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Versatone pan o flex copies.... Are they there?

#43
Hello, new to the boards, but saw this thread on google and something sparked

I met a guy in Berkeley a few years back, showed me Carol Kaye's actual Panoflex and told me this story about how he acquired it from her. I think he said he payed her double what she was asking. Said he was in the process of making hand wired clones of it using the one as a spring board. If anyone is still interested, I'll track him down and show him this thread
 
#46
I contacted my friend with the amps...

He has had six made. Two have sold, one is on hold and two remain.

Price is the largest variable. $3800 is what it will run you. If you guys are still into it, PM me and I will give you his email.
 
#54
Here's a copy of the most commonly found schematic.

x Versa Casady enlarged.jpg
 
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#56
Chris Ramlar said:
Thanks a lot man!
Click to expand...
I think you will need to know at least some tube amp theory to use that schematic. For example, there is no parts list so you'll have to pick your tubes and use the max output wattage to then pick the output transformers. Once you have those two you can set your bias resistance values.
Given the general lay-out you can build a Versatone "like" amp using any tubes you want. If fortune shines on me this year I'm going to build one using 6L6 output tubes.
But it will get expensive quick. The Invalid Link Removed alone are $105 and you need two of them. I haven't completed the bill of materials and priced it all out but I will be surprised if the cost of building this amp (assuming all new parts) is more than the cost of a brand new Ampeg PF50T head.
Don't get me wrong, it would be a super cool and fun project but I have no illusion that I would be getting a great amp for cheap!
 
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#57
NightCat said:
I think you will need to know at least some tube am theory to use that schematic. For example, there is no parts list so you'll have to pick your tubes and use the max output wattage to then pick the output transformers. Once you have those two you can set your bias resistance values.
Given the general lay-out you can build a Versatone "like" amp using any tubes you want. If fortune shines on me this year I'm going to build one using 6L6 output tubes.
But it will get expensive quick. The Invalid Link Removed alone are $105 and you need two of them. I haven't completed the bill of materials and priced it all out but I will be surprised if the cost of building this amp (assuming all new parts) is more than the cost of a brand new Ampeg PF50T head.
Don't get me wrong, it would be a super cool and fun project but I have no illusion that I would be getting a great amp for cheap!
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot for your concern! I'm an Audio Engineer and I also studied 3 years of Mechatronic Engineering so I won't get killed by building this. I'm actually interested in making a small tube amp workshop here in Mexico cause there are very few (2 or 3 at most) companies making them and sincerely most of those amps sound and look (the looks count for a lot!) like sh.. What appeals to me is that this amp model seems very unknown and that could lead (hopefully) to a new design that is not the copy of a copy which I see a lot in the market this days. Actually your comment was really helpful and don't worry I'll do A LOT of homework and research before attempting to build anything .
 
#58
Chris Ramlar said:
Thanks a lot for your concern! I'm an Audio Engineer and I also studied 3 years of Mechatronic Engineering so I won't get killed by building this. I'm actually interested in making a small tube amp workshop here in Mexico cause there are very few (2 or 3 at most) companies making them and sincerely most of those amps sound and look (the looks count for a lot!) like sh.. What appeals to me is that this amp model seems very unknown and that could lead (hopefully) to a new design that is not the copy of a copy which I see a lot in the market this days. Actually your comment was really helpful and don't worry I'll do A LOT of homework and research before attempting to build anything .
Click to expand...
I've had similar thoughts, although I don't want to start a business. I've been reading this book - Designing Tube Amps for Bass and Guitar. Fascinating read, I highly suggest it if you are going to build tube amps. The theory behind preamp circuitry and power amp circuitry is pretty much the same. What I like about this book is, it has a lot of detail about how to create desirable distortion and the overdrive tones that we all love.
If you do start on this keep us updated.
 
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#59
NightCat said:
I've had similar thoughts, although I don't want to start a business. I've been reading this book - Designing Tube Amps for Bass and Guitar. Fascinating read, I highly suggest it if you are going to build tube amps. The theory behind preamp circuitry and power amp circuitry is pretty much the same. What I like about this book is, it has a lot of detail about how to create desirable distortion and the overdrive tones that we all love.
If you do start on this keep us updated.
Click to expand...

I'll sure do! Thanks for the recommendation I will get my hands on that book!
 
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#60
Versatone is just one of many brands put on amps designed and manufactured by Don Bonham and his Audio Guild Corp. in Van Nuys CA in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. I suspect that Versatone was distributed by Bob Hall and Jack Cookersly.

Bob and Jack are not listed in the Articles of Incorporation of Audio Guild Corp and were just selling the amps made by Don and AGC. The Versatone Accordion amp and Bass amp is the same as the Panoramic, Universal, Grand Prix. Lyric, AGC Bonham and ect. Don had worked for Magnatone where he patented the Magnatone Vibrato Circuit and split off and formed his own company AGC, to build Accordion amps.

The Accordion amp has two channels and Reverb and True Vibrato. The bass amp has one channel and NoFX. There is a variation that only has one output transformer and two 7591A’s. There was a short amp about the size of a Twin and a taller amp. All amps were built using the same chassie with different face plates, and all amps were built using the same transformers that came from Electrical Windings in Chicago. All amps used 7591A power tubes. The Bi-amp units sometimes had an 8in speaker hooked up to the treble amp and a Utah 12in with a very low Fs in a sealed chamber that incorporated a Helmholtz resonator that takes a bite out of the low end and makes the amp less boomy. The single 12 bass amp that Jack favors has the two output stages tied together through a simple crossover. The complex reflected load back to the 7591A’s creates a rich smooth overdrive when the amp is pushed real hard.

I have built the circuit using 6L6s, EL34s and EL84s, and a variety of different transformers and speakers. Nothing works like the 7591As and the original transformers. The Utah speaker is also an important part of the sound for Bass Guitar.

The Fellow who has built a few clones in Frisco is Chris Solberg. I have not heard one but Chris owns a ton of original amps and he is a session bass player, so I would expect that his amp is in the ball park.

The Accordion information came from William Cosby who was a close personal friend of Don Bonham and was one of the few endorsers of AGC. Check out his 1960’s Rock band from LA "Music Emporium".
 
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