! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdrs Posted May 2, 2007 Share Posted May 2, 2007 Is it covered in Tweed cloth? Or is that tolex? It's hard to see....the photo is small, and my eyes are getting OLD!! LOL Don "There once was a note, Pure and Easy. Playing so free, like a breath rippling by." http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=574296 http://www.myspace.com/imdrs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bennyguitfiddle Posted May 2, 2007 Author Share Posted May 2, 2007 http://www.myspace.com/wearetheplan sorry that foto sucks you might need to go to myspace to see it larger it is the amp right in front of me Why do you lay down? I say that it beats standing up! whats got you feeling so down? I hold up my empty cup! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bennyguitfiddle Posted May 2, 2007 Author Share Posted May 2, 2007 it is not a tweed cloth and the handle is not original but it was on it when i got it Why do you lay down? I say that it beats standing up! whats got you feeling so down? I hold up my empty cup! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bennyguitfiddle Posted May 3, 2007 Author Share Posted May 3, 2007 ok here are all the numbers and markings on the plate it says National Valco - Chicago 51 115 volts 2Amp. inside the amp there is a numbe stamped on a sticker lable V19622 3 instument inputs 1 mic input all 1/4 inch. 1mic control knob bass treble volume on the instument side http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb101/bennyguitfiddle/Duggans23.jpg?t=1178159009 Why do you lay down? I say that it beats standing up! whats got you feeling so down? I hold up my empty cup! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdrs Posted May 3, 2007 Share Posted May 3, 2007 benny....I'm under the gun just now.....gotta head to another office. But, more info will help; How many speakers, and what size are they? Are there any numbers and letters stamped on the speaker? If so, what are they? How many tubes? If you could take a close up photo of the front and back, that might help a lot. I quickly looked at the book, and am not sure yet which model you have. I'll keep working on it for you. Don "There once was a note, Pure and Easy. Playing so free, like a breath rippling by." http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=574296 http://www.myspace.com/imdrs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Ellwood Posted May 3, 2007 Share Posted May 3, 2007 Why are your amps facing you? OR are you using them as monitors? http://www.thestringnetwork.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bennyguitfiddle Posted May 8, 2007 Author Share Posted May 8, 2007 so far i found that it was made in 1949I don't have a cameralooking around for one Why do you lay down? I say that it beats standing up! whats got you feeling so down? I hold up my empty cup! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bennyguitfiddle Posted May 8, 2007 Author Share Posted May 8, 2007 Why are your amps facing you? OR are you using them as monitors? If I can I always face the amps toward me. turn down the volume and put a SM57 in front of it. the sound guys never care. some perfer it. they say it gives them more control out front. this amp though (national) I use for my harp mic :grin: Why do you lay down? I say that it beats standing up! whats got you feeling so down? I hold up my empty cup! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bennyguitfiddle Posted May 9, 2007 Author Share Posted May 9, 2007 http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb101/bennyguitfiddle/nationalamp001.jpg http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb101/bennyguitfiddle/nationalamp002.jpg http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb101/bennyguitfiddle/nationalamp003.jpg http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb101/bennyguitfiddle/nationalamp004.jpg http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb101/bennyguitfiddle/nationalamp005.jpg http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb101/bennyguitfiddle/nationalamp006.jpg http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb101/bennyguitfiddle/nationalamp007.jpg http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb101/bennyguitfiddle/nationalamp008.jpg http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb101/bennyguitfiddle/nationalamp009.jpg http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb101/bennyguitfiddle/nationalamp010.jpg http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb101/bennyguitfiddle/nationalamp011.jpg http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb101/bennyguitfiddle/nationalamp012.jpg http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb101/bennyguitfiddle/nationalamp013.jpg Why do you lay down? I say that it beats standing up! whats got you feeling so down? I hold up my empty cup! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdrs Posted May 9, 2007 Share Posted May 9, 2007 benny.....I've gone thru both books, and did a search or two online, and can't come up with anything for you. Photos will help. If you get a camera and can post photos, close up of the controls will help. Also, if you could list; -how many speakers, and of what size are they? -how many tubes, and what tube types are they? Don "There once was a note, Pure and Easy. Playing so free, like a breath rippling by." http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=574296 http://www.myspace.com/imdrs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdrs Posted May 9, 2007 Share Posted May 9, 2007 Ha!!! O.K.....you posted the photo as I posted my last comments!! Can you put up a photo of the other side of the amp? Also, tube and speaker info will help. Don "There once was a note, Pure and Easy. Playing so free, like a breath rippling by." http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=574296 http://www.myspace.com/imdrs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdrs Posted May 9, 2007 Share Posted May 9, 2007 Alright!! It may be a Model 1215.....but, I'm not sure YET!! Is that Jensen a 12" speaker? And, how many tubes does it have? Don "There once was a note, Pure and Easy. Playing so free, like a breath rippling by." http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=574296 http://www.myspace.com/imdrs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bennyguitfiddle Posted May 9, 2007 Author Share Posted May 9, 2007 I put more photos on 12" speaker jensen P12 P C5026 5506 22086 tubes 1 5U4G 2 6L6 G 2 6SJ7 3 6SJ7GT Why do you lay down? I say that it beats standing up! whats got you feeling so down? I hold up my empty cup! