Amplifier ID Request

Luckyorleans

Luckyorleans

AK Subscriber
Subscriber
Appreciate knowing if anyone recognizes this tube amp? I am thinking of a bit of a trip to try and get them this weekend but am trying to determine what they are ahead of time. I also posted in the dollars and sense forum, but no response there so I figure the tube forum is a better spot. Hope I am not breaking any forum rules here! This is a better picture as well. Any feedback or thoughts are appreciated.


ssmtube.jpg
 
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My vote is homemade, looks like he used what ever tube sockets he had laying around. Use that as a bargaining chip. That tall skinny tube up front, I wonder if that is a VU meter.
Can you listen to them?

BillWojo
 
BillWojo said:
My vote is homemade, looks like he used what ever tube sockets he had laying around. Use that as a bargaining chip. That tall skinny tube up front, I wonder if that is a VU meter.
Can you listen to them?

BillWojo
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Unfortunately not as it is an estate sale.
 
So presumably the top section is the output stage with the OPT with the lower section the power stage with PT.
 
If those are 6550 outputs, I'm guessing 120 watts each or so. Maybe more, if it's Class AB2.

There's plenty of small signal tubes to be almost any conceivable driver stage topology- even Class AB2 (cathode-follower driven output tube grids).

I'd just like to know what the Compactron tube at the front is.

Regards,
Gordon.
 
I have an amp that will make about 100 with a pair of push-pull 6550's. Parallel could make double that, though more conservative design is probably 120-150 realistically. Quite significant in any case. Transformers at very high power levels just get to be stupidly large and expensive.
 
GordonW said:
If those are 6550 outputs, I'm guessing 120 watts each or so. Maybe more, if it's Class AB2.

There's plenty of small signal tubes to be almost any conceivable driver stage topology- even Class AB2 (cathode-follower driven output tube grids).

I'd just like to know what the Compactron tube at the front is.

Regards,
Gordon.
Click to expand...

I enlarged the picture and was able to see they are Golden Dragon 6L6GC - Linn preamp and Quad ESL-63s with Gradient subs for speakers. There are also B&W SP6s but not hooked up.

If homebrews that I won't be able to test I would not want to spend to much on them.
 
I am a gambling man :) I wouldn't break the bank to buy these home brews, but come on! Give credit where credit is due! Those are monster tube amps! And gynormous separated power supplies!

Whoever made these knew what they were doing, if the price was right, I would snatch these up so fast! I'm a softie for rack rails though...

The fact they are still hooked up to speakers and probably plugged into the wall would be a pretty good indicator of their functionality... Unless of course the deceased gentleman who might have built this amp actually found his fate by electrocution operating it, I would bet its in great shape. :)

The lack of a name brand might scare off the competition. If you are looking for huge tube power, you found it! If you are looking to flip stuff and make a buck, it might be hard.

It looks like you can feel free to skip the customary recap, in fact, you might be able to drain those caps and power a refrigerator for an hour every time you shut them down.

I would march over to that yard sale with 7 able men as early as possible, theres gold in them thar hills! (Actually iron, not gold... but... You know)
 
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I am between decent analog power supplies right now and am in the market for something decent, which this sale has in SS as well. For the big tube amps I would basically want to go in at a price I could get back locally if I decided not to keep them after running them for a while - they might just be to huge once home but I would love to check them out for a while - like that big Costco jar that looks of in the store.
 
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Luckyorleans said:
I am between decent analog power supplies right now and am in the market for something decent, which this sale has in SS as well. For the big tube amps I would basically want to go in at a price I could get back locally if I decided not to keep them after running them for a while - they might just be to huge once home but I would love to check them out for a while - like that big Costco jar that looks of in the store. Any idea what a reasonable price would be on an as is basis?
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Careful here. If you want to start discussing value then this will need to move to Dollars and Sense forum.
 
Tinkerbelle said:
Careful here. If you want to start discussing value then this will need to move to Dollars and Sense forum.
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Noted and edit made. I greatly appreciate the comments and information from the established members and tube gurus here and don't want to lead the thread the long way. In short order I have learned a lot and that will has been a great help.
 
Luckyorleans said:
I enlarged the picture and was able to see they are Golden Dragon 6L6GC - Linn preamp and Quad ESL-63s with Gradient subs for speakers. There are also B&W SP6s but not hooked up.

If homebrews that I won't be able to test I would not want to spend to much on them.
Click to expand...

Quad of 6L6GCs could be anywhere between 70 and 110 watts, likely. If it's UL, it's probably in the 70-80 watt range, pentode mode probably somewhere between 80-110. Just a guess, but based on that gargantuan output transformer and those caps.

Regards,
Gordon.
 
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