Glad to see these are catching on. I've had an MA27 for sixteen years now. It's been my favorite amp ever since I bought it. If you want to get one of these or one like that, look up Skip Simmons, he does a lot of these. Absolute vintage amp guru.
I ask Skip about this very amp as I have one and wanted it nodded to sound the same, he said this amp was "broken"?. Well that's the best "broken" tone I've ever heard! . I did have mine modded later and it's the best amp I've ever played,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Skip didn't do the mod!.
Wow. You are so lucky to find this. Tweed amps are amazing and this sounds like the sound in my head. Corey absolutely killed the playing in this vid also.
Man, the odds of having the actual amp builder in the same room are astronomical. How cool was it to discuss the building of this little gem, in your own studio?!? I wish I kept all the amps I've owned and let disappear of the decades.
What I really like about this video, is you have some guys who really know this stuff, giving insight as to what they like about the amp, show us how the amp can work, not just a single person demo. There was a lot of cool insights that you don't normally get. And of course, great playing. Great video.
It's a Public Address (PA) amplifier head, not a projector amp like a Bell and Howell. Cathode biased amp very similar to a tweed pro. Huge iron because the amps.were designed to run all day long like a PA at a school. Skip Simmons is the Masco guru.
I've been building amps inside old amps for years. The tonal possibilities are pretty sweet if you dip into the vast realm of tubes that are actually available to build with outside the norm, and there's so many still available. They also make the coolest looking thing you could ever play through.
I love amps that can sound like this all on their own -- I just don't care for pedals, usually. This thing sounds amazing as hell, and I'm hearing it through TH-cam compression and a pair of $70 earbuds. I can't imagine how unbelievable it must sound in person.
10:13 Agree, the Two-Rock Burnside is adjacent to this amp's sound, but is a more refined and "polite" version of this amp. This amp's sound is unapologetically raw and visceral, a quintessential classic rock sound. There's a lot of overlap between players who enjoy Dumble-esque amps (most Two-Rock amp) and players who love classic rock sounds. Eli should seriously consider adding an amp model like this to the Two-Rock line-up, and at a more affordable price point similar to the Burnside.
Let me just say, I absolutely love those rugs. My uncle back in the day had this beautiful 3 story Victorian style townhome in NC that was very old. I loved the way the old hardwood floors would creak as you walked on them. He had traveled the world and had a stunning collection of Persian and different prayer rugs throughout his home and it was truly something out of a magazine. Anyway, has nothing to do with tone, but I just enjoy seeing those rugs and I know the vibe they bring!
The amp sounds fantastic. When the guitar volume is rolled back a bit i think it's one of nicest tones I've heard since my pre date code sunburst amp i have. Probably my second favorite amp tone. Absolutely beautiful.
Every cool town has at least one tech who has built a handful of amps like these. Sure, they're not all Two-Rock lineage, but they're almost always excellent.
I had an old Elco PA style amp like that for rebuilding into a guitar amp. 2 6L6s, 2 12_7s, 2 working transformers, and a solid chassis. They were pretty easy to find and cheap 20 years ago. Nowadays, not so much . I foolishly offloaded it when I moved. Still kicking myself.
I used to do this too. I would buy old school/church PA amplifiers, and gut them. I'd keep the chassis and transformers, tube sockets (sometimes) and hardware (power switch, lamp, etc.). I'd then build the rest of the circuit myself, often a Vox or a Fender circuit. They can sound great. Back when I was doing it, you could buy one for $25-50. Now that the word is out, they cost hundreds, and so the incentive to buy one and mod is not there for me. But they always look and sound cool.
A couple years ago I used to work at an electronics recycling plant here in Rochester, New York. One day I found an old 10 W Stromberg Carlson (a Rochesterian company ) AU-29 from 1950. Internally this thing was shot. I took it to one of the best guys in Western New York Regarding guitar amps, and he restored it back to the original circuit. That was the best $300 in repairs, and the best $20 for an amp chassis I ever paid.
