Steel amp out of Bogen P.A. tube amp?

Wayne Carver · Post by **Wayne Carver** » 4 Apr 2003 3:19 am

I have instructions on how to convert a old tube p.a. amp into a guitar amp using a few capacitors etc. You would then build a case to put it in with a speaker. I was wondering if anyone has ever done this or what it might sound like. These little tube amps are really selling on ebay. I wonder what everyone is doing with them. I built my on lap steel and thought this would be a nice addition. I realize I could probably buy an old Gibson BR-9 for a little more money than this project.

Ricky0ne1 · Post by **Ricky0ne1** » 4 Apr 2003 6:11 am

Howdy Wayne, I was in a battle-of-the-bands back in the summer of 1968. That day a friend brought along a Bogen PA head. It was metal cased, small, looked like an old radio of some sort. Would this describe your head? If so, how much power does it put out? I'm suspecting that it might be lacking in guts, power wise. Other than that, no reason why it couldn't be converted to a guitar amp with some clever cap/resistor changes. Do you have a local tech to give you a technical appraisal? I'd like to know how this turns out. Those old amps were great for garage/basement/garden gigs. Fit right in with our Champs, Silvertones, etc.

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Rick Summers

Wayne Carver · Post by **Wayne Carver** » 4 Apr 2003 6:37 am

I don't have an amp yet, I just got into researching this project and noticed a lot of amps on ebay. You can also use an amp out of an old concole phono but the pa amps are better because they have more stages. They are not voiced for guitars thus the minor mods are necessary. I know some electronic techs but i'm sure they have no tube experience although schematics are schematics i'm sure they could help. I thought i'd check out some flea markets and junk barns before buying one on ebay. I did notice some of those old McIntosh open style amps like would be used for a home stereo are bringing nice prices. Maybe i'll find one of those in a junk barn but not for my project.

Max Laine · Post by **Max Laine** » 4 Apr 2003 7:27 am

http://www.geofex.com/Article_Folders/old2new.htm

James Quackenbush · Post by **James Quackenbush** » 4 Apr 2003 11:03 am

Wayne,
There are quite a few of these amps that can be modded for guitar playing..One Bogen in particular is a CHB 100 which is 100 watts of tube power...I had one yeeeeeeeears ago...(God am I that old ? )....They have a nice tone to them...You have to be carefull which model you buy, because some of them have odd ball tubes in them that will cost you dearly...Bogen makes a nice 35 watt amp using 2 - 6V6's that you can mod to sound like an old Tweed Deluxe..They're fun to play with, and sound great for the money...Jim

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 5 Apr 2003 11:40 am

Say what...35 watts from 2 6V6's?

Nope.

Anyhow, yeah...there's a ton of these old Bogen tube amps out there. If you have lots of time, and reasonable skills, you can add the requisite controls and parts to make a decent sounding amp. The vast majority of these amps are 10-40 watts, and can still be had for a a reasonable price. Bear in mind, though, even if it winds up sounding like an old "tweed" Fender, you're still only going to get an "old Bogen" price...should you ever decide to sell it. Yes, they're fun to play with..."play" as in "mess around". It's a great way to learn how to mod tube amps, since they're built like a tank, and even if you mess it up, you ain't lost much!

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 5 Apr 2003 6:37 pm

Go with the Gibson amp. Your time and efforts and end result will be better served than wasting it on a tired old PA amp like these Bogen things. Been there---threw then in the trash.