GUYTRONIX ARDMORE AND GILMORE JR (tube amp kits)

[Phil O'Keefe]

Originally posted by Richard Guy Hello Phil, How does that 16 ohm AlNiCo Blue Dog sound to you? What wattage did you select and did you get it doped? Did you put it in a closed back or open back cab? I prefer open back cabs for AlNiCo.

It's a 15W, no dope. I put it into my Vox AC15, but I've used it with the Ardmore a few times too - just by leaving it in the open backed Vox cabinet and running a speaker cable jumper and coupler to the Ardmore. It sounds very good with the Ardmore... gives it even more of a Vox-ish voice.

Gotta try it with the Gilmore Jr still, but I bet it will sound sweet with that too.

[Phil O'Keefe]

Okay, I have three songs that we used the Ardmore and Gilmore Jr on for all the guitar tracks.

http://www.myspace.com/theamericanillness

I used the same basic setup on all thee songs:

Gilmore Jr (w/ 2 watt mod) -> Weber Blue Dog with a Audio Technica ATM650 mic (on axis), into a Vintech Dual 72.

Ardmore -> EV 12F, with a Audix D2 mic (off axis), into a Vintech Dual 72.

Both mics were nearly at contact distance from the speaker cabinet grilles - maybe one inch away. Additionally, I also had a single Soundelux ELUX 251 set up as a distant mic, about 8' back from the two amps and centered between them, set on cardioid, and running into a Yamaha i88X preamp. I printed three tracks to disk with each "pass" on guitar. Each song has between two and four seperate guitar parts / performances; for a total of 6 - 12 guitar "tracks".

I ran my pedalboards in front of the amps. All tracks used a touch of Demeter Compulator, and a little bit of Danelectro Fish & Chips EQ. Overdrive was a combo affair - part amp breakup, part pedals. The OD pedal varied from track to track, but most of them are with a MAD DD30, as much to "goose" the front end of the amp as for its own overdrive "sound". One or two used a Lovetone Brown Source instead. A very small touch of Diamond Memory Lane delay and Lovetone Wobulator panning was used, but mostly to "stereo-ize" the guitars instead of as an obvious delay / slapback or panning "effect".

Guitars varied - either my late 90's Epi Les Paul limited Edition, 2001 Epiphone Casino, '94 Fender Telecaster Special or my Rickenbacker 610. Most of it is the Les Paul though.

All songs and performances were done by The American Illness, but I was the one responsible for dialing up the guitar tones. They were very happy with the sound we got though, and really liked the amps.

I'll try to get some pics of the setup posted as soon as I can get them loaded onto my server.

[Adjoha66]

http://bestdanitykane.info/movies/1

[dtm_992]

Originally posted by Adjoha66 http://bestdanitykane.info/movies/1

Whatever. I'm guessing TS is gonna keep the gilmour?

[timrocker]

Really like all the tracks posted!

[tonsotubetone]

Hi, this is my first post. I just bought an Ardmore amp used, already assembled, I brought it home and plugged it in, cranked it to 10 and proceeded to wail with my Carvin Holdsworth Fatboy ( humbuckers ) and boy does it sound sweet! But, since I got it used, I'm wondering what the speaker load should be, I was using an 8 ohm box, is that correct?

[Richard Guy]

Hi, this is my first post. I just bought an Ardmore amp used, already assembled, I brought it home and plugged it in, cranked it to 10 and proceeded to wail with my Carvin Holdsworth Fatboy ( humbuckers ) and boy does it sound sweet! But, since I got it used, I'm wondering what the speaker load should be, I was using an 8 ohm box, is that correct?

You are correct Sir! It will also work with 4 or 16 ohm loads but 8 is ideal. Enjoy

[tonsotubetone]

Thanks! I'm really amazed at the way this amp responds, it seems to have a musical kind of feedback at almost any note. It makes me feel like frickin' Hendrix. Way cool!! Thanks for coming up with such a cool sounding, affordable amp.

[tonsotubetone]

Richard, From looking at your website, it seems as though there are no mods for the Ardmore, is that right? But, you have quite a few for the Gilmore, why is that? t'ott

[Richard Guy]

Richard, From looking at your website, it seems as though there are no mods for the Ardmore, is that right? But, you have quite a few for the Gilmore, why is that? t'ott

tonsotubetone,

Thanks for your inquiry. The Ardmore's heart is voiced in Vox-land. It is bright and full of chime. Think Beatles/Byrds/Petty. So far, folks have like the amp as is. It really wouldn't sound good installing a 'M' mod, it would ruin the vibe. The Gilmore Jr's 'V' mod is pretty much the same tone stack that is in the Ardmore. The Gilmore, who's heart is voiced early Fender Tweed, lends itself tone-wise to various mods due to its design. Early Marshalls were very similar to Leo's Bassman at that time

[self]

please forgive me for asking a question that has, perhaps been addressed already...

can the gilmore put out sufficiently loud clean tones for recording purposes (say, like the cleaner guitars in "sultans of swing")?.

thanks,
jai shankar.

[Richard Guy]

please forgive me for asking a question that has, perhaps been addressed already... can the gilmore put out sufficiently loud clean tones for recording purposes (say, like the cleaner guitars in "sultans of swing")?. thanks, jai shankar.

 

 

The Gilmore Jr can sound clean as you mention but mic placement and speaker(s) are important too. It will begin to 'break-up' at around 2 PM on the volume control. If you want to go above the Gilmore Jr's clean, the Ardmore is the way to go. Way clean and a lot of chime. If MK's tone with DS is your quest, plug your Strat into the Ardmore with a nice 8 ohm load. The Gilmore Jr likes to 'see' 16 ohm loads. Either amps will work fine at 8 or 16 but each has it's own magic with the proper load.