Hi Rhett! Greetings from Bolivia! I've been watching your channel for many years and you've been with me on my musical growth as a guitarist for a long time alongside other great guitarists on TH-cam. I'm writing you now because I saw your video "We Need You" referring to musicians on TH-cam and I saw that down in the description of the video you advertised your EP. I've listened to it several times and started to wonder one thing. Why did you wait so long to release your own music? I watch your channel and Rick Beato's often and I think about all the musical analysis you both do but I never listen to their music (until now in your case). I think all the analysis you do is interesting but what I care about the most is always the music. I always considered you as desk musicians and not field musicians. But now that I've listened to your EP I'm happy to say that my opinion of you has changed. I liked the EP but I didn't find it incredible, I hope you continue on your path of making music and that your next release is better.
Very Nice! 😍 I love my Masco MA25P. It was a $50 local Craigslist find about 11 years ago. I sent it to Skip Simmons to work his magic on. It's so damn good. I've got a Stromberg Carlson AU29 too that literally looks like a lunch box. Another Craigslist score, $100 on that one. It was already modified for guitar but wasn't working. I just needed to install a toggle switch to replace the broken power switch in the volume control. Little tube PA's are a blast to play through. Run them through a PS2 and you can totally gig them.
There is a store one state over from me that has a vintage style amp like this for $450. I really have no practical reason to buy it, but it's really cool.
I actually took a spot lesson from Cory when he lived in Pittsburgh prob like 20 years ago - ask if he remembers a little nerdy kid named Zack “Guitar Zack” ! Such a nice guy - I remember he said “play with conviction” and he said instead of immediately starting to vibrato when hitting a note- sometimes it’s cool to let it ring out … then shake it- hahaha pretty neat to see him on here! Great riffs and cool amp! I found a similar looking 4 knobber PA head converted to guitar “DuKane” is the brand- same type of metal basket-
My dad owned Elmhurst electronics queens NY 60s and 70s and I grew up on that smell And saw many classic , industrial buipt things that went by the wayside for newer Transister product
That’s pretty much the best guitar sound I’ve ever heard on TH-cam and I’ve listened to a shi*ton. Of course helped by spectacular playing by Corey and a great tele but man, doesn’t get much better than that. And I love that it’s like a sleeper car - an 1976 Dodge Dart with a Lamborghini engine hidden inside. I could happily play that amp for the rest of my days.
Yip, definitely was hearing Led Zeppelin tones too. The best circa 650 items I've bought were 2000s Gibson Les Paul Special, and an early 90's Les Paul Studio, wine red with ebony fretboard. They're not classic vintages, but they're well made ones that play and sounds great and wear their age well. My Fender Telecaster is a Vintera I, I bought for about that, and I really like it too.
I have several old Stromberg Carlson PA heads. Basically the same thing as that Masco. Got them for a song back in the day. I have about six of them. There fantastic but they do need to be modded just so you can plug your guitar into.
I played last night with my 1958 Stromburg-Carlson Signet 22 into a WGS British Lead 1x12. Volume and tone at 1 o'clock with just a little breakup. With 4 bands playing, the only amp that sounded better was a Rivera combo.
I was just looking at your Fuzz Evangelist T-shirts. The description lists the apparel as "true-bypass." I was HOWLING with laughter! I appreciate the humor. Well done!
It's not a "projector" amp, it's a P.A I have the identical amp, I had it modded and it sounds spectacular!. The range and versatility is crazy, from big bold cleans to fuzzy goodness. No need for pedals!.
400 dollars on a 1963 twin reverb...still had the reverb switch...175.00 a 64 fender champ...500 a different 63 twins reverb, 150.00 62 fender bassman head...
