Lectrolab Amp

[GreyBee]

I thought someone may be interested in hearing about my amp and maybe even know something about it.  It was a used amp when I received it as a Christmas present from my parents about 45 years ago (the best Christmas ever).  So I would guess it is about 50 years old.  I recently drug it out of the closet and replaced all the tubes.  I also replaced the speaker since the original speaker had a tear in the cone.  I really like the sound of it and think it has unlimited mojo – but that could just be the memories of all the fun I had with it playing with my friends.

The amp is a Lectrolab Model R400C and was made in Cicero, IL.  I have found a few references to the brand name on the internet, but it is a pretty obscure amp.

Thanks.

 


 

[zagatron1]

A guy I was in a band with, back in the late 60s had one of those amps. If I remeber correctly, those had an 6BQ5 (EL84) and two 12AX7s. I believe it was tube rectified (probably a 6V4), hand wired of course! I think it had an 10" speaker. I'm guessing 5 watts? I was intrigued with the thing because I was already into tube radios at the time. Wish I got one of those back in the day as a present, but even so, I wouldn't have it now since I moved around alot over the years. I was a road runner.

[robert]

Wow, that looks interesting. Does it sound good?

[zagatron1]

Wow, that looks interesting. Does it sound good?

From my memory (very limited), they where very "warm" sounding amps.  GreyBee can probably tell you better.

[GreyBee]

If I remeber correctly, those had an 6BQ5 (EL84) and two 12AX7s. I believe it was tube rectified (probably a 6V4), hand wired of course! I think it had an 10" speaker. I'm guessing 5 watts?

You are exactly right on the tubes, and 10" speaker.  I'm not sure about the output wattage.  5 may be about right.

[GreyBee]

Wow, that looks interesting. Does it sound good?

Well . . . . it kind of sounds like a musty 50 year old amp.  Zagatron1 is right, it has a pretty warm sound.  Here is a sample on the bridge pickup (you may recognize the melody - thanks for the lesson).

http://www.box.net/shared/ooz1a5h51q


P.S. My wife says it sounds good enough and that I don't need a new amp.

[zagatron1]

Hey GrayBee! Liked that soundclip. You know that neck! If I ever find one of those (amps), I gotta have one. There was alot of re-branding going on back then and there were a lot of mail order catalog stuff in the mix as well. Harmony is an example of a company that never made an amp, but sold many models with their name on them. Gretsch amps were made by a company called Valco at one time, who was a supplier to many other brands such as Kay, Supro, Harmony, and maybe a bunch of others. Thats probably why it's hard to get info on much of the "older" stuff.

[diaper head]

i thought it sounded pretty good 

[pictoratus]

Well your wife is right; it does sound good enough.

That doesn't mean you don't need a new (second) amp though! 

[GreyBee]

i thought it sounded pretty good 

Well your wife is right; it does sound good enough.

Thanks.  I like the way it sounds too.  Plenty good for my studio (that's what I call the spare bedroom).   Like I said in my original post, it's got mojo.

That doesn't mean you don't need a new (second) amp though! 

I told her you said that.  Boy are you in trouble!

[robert]

Nice!

Wow, where did you learn that great solo!? 

[pictoratus]

That doesn't mean you don't need a new (second) amp though! 

I told her you said that.  Boy are you in trouble!

 

[alexage]

Very cool amp.  Read about Lectrolab and thier products at my blog/website:

http://lectrolab.wordpress.com/

There is a page devoted to the R400 series, but I have only a little info on the R400C.  The photos I have show a tweed-covered version, yours would have been made a little later than that one.  Does yours have a schematic pasted inside the back panel or anywhere?  It would be great to get a photo of that so I could post it for everyone.  Do you mind if I post your photos and sound clip?

http://lectrolab.wordpress.com/lectrolab-models/r400/

Thanks

[GreyBee]

Does yours have a schematic pasted inside the back panel or anywhere?  It would be great to get a photo of that so I could post it for everyone.  Do you mind if I post your photos and sound clip?

Sorry, I do not see a schematic anywhere.   

You are welcome to use the photos and sound clip.