Modern tweed amp builders?

[Pieman]

I have a Gibson GA6 which is the Gibson version of the Fender Deluxe. Earlier this week I saw some youtube videos of Greg V demoing a Tungsten Mosaic (playing a Talladega). The Mosaic puts out 6 watts with a 6v6 or 9 watts with a 6L6. It comes with a 12" speaker, so its a Champ with more headroom.. The Crema Wheat has a bright and normal channel and is supposedly 20 watts, so more headroom. That seems to have some promise, but I don't know anything about the builder Has anybody played a Tungsten?

Is Victoria still the (?) leader in tweed reissues?

Anybody else to check out? Thinking up to 20 watts, a single 12" and 6V6s.

Thanks in advance.

[django49]

I like the Swart AST a lot, though I am not sure it quite qualifies as "tweed". But my understanding is that Michael Swart started with a goal of building upon old Gibson circuits. . Moderate power and can use either 6l6 or 6v6. The tube driven reverb and trem are wonderful (IMO). I have heard that the Crema Wheat is in that same ballpark, but have not tried one myself. You might look for demos of each and see if that helps narrow it down.

[gorch]

I've heard about Tungsten before. Seemed to be a good amp manufacturer.

[JES1680]

Haven't played the Tungsten, but see them for sale on TGP fairly regularly. Had a Victoria Deluxe which was great not sure why I sold it. I currently have a Clark Lil Bit. Similar to his current LTD. It's a Deluxe preamp with a Champ power section 1 6V6 at about 5 watts in a Deluxe cab with 1x12. Perfect greasy dirty volume for jams and doesn't seem much quieter than my Victoria.

Clarks seems smoother and Vickys seem a bit more grainy otherwise both top quality, it's really a personal preference. I've not heard anything bad about Tungstens.

[Jakeboy]

Lil Dawg Amps.

Jim Nicholson's one man labor of love for the working musician. He is a tweed guru.

Best customer service and prices out there. Pics as the build progresses and you'll have a new friend.

Kinda like Shishkov Guitars.

But amps.

I have 5 Lil Dawgs and tweeds are his specialty. Go to his website. Read the reviews. Tell him Mark sent you. He knows me only as a VERY happy multiple-repeat customer.

Tweed-wise I have his 5f1 Champster with a 12" speaker and his 5e3 tweed D-Lux. Both awesome.

[TBP]

I have a 5F1-based amp I really like built by Eric Rumbinas. He's "MuchXS" on the TDPRI forum. He was very easy to work with, made some suggestions based on what I wanted and worked out a deal for something very cool at a very reasonable price. It did take a couple months to get it as parts were backordered but it turned out to be worth it.

I've also been tempted to get a Lil Dawg amp.

[tbabinec]

There are lots to choose from. Some builders produce “reproductions,” while others add their own spin.

Victoria, Tungsten, Clark build good versions of classic circuits, while Tungsten in particular puts its own spin on some of the models it makes. Richter amps come in at a good price point.

There are low, medium, and high-power models. The tweed Champ has only a single volume control. The Tweed Deluxe model 5e3 has a lot of fans and gets lots of discussion on the Gear Page. One thing to know about this model is that the Volumes are interactive – the Volume setting for the channel not being used affects the tone and volume in the chosen channel. Look for demos. The guy at “Tweed Deluxe Speedshop” has some videos where he shows the many tones you can get. Tweed deluxe is *not* at all like the blackface Deluxe Reverb. See http://www.tweeddeluxe.com/ .

Neil Young has a large collection of tweed deluxes, some of which have modified circuits that allow the 6L6 power tube instead of the 6V6. You can hear the sound on his live recordings across the years. He famously uses a foot-pedal gadget called the Whizzer that enables him to dial the tone he wants, including the very grungy distortion that he sometimes gets. See http://thrasherswheat.org/friends/amps.htm .

The tweed Harvard (Victoria Ivy League is a version of this) was used by the extraordinary Steve Cropper on many of the early Stax singles. Higher-power models such as the tweed Bassman and Twin are used by many current players.

[sirDaniel]

valvetech

[Disturber]

There are a lot of small amp builders that can custom build you a Tweed Deluxe clone for reasonable money.

I had one built this summer. It's killer. Super fun to play.

I ordered it from a well known Swedish amp builder. He uses a kinda "fundamental religious interpretation" of the 5E3 circuit.

Specs on the 5E3 are:

- Mergili Innovations cab, built on order. Built with hide glue and 100% according to vintage specs. http://www.mergili.com/

- Lacquered with shellac by the amp builder, and then slightly reliced.

- Mojotone chassie, uses the same kind of steel as the originals.

- NOS carbon resistors and Mallory 150 caps.

- CTS-pots, USA lamp holder, bakelite knobs.

- Mercury Magnetics Tone Clone trafos.

- Repro Deluxe Amp logo and repro "tube chart".

Currently I have a Tayden Smooth 12" alnico speaker in the amp. Made in UK. Like a Celestion Gold but a little sweeter.

[polara]

valvetech

The VAC25 doesn't do the aesthetics of a tweed Fender but I think Channel 1 is in the ballpark for sound, plus you get Channel 2 for more options.

[kenjones]

My Kendrick "Texas Crude" does a good impression of a LOUD tweed deluxe. It has two 10" speakers. Plug in a guitar with humbuckers for instant "Tres Hombres" tone.

Not a "tweed", but the bottom cabinet is a Marshall head sized, open-back cabinet with a pair of Fane Alnico 12 speakers. I wanted something smaller to use with my Marshall JCM800 head.

[Hfan]

Lil Dawg Amps.

Jim Nicholson's one man labor of love for the working musician. He is a tweed guru.

Best customer service and prices out there. Pics as the build progresses and you'll have a new friend.

Kinda like Shishkov Guitars.

But amps.

I have 5 Lil Dawgs and tweeds are his specialty. Go to his website. Read the reviews. Tell him Mark sent you. He knows me only as a VERY happy multiple-repeat customer.

Tweed-wise I have his 5f1 Champster with a 12" speaker and his 5e3 tweed D-Lux. Both awesome.

I'll vouch for Jim, nice guy. I bought my Lil Dawg 5E3 Deluxe on CL. It's a 25W beast.. came with an Eminence Maverick attenuator speaker. I contacted Jim with a question and he was very generous with information, even e mailed me some operational tips. Only one I have played.