Lost in the 50’s tube amplification..

Please be patient with us as we build and add features to our site. I am very fortunate to have a son that creates web sites and he does great work! I build the older tube amplifiers from the 50’s and early 60’s era. I'll start off by promoting what many refer to as the “Holy Grail” of tweed amplifiers. There were many different tweed amplifiers built back in the early 30’s - 50’s.

There was something very unique and raw about the sound they had.  Most all musicians that play guitar or bass have sought out those amplifiers in the past but the old tweed amps have fallen into the collectors market place and as a result get very expensive!  So I felt that it might be good to put together a collection series of those amplifiers in replica form.

Mystique..

It’s one thing to build these old, mysterious units but I find that there are many problems along the way as many have failed in duplicating their acoustics and overall sound!  After many hit and miss copies, some have gotten close. As a young man, I had an appetite for that kind of sound which evolved into a hobby and profession.  I did many repairs at the local music store in the 60’s which was a great education of what works well and what does not!  One of the greatest lessons were the secrets of Leo Fender and how he kept the competition at bay even after the statute of limitations was up on his design. For example, if one would get a schematic drawing and build it perfectly to spec., it would not sound right at all! It would work, but not come close to what was manufactured at the factory in Fullerton California..Hummmmm??  Wasssuuupp with that!?

Competition..

Many guitar amplifiers popped up back in the 60’s and some did fairly well but the tweed styles still won the popularity polls when it came to amplifiers of that era. After many years, some actually figured out how to get some of that sound today but only by trial and error.  I find that many things are still overlooked when building tweed amplifiers.  That is why I started building them again and will continue to build some of my own designs as time allows. For now I work on amps that are most sought after and involve myself in my own line of alnico speakers that resemble the originals.

In keeping with the American tradition, thank you for visiting our site and keep coming back as we make additions and deletions of errors. Let me leave you with a thought! Buy this collection series (stamped and dated) amplifier.  The old antique units are still around and working 50 - 70 years later!  These will last just as long!  Sound clips arriving shortly.

Thank you.
Bye for now.. “Budsamp”