It was a late 60's Silvertone 150 with 6X10 cabinet. It would blow a speaker and I would yank the wires and voila, 5X10. and then 4X10, and so on. I finally put two CTS 15's in the cab and it sounded pretty decent.
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What was your first amp (old guys only)
- Thread starter TheCreature
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A weak add on amp that came with my Teisco Del Ray guitar. It had a 6" speaker and about 5watts of wall-damping power. Featured tremelo.
Wow . . . not only is my age showing by my first amp acquisition in 1973, but I had to really stop and think about what it was.
A Kustom, black tuck-and-roll exterior, can't recall the model but supposed to be 75 watts, combo-style with a single 15". I replaced the original speaker with an Altec 421A, which helped but still left me power-deprived.
The second rig fixed that - early Peavey 400 series bass head with a Univox "Fat Albert" cabinet, which was a HUGE folded horn driven by two 15s, also replaced by 421As. I owned a full-sized Ford station wagon, so moving it was not too awfully painful.
A Kustom, black tuck-and-roll exterior, can't recall the model but supposed to be 75 watts, combo-style with a single 15". I replaced the original speaker with an Altec 421A, which helped but still left me power-deprived.
The second rig fixed that - early Peavey 400 series bass head with a Univox "Fat Albert" cabinet, which was a HUGE folded horn driven by two 15s, also replaced by 421As. I owned a full-sized Ford station wagon, so moving it was not too awfully painful.
A used Ampeg V4B in 1989 or so. I sold it later one with its Magnum 1x15 cab <small> ** hangs his head in shame **</small>
It was a no name guitar amp in 1965, Tremolo and
a 6" Jensen speaker. It was still loud enough to
annoy my mother.
I got a 25 watt amp in 1966, this had a 1X12 and
reverb as well. Had that through college. {No
money... ] Back then when we jammed, nobody had a
lot of amps, we had to go 2 or three guys to an
amp. I also had a Heathkit mono tube amp good for
about 50 watts that my dad built, and abandoned
when stereo became the rage in the early 60's.
Heathkit sold the kits, you had to sotter them
together. It was so cool to look at as it was all
open, nothing like glowing tubes for ambiance!
You could have stoned 5 people to death with the
transformer on it. Weighed at least 30 lbs.
About '75 when I had switched to bass, I got an
Acoustic 140 head and 106 2X15" cab. This is a
bear and I still have it. You can carry it, my
back cringes when I see this indestructible cab.
But it was my main rig for years. Great endurance.
In the 70's somewhere I picked up a Fender
Princeton cab, { I know, they don't make a P cab.
I assume it underwent surgery. It cost me $15 at
a yard sale. See pic ...}
That's pretty much all the old stuff, it was
really catch as catch can back then.
Invalid Link Removed
a 6" Jensen speaker. It was still loud enough to
annoy my mother.
I got a 25 watt amp in 1966, this had a 1X12 and
reverb as well. Had that through college. {No
money... ] Back then when we jammed, nobody had a
lot of amps, we had to go 2 or three guys to an
amp. I also had a Heathkit mono tube amp good for
about 50 watts that my dad built, and abandoned
when stereo became the rage in the early 60's.
Heathkit sold the kits, you had to sotter them
together. It was so cool to look at as it was all
open, nothing like glowing tubes for ambiance!
You could have stoned 5 people to death with the
transformer on it. Weighed at least 30 lbs.
About '75 when I had switched to bass, I got an
Acoustic 140 head and 106 2X15" cab. This is a
bear and I still have it. You can carry it, my
back cringes when I see this indestructible cab.
But it was my main rig for years. Great endurance.
In the 70's somewhere I picked up a Fender
Princeton cab, { I know, they don't make a P cab.
I assume it underwent surgery. It cost me $15 at
a yard sale. See pic ...}
That's pretty much all the old stuff, it was
really catch as catch can back then.
