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Demeter Tga-3 Pre And Power Tube Questions


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I have a nice and rare Demeter TGA-3 100 watt head and want to know if anyone on this forum has had any experience with this amp - ie: power tubes and preamp tubes tried out, effects processors, speaker cabs, etc....

 

In short, I want to pick your collective brains for anything regarding this amp! It's a sweetheart and just wails. Awesome bell-like to meaty cleans, chunky crunch/rhythms to singing and very musical leads.

 

Currently, I'm running Chinese 6L6's and some mixing of preamp tubes: Mullard CV4004 in V1, Mullard ECC83 in V2, EH 12AX7's in the rest of the spots.... I was told EL34's are not great in Demeters...WHY?

 

I run a Rocktron Xpression processor (don't hit me, please!) in the loop through a 2 or 4 x 12 cab with V-30/G12 H-30 speakers mixed.....

 

Any light shed on this bitch would be a help! :D

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Originally posted by guitarzan



No but I think Chinese tubes are poo and the only thing wrong with Bogner IMO.

 

 

I know the Chinese 6L6GCs are {censored} and I have some JJ's 6L6GC and NOS C6A7s to try out... It's funny that this amp sounds killer EVEN WITH the Sino-junk-tubes.... Go figger.... The only problem is that the stock head shell cab is too small for the other power tubes, so I'm having a Marshall-sized head shell built to accomodate the new power tubes.... Cutom cab time!! {censored}.... More $$$$$$$$$$$

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Yeah, he's said in several magazine articles over the years that it is his basic set up. I think he splits his signal and layers an AC30 in with it on quite a few songs too. On Core the heavy/dirty stuff is all Demeter/VHT. The chimey chord layers are VOX.

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Originally posted by 64DUECE

Dean Deleo (STP) runs the rack preamp version of that head into a VHT power amp w/ EL34's for the majority of his heavy tones.


I think he uses the Rocktron Intellifex for fx patches.


I saw them live a couple of times back in the day. Hanging on up front- the guitar just about ripped my face off. That amp has a very distinct sound.


Of course, that's the only time I've heard anything from Demeter. I have always wanted one since. They seem quite rare.....and expensive.
:mad:

Can you post any clips? I'd really like to here how that gain sounds.
:)

 

You are correct in that's what DeLeo used/uses.... I even previously had the TGP-3 preamp, had a VHT power amp and cabs, etc... it just never sounded very good to me. I gave up on tube preamp with power amp rigs... After a Soldano X99, CAE 3+SE, TGP-3, I figured if I couldn't make one of those work for me, forget it!

 

The TGA-3 is the SAME preamp, but built into a small chassis (and I mean small!) with Demeter's awesome power amp section (4 x 5881s), has a switch to select between 5881/6550s or EL34/C6A7s, a nice fx loop with multiple send/return levels and channel masters, 100/50 watt switch, etc. They are rare, only 20 of the 100 watt TGA-3's were made - mine the last one. The TGA-3 75 watters are more abundant and also sound great, but I spotted the 100 and "had to have it"! :freak:

 

I will try to post some clips soon, it really screams and has a nice, organic gain tone that still maintains a nasty edge to it (sounds like I'm a wine cork sniffer!). It's a three channel amp head - clean (think Bassman/tweed), crunch (think JTM to plexi to JCM800) and lead (can't describe). It has some very cool gain stacking and tone shift switches as well... It suits live work well and likes to crank up some, it sounds a little anemic until you get the power section smokin'.

 

OK: Tube suggestions!

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Originally posted by 64DUECE

Yeah, he's said in several magazine articles over the years that it is his basic set up. I think he splits his signal and layers an AC30 in with it on quite a few songs too. On Core the heavy/dirty stuff is all Demeter/VHT. The chimey chord layers are VOX.

+1..... Now I have to snag an AC/30 too???? :cry:

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Well, I'm running JJ 6L6gc power tubes in my Marshall right now. I like the extra low end that they seem to have.

 

After you get a bigger cab, try the JJ's and tell us how it sounds.

 

If I change out tubes again, I think I'm gonna try another set of JJE34L's.

I had some of these in a JCM 900 mklll. It was like the best of both worlds. A little bit more low end like a 6L6, but a little tighter low end like an EL34. The mids have a bit more of an edge too. Overall, another good sounding tube.

