Strategery Posted September 10, 2008 Posted September 10, 2008 Alright...the new amp is supposed to arrive today! Watch the UPS driver leave me a note saying he needs a signature. Randy "Just play!"
Caevan O'Shite Posted September 10, 2008 Posted September 10, 2008 Better that than its being dropped-off at another house on your street, and someone else getting a reeeeally niiiiiiiice unexpected early Christmas-present... !! Fed-Ex likes to leave my packages on the doorsteps of neighbors up and down the road, and inexplicably enter a claim that I signed for the package when I never saw it or the deliverer... Fortunately, I have very honest and nice neighbors! Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do? ~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~ _ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _
Rampdog Posted September 10, 2008 Posted September 10, 2008 I got good neighbors too but I can't say a whole lot for the guys that handle the packages... I've had my share of claims... Randy...Let's all hope your delivery is painless...You've been in labor now for how long??? Let us know... If it ain't fun...why do it...? http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=778394&content=music
Caevan O'Shite Posted September 10, 2008 Posted September 10, 2008 So... howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt howizzitt??????!!!!!!!!?????? Huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh huh????????!!!!!!!!??????!!!!!!!!?????? Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do? ~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~ _ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _
Strategery Posted September 10, 2008 Author Posted September 10, 2008 OK....I GOT IT! Haven't played it yet though. So far...this is cool and impressive. It was double boxed and superbly packed. I mean...Adam even took personal care to pack this thing right! It got here in immaculate condition. Hey, even got a black Tungsten T-shirt...just my size. I'm taking down my other amp and rewiring everything. Secondly...this cabinet is solid pine or whatever, no particle board here. The fabric and workmanship of the cabinet is superb! Upon inspecting the back, a beautiful Weber Alnico speaker, a Weber copper cap rectifier WU4GB, 2 12AX7's, and 2 Tung-Sol 5881 power amp tubes. Absolutely beautifully and quality built amp! Here's the kicker...it's not too heavey. I figure once I crank it up...this 25w puppy is going to wail! OK, I'm only that far. Just came down to wash my hands and to grab a Warsteiner! I'm gone for a couple of hours. I'll check back in with you tonight. YEEEEeeeeeeeeeHAAAAaaaaaaaaaa! Randy "Just play!"
Strategery Posted September 10, 2008 Author Posted September 10, 2008 OK...I've got a dilemma. The power and rectifier tubes came bubble wrapped. I'm not sure where to plug them in....DAMN IT! If the pic is correct, then the rectifier will go on the far left and the two 5881's go next to it towards the right. Here's a pic of the Cortez on line. What do you think? http://www.tungstenamp.com/images/cortez4web.jpghttp://www.tungstenamp.com/images/cortez3web.jpg "Just play!"
miroslav Posted September 10, 2008 Posted September 10, 2008 Yes...the rect is last in line on that amp. Oh...and my first and main question will be...how loud do you have to turn it up before the amp starts to break up nice-n-sweet...? Your answer will determine if I want the smaller Cortez or the the big boy you got...so gimme' the real scoop! miroslav - miroslavmusic.com "Just because it happened to you, it doesn't mean it's important."
Strategery Posted September 10, 2008 Author Posted September 10, 2008 OK...initial report. WOW...this amp sounds sweet! What a crystal clear clean and what a classy gain! 3 knobs...and I can tell already by just messing around so far that this amp has a ton of different tones that I can dial up! What is really cool is this. I've been using 40w to 60w combos for many years now. They are loud as hell! This Cortez is 25w. This is just the perfect volume. Loud, but not too loud, but damn sure club worthy! Stays clean up to about 6 then gently starts to break up with this incredible sounding gain! At about 8 or 9...and this amp goes to 12...the gain starts kicking in nicely...think of AC/DC or any great classic rock. Loud...but not ear piercing...just ROCK'N! This amp is definitely going to outright kill when you play blues and rock or for that matter...anything clean! Let's talk clean. Beautiful...Fender clean..and then some. What's weirding me out is this. I'm not even missing reverb...and I ALWAYS use reverb! So you have bright input and normal input and 1 & 2 of each. The #2 is sweet in its own right as well. Plug into #2 and just ride off into Bluesville. No glassiness just that nice brown sound. Kick on your neck pick up and just play for hours without getting bored. I've got a long way to go just to learn the intricasies of these 3 knobs....and that's no kidding. Ok, this is just from about 30 minutes of playing. This amp is damn sure inspiring. I want to keep on playing but I've got some things to get ready for work tomorrow. I'll damn sure be playing this puppy this weekend. I'll try to get a couple of pics up this weekend and see if I can record a couple of clips. Anyway...if you're interested, this Cortez is one good looking and well built amp! Then you get into the tone...and there's tons of it. Did I mention the price is right? Randy "Just play!"
