Amps and FX

Carlsbro 50 Top

  • Dates from the 70’s but won on eBay, September 2006 (as detailed here)
  • 50W valve head, in the vein of HiWatt and Marshall
  • Originally single-channel but since modified by Trev of Tipton Amps:
    • 2 inputs now voiced separately - one as originally intended, the other as a Marshall JCM800
    • Daughterboard with an extra preamp valve for more crunch
    • Master volume (fitted years ago) reconnected
    • Independent volume controls
  • Haven’t had a chance to try this amp in anger yet, but I’m reliably informed that it sings, growls, barks and bites… like a musically-talented rottweiler, I guess… ***UPDATE*** I can confirm that this amp is LOUD, with a capital “L” :-)

“Homebrew” 2×12″ cabinet

  • Built from a sheet of 18mm plywood
  • 2 x 12″ Celestion G12H 30W 16R speakers, wired in parallel to give 8R total impedance
  • 8R serial extension socket for 16R operation
  • Split and hinged rear panel for open- or closed-back use
  • Black tolex, black grill cloth, huge side handles and nickel corner protectors

Behringer V-Amp 2

  • Desktop amp modeller/multi FX
  • Used for noodling, practice and maybe recording (in the future)

B&Q special pedalboard (v1)

  • DIY pedalboard - basically a chunk of chipboard, painted grey, with various pedals attached; all contained in a B&Q ‘aluminium’ tool case. I’ve replaced the hinges with lift-off types and re-sited the rubber feet to suit
  • Input, output and mains sockets chassis-mounted
  • FX chain:
    • Input
    • Boss TU-12 Chromatic Tuner
    • Dunlop Cry-baby wah
    • Keeley-modded Boss DS-1 Distortion
    • Ibanez Stereo Chorus (only used in mono mode)
    • Digitech X-Series Digital Delay (again, used in mono)
    • AB-10 A/B switch (modded by me with bi-colour status LED)
    • All (bar the AB-10) powered by a 5-way power brick.

B&Q special pedalboard (v2)

  • DIY two-tier pedalboard; all contained in the B&Q tool case from v1 above (photos coming soon!)
  • Remote powering/signal send & return by 4-way multicore cable
  • FX chain:
    • Behringer AB200 Dual A/B Switch.
    • Ibanez LU10 tuner
    • Dunlop Cry-baby wah
    • Behringer DC9 Dynamics Compressor
    • Keeley/Boss "Seeing Eye" DS-1 Distortion
    • Ibanez Stereo Chorus (only used in mono mode)
    • Behringer NR100 Noise Reducer
    • Digitech X-Series Digital Delay (again, used in mono)
    • Back to AB200 Dual A/B switch
    • Twin outputs to Carlsbro 50 Top