Cygnus-7 Amp Goes to a Guitar Show

[Cygnus X1]

Little vintage show that also has some mixed, more modern displays (Kramer, Jackson/Charvel/etc were in a few booths).

Eric Earnest of Abalone Vintage was extremely gracious and let me hitch a spot at the open end of his 4-table setup.

Took two of the amps that I built in the last two weeks and set one up on one of his vintage Marshall 4x12's, loaded with Greenbacks.

I was in a panic the night before and the morning before the show.
I wanted to get at least one head cab done...even if raw but simply stumbled and ran out of time.
So I got a brainstorm (yeah roight) and decided it might be cool to just bolt a clear Lexan sheet to the bottom of the open chassis.
Worked out great!




So I took the best looking one and laid it guts-up so people could see my work and demo the other.
That way I could just point out what I built, why it was built that way, architecture etc, without put anyone in danger.

Several people played it, some at high gain, many at lower "Tweed Deluxe" range.
I do not own a P90 or even an all-single coil equipped guitar at them moment so I was very pleasantly surprised at just how great it sounded with those setups.
Very quiet, nice raw tone.
Guys had trouble describing it, but the definition of "touch sensitive".
Responded to volume changes from the players and the guitars.

A couple tried the high gain setup (gains dimed) and one said it sound far better than his JCM800, the notes ring clear and don't jumble into fizz or mud.
Also a nice compressed tone in that territory.

I wish I could have filmed some of it to load on YouTube!

BrianUgly took the time to play it and we talked for quite some time.
Great to meet you Brian!

Only leetle opportunity was that I made a poor choice on the preamp tubes, an old Fender branded chinese 12AX7 that decided to squeal at the worst times.
I replaced it with an old USA 12AX7 and it settled down a little.
Used a Chinese 6550A for the demo amp and it gave a good variety of tone.
Plus that Big Bottle looks cool!

The day ended up well when I closed a trade/cash deal and a well known local musician got the demo amp.

Overall the show was not very busy, small...maybe 1000 guitars total plus a lot of amps.
Saw a lot of folks I have known for years who gave me honest opinions on the amp and many ideas.
(I saw a few...like "I know you..."), and realized they either worked at neighboring music stores in years past, or who remembered my store from 1994.
It would help if I got out more.

Thinking about doing other shows.
It may happen in Charlotte, Greenville/Spartanbug, etc.

[DonP]

Sounds good Cyg. I don't get out to shows that often either, mostly due to family. I find them interesting to check out the strange and unusual.

[lerxstcat]

Good work, Cyg! I think the guitar show route is an excellent way for you to start building name awareness for your amps too! Nothing like trying it out yourself. Having the second amp for the gutshot is also a great idea. I hope you get to do more of these in the future.

[Cygnus X1]

There a lot more shredder guitars showing up at the formerly "vintage only" shows.
85 Baretta for 450, Peavey Vandy neckthrough at 500, Model 1A tagged at 550 (LOL),
and a DKMGT tagged at 550 (Laughing out loud, louder).

[Mazz]

Looks great Cyg, wish I could understand what all the wires and circuits did though XD

[Hellbat]

Essentially what they do can be summed up in this diagram...

Guitar produces small electric signal -> wires, resistors, capacitors and tubes increase electric signal while selectively filtering/boosting frequency bands -> speaker converts larger electrical signal into air movement.

[straycat]

Glad you got to a show Cyg I think that's the way to go in your case.
The guy I told you about on the phone had a 1X12 cab all the way up to a 4X12 to demo his amps.
That showed right on the spot how his amps sounded with each cab.

[Cygnus X1]

Thanks all and that is a good plan stray.


Hellbat, good summary.
I would have went off on too many tangents trying to explain!

[Shawn Lutz]

pretty cool, what are the specs on that amp? I never saw an amp with just a single 6550 (btw my favorite ower tube) in it.

[Cygnus X1]

Single ended cathode biased.
So it takes 6V6, 6L6, etc family up to a KT88 or 6550 for cleaner headroom.

[Cygnus X1]

Doing any soundclips is like...giving birth.
Not all that enjoyable and GOD only knows what will come out.

Still not great, but with some work I am starting to get there for being able to record anything.
No pedals or anything up front, and a little clean chorus on the line out.
This is the Cygnus 7 dimed out with fairly weak humbuckers:

SoundClick artist: cygnus1981 - Homegrown wanker

It is that oak minibich with a Dimarzio PAF in the bridge and a Seymour GOK (I just don't remember, it's been 15 years) in the neck position.

Generic USA 12AX7A vintage in V1, Fender Made in China 90's (high gain) tube in V2, and a Chinese Audio Glassic 6550 for the power tube.

[hippietim]

Cool stuff Cyg!

[lerxstcat]

Nice tone,Cyg! And I think in particular the first part of the clip was effective at demonstrating that tone with the ringing power chords. It sounds really good!

[Cygnus X1]

Thanks all.
I forgot about worrying about my playing and just went after it.
(Thank you Tommy...you told me to do that).

Working on a 20 watt push-pull version and here's why.
I have a few pieces of iron that I need to do something with.

Three worthy of 50 watts, one 20, and one 100 watt monster that a very
eccentric former member shipped to me.

You-know-who.
But very clean and worth the effort.

The good/bad news is this.
I have to decide whether I'm going to pursue this or not.
That means setting myself up legally, and that means the price will have to follow suit.

I have my old trademark (I think), my tax ID, and some other leftover legal
rights from the old store.
But I have to update and get my LLC back in order.

Patenting amps is silly, no such animal, so forget that.