1 watt power tubes

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 29 Sep 2001 2:33 pm

Does anyone know about or have experience with these 1 watt power tubes replacements offered by SMICZ-Amplification.
http://www.smicz-amplification.com/tad.html

I live in a little cabin with my new baby and my Twin is just too loud. I know very little about electronics and don't want to hurt the twin. I have a Fender Pro Junior and a 70's Champ but they are pretty loud also. Thanks for your help and input.

Jay Ganz · Post by **Jay Ganz** » 30 Sep 2001 1:15 pm

Rick,
Yeah, I've seen those ads lately in the
Vintage Guitar magazine. Sounds like
they're mainly used to overdrive the main
output section of an amp while staying
at a low volume level. I certainly don't
think they'd hurt an amp, but it might
be tough to keep your sound very clean.
Sounds to me like you should rig up some
kind of headphone setup instead.

Blake Hawkins · Post by **Blake Hawkins** » 30 Sep 2001 3:07 pm

Rick,
It is a creative use of an old technique.
We were wiring adapter sockets in the '30's and 40's.
It should work OK...and by the looks of the picture they are well designed and made.
It is, to my way of thinking, a rather expensive solution. A pair of them is $90-$130.
I checked my usual source for these tubes, and the 6AK6, NOS tubes, are $3.70 each.
Of course, the adapter has some engineering, and building one is labor intensive.
Other than some disipline as regards to the volume levels, I'd vote with Jay in favor of the headphone solution. Especially with a new baby in the house. Any sound is likely to be too much if the little one is asleep. A complete setup with headphones and amp could be had for $20 to $50.
Of course, it might not have the precise tone for which you are searching.
Blake[This message was edited by Blake Hawkins on 30 September 2001 at 04:12 PM.][This message was edited by Blake Hawkins on 30 September 2001 at 04:14 PM.][This message was edited by Blake Hawkins on 30 September 2001 at 04:17 PM.]

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 30 Sep 2001 7:08 pm

Thanks ya'll. I'm goin' to search the forum for recommendations on headphone/amp sets, I think I remember a post on them.

Post by **b0b** » 1 Oct 2001 4:14 pm

The Korg Pandora is a great headphone amp.

Steve Stallings · Post by **Steve Stallings** » 2 Oct 2001 5:29 am

b0b...does the Korg pandora work well with steel? Line in for a CD? Cost? I've got a Ibanez Rock and Play which sounds terrible as far as steel goes.

------------------
Steve Stallings
Bremond, Texas

Ed Kuhns · Post by **Ed Kuhns** » 2 Oct 2001 12:37 pm

If you use a Profex II or similar effects unit, plug the output into a headphone amp and you have a headphone system with all of your usual sounds. Ed