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdrs Posted May 9, 2007 Share Posted May 9, 2007 ALRIGHT!! It looks like a model 1215, althought it does not seem to match in all aspects. Here's the description from The Blue Book; "12watt, 1-12" Jensen speaker, eight tube chassis, two channels, rear chrome control panel, four inputs (three instrument, one mic), four knobs (instrument vol, mic volume, tone, bass), tweed covering, ofset brown suede rectangular grille with zebra graphic, 17.625 in wide, 20.5 in tall, 8.75 in deep, 31 lbs., mfg. circa 1950 - mid 1950s." This is the only 8 tube National with a rear chrome control panel in any of my books. If it is, in fact a model 1215, the book says it's worth $275-325 in excellent condition, and $150-200 in average condition. That is one sweet looking old amp. Do you ever play your guitar thru it? How does it sound?? Don "There once was a note, Pure and Easy. Playing so free, like a breath rippling by." http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=574296 http://www.myspace.com/imdrs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bennyguitfiddle Posted May 9, 2007 Author Share Posted May 9, 2007 I have. It sounds real clean. and breaks up at high volume. sound like the old blues amps. wish i could recaurd some clips for you but don't know how. thanks for the info I've been thinking of frankinstiening this thing and turning it into a head so i can use it with different cabs and such what do you think if it's only worth $325 top then i don't have much to lose Why do you lay down? I say that it beats standing up! whats got you feeling so down? I hold up my empty cup! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdrs Posted May 9, 2007 Share Posted May 9, 2007 Well....I'm a CONFIRMED lover of old amps. Personally, I would not alter the amp. But, there certainly isn't any reason that you could not do so, if you really wanted to. You might just consider having a plug put into it, so that you could plug the existing Jensen into it, to use it as it is...i.e. as the combo you've grown to know and love!! LOL But, with a speaker out jack, you could un plug the Jensen, and plug her into an external speak cab... I wouldn't know how to do that. But, a qualified tube amp tech should be able to do that. And, it wouldn't dramatically change the amp. And, if the tech did it well, you could likely reverse the process, and leave the amp "as new". Don "There once was a note, Pure and Easy. Playing so free, like a breath rippling by." http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=574296 http://www.myspace.com/imdrs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffinator Posted May 9, 2007 Share Posted May 9, 2007 Mang, don't wreck the amp by altering it. Don's given you "the closest thing he could find" - which means he's not 100% that it's what he thinks it is. Quick story for ya.... The very first guitar I ever had - one I borrowed from a friend just to learn to play. It was a classical, but it had a full-size body. Fender "F-45" were the markings. After about 4-5 months, I started looking around for a steel-string acoustic to graduate to, and I started asking about this guitar. No one could find it in their books. Couple guitar shop guys said "Well, the Fender F-40's and F-50's are listed at $50 in my guides. I'd guess it's probably in that same range" Month or so later, I bought another guitar, and gave this one back to my friend. Three months later, she calls me... She says "You know that guitar I let you borrow, and beat the s*** out of? Well, I just had it appraised - it's one of only FOUR Fender made and even after you got done f***ing it up, they gave me $3,000 for it!" Moral of the story: Until you're 100% of the identity of a piece of kit, better to not screw it up until you know for sure! A bunch of loud, obnoxious music I USED to make with friends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffinator Posted May 9, 2007 Share Posted May 9, 2007 PS: by "f***ing it up" - just so you know... I thrashed that guitar - I played with bronze picks (just like my hero at the time, Chris Holmes of W.A.S.P.) - you can imagine what a beginner could do to an acoustic guitar playing with a metal pick.... A bunch of loud, obnoxious music I USED to make with friends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bennyguitfiddle Posted May 9, 2007 Author Share Posted May 9, 2007 maybe i shouldn't mess with itIt is still a fine harp amp any how.sorry for your sad storybut thank you for learning that lesson for me. Why do you lay down? I say that it beats standing up! whats got you feeling so down? I hold up my empty cup! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffinator Posted May 9, 2007 Share Posted May 9, 2007 maybe i shouldn't mess with it It is still a fine harp amp any how. sorry for your sad story but thank you for learning that lesson for me. Not really a sad story for me. I was 17 and didn't know s*** anyway. In all reality, it was more a sad story for my friend, who likely could have gotten 3-4x what they gave her had I not beat up her guitar... A bunch of loud, obnoxious music I USED to make with friends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdrs Posted May 9, 2007 Share Posted May 9, 2007 benny.....the speaker code on that Jensen indicicates that the speaker was made in the 26th week of 1950. So, if the speaker is original to the amp, it would date the amp to 1950, or later. Don "There once was a note, Pure and Easy. Playing so free, like a breath rippling by." http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=574296 http://www.myspace.com/imdrs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bennyguitfiddle Posted May 9, 2007 Author Share Posted May 9, 2007 Serial Number Plates 1940-1964. Beginning in 1940, National/Valco serial numbers were on a small oblong metal plate (brass or aluminum). This plate was tacked to the back of the neck with two small brass nails. The following serial numbers apply to all Valco-made National instruments, including lapsteels and guitars. These plates were also put on amplifiers. All Valco-made instruments were numbered this way till 1964. Valco also made instruments for Sears (Silvertone), Montgomery Wards (Airline), Gretsch, Oahu and others. These are numbered with the same metal tag system. Number range Year------------ ----G suffix 1940-1942V100 V7500 1947V7500 V15000 1948V15000 V25000 1949V25000 V35000 1950V35000 V40000 1951X100 X7000 1951X7000 X17000 1952X17000 X30000 1953X30000 X43000 1954X43000 X57000 1955X57000 X71000 1956X71000 X85000 1957X85000 X99000 1958T100 T5000 1958T5000 T25000 1959T25000 T50000 1960T50000 T75000 1961T75000 T90000 1962G100 G5000 1962T90000 T99000 1963G5000 G15000 1963G15000 G40000 1964 this is what i found http://www.provide.net/~cfh/national.html#intro2 the cabinet has V19622 1949 according to thisbut everything is unclear thoughI trust the jensen code more thanthe valco nationalyou can't the serial number very good in this photohttp://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb101/bennyguitfiddle/DSC00249.jpg Why do you lay down? I say that it beats standing up! whats got you feeling so down? I hold up my empty cup! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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