I bought a Walrus 385 that gets these tones too. Also based on a Bell & Howell. These amps were affordable until people cottoned on that Blake Mills uses one live 😂
I dont like the volume and tone interaction, I build my 5e3 's with a James tonestack on a duel pot. Get rid of some of that interaction and makes it easier to dial in edge of breakup tones.
When you mention “that smell”, I immediately went to leaning over the back of my friend’s 65 deluxe and flipping it from on back to standby after making some noise. You always seem to sniff a bit to make sure it’s just hot tubes, and not impending disaster. It’s funny, but he’s a sax/keyboard player, and bought it back then for his Rhodes for practice and tiny rooms. He’s tickled that it’s an object of desire for guitar players.
So far, I think the average, universal, best 650$ people can spend, whatever they musical style, is probably a Rocker Terror from Orange. Great to see other small amps getting attention and recognition.
Does Two Rock make a version of this for sale? I don't understand why they wouldn't? Make what the people want. Especially after a video like this. Easily able to recreate exactly.
the best $650 I ever spent was to this Nigerian prince who emailed me!
Great tone?
😂😂😂
You too??
Is it you prison Mike?
When someone needs help Michael Scarn always comes to the rescue
Not only is Cory one of the cleanest players I've ever heard, he makes it look so effortless! Definition of a real PRO!
Glad to see these are catching on. I've had an MA27 for sixteen years now. It's been my favorite amp ever since I bought it. If you want to get one of these or one like that, look up Skip Simmons, he does a lot of these. Absolute vintage amp guru.
The Truth About Vintage Amps podcast has definitely turned a few people onto these.
I ask Skip about this very amp as I have one and wanted it nodded to sound the same, he said this amp was "broken"?.
Well that's the best "broken" tone I've ever heard! .
I did have mine modded later and it's the best amp I've ever played,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Skip didn't do the mod!.
Wow. You are so lucky to find this. Tweed amps are amazing and this sounds like the sound in my head.
Corey absolutely killed the playing in this vid also.
Man, the odds of having the actual amp builder in the same room are astronomical. How cool was it to discuss the building of this little gem, in your own studio?!? I wish I kept all the amps I've owned and let disappear of the decades.
Pretty dang cool to be sitting there playing and have Eli the builder of the amp, tweaking the sound to perfection for you. 🤘🏼🔥🤘🏼
What I really like about this video, is you have some guys who really know this stuff, giving insight as to what they like about the amp, show us how the amp can work, not just a single person demo. There was a lot of cool insights that you don't normally get. And of course, great playing. Great video.
It's a Public Address (PA) amplifier head, not a projector amp like a Bell and Howell. Cathode biased amp very similar to a tweed pro.
Huge iron because the amps.were designed to run all day long like a PA at a school. Skip Simmons is the Masco guru.
Skip said this amp was "broken" ?.
Amazing to see that such an established builder likes doing the odd frankenstein revival project for fun. Killer playing by Corey too!
I've been building amps inside old amps for years. The tonal possibilities are pretty sweet if you dip into the vast realm of tubes that are actually available to build with outside the norm, and there's so many still available. They also make the coolest looking thing you could ever play through.
$500 on a 3 year old White and Gold Gibson LP Studio was my best spent.
It felt right from jump.
I paid 650 Euro for a 2011 limited edition Gibson SG Standard in aged cherry. Incredible guitar.
Wow, Super interesting. Super tone! Thank you for rockin this proto Two Rock for us in guitar land.
That’s unreal. And damn, Corey is such a beast. Seemed like a great hang too!
These guys are the best
Now I'm going to have to go dig out my old 1940s PA based amp. It's more of a strong Champ sound, but I remember it really sounding great.
Corey is a fantastic Guitarist holy shit
BEAST
The thing about Corey is he doesn’t just play licks there is always a rhythm going on but your right he is incredible.
Corey has something to say when he plays. Criminally underrated player.