Bluesape Posted September 10, 2008 Posted September 10, 2008 GAAAAASSSSSSSS!!!!!!!! Never a DUH! moment! Well, almost never. OK, OK! Sometimes never!
Caevan O'Shite Posted September 11, 2008 Posted September 11, 2008 Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice! Glad for ya! (I take it you went ahead with miro's answer on the recto and output tube placement...) That's the thing with a really good tweedy or vintage-Marshally amp like that, not even missing reverb, even if you ALWAYS use reverb; their presence and responsiveness and ability to be percussive in a very good way really works the natural reverb of the room that you're playing in- and it sounds and feels GREAT, don't it? And it's nice to be able to really push the amp and be able to hear the results, instead of its being brutally loud and still kinda indistinct, huh? Around thirty watts and under seems to be a very nice range, varying with the design of the given amp. The better the amp, the more you can enjoy it straight-up with no "effects" whatsoever. Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do? ~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~ _ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _
Strategery Posted September 11, 2008 Author Posted September 11, 2008 By RampDawg...Randy...Let's all hope your delivery is painless...You've been in labor now for how long??? Let us know... Yeah, I know. I think it was breach. Thanks guys, I'm really diggin' this amp! Later on, I tried jacking up the volume and using my guitar volume as the control. As advertised, it cleaned up nicely with the volume down and pick attack down. Actually, you could almost do that with pick attack alone. Then you just dig in with your pick and WHOA...where there hell did that come from! The natural compression of this amp is nice as well. Ok...my curiosity got the best of me. I unscrewed the back cover to check out the heart of this puppy. OMG! The workmanship was clean as a whistle! The chassis itself must be Stainless Steel and it's very thick, solid, and shiney. It's a damn work of art...no kidding! All the best components were used in this amp and the soldering is impeccable. Anyway, it's off to work and I'll give her another shot tonight. Have a great day all. Randy http://www.tungstenamp.com/images/circuit.jpg "Just play!"
Caevan O'Shite Posted September 11, 2008 Posted September 11, 2008 Man, just looking at that pic of the amp's innards, I can almost smell it! Them green cloth-covered wires that are all twisted together, them's the lines for the heater-filaments in the tubes, the part that lights up orange 'n' sparky-lookin'; they're usually carrying AC, but better designs will use DC- the designer/builder just has to be sure to have them all wired up with respect to polarity if running DC, so that's one of the reasons that most use AC, it makes for faster, cheaper manufacturing. (I would not be surprised if Adam uses DC for this, as it makes for a quieter noise-floor and he seems like the kind of guy that'd use that- and its been said before that his amps are nice 'n' quiet, hasn't it?) If you want to have less chance of failed rectifier-tubes (and the potential damage that recto-failure can cause) scope out the Weber "Copper Cap" plug-in replacements; they're solid-state rectifiers that are engineered to have the same characteristics of various tube-rectifiers, and they'll likely outlast anything else in the entire amp- put one in, and you'll probably never ever have to replace it, unlike tube-rectifiers, which seem to fail too frequently these days (inferior quality compared to the old days, plus everybody pushes tube-amps extra-hard these days for the tone of it). These various new plug-in SS rectifiers are safer, more reliable, and more consistent, and will last far longer than ANY tube rectifier EVER made. (Other makers may have similar products, IIRC THD might have something along these lines, but I'm not certain off the top of my head.) No signal passes through the rectifier-tube (or any SS-rectifier replacements), it's just a functionary component of the power-supply. So, there's not much reason to be retentively clingy about tubes for this specific application, especially with these Weber Copper Caps coming in so many flavors to replicate the behavior of their respective tube-counterparts. Ask Adam, and Myles, too, if you want- I'm pretty sure they'll say pretty much the same thing. (I've been wondering why anybody even bothers with tube rectifiers any more Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do? ~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~ _ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _
Strategery Posted September 11, 2008 Author Posted September 11, 2008 Hey Caev....that's what came with this amp. It's a Weber Copper Cap WU4GB. I'm just learning about them. Supposed to save a lot of heat and lengthen the life of your power supply as well. If you look on the left side of the pic inside the amp, you'll see the Copper Cap. http://www.webervst.com/ccap.html Randy http://www.tungstenamp.com/images/cortez4web.jpg "Just play!"
miroslav Posted September 11, 2008 Posted September 11, 2008 I asked about the Weber Copper Caps on the Dr Z and Top Hat forums...and most people said they were "OK" as a standby replacement (good to keep in your gig bag)...but everyone said it changed the response/feel of the amp...though not in any bad way...just not the same as a tube rectifier. On Millo's Tech Tube thread...that's what I was hoping, that Tech Tube also churns out some new production, high quality GZ34/5AR4 rectifiers and some KT66 tubes (at a decent price)...as we could really use them. I have a few GZ34 rectifiers on hand for my Dr Z and Top Hat amps...and both amps can also take a couple of other types...so I'm not panickingbut I may grab one of the Webber Copper Caps as a backup. Randydo you know which types of tube rectifiers the Cortez can take? I see that Adam mentions a 5Y3but often there is more than one type that can work in an ampyou just get different flavors. You may want to try a tube 5Y3 in place of the SS Weber. The 5Y3 tubes are easy to find and generally not too expensive like the GZ34/5AR4 tubes. miroslav - miroslavmusic.com "Just because it happened to you, it doesn't mean it's important."
