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Lil Orphan Ampeg

#41
I didn't think a quiet 18 watt amp could blow a speaker either.

It sounded more like a 10 watt amp with perfect tone.

I found out those original drivers were only rated 15 watts.

Eric tested the amp's output with his scope.
The amp tested clean 21 watts RMS, producing 28 watts peak wide open on the scope.
 
#42
Posted over at TGP

Originally Posted by bunuel
"I've posted this elsewhere, but to repeat: I'm lucky enough to have bought a coupla vintage ampegs yrs ago directly from great Jess Oliver, the designer of most of the early great ampegs (& still doing amp tune-up & repair in NY, last I heard). He was emphatic that no one should play the early ampegs full out for long periods of time w/ the oem spkrs, unless they wanted to blow 'em. The early amps all have spkrs that are easily blown for 3 reasons: 1) at the time no one expected folks to be playin 'em dimed for extended periods; 2) the amp output ratings were overly conservative; 3) the "bean-counters" (his term) at ampeg were trying to cut costs by putting in the lowest powered spkrs possible."
 
#44
Well on the bright side, most people expect an old amp with the OEM speaker to be reconed anyway, so I really don't think it'll affect future value. Besides, amps don't really appreciate near to the degree that instruments do, so I wouldn't lose much sleep over it.
 
#45
As bad as it is to have lost the driver so soon, it's not as bad as it might
be standing in front of an audience and having it go.

Some close friends have asked to use it in their back line
for a special event.

I'll have another amp there for back-up just in case.
 
#46
I've been in touch with Ted Weber and he tells me they can re-cone
the original driver to handle 30 watts RMS and still preserve the tone
and efficiency.

He also thinks the original Ampeg label CTS driver may be ceramic, not AlNiCo as I originally thought.

He has also suggested a replacement low efficiency AlNiCo driver for regular use.

12A125A, lightly doped, 30 watts.
 
#47
FFTT said:
He also thinks the original Ampeg label CTS driver may be ceramic, not AlNiCo as I originally thought.

He has also suggested a replacement low efficiency AlNiCo driver for regular use.

12A125A, lightly doped, 30 watts.
Click to expand...

Wouldn't that be interesting if the original driver was ceramic? :D Not that I mentioned ceramic or anything.

I'm glad Ted got in touch with you. I need to probably give them or Warehouse speakers a ring to replace the two AlNiCo 10s I have in my old amp.
 
#48
Ceramic or AlNico it sure did sound great!

I know from a practical standpoint it's not very cost effective
to re-cone the original driver, but I'm stuck between preservation
and functional performance.

I need a speaker that delivers exceptional touch sensitivity, because
that's how I get the tone I like without touching the knobs or using pedals.

The hardest part is matching the way the original driver stayed clean
and then the way it broke up so perfectly.

In a live band setting, you might want a more efficient driver to
bring the amp up to it's full potential volume, but for long hours
of rehearsal and tracking, the original driver's quiet roar was
exactly what I wanted.

I'm going to move the C-Rex over to my USA Blues Deluxe and
try Ted's suggestion on the 30 watt AlNiCo.

Re-coning the original driver is mostly to have the matching numbers
for preservation.

I AM still tempted to try a 30 watt Blue Dog AlNiCo, but I'm back to volume issues with the more efficient driver if I'm trying to capture the amp's mojo wide open.

This Lil grin machine is the reason I can't afford one of the matching Reeves 1X15 cabs
to go with my Custom 225.

All in due time.

Or hopefully overtime.
 
#49
I put together another short clip showing the R12R in lower volume clean mode showing off the Reverb and Tremelo.

The Cannabis Rex is still too dark for the neck position
pickups at higher volume, but here I'm playing my Strat Plus
in the one notch above bridge position volume 4.



My friends in 4 Out Of 5 Doctors are so blown away with
this amp, that I'm letting them borrow it for their two sold out
shows next weekend at Jammin Java in Vienna Va. June 19th and 20th.
 
#50
Well folks, I decided that my Lil Orphan Ampeg might enjoy
some company so I've adopted a new companion.

Once you play through one of these circuits, it's easy to
understand the infatuation.

When I saw this one up for sale, I simply caved.

1965 Gemini I, super clean, American glass, vintage Jensen.

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For those looking for a 1970 SVT Blue Line, Gbase just sent me an availability alert on one.

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#52
Yeah, that's a really sharp Gemini! Ampeg guitar amps seem to be making a bit of a comeback with the pros. Jesse Hughes from Eagles of Death Metal uses a Jet, and I just saw Kings of Leon on Conan, and their lead player was using a B-12XT. About time, that's all I can say. They are severely underrated for guitar.
 
#56
The only minor alteration on this amp is the new handle and he's sending me the original handle as well.

It also does not have the dolly, but this amp is not going to
see much traveling.

It still has the original 2 prong power cord, so I may address that
once I recover from yet another bout of self induced poverty.
 
#58
If you wanted to have an amp like this built today with these
features, you'd be looking at an easy $2500.00

It's going to be interesting to hear the difference between the
Gemini I and my R12R, but I'm told the sound is bigger because
of a slightly beefier transformer and the larger cabinet.

I'm also looking forward to trying the channels jumped as everyone
recommends.

I finally settled on the 2001 Fane Axiom 75 ceramic as the best
overall sounding speaker in the R12R and now I need to figure
out what I'm going to do for a speaker with this amp.

The Fane won out for the tightest low end, well defined mids
and a well controlled sparkle at the top end.

I did a new short clip of the R12R with the Fane.
Amazing crunch for
 

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