Invalid Link Removed
Arrrgh. My first amp was a Regent combo, back in 1965. It had dark grey leatherette and a practically psychedelic grey, black & gold patterned grillcloth. It was probably a respectable 15 watts or so.
Let's see... back then the band was called "Cystic Eye" (ewwww); we had a rhythm gu*tarist, drummer, singer and me. I played the bass lines, but also had to do the lead breaks too - on an ol' Beltone (the hearing aid co.) gu*tar. Finally a neighbour took pity on us and loaned me his EB-3 and Bassman... no more lead breaks and my life was forever changed.
Let's see... back then the band was called "Cystic Eye" (ewwww); we had a rhythm gu*tarist, drummer, singer and me. I played the bass lines, but also had to do the lead breaks too - on an ol' Beltone (the hearing aid co.) gu*tar. Finally a neighbour took pity on us and loaned me his EB-3 and Bassman... no more lead breaks and my life was forever changed.
This reminded me: In the early 70's I borrowed a Dual Showman cabinet for .. maybe a couple years
... My guitar playing mate had a early to mid 60's Chrysler Imperial - push-button gear changer - and we used to go to gigs with that 2x15 Dual Showman cabinet laid in the trunk with room to spare!
Which reminds me... I worked the following summer delivering flyers for minimum wage and when the season was out bought my own amp: a used Fender Showman with the 2x15 (Dual JBL) cabinet. Having no Chrysler I had to bring it home on the bus. Those 12 blocks from the bus stop to our house seemed awfully long.
Picture HERE.
Picture HERE.
Try moving a single Showman cabinet on the subway from Far Rockaway ( thats up the equivalent of 3 flights of stairs)changing trains ( again one flight up, two or more flights down) and up the stairs again to bring it home after a band broke up. No help, just nutty me.
My first was a blackface Fender Bassman with a 2X12 cabinet. Can't honestly say I miss it. My second was a Sound City 50 watt tube amp with 4 12's. It was much better, but pretty raw sounding.
150 watt Sound City head and a Fender Bassman 4x12 cabinet. They were both OK (great at the time) but I like new stuff better!
Passinwind
I know nothing.
- Dec 3, 2003
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- Designer/Toaster Tech @ Passinwind Electronics
1972: Univox 30 watt SS combo, 1-12".
1974: Ampeg B-15, only the head, w/Radio Shack 15. Ultimate fartiness, given the EBO I was playing. Eventually went to an EV Eliminator horn cab copy, with 1-15" Altec 421-8H. That cab and an URB meant no room for a girlfriend in the old Volvo.
1978: Kustom 200 head, black tuck 'n roll, through Silvertone 6 X 10 cab, Jensen speakers, open back cab. I sold the head to my nephew, who still uses it occasionally. Rawk!
1974: Ampeg B-15, only the head, w/Radio Shack 15. Ultimate fartiness, given the EBO I was playing. Eventually went to an EV Eliminator horn cab copy, with 1-15" Altec 421-8H. That cab and an URB meant no room for a girlfriend in the old Volvo.
1978: Kustom 200 head, black tuck 'n roll, through Silvertone 6 X 10 cab, Jensen speakers, open back cab. I sold the head to my nephew, who still uses it occasionally. Rawk!
I had the same Acoustic head and a matching 2 x 15 cabOriginally posted by bassman blue
GARNETT tube amp with the matching 15" speaker enclosure and then an...
ACOUSTIC 370 OR 371 (?) - (so old my memory is failing) - with the folded horn enclosure. The Garnett kicked the Acoustic when it came to tone, the Acoustic kicked the Garnett when it came to power.....
This thread has been Great. Bringing back tons of old memories. The FOGs Fing Old Guys/Girls stories here are awesome. jgsbass gets my dedication award. My back hurts just thinking about hauling that cabinet up and down all those stairs. Passinwind gets runner up, forget the girlfriend I gotta haul my bass equipment!! Right on brother.
