Hello all,
I originally posted this in the "introduction" section, but wanted to share this collection with the community in the main tube amp section. I requested a re-post from the moderator and he/she gave me the go-ahead. So here it is! I hope you enjoy!
Hope you are doing well! I look forward to exploring this community. I am a local guitar amp tech in Greenville SC.
I have been working on amps for a few years now part time. I've learned alot and always enjoy a challenge.
I was recently contacted by a Widow out of Wahalla, SC. Her husband was a Tube amp enthusiast. I went there with not much Money in my pocket, and when I realized the quality of the collection, I informed her that I could only afford pieces of it. She then stated a price that I could not refuse. After a trip to the ATM, we started loading up the collection.
It is... incredible. I've never seen such quality engineering in my life. These pieces (amps) look as if they came off of a factory line. Every wire is so cleanly soldered, and each design appears flawless. I'm using them actively as well, and they add a really cool aesthetic to the room.
Here are some photos of these Amazing pieces:
1. This is the Green God. It's a small output EL84/6BQ5 powered Hifi amp that I use for my CRT Tv's stereo (since my old 1973 CRT Chromacolor sound board went out). It has a 12ax7 preamp.. which may have originally been a 12at7. 6ca4 rectifier I believe... though I could be wrong. The tube does not have any markings showing the type of rectifier it is.
2. Next is this Black Beauty complete with transparent underside. I have not tested this one. But it has a 2 dual triode 6eu7's and quad EL84 outputs.
3. Next is the "Alien Amp" which uses an 832A POWERAMP. I've NEVER seen this type of power amp before. Apparently each tube has two anodes, so it's kind of like have a quad. The preamp is composed of two 12at7's. Trusty old 5u4 supplying DC.
4 & 5 Next are 2 KT88 Hi-Fi amps I have. They appear to be identical. One has tubes. The other doesn't. I believe the preamp is composed of 6SN7's.. again, tube rectified, this time a 5y3.
6. The next amp is what I call "The Beast". I cannot guess the wattage... but am surprised it's not powered by a Quad considering the output transformer and power transformer size. I have NO IDEA what type of tubes this takes. I'll need to take off the bottom and find what the tube pin-out's are and compare them against known data sheets. It appears to have two inputs.
Also... what is that tiny circular screen??
You can see the amp has a rectifier, one preamp tube, and two power tubes.. probably KT88 or potentially KT120.
I also received alot of parts.... High end EDCOR transformers of all sizes... Dynaco transformer pairs... Tubes of both NOS and new name brand excellence.
I have the parts overflowing on 2 four tier shelves. I've sold a few desirable tubes that I've found.. but have kept the rest because it's such an excellent collection.
The builder's name was Michael Werner... I'm sure he was on one of these forums.. Do any of you know of this builder?? Perhaps there are threads that encompass the details of these builds??
Let me know.
Thanks for letting me introduce myself!
-Low
I originally posted this in the "introduction" section, but wanted to share this collection with the community in the main tube amp section. I requested a re-post from the moderator and he/she gave me the go-ahead. So here it is! I hope you enjoy!
Hope you are doing well! I look forward to exploring this community. I am a local guitar amp tech in Greenville SC.
I have been working on amps for a few years now part time. I've learned alot and always enjoy a challenge.
I was recently contacted by a Widow out of Wahalla, SC. Her husband was a Tube amp enthusiast. I went there with not much Money in my pocket, and when I realized the quality of the collection, I informed her that I could only afford pieces of it. She then stated a price that I could not refuse. After a trip to the ATM, we started loading up the collection.
It is... incredible. I've never seen such quality engineering in my life. These pieces (amps) look as if they came off of a factory line. Every wire is so cleanly soldered, and each design appears flawless. I'm using them actively as well, and they add a really cool aesthetic to the room.
Here are some photos of these Amazing pieces:
1. This is the Green God. It's a small output EL84/6BQ5 powered Hifi amp that I use for my CRT Tv's stereo (since my old 1973 CRT Chromacolor sound board went out). It has a 12ax7 preamp.. which may have originally been a 12at7. 6ca4 rectifier I believe... though I could be wrong. The tube does not have any markings showing the type of rectifier it is.
2. Next is this Black Beauty complete with transparent underside. I have not tested this one. But it has a 2 dual triode 6eu7's and quad EL84 outputs.
3. Next is the "Alien Amp" which uses an 832A POWERAMP. I've NEVER seen this type of power amp before. Apparently each tube has two anodes, so it's kind of like have a quad. The preamp is composed of two 12at7's. Trusty old 5u4 supplying DC.
4 & 5 Next are 2 KT88 Hi-Fi amps I have. They appear to be identical. One has tubes. The other doesn't. I believe the preamp is composed of 6SN7's.. again, tube rectified, this time a 5y3.
6. The next amp is what I call "The Beast". I cannot guess the wattage... but am surprised it's not powered by a Quad considering the output transformer and power transformer size. I have NO IDEA what type of tubes this takes. I'll need to take off the bottom and find what the tube pin-out's are and compare them against known data sheets. It appears to have two inputs.
Also... what is that tiny circular screen??
You can see the amp has a rectifier, one preamp tube, and two power tubes.. probably KT88 or potentially KT120.
I also received alot of parts.... High end EDCOR transformers of all sizes... Dynaco transformer pairs... Tubes of both NOS and new name brand excellence.
I have the parts overflowing on 2 four tier shelves. I've sold a few desirable tubes that I've found.. but have kept the rest because it's such an excellent collection.
The builder's name was Michael Werner... I'm sure he was on one of these forums.. Do any of you know of this builder?? Perhaps there are threads that encompass the details of these builds??
Let me know.
Thanks for letting me introduce myself!
-Low
The two KT88 amps might be Williamson designs. It would help to see the underside. The rectifier in the one looks more like a 5AR4. A 5Y3 would be very undersized for that amp. The 832 amp is a stereo push-pull, very fun. The stereo PP EL84 amp might be based on a Magnavox console amp. The rest appear to be stereo single-ended amps. They look like competent builds. It would be interesting if someone here was familiar with him.
The little circular screen is a heat ventx. Maybe for a regulator chip or something else. Again, and pic of then insides would be telling.
The little circular screen is a heat ventx. Maybe for a regulator chip or something else. Again, and pic of then insides would be telling.
"the Beast" appears to have laminations all stacked one way for SE gapping. Only one output tube per OT. Probably an Edcor CXSE25-- OT.
Maybe it has the Edcor labels on the OT bottom yet.
Maybe it has the Edcor labels on the OT bottom yet.
Last edited:
The Black Beauty, with 4 EL84s, has the same asymetric layout of driver/phase splitters and output tubes as a Tubelab SPP, so wonder if it is a point to point clone of that?
I have priced all my gear and told my both my wife & daughter what they should demand for them upon my death. Single trip to the ATM is not gonna cut it here I am afraid. I did not show them the receipts for my gear of it would have trigger instant Article II, immediate paypal account suspension and quite possibly summary execution for financial treason. 
Sounds like this could take a very wrong turn...
Yes, but you have to do something...
The OP got some very nicely made kit for peanuts. The original builder probably didn't disclose the costs to his other half. Still, at least the OP appreciates what he has got, so that should placate the ghost of the original builder.
The OP got some very nicely made kit for peanuts. The original builder probably didn't disclose the costs to his other half. Still, at least the OP appreciates what he has got, so that should placate the ghost of the original builder.