[edeibler2000]

The Gilmore Jr can sound clean as you mention but mic placement and speaker(s) are important too. It will begin to 'break-up' at around 2 PM on the volume control. If you want to go above the Gilmore Jr's clean, the Ardmore is the way to go. Way clean and a lot of chime. If MK's tone with DS is your quest, plug your Strat into the Ardmore with a nice 8 ohm load. The Gilmore Jr likes to 'see' 16 ohm loads. Either amps will work fine at 8 or 16 but each has it's own magic with the proper load.

 

 

 

Care to make any specific speaker recommendations? Thanks.

[Richard Guy]

Care to make any specific speaker recommendations? Thanks.[/quote

Thanks for asking

I like the Weber 16 ohm 12" Blue Dog, Ceramic Magnet, 16 ohms, lite dope, pre-broken-in for the Gilmore Jr.

For the Ardmore, I like an 8 ohm Celestion G-1265 or Weber's 'knock-off' 1265 at 8 ohms for the Ardmore.

Please note that there are a lot of very nice sounding speakers out there. The 'key' is running 16 ohm loads with the Gilmore Jr and 8 ohm loads for the Ardmore.

[davetoepfer]

One of my Customers installed a bunch of toggle switches on his Gilmore Jr to switch in and out the various components from stock to 'V', 'M' and bright mod components. It provided for interesting combinations. You can see his build on my 'Builder's Pictures' area on my site.

 

 

If I were to do it, relays are the answer.

[Richard Guy]

If I were to do it, relays are the answer.

It would take many relays or switches to pull it off with both mods installed in one amp. Each mod has ~ 6 components (I believe the 'V' mod has five) One mod is specific to the gain stages in the amp ('M') while the other is specific to the tone stack ('V'). The 'M' mod would be the easiest to switch in or out since it directly replaces existing stock values. The 'V' mod is a bit more involved/tricky due to re-routing the design of the stock tone stack as well as direct component value changes.

[Guitdolin]

Man, great thread - at first. I wish some recordings would have panned out, especially after a planned get-together at a studio. Oh well.... Anybody else have any recordings using the Gilmore Jr.?

I recently bought one used. I imagine that I'll be buying a kit to build myself eventually as well. I'd love to have one at my office as well as at home.

One more speaker question for you, Richard.... The Blue Dog is part of the British Series. For a more "Fender Tweed" sound, what speaker(s) are the ticket? Thanks, and I look forward to becoming a customer of yours as well.

[Richard Guy]

Hello Guitolin,

Weber's 12A125-O would be a nice choice for what you are describing. 16 ohms is the ticket ;^)

[Guitdolin]

Thanks, Rich. I really appreciate your help.

 

Shane

[mikesr1963]

[Guitdolin]

I just got my amp today and got to fire it up this evening. TONE!!! This is definitely a keeper.

 

Rich, after listening more to the sound samples on your site and speaker manufacturers' sound samples more, I decided I liked the Celestion V30 instead of the Jensens. I got a clone to try first, and it sounds really good (without a cabinet). I plan to build a speaker cab and an amp head cab, but I couldn't resist soldering a cable onto the speaker and plugging it in.

 

The comments about surprising amounts of volume, even at 1/2 watt, are true. Not deafening by any stretch, but too loud to crank while the Mrs. is trying to sleep. I am wondering about recording levels through a mic too.

 

Rich, do you have a master volume or attenuator mod/kit available? I may put something like that in the amp cab. Has anyone else done that?

 

Thanks,

 

Shane

[Richard Guy]

I just got my amp today and got to fire it up this evening. TONE!!! This is definitely a keeper. Rich, after listening more to the sound samples on your site and speaker manufacturers' sound samples more, I decided I liked the Celestion V30 instead of the Jensens. I got a clone to try first, and it sounds really good (without a cabinet). I plan to build a speaker cab and an amp head cab, but I couldn't resist soldering a cable onto the speaker and plugging it in. The comments about surprising amounts of volume, even at 1/2 watt, are true. Not deafening by any stretch, but too loud to crank while the Mrs. is trying to sleep. I am wondering about recording levels through a mic too. Rich, do you have a master volume or attenuator mod/kit available? I may put something like that in the amp cab. Has anyone else done that? Thanks, Shane

Hello Shane,

The Gilmoe Jr records 'BIG'. An SM-57 is all you need to capture a huge sound. Gary Gerhart designed the Gilmore to be one excellent recording amp. The Gilmore Jr is a sub-set of the Gilmore Amp and uses the same transformers and stock output tube. I am currently looking for another source for rheostats (attenuation) since the price from my typical supplier has gone through the roof. Please check my site once in a while for acivity. Enjoy your tone ;^)

[Mer2112]

Hi Phil,

 

I know this is old but can you please re-host the pictures?

 

They're not showing up.

 

Thanks

 

So you make your amp kit order, and a few days later the box shows up via Prioity Mail - I was actually impressed with how fast that was. Opening the box reveals an expert packing job. Everything is set in the box in an organized manner, and individual elements of the kit are wrapped seperately. Pulling everything out of the bubblewrap and packing paper reveals this: Again, you'll notice that everything is well organized. One example - polarized parts such as diodes and polarized capacitors are placed into a seperate bag - which is handy for old hands and new builders alike, since these parts require special attention to their orientation when they're being installed.

[H.R. Shove and Stuff]

Oh man, I forgot to post my build in here



And with the guitar god charms.



yay!

[Richard Guy]

hello mth,

why not stain the provided oak end caps the color of your nicely built cabinet?