The bit at 2:20 is so good
Yes! Great rhythm! 🤘🏽
I love amps that can sound like this all on their own -- I just don't care for pedals, usually. This thing sounds amazing as hell, and I'm hearing it through TH-cam compression and a pair of $70 earbuds. I can't imagine how unbelievable it must sound in person.
Old Masco amplifiers have been used by Blues Harmonica players since the 1950's. Masco made amps for many companies under different names and models.
10:13 Agree, the Two-Rock Burnside is adjacent to this amp's sound, but is a more refined and "polite" version of this amp. This amp's sound is unapologetically raw and visceral, a quintessential classic rock sound. There's a lot of overlap between players who enjoy Dumble-esque amps (most Two-Rock amp) and players who love classic rock sounds. Eli should seriously consider adding an amp model like this to the Two-Rock line-up, and at a more affordable price point similar to the Burnside.
To add to this all you need is a guitar with vintage MINIBUCKERS! There's nothing like the sound of them!
Let me just say, I absolutely love those rugs. My uncle back in the day had this beautiful 3 story Victorian style townhome in NC that was very old. I loved the way the old hardwood floors would creak as you walked on them. He had traveled the world and had a stunning collection of Persian and different prayer rugs throughout his home and it was truly something out of a magazine. Anyway, has nothing to do with tone, but I just enjoy seeing those rugs and I know the vibe they bring!
The amp sounds fantastic. When the guitar volume is rolled back a bit i think it's one of nicest tones I've heard since my pre date code sunburst amp i have. Probably my second favorite amp tone.
Absolutely beautiful.
Skip Simmons talks alot about projector and PA amps on Fretboard Journal's podcat, The Truth About Vintage Amps.
Its such a good podcast.
Great to see Corey! Two great guitar players and a really great amp maker in the same room. What a great video. Be good to see more like this Rhett👍🙂
Every cool town has at least one tech who has built a handful of amps like these. Sure, they're not all Two-Rock lineage, but they're almost always excellent.
I had an old Elco PA style amp like that for rebuilding into a guitar amp. 2 6L6s, 2 12_7s, 2 working transformers, and a solid chassis. They were pretty easy to find and cheap 20 years ago. Nowadays, not so much . I foolishly offloaded it when I moved. Still kicking myself.
The amp sounds great clean as well. Wish I could have heard more of the Tele neck at the end. Sounded like Faces 'Long Player' tone.
What speaker are you running it through?
Wow! that is some fantastic playing and tone!
Corey is an amazing player... Also very down to earth...
great video Rhett best wishes
I used to do this too. I would buy old school/church PA amplifiers, and gut them. I'd keep the chassis and transformers, tube sockets (sometimes) and hardware (power switch, lamp, etc.). I'd then build the rest of the circuit myself, often a Vox or a Fender circuit. They can sound great. Back when I was doing it, you could buy one for $25-50. Now that the word is out, they cost hundreds, and so the incentive to buy one and mod is not there for me. But they always look and sound cool.
I remember when you had mentioned this in a previous video/episode of DiT. So cool that you made this connection!
Didn't know Littlefinger from Game of Thrones plays the guitar! Such a multi-talented man!
Corey is the man! Happy to see him on this channel as well.
Great video, would love to see Corey do a lesson on that riff 🤞
In 2003 I bought a 1965 Dakota red Fender Mustang for €650, and one year later, a 1968 Gibson Melody Maker, SG shaped in sparkling burgundy for €700.
A couple years ago I used to work at an electronics recycling plant here in Rochester, New York. One day I found an old 10 W Stromberg Carlson (a Rochesterian company ) AU-29 from 1950. Internally this thing was shot. I took it to one of the best guys in Western New York Regarding guitar amps, and he restored it back to the original circuit. That was the best $300 in repairs, and the best $20 for an amp chassis I ever paid.
Buffalo guy here, what amp guy are you referencing? I'm looking for a good amp guy!
