Hand wired, tube, 200 watts or more...

[tombowlus]

I'm an old SVT guy, but if were looking to replace it with something new, the Reeves amp is the best I've played through. It's looks to be really well built, too.

I must say, the Reeves Custom 225 is way up there on my list of favorite heads. I'm not going to say that it unseats my beloved SA200, but it certainly gives it a run for the money. When I was reviewing the Custom 225 for issue #2, I spent a lot of time A/Bing it against the SA200, and I had a big smile on my face, no matter which amp was hooked up.

You really should check out the Reeves.

 

[Eilif]

Thanks Tom,
I' haven't gotten that far into issue #2, but rest assured I'll get there. The more I learn about the Reeves, the more I want one. I heard someone aproximate the Peavey VB2 as a poor-mans Reeves. Is there any truth to this at all? I only ask because I recently switched from a Traynor YBA200, to a slightly less lush, but louder VB2. The lack of a Reeves or Hiwatt to try out in Chicagoland makes comparisons of Reeves to almost any "common" tube an worth hearing about.

I did finally get a chance to play an orange, and it was nice, but ultimately not impressive enough, so I don't think I'll be going the orange/mattamp/electric route.

1.5 more years of school for the wife, and then we can start saving for a Reeves!

 

[Bassmec]

I've seen just as many arguments against hand-wiring as for it. The only argument for hand-wiring that I know of is that it's not on a PCB; and the only argument against PCB that I know of it that it's not hand-wired. IOW I have not seen an argument with any substance there. People against PCB's say PCB's are more prone to breakage, but I don't think that claim is based on any facts.

I'm not really picking a side or saying I know best- but I am saying don't get too caught up in the "hand-wired mojo mystique" unless you consciously want to.

I am looking at yet another fried Marshall DSL 50 with black burnt holes in the pcb between pins 2 and 3 of the wonderful belton octal pcb mounted valve sockets that are no doubt just as good as the chassis mounting glazed ceramic ones with nice heavy widely spaced solder lugs like in the Vintage matamp at my feet in for recapping, of course that one still works but is beginning to putter and boat a bit now, but then its caps where made in 1966. I know which I like better.

 

[seamonkey]

That's not a pcb problem. That's a Marshall designer problem.
All the modern software for PCB design will gauge the copper correctly where it's needed. It even does stuff like add ground planes, or route traces that shouldn't be next to each other. PtP = labor costs for nothing.

 

[Bassmec]

These belton octal sockets are Ideal for those old octal base low voltage relays, I don't think its a good idea to fit hot output tubes in pcb mounted sockets of this type. Pre amp tubes ok ish but there is too much heat stress and the grp boards are too easy to carbon track through at these voltages and clearances, after all
grp is not even waterproof, it can contain as much as 13% water if left in damp conditions due to osmosis. Add a sprinkle of sweaty salty dust and the cheap polyester resin begins to carbonize.
but then quite unlike expert systems computer programs, I have more that 40 years of hands on repair experience to fall back on and sift through for clues as to what actually might happen in the real operating environment.

 

[seamonkey]

Again, it's all in the designers hands. There are high temperature PCB products. Reliable products used in industrial applications. From deep submarines to flying in outer space. Maybe just not made for tubes as no other industry has use for them - so there's only a small market

 

[B-string]

Again, it's all in the designers hands. There are high temperature PCB products. Reliable products used in industrial applications. From deep submarines to flying in outer space. Maybe just not made for tubes as no other industry has use for them - so there's only a small market

Yes, tubes= high voltage + heat not friendly to PCB's.

 

[xsubs]

I must say, the Reeves Custom 225 is way up there on my list of favorite heads. I'm not going to say that it unseats my beloved SA200, but it certainly gives it a run for the money. When I was reviewing the Custom 225 for issue #2, I spent a lot of time A/Bing it against the SA200, and I had a big smile on my face, no matter which amp was hooked up.

You really should check out the Reeves.

+100

Reeves is in Cincinnati, and offers a 10-day trial period. Super guys to deal with.

 

[seamonkey]

Yes, tubes= high voltage + heat not friendly to PCB's.

But there's training:
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I bet it has no chapters on tube though.