In one of my old bands we had an organist with a hammond M2 and leslie. He owned a VW. We would lay his hammond in the trunk of my 39 Ford coupe, tie the trunk down with a rope between the handle and bumper and he would haul my showman bottom in the back seat of his car. My axe and amp head went behind the seat under the package plate in the Ford. No heater in that car, just an army blanket to throw over you legs. Its the price you paid to have that Hammond sound.
In one of my old bands we had an organist with a hammond M2 and leslie. He owned a VW. We would lay his hammond in the trunk of my 39 Ford coupe, tie the trunk down with a rope between the handle and bumper and he would haul my showman bottom in the back seat of his car. My axe and amp head went behind the seat under the package plate in the Ford. No heater in that car, just an army blanket to throw over you legs. Its the price you paid to have that Hammond sound.
I had an old Vega tube 50 which I wish I still had!
Great sounding amp. I think it was a 1x12.
-Aladdin
Great sounding amp. I think it was a 1x12.
-Aladdin
I have one more story to relate:
I had a VW Beetle, with the back seat removed and replaced with plywood. Two of us would load my 2x15 Kustom Tuck & Roll, 1/2 a small PA, and a few guitar / bass cases in the back and go to gigs.
Once, we had a flat on the NJ Parkway - right rear, on the way to a rehearsal. It was dark, and not too cold. We got out the spare - but there was no jack (I can't remember why), so we unloaded the back, and with me picking up the rear quarter, Nick swiftly pulled the old one off, and with a second pull, popped the new one on. It took about three tries, but no s#!+ we got it on. Amazing what one can do with youth and the adrenalin of need.
Of course the spare tire also didn't have much air - off the rim but not by much. Since we had just past a ramp, I left Nick with the gear, sitting on the guard rail while I backed up the ramp and at about the third farmhouse found someone with a bicycle pump to inflate the tire. Back to get Nick and the Gear, and get to our banjo players house only an hour late or so.
I swear that's a true story.
I had a VW Beetle, with the back seat removed and replaced with plywood. Two of us would load my 2x15 Kustom Tuck & Roll, 1/2 a small PA, and a few guitar / bass cases in the back and go to gigs.
Once, we had a flat on the NJ Parkway - right rear, on the way to a rehearsal. It was dark, and not too cold. We got out the spare - but there was no jack (I can't remember why), so we unloaded the back, and with me picking up the rear quarter, Nick swiftly pulled the old one off, and with a second pull, popped the new one on. It took about three tries, but no s#!+ we got it on. Amazing what one can do with youth and the adrenalin of need.
Of course the spare tire also didn't have much air - off the rim but not by much. Since we had just past a ramp, I left Nick with the gear, sitting on the guard rail while I backed up the ramp and at about the third farmhouse found someone with a bicycle pump to inflate the tire. Back to get Nick and the Gear, and get to our banjo players house only an hour late or so.
I swear that's a true story.
I believe that, as one time when we were trying
to park my gf's VW in Boston in 1977 and we found
a space too tight for her to get into. She backed
into the spot and my drunken Icelandic cousin and
I picked up the front end and tucked it in.
In the 80's I lugged that Acoustic 140/106 I described in a 84' Mazda RX7 Hatchback, the cab
would fit if you moved the seats up about 1/2".
The bass and head in the passenger seat and we
were off to see the Wizard.
to park my gf's VW in Boston in 1977 and we found
a space too tight for her to get into. She backed
into the spot and my drunken Icelandic cousin and
I picked up the front end and tucked it in.
In the 80's I lugged that Acoustic 140/106 I described in a 84' Mazda RX7 Hatchback, the cab
would fit if you moved the seats up about 1/2".
The bass and head in the passenger seat and we
were off to see the Wizard.
circa 1976: Company name was "Stage". Does anybody remember these guys??? A 100 watt combo with 15" in a sealed cab.
Some Yamaha combo with I believe a single 12" probably 100 SS watts. Might have been a 15" but I doubt it. Year was 85 or 86. Nice amp. I had a crappy bass.
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