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Topic: Octal 70 Steel Guitar Amp to debut at St Louis convention |
Jim Pitman
From:
Waterbury Ctr. VT 05677 USA
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Posted 21 Aug 2014 4:13 pm |
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I finally put together my dream steel guitar amp and will debut it for sale at the St Louis convention.
It's a hybrid Tube/solid state design driving a 12" speaker. Three dual Octal preamp tubes are buffered by an abbreviated, 70watt, Class A/B solid state section. The SS section has a gain of one so omits the typical high gain differential amp found up front of a SS amp. The entire design is quite minimalist overall. Controls are input volume, base, mid treble, and effects return volume. It uses a small class A inter-stage transformer to send to the effects jack, the effects return is tube buffered with an output volume control. With no effects plugged in the inter-stage transformer is still in the circuit intentionally to give it that tubey class A singing sound. It's set up for a clean sound with beau coup headroom for steel guitar. There's an effects loop "series/parallel" switch.
At 30lbs, it's quite light weight considering its power as a result of having no tube output transformer.
It's 18" x 18", with a slant TV front face, typically covered in lacquered Tweed. A hardwood cabinet is offered as an option. The packaging is quite ergonomic and unique with top mounted/slanted/recessed controls. The controls are covered with a door that has LED illumination for dark clubs. The door hinges open and stays put at a good angle for control viewing.
Special attention was given to mounting the tubes to reduce micro-phonics.
Design goals I had in mind:
1. My pickup should hit a tube first for the benefit of headroom good tone at the first amplification stage
2. The amp should be compact and lightweight.
3. I want better base response than a typical tube amp offers.
4 It should be ergonomic both for controls viewing and sound projection when set up at chair height. Controls shall be lit to see in a dark club.
5. It should offer an effects loop in the middle of the tube circuitry in line with item one.
6. It should have that wonderful tube sound. (I'm partial to the octal tubes.)
Come visit my booth "Pitman Audio" at the convention. I'll have both a Tweed and a cherry version with me.
Pictures to follow shortly. |
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Brad Sarno
From:
St. Louis, MO USA
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Posted 21 Aug 2014 6:03 pm
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| Cool! |
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George Seymour
From:
Notown, Vermont, USA
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Posted 21 Aug 2014 6:38 pm
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| I'll take it for a spin sometime, I've got some really good stuff but would like to hear it who knows ! |
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Jim Pitman
From:
Waterbury Ctr. VT 05677 USA
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mike nolan
From:
Forest Hills, NY USA
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Posted 22 Aug 2014 9:26 am
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| A lot of good ideas here Jim..... will you do one with reverb? |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 22 Aug 2014 10:01 am
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| did you label the bass control knob 'base' or 'bass'? |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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mike nolan
From:
Forest Hills, NY USA
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Posted 22 Aug 2014 10:32 am
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| But Jim, this one goes to 12, and "Thats one louder, innit" |
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George Seymour
From:
Notown, Vermont, USA
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Posted 22 Aug 2014 11:21 am
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How about tonight? Playing a little two hour gig, be great to hear the tone. Short notice, I know. |
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Jim Pitman
From:
Waterbury Ctr. VT 05677 USA
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Posted 22 Aug 2014 11:55 am
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Chris - I spelled it "bass" as in largemouth.
Jim - Indeed it goes one better than 11.
Mike - Spring reverb is a possibility if there's enough interest. The effects driver is able to drive a tank. It would have to be the more compact unit. Certainly could do one of those electronic types.
George - I'd loan you one tonight if I hadn't sent two to St Louis. I have a gig myself which speaks for the third. I'll get one to you soon though. I'd be interested in what you think.
Any of you folks going to be in St Louis? |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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George Seymour
From:
Notown, Vermont, USA
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Posted 22 Aug 2014 12:23 pm
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| Jim Pitman wrote: |
Chris - I spelled it "bass" as in largemouth.
Jim - Indeed it goes one better than 11.
Mike - Spring reverb is a possibility if there's enough interest. The effects driver is able to drive a tank. It would have to be the more compact unit. Certainly could do one of those electronic types.
George - I'd loan you one tonight if I hadn't sent two to St Louis. I have a gig myself which speaks for the third. I'll get one to you soon though. I'd be interested in what you think.
Any of you folks going to be in St Louis? |
Sounds good Jim, got a lot coming up and could give it a workout. Let me know when you can free one up.
Thanks,
George |
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mike nolan
From:
Forest Hills, NY USA
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Posted 22 Aug 2014 12:35 pm
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| I imagine that there will be a lot of interest in an onboard reverb.... with analog, tube driven spring reverb as the most likely choice for the tone hound cohort that will be interested in this amp. |
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John Brabant
From:
Calais, VT, USA
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Posted 22 Aug 2014 2:24 pm
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Or instead, get your reverb using a PF Benado Steel Dream effects unit. Would be a perfect match to a perfect amp:
http://www.benadoeffects.com/pf-steel-dream/
_________________
John Brabant
1978 Emmons D-10 P-P |
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John Brabant
From:
Calais, VT, USA
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Posted 22 Aug 2014 2:29 pm
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Going out to "Moogs" in Morrisville, Vermont tonight to catch Jim Pitman playing his new U-12 Infinity through this new Pitman Amp. Will provide a weather report tomorrow.
_________________
John Brabant
1978 Emmons D-10 P-P |
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John Brabant
From:
Calais, VT, USA
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Posted 26 Aug 2014 5:48 pm Jim Pitman Octal 70 Hybrid Steel amp
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Got to hear Jim and his U12 Infinity played thru his new Octal Hybrid amp last Friday night. Really sounded great, particularly his the amp's bass response. As you know, the universals have some really low bass strings that came through so clean, it was truly amazing. Jim is bringing his new Infinity to play through some of his brand new octal hybrid amps to Scotty's ISGC tomorrow and will be operating a demonstration and sales booth for the new amps. Drop by and check them out and see (hear!) for yourselves. I will be at the show as well, first time in 14 years, so I am looking forward to a fun time. Safe travels everyone!
_________________
John Brabant
1978 Emmons D-10 P-P |
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