Caevan O'Shite Posted September 11, 2008 Posted September 11, 2008 D'oh! I was so right, I was wrong! After my last post loaded, the pic in yours loaded and displayed; so I went back and added some comments above... Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do? ~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~ _ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _
miroslav Posted September 11, 2008 Posted September 11, 2008 I've been wondering why anybody even bothers with tube rectifiers any more I think it's because they impart a very special feel/response to an amp that a SS rectifier doesn't.though as you say, the SS rectifiers run cooler and last longerbut then is a classic tube amp all about hot and juicykicking out them electrons and high temps and high voltages. :grin: At least that's what a lot of guys seem to say who have tried both I'm planning on giving the Weber a try...but again, I will only get it to have as a spare...and continue to use the tubes, especially in these amps that are clones of vintage/classic amps. Like why bother going with cloth covered wire for the sake of "vintage authenticity"...and then using a SS component...? miroslav - miroslavmusic.com "Just because it happened to you, it doesn't mean it's important."
Caevan O'Shite Posted September 11, 2008 Posted September 11, 2008 I asked about the Weber Copper Caps on the Dr Z and Top Hat forums...and most people said they were "OK" as a standby replacement (good to keep in your gig bag)...but everyone said it changed the response/feel of the amp...though not in any bad way...just not the same as a tube rectifier. Yeah, but that happens almost as much when just changing to a fresh tube rectifier to replace a failed one, even amongst the same brand/model/production-run/type/etc. I bet a blind-fold player/listener test, with some "placebos" and "control-groups", would yield some interesting results... I've just kidded friends about supposedly changing something in their amp or rig- when it was 100% the same, no changes whatsoever- and the mere suggestion had them sure that things felt and sounded different... We get too wound-up about some of this stuff! I have one friend who had a LOT of trouble with failing rectifier-tubes and damages to his all-tube amp, who is a real tone connoisseur; he had tried all manner of NOS and high-end new tube-rectifiers, but when he eventually went with a SS plug-in replacement, his troubles went away and he's been happy with that ever since. Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do? ~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~ _ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _
fantasticsound Posted September 11, 2008 Posted September 11, 2008 Congrats, Randy... Next year you WILL make it to the get-together at Matt's in Bowling Green! No excuses! (It's bad enough I won't get to play with this amp until it's almost a year old! ) It's easiest to find me on Facebook. Neil Bergman Soundclick fntstcsnd
fantasticsound Posted September 11, 2008 Posted September 11, 2008 Oh! And thanks K for that rectifier primer. It's easiest to find me on Facebook. Neil Bergman Soundclick fntstcsnd
miroslav Posted September 11, 2008 Posted September 11, 2008 I have one friend who had a LOT of trouble with failing rectifier-tubes and damages to his all-tube amp, who is a real tone connoisseur; he had tried all manner of NOS and high-end new tube-rectifiers, but when he eventually went with a SS plug-in replacement, his troubles went away and he's been happy with that ever since. But I think the rectifier will chnage the feel/response of the amp more than the tone. And check this out: http://www.thegearpage.net/board/archive/index.php/t-11663.html miroslav - miroslavmusic.com "Just because it happened to you, it doesn't mean it's important."
Strategery Posted September 11, 2008 Author Posted September 11, 2008 I just zapped Adam an email and asked him which rectifier tube he would recommend. And yes, you can swap out tubes on this amp and no rebiasing is needed. You guys know way more than I do on this subject, but I'm listening and learning. Randy "Just play!"
Strategery Posted September 11, 2008 Author Posted September 11, 2008 Hey Miro....to answer an earlier question...unless you're going to use this amp strictly for recording, I'd get the 25w version which is the most powerful of the Cortez's. The clean & gain are both to die for and many great tones in each. So....ya' gettin' one? He's got 2 left in this batch. Randy "Just play!"
