Hey man,

I gig regularly with a Fuchs Verbrator.  It is made just for this application...tube buffered effects loop and reverb. Two birds...one stone.  Simple and great design.
http://www.fuchsaudiotechnology.com/products-plush-detail.php?id=verbrator&cat=2

I've got the Verbrator...sounds great. It's not a spring but it works well for me.  Prior to that I had the Holy Grail in the loop w/out and buffer and it totally closed down the sound of the amp.

So JDOxO,

I read elsewhere that you were really into the kt88's...they still working for you or are you an el34 man?  How did the KT88's compare to the 6l6?

 I have el34's in my Juke 1210 and like them alot but bought the OTS for a different flavor.  Do you get that midrange thing with the el34's?

Thanks again

Thanks Bobgoblin,

All this stuff is so subjective.  I was just looking to lower the power to turn up the amp.

JDOxO makes some interesting points about EL34's.  Somebody had said on some thread a while ago that the power tubes didn't matter tonewise because of the preamp design - which was the first time I'd heard that about a guitar amp.  That prompted my question.

Sounds like most people agree that power tubes make a tonal difference with the OTS?

I am also interested in this subject.  Especially tonal/dynamic differences between 6L6 and 6V6.  There are just some gigs where the 6L6's are just too much - especially with 212's.  And I don't want to add another moving part (power attenuator). 

Thanks!

Great to hear you're gettin close Madgringo.  Definitely interested in comparing notes.  This amp is a bit of a departure for me tonewise.  I need to find out more about the 6v6 sound as well.  Might be cool at smaller venues.  My amp will be built in a couple months so I'll post some pics of it then.

cheers,

KV

Thanks Madringo. My main guitar has TV Jones Classic filtertrons too. They are less hot than the humbuckers many are using for that Robben Ford/Carlton sound so it may just filtertron growl. I'm looking forward to experimenting!

cheers,

KV

Madrgringo....how does the overtone sound with filtertrons? 

I found some old interview of Alexander Dumble mentioning speakers.  Looks like he used to use Altecs until '79 then moved to EV.

After experimenting with various speakers, what do you favor?

I've gone with everything, there are a lot of things I still like. The most versatile is the EV. But all manufacturers, include Altec and JBL, make wonderful speakers that do specific jobs other speakers can't do. I divide speakers into two classifications: the efficient and the low-efficient. Both are very useable. Low efficiency speakers are things like Celestion and Jenson and PAS. Usually because of the physical construction, they don't get the same acoustic level per watt as the Altecs, JBLs, and EVs do. There's an advantage to that, because you can make the amplifier work harder to get the same acoustic level, and a whole different kind of harmonic structure results. I love the sound of JBLs, especially for chords, but I had a lot of trouble with 4" voice coil not traveling in a linear fashion. The actual coil would short out against the magnet structure. The Altecs didn't do that, so I was using them up until '79, when EV started coming out the the EVM series.

Thank you sir! I'll research that.

Anybody have info or experience with the Altec 417 8c?  These were manufactured in the 70's (mine 73 to be exact).  The best quote I've heard is that they are like JBL's that have learned to relax (not as spikey).  Thought that was pretty funny. 

KV

Hello PickMaster,

I'm new to the forum and have just ordered an OTS.  Cool list.  Interested in your opinion if you wouldn't mind.

I'm looking at having two 112 open back cabs.  Play at mid level clubs and festivals so mostly medium volumes.  What would be a good pair of 12's that might compliment each other. I'm not looking for Ford or Santana at all.  Just a great pair for the amp and complimentary speakers. 

Also have you any experience with Altec 417-8C? I have had a cab in storage for ages and it has two of em.  Definitely over 20 years old. 

Thanks so much,

KV