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Nothing sounds quite like a vintage amp for that old school flavor, and there are plenty of them online waiting to be employed. But when you get your hands on that oldie but goodie, you're most likely going to have to do some housecleaning and resurrecting. Enter this "vintage" MAKE article from Volume 02, back in 2005. Brothers Tom Anderson and Wendell Anderson show you how to get all Bob Villa on that amp in their how-to, "Resurrecting This Old Amp."
From the intro:
Musicians use vintage amplifiers for their uniquely satisfying tone. Old tube amps are expensive, but you can find solid-state models from the 1970s for less. Some audiophiles argue that transistor amps from this era have the best sound of all, because they don't burn out like tube amps and don't exhibit the crossover distortion found in many modern designs. We bought a few classic amplifiers on eBay, restored their vintage tone, and made them safer.
Tom and Wendell give you the know-how you need to diagnose, open, and repair that old amp and make it sound as good or better than the day it was made. Check out the project in full in our Digital Edition to get started. And if you don't already own a copy of Volume 02, you can still pick one up in the Maker Shed.
