Variable Amplified Thoughts

First off, I’d like to thank everyone who’s been supportive of Granger Amplification and is helping spread the word! Whether family, friends, or satisfied clients, you all are helping me grow this business and for that I am very thankful. I have really been blessed, and I hope to be building amps for a long time to come (as well as playing some golf every now and then).

First up - I recorded some more soundclips for the D18 DragonFly amp, this time using a Strat, and various levels of gain. I think I’m doing the amp justice in representing it’s sound. They are posted on the D18 product page. I also played it at two Citizen Jayne shows this past weekend, and it sounded great. That sucker is loud for an 18 watt amp too. I had to run my Weber Mass100 attenuator to keep the volume in check.

I did a photo shoot Sunday for some of my amps. I have a Nikon D80 camera, but have been using a low cost (but great little camera!) Canon, and wanted to get some better photos for the website. I had also planned on doing some photos for advertising that featured the “pretty woman standing next to amp” but my model “no showed” on me so I had to nix that idea. I did offer my 14-year old daughter Stacey the opportunity to model (albeit with a much different intended demographic), so she dressed up, fixed her hair, donned my Elvis sunglasses, and struck some of the coolest poses you’ve ever seen a 14-year-old-rock-star-or-model-in-the-making do. I haven’t had much time to edit them, but I did post a couple on MySpace. I also paid Stacey for her time, for which she was very grateful. Hey, if it worked for Dave Thomas and Wendy’s, why not try it?

I modded a Blackheart BH5H amp for a client and really liked the way it turned out. I replaced the output transformer (stock 5 watt) with a Hammond 125ESE (15 watt), the chinese 12AX7 with JJ 12AT7, the chinese EL84 with a JJ EL84, one resistor and a couple of capacitors. I recorded some clips. The blues track was fun - I just pretended I was Eric Clapton playing with John Mayall.

Clips:

(Full song)
F12 Blackheart Blues (Telecaster, bridge pickup, treble rolled off ala “Woman Tone”)

(Just guitar)
Stock Blackheart (before mod) w/ Telecaster

Modified Blackheart w/ Telecaster

Modified Blackheat w/ Telecaster (middle position, clean)

That’s about it for now. I have some other thoughts floating around, but I’ll save them for another day. Keep those emails coming, and add us as a friend on MySpace if you get the chance!

There’s quite a few projects happening at GrangerAmp.com. Here’s a few things we’ve completed, have on the bench, and/or in the planning stages:

Finished a great-sounding 18 watt “Lightning” inspired amp last week. I’m calling it the “TopB18″ since it sounds very much like the Vox amps, and has the really great top end. I’ve got it mounted in a dark green head cab. Looks and sounds quite nice. This amp is designed so the player can use either EL84s or 6V6s in the output stage. I haven’t made up my mind which sounds better - they both sound very nice! I hope to find time this week to cut a few clips and take some photos.

Just started a 50 watt amp inspired by a late 60’s Hiwatt. I began last night. Model will be called “H50″ and the prototype will be mounted in a white head cab.

A 50 watt amp inspired by the JCM800 2204 model. I’m sourcing most of the parts and chassis from Nik at Ceriatone.com. The transformers will come from one of my suppliers here in the US (to save on the dreaded overseas shipping charges that come from shipping heavy iron).

I’m still tweaking the prototype of the D18 DragonFly. Mostly comestic things and some slight tonal changes, but nothing drastic. It’s still a fantastic sounding amp, and only getting better!

I did a very cool (the customer called it “awesome”) mod to a early 90’s Peavey 5150. For functionality, I installed an adjustable bias, and retubed it using JJ 6L6GCs, JJ 12AX7s, and a JJ gold pin 12AX7 for V1. Cosmetically, Jeff removed the wooden baffle and reinstalled on the metal grill (this is fairly popular from what I’ve seen). After he completed that, I installed 3 blue LEDs to back light it. It looks great and sounds even better. I even played it Saturday at the Citizen Jayne show. Sounded sweeeeeeet through an open-back 2×12 cab.

Here’s what Jeff has got going on in the cab shop:

A custom 1×18 bass cab. Finished. Looks and sounds sweet! I found a little time to post a few photos in the gallery.
A custom 4×10 bass cab.
Possibly a custom 2×10 bass cab.
Recovering a 4×12 guitar cab in white to match the prototype H50 amp.

It’s good to be busy!

 

Welcome to the new blog at GrangerAmp.com Whatdya think?

Amidst all the repair work, modding, and building, I somehow found a few spare moments over the last 3 days to install WordPress and a theme. A few custom images and a new blog is born. I’m already out of time today. In 5 minutes I close the shop, fix a cup of coffee and head to tonight’s gig. So, keep coming back to see what I add as soon as I can!

Rock on with great tone!
Curt