 

It sounds like you already have some nice preamp tubes. But if you're looking for something different, I have an Ei ecc83 in v1. I wonder what those would sound like in a high gain setting.

 

Just some suggestions.:)

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Hey 64:

 

Those JJ's ARE great power tubes! I have used their 6L6GCs in my VHT and "6L6"-type amps and they rock. I have also used both the JJ EL and E34Ls and they kick ass as well! I'm not enamoured with the JJ preamp tubes though, they just sound drab, not bad, just unremarkable to me.

 

I have not tried the Ei ECC83, but may. Right now, I have a Tung-sol 12AX7 in V1 of my Cameron modded "Jose" Low gain '69 50-watter and it beats all others out. I stuck everything from Mullard CV4004s to Telefunkens to Chinese 12AX7s to RFTs in t6hat pig - you name it - and it still sounds the best. To think a tube I pulled out of a junky Fender Bassman head would sound so good 40+ years after it was made! :D

 

I have a {censored}-load of power tubes to try in the TGA-3 including some old Philips C6A7s, NOS Teslas (NOT JJs!), NOS GE stubbies, Tung-sol 5881s, and on..... I think I'm just a gear nerd and not really a guitar player! :eek:

 

Hmmmm... I wonder what a set of KT88s would sound like in that thing? Hey, Ultra Lead! Move over! :thu:

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Originally posted by jaronensley

Got any pictures of that beautiful Demeter rig of yours??


Jer

Yes, I do as a matter of fact! I just picked up the new cabinet (head shell) yesterday and will post a few pics of before and after! The original cabinet was scary/fugly looking!

 

Give me a little while to post 'em.......

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Originally posted by jaronensley

Got any pictures of that beautiful Demeter rig of yours??


Jer

OK, jer: Now youz in trouble since you axed for it!

 

This is the very last Demeter TGA-3 100w head built. It has three channels, clean, crunch and lead (with shared EQ on crunch and lead), a gain and master on the clean channel (thank God), great EQ controls, TONS of low end and sparkle, great (and very tweakable) FX loop/Masters, 50/100 watt switch, 5881/6550 + EL34/C6A7 switch, a sucky slave out (the only drawback - I have to use the Hot Plate's slave out)... :(

 

Let me know if you guys think I need to stick the amp plate on the front of the head... You can see that on the original cab pics..... :p

 

And I'm still waiting for some tube suggestions, you guys! {censored}! It's like pulling shark's teeth.... ;)

 

Here's the Demeter in the new cab....

 

http://tubebury.com/7931/80929.jpg

http://tubebury.com/7931/56219.jpg

http://tubebury.com/7931/99514.jpg

http://tubebury.com/7931/58732.jpg

http://tubebury.com/7931/50445.jpg

http://tubebury.com/7931/5845.jpg

 

The original head cab was a joke! Check these pics!

 

http://tubebury.com/7931/84219.jpg

http://tubebury.com/7931/56193.jpg

http://tubebury.com/7931/38966.jpg

http://tubebury.com/7931/59358.jpg

 

And I still have these...

 

http://tubebury.com/7931/9734.jpg (VHT 50/CL w/EQ)

http://tubebury.com/7931/9734.jpg ('73 Carlsbro 100 Top)

 

Talk to me

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Oh good, you don't have the ugly multi-colored knobs some of the othe TGA-3's have. Those made it look kind of goofy and cheap. I'm a big fan of Demeter amps, I likte that hot-rodded plexi tone they get. That new head cab makes it look 100 times better:D.

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Originally posted by FuelGTRX

Oh good, you don't have the ugly multi-colored knobs some of the othe TGA-3's have. Those made it look kind of goofy and cheap. I'm a big fan of Demeter amps, I likte that hot-rodded plexi tone they get. That new head cab makes it look 100 times better:D.

Yeah, I had a TGP-3 and a TGA-2 that both had the multi colored knobs... Great idea and I'll give Demeter an A+ for efort, but Jesus! They look like {censored} and totally CHEAP!! Tonight I swapped-out the 6L6s for EL34s and I think the bitch sounds smoother, especially in the 100 watt mode...... She is a beaut, huh? :thu:

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