Hi Rhett! Greetings from Bolivia! I've been watching your channel for many years and you've been with me on my musical growth as a guitarist for a long time alongside other great guitarists on TH-cam. I'm writing you now because I saw your video "We Need You" referring to musicians on TH-cam and I saw that down in the description of the video you advertised your EP. I've listened to it several times and started to wonder one thing. Why did you wait so long to release your own music? I watch your channel and Rick Beato's often and I think about all the musical analysis you both do but I never listen to their music (until now in your case). I think all the analysis you do is interesting but what I care about the most is always the music. I always considered you as desk musicians and not field musicians. But now that I've listened to your EP I'm happy to say that my opinion of you has changed. I liked the EP but I didn't find it incredible, I hope you continue on your path of making music and that your next release is better.
Very Nice! 😍 I love my Masco MA25P. It was a $50 local Craigslist find about 11 years ago. I sent it to Skip Simmons to work his magic on. It's so damn good. I've got a Stromberg Carlson AU29 too that literally looks like a lunch box. Another Craigslist score, $100 on that one. It was already modified for guitar but wasn't working. I just needed to install a toggle switch to replace the broken power switch in the volume control. Little tube PA's are a blast to play through. Run them through a PS2 and you can totally gig them.
yes! I had a Bogner Challenger CHA-33 a few years back and they're raw, PTP and affordable!
There is a store one state over from me that has a vintage style amp like this for $450. I really have no practical reason to buy it, but it's really cool.
thanks for highlighting Jon Makes Beats. Been watching his content a lot. it's dope
I actually took a spot lesson from Cory when he lived in Pittsburgh prob like 20 years ago - ask if he remembers a little nerdy kid named Zack “Guitar Zack” ! Such a nice guy - I remember he said “play with conviction” and he said instead of immediately starting to vibrato when hitting a note- sometimes it’s cool to let it ring out … then shake it- hahaha pretty neat to see him on here! Great riffs and cool amp! I found a similar looking 4 knobber PA head converted to guitar “DuKane” is the brand- same type of metal basket-
Rhett, Cory, and Eli this is the sound I think of when I hear guitar!!!
Cory = best chops, best hair, best 'stache in the biz. Great video!
My dad owned Elmhurst electronics queens NY
60s and 70s and I grew up on that smell
And saw many classic , industrial buipt things that went by the wayside for newer Transister product
That’s pretty much the best guitar sound I’ve ever heard on TH-cam and I’ve listened to a shi*ton. Of course helped by spectacular playing by Corey and a great tele but man, doesn’t get much better than that. And I love that it’s like a sleeper car - an 1976 Dodge Dart with a Lamborghini engine hidden inside. I could happily play that amp for the rest of my days.
Wicked tones and playing ✨
Loved this vid! That amp sounds crazy good. In my wheelhouse of tones. Really enjoyed Rhett. Have fun with it!
Yip, definitely was hearing Led Zeppelin tones too. The best circa 650 items I've bought were 2000s Gibson Les Paul Special, and an early 90's Les Paul Studio, wine red with ebony fretboard. They're not classic vintages, but they're well made ones that play and sounds great and wear their age well. My Fender Telecaster is a Vintera I, I bought for about that, and I really like it too.
I have several old Stromberg Carlson PA heads. Basically the same thing as that Masco. Got them for a song back in the day. I have about six of them. There fantastic but they do need to be modded just so you can plug your guitar into.
Not an “amp in a pedal” but a “pedal in an amp”! Quote of the week, plus Rhett & Corey playing in the same video! Many thanks.
Although it sounds amazing naked, that reverb tank might be a good match for that amp. That's an exceptional Tele too!
Dude Corey and Eli seems like the coolest hang
Those conversions are so cool. 😎 And Corey’s pickin’ is always a treat.
Great tone! 👍
I played last night with my 1958 Stromburg-Carlson Signet 22 into a WGS British Lead 1x12. Volume and tone at 1 o'clock with just a little breakup. With 4 bands playing, the only amp that sounded better was a Rivera combo.
