So I bought a thing today...

[Jeff Michael]

Is it electrically safe?

Riis (..."roll on two")

Well I ain't about to try and find out...

The guy I bought it from said he hadn't tested it, so I don't know where it's at electronically. I'm of two minds about it: I could have a tech bring it up to code so to speak, or I could leave it as is. But how do you pick a tech to work on something so arcane, let alone historically significant, and the optimal outcome would be a functional amp that I would never have use for from a functional standpoint. I mean, it would kind of feel like an atrocity to put a 3-prong cord and modern filter caps into that thing.

 

[Jeff Michael]

For those of us with inquiring minds – any idea when it was made? Nice piece!

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

Pedulla Club #45 Unique Arrangements of Hymns, P&W Standards, and Original Tunes
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The Michael-Hull era was, I believe, between 1946 and 1949. After that they split up and Everett Hull started the Ampeg company we all know and love.

 

[Jeff Michael]

Cool.
Weight?

Bathroom scale says 37.5 lbs.

 

[ebo]

If it won’t be used I’d leave it as is. A nice museum piece. I’d be tempted to temporarily upgrade the cord and plug to hear it at least once though. Curiosity killed the cat…

 

[bholder]

It's a Bass Amp and a cabinet! What the heck is it and why does it say Phono?

For plugging your handy portable LP spinner for an early-days play along (or break / warm up music)?

 

[Jeff Michael]

If it won’t be used I’d leave it as is. A nice museum piece. I’d be tempted to temporarily upgrade the cord and plug to hear it at least once though. Curiosity killed the cat…

Well, I couldn't resist. I plugged it in, fired it up, plugged into it, and did get some sound...and a distinctly 'burning-ey' electronic smell, so yeah, I think I'll be sticking with the Plan A of leaving it alone, or Plan B getting a pro to make it right.

 

[40Hz]

Wow! Awesome score! How cool is that? I’ve only seen pictures in articles where it got a mention. Never seen one anywhere else.

Worth it just for the cab‘s woodwork IMO.

 

[Pdaddy1978]

Very, very cool.
Bass history!
You gotta get it back on its feet.. for posterity!

 

[Pilgrim]

Well I ain't about to try and find out...
The guy I bought it from said he hadn't tested it, so I don't know where it's at electronically. I'm of two minds about it: I could have a tech bring it up to code so to speak, or I could leave it as is. But how do you pick a tech to work on something so arcane, let alone historically significant, and the optimal outcome would be a functional amp that I would never have use for from a functional standpoint. I mean, it would kind of feel like an atrocity to put a 3-prong cord and modern filter caps into that thing.

You might ask @agedhorse for his recommendation or a referral to someone.

If you power it up, I'd use a Variac to do it.

 

[agedhorse]

How long has it been since it was powered up? If within the last say 5 years, I wouldn't worry about it. If 10+ years, I might want to use a Variac and slowly power it up over 5-10 minutes or so.

The grounded power cord update is a no brainer IMO. Changing filter caps may not be necessary or desirable but that depends. There's nothing wrong with modern filter caps, but in this case the amp may be old enough they is ends up being necessary. A real, qualified service tech will be able to test the amp and look at the power supply ripple to see if it's reasonable for an amp from that era.

 

[Milo Spleen]

I'm definitely on the "take it to a tech and get it going" bandwagon. Great piece of history.

 

[REV]

Do those three volume controls mean that it is three times as loud?

 

[Silky Johnson]

That's super cool, in my opinion you should get it functional, it's way cooler as a working amp than as a museum piece

 

[Lowbrow]

Well, I couldn't resist. I plugged it in, fired it up, plugged into it, and did get some sound...and a distinctly 'burning-ey' electronic smell, so yeah, I think I'll be sticking with the Plan A of leaving it alone, or Plan B getting a pro to make it right.

I woulda done the same.

 

[Patrice B]

So, first bass and bass amp: AudioVox (Paul H. Tutmarc).
First electric guitar: Rickenbacker.
First « guitar » amp: Vega electrics (for banjo?) and Electro Strings Instruments.

Anyway, the Michael Hull design was way more toward the direction that modern pop/rock/jazz music equipment would eventually attain.

Leo Fender, on another matter, did it exactly at the right time to gain real popularity amongst musicians.

 

[blastoff]

dude! great piece! id say get it fixed up and safely playable. save all the old junk in a ziplock baggie for when the smithsonian calls.

 

[perfektspace6]

I also would have plugged it in. Vote for getting it up to code and being able to play through it.

Really cool find.

 

[J Wilson]

What a great find.

I'm with the take it to a professional crowd. If you'd barn-found a 50's car, you'd clean the carb and fuel tank, check the oil and fluids and put plugs and a new battery in it before you hit the key. I'd think of this the same way.

It also reinforces my wish for a 'home amp' in a furniture like case, like hifi speakers, as a home-only first rate practice amp. I've seen enough black vinyl or tolex for three lifetimes.

 

[brianrost]

So was the ‘phono’ input/channel intended as a rough equivalent to an auxiliary in?

It's for plugging in a turntable, just as it says.

It was common for early amps to have phono and/or microphone (hi-Z) as well. Ampeg even had accordion inputs on a number of early amps.

 

[Patrice B]

It's for plugging in a turntable, just as it says.

It was common for early amps to have phono and/or microphone (hi-Z) as well. Ampeg even had accordion inputs on a number of early amps.

If you don’t have a turntable, it’s useless . I’ll give you my address so I can dispose of it carefully .