Caevan O'Shite Posted September 11, 2008 Posted September 11, 2008 I have one friend who had a LOT of trouble with failing rectifier-tubes and damages to his all-tube amp, who is a real tone connoisseur; he had tried all manner of NOS and high-end new tube-rectifiers, but when he eventually went with a SS plug-in replacement, his troubles went away and he's been happy with that ever since. But I think the rectifier will chnage the feel/response of the amp more than the tone. And check this out: http://www.thegearpage.net/board/archive/index.php/t-11663.html Oh, yeah, it's the feel from the response of the power-supply, be it up to the demand like a rocket or sagging and pulling like an overworked horse (both are great in tube-amps, just different). The rectifier can definitely have a real noticeable impact there. One of these Weber Copper Caps will possibly have a subtly different effect on a given amps feel than a given rectifier-tube, but it's not unlikely that another rectifier-tube could, as well. If you find one rectifier-tube to be perfect for what you want out of a given amp, it's only a matter of time before you run out of those and wind up with a choice of either another tube that isn't quite the same (and may not last as long before failure), or something like these Webers. (Just in case anybody doesn't fully understand what I'm getting at here, I am talking about rectifier-circuits in these that are engineered to mimic the characteristics of specific rectifier-tube types, NOT just SS rectifiers that plug into tube-sockets... Nothing wrong with the latter, either, they can be just the ticket sometimes. and, of course, "blackface" Fender Twins and many Marshalls are examples of tube-amps that have built-in SS rectifiers in their power-supplies to begin with.) Hell, if you want to go to the trouble, Weber will custom make a Copper Cap to YOUR specs and wishes. EDIT: Interesting thread you linked me to, miro! I gotta say, though, that I'd rather trade the cork-sniffing subtleties for worry-free performance, I've had bad luck with tube-rectifiers too many times! I don't imagine that I'll ever miss 'em like I would output and preamp tubes... Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do? ~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~ _ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _
miroslav Posted September 11, 2008 Posted September 11, 2008 Randy I am on the edge of my seat over a 5E3 type amp! :grin: Yes...the Cortez is calling me. But yes...I've also been considering other 5E3 clones...and most of them are true to the original 5E3 design (like the smaller Cortez), meaning that they are in the lower, 15W range using 6V6 tubes instead of the 6L6. I really want to go with a tube rectified 6V6 amp...because I mainly like the crunch tone when those amps are pushed, and "squeaky clean" tones are not THAT important to me...BUT...I would like to have the ability to also do some "squeaky clean". So that is my dilemma. It sounds to me like the 25W version is more of a Blackface style sound/tone...where the lower watt version Cortez is the true "Tweed" sound. Adam said to me that if I wanted the "Neil Young/Cortez" crunch tone primarily...then the standard Cortez was the way to go. I dont want to have to play the amp fairly cranked to get the tones Im afterwhich is why I asked how loud before it starts to break up nicely. miroslav - miroslavmusic.com "Just because it happened to you, it doesn't mean it's important."
Strategery Posted September 11, 2008 Author Posted September 11, 2008 Hey Miro, with Adam...you can get EXACTLY what you want. OK, check this out. Last night I went online and looked at MANY 5E3 clones. Most of them showed the chassis and how they were wired and much more. Trust me on this. Adam's amps are absolutely immmaculate and electronic works of art. His work blows them away without a doubt. Hey, I've never even met the guy and have no bias here. I'm also not trying to make myself feel better about my purchase, I'm just happy. : ) You already know that Adam kicks everyone else in the ass on price. When you see his cabinets, check out those killer Weber speakers, and then hear that tonal extasy...you won't believe it! The components he uses are second to none. I have the 25w Cortez. It's not too loud. But if I were you, I'd get the 12w or 18w to fit YOUR needs. My amp simply needs to be great for recording and gigging. My amp will do that, I have no doubt. Give one a shot and if you simply don't fall in love with, I'll be amazed. If by chance you don't, I'll promise you could sell it for more than you paid for it. Adam, don't read that last sentence. Hey, you have a PM. Randy It's a win/win/win situation. "Just play!"
miroslav Posted September 12, 2008 Posted September 12, 2008 The only other 5E3 clone that I was considering besides the Cortez at this time...was the Clark Beaufort: http://www.clarkamplification.com/premuimtweedreplicas.htm (scroll down) There are some glowing reviews of this 5E3 clone....and Clark has been around awhile...maybe not a big name like Victoria...but still, serious kudos are always given to Clark ampsby most people. But I like the idea of having Adam build a Cortez with some of my tone concerns in mind. I have no doubt his amps are also built at the highest standards, and I'm sure in time his Tungsten amps will be mentioned in the same circles as Victoria, Clark, Kendrick.... miroslav - miroslavmusic.com "Just because it happened to you, it doesn't mean it's important."
Strategery Posted September 12, 2008 Author Posted September 12, 2008 Nice, I haven't seen or heard of this amp before and it's only a little more than the Tungsten. Yeah, we'll cover those issues later on. I think you'll be impressed but that Clark does look damn nice. Randy "Just play!"
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.