I was just looking at your Fuzz Evangelist T-shirts. The description lists the apparel as "true-bypass." I was HOWLING with laughter! I appreciate the humor. Well done!
Damn ! Eli AND Corey in one vid!! Hell yeah! Need more of this !
It's not a "projector" amp, it's a P.A
I have the identical amp, I had it modded and it sounds spectacular!.
The range and versatility is crazy, from big bold cleans to fuzzy goodness.
No need for pedals!.
400 dollars on a 1963 twin reverb...still had the reverb switch...175.00 a 64 fender champ...500 a different 63 twins reverb, 150.00 62 fender bassman head...
Great episode man
💚 ya Corey! His lessons are as good as his playing!
I bought a Walrus 385 that gets these tones too. Also based on a Bell & Howell. These amps were affordable until people cottoned on that Blake Mills uses one live 😂
There’s a guy in Jersey making something like that too. I forget the guys name. But same vibe. Sounds like it has the best fuzz built into it.
Loving the amp and the whole studio!! And @RhettShull is there a chance you're going to do a 2024 amp/guitar rundown?
For a new amp that has that sound and feel try one of the octal little Walter amps. His 44 ending my search. Thanks for sharing this. Sounds great!
Huge iron holds a lot of that sound!.
fascinating video thank you all
That amp will record great, congrats!
Dude, the Eli projector amp connection is wild!
Hasn't Robby Baker of the Tragically Hip been using those for quite a while? Not on stage (Mesa) but in the studio
Can you please make some Kemper profiles of it?
Great taste in rugs Rhett. Kudos.
I dont like the volume and tone interaction, I build my 5e3 's with a James tonestack on a duel pot. Get rid of some of that interaction and makes it easier to dial in edge of breakup tones.
Who's that ripping those licks - oh, it's Corey. Amazing player, even a better teacher.
When you mention “that smell”, I immediately went to leaning over the back of my friend’s 65 deluxe and flipping it from on back to standby after making some noise. You always seem to sniff a bit to make sure it’s just hot tubes, and not impending disaster. It’s funny, but he’s a sax/keyboard player, and bought it back then for his Rhodes for practice and tiny rooms. He’s tickled that it’s an object of desire for guitar players.
When you get a "Damn" from Rhett, you're doing pretty well!
Dude! What a score!
I was at the M3 show in Chicago last Thursday!
I need it.
It’s great to finally hear Corey swear
Looking at the tubes being used, I assume that the amp is based on the Gibson GA-20.
Best buy was my jmp 1968 smallbox for the equivalent of 800 bucks in 2007-8 something.
Did you make a video featuring this a while back? I feel like I've seen it before.
wondering ... I may have missed , but what cab/speaker(s) is that running through ?
So far, I think the average, universal, best 650$ people can spend, whatever they musical style, is probably a Rocker Terror from Orange. Great to see other small amps getting attention and recognition.
Oddball stuff is the best. Buy retro modded old stuff, it’s unique and you can often get incredible tweedy things for short money.
awesome
was that running into the two notes or the div13 cab mic’d??
Sounds like my Supro Blues King 12 for which I paid around 650 bucks as well.
I used to have an old Dukane that was tricked out like Page's Hiwatt
It still has the tagger on it
That amp sounds killer on YT! Would love to hear that baby sing in my home!
Nice tone.
Does Two Rock make a version of this for sale? I don't understand why they wouldn't? Make what the people want. Especially after a video like this. Easily able to recreate exactly.
Be great if Eli would give us a glimpse of the schematic😊
Octal preamps, 6SN7’s are really special
Had a Robert's Reel to Reel that was Saturation Heaven
Badass! Eli is the best!
Marvelous 3. That's a name I haven't heard in a long time.
Question…if I put a guitar and amp in my cellar does it become a studio? 🤔🤔🤔