A nice 18 watt with reverb!

[jhguitarlab]

Got to spend the day on Monday with Bob King doing 18 watt taste tests (as well as a few others). Thanks for making the journey down from Maine Bob! It was great to get to meet and play all the amps.
We had Bob’s TMB and Reverb versions and my VTB and TMB amps. It was great to hear someone else play them so I could listen objectively. They all have a different character.
The TMB’s had the gainy Rock tones covered, the VTB a bit more crunchy headroom, but the one that really impressed me was Bob’s Reverb version. (Wait til the wife finds out I need to start another amp;-] The 3 knob reverb gave good control, I really like this amp.
We took several photos of the reverb chassis and Bob will have a layout soon. Maybe we can get another official 18watt Gabi layout too.
Nice work Bob.

JH

[Jeph]

And you didn't ask us MA guys to come up? I'd love to see pics of/hear clips of that reverb, I'm itching to build another amp.

[jhguitarlab]

Hey Jeph,
Where are you in MA?
Did'nt mean to leave anyone out I'm not set up to do sound clips (yet) but pics coming soon.
It's a good project for the Itchy
JH

[Jeph]

Hi JH, I'm on the NH border in Dracut.

[fzfwyv]

I am half way through a VTB build, could you please provide me your opinions/observations of the VTB compared to a stock 18 watter...I'm very excited about this build!

Thanks,

Rich

[fzfwyv]

Another question about the VTB.

How do you think the VTB will react/sound with a single 15" speaker?

I'd be curious.

-Rich

[jhguitarlab]

Another question about the VTB.

How do you think the VTB will react/sound with a single 15" speaker?

I'd be curious.

-Rich

fzfwyz
Interesting you should ask I just built a matching cab for the VTB with a 15". It's a 60's Utah that I had reconed by Ted Weber with an 'N' cone (more pics soon). I really like it. Bob tried this one with his Reverb amp and liked it too.
In general the VTB has a touch more headroom than the TMB but still rocks when cranked. I love it with a Tele for Blues with a touch of crunch. It's a bit warmer with this speaker than with the Weber P12QR I used with it previously. The TMB has it in the gain department (Bob had some cool Doobies stuff going with it). I haven't tried a stock 18 watt but compared to the TMB's normal channel the VTB seems more lively to me.
Hope this helps.
Bob may have some input as well.

Hey Jeph, Have you checked out Little Richards Roadhouse down near your neck of the woods? I've been meaning to.
JH

[zaphod_phil]

I am half way through a VTB build, could you please provide me your opinions/observations of the VTB compared to a stock 18 watter...

I'm still waiting for someone to come up with a schematic for the VTB, or at least a basic technical description of how it differs from the TMB.

[jhguitarlab]

Phil,
I have not yet, but plan to draw a schematic. The Layout drawing shows everything if you can get an idea from it. It's based on the board layout from Richie.
JH

[zaphod_phil]

Thanks JH! Unfortunately, I find it difficult to get a clear understanding of how an amp works just from a layout. And being color blind doesn't help me either....

[Bob]

We had a great time on monday going the test drive on all the Amp's. John has a number of great home build guitars (I need one). My wife was impress with the Guitars also. John has done a great job with the VTB amp and with the 15" speaker it really rocks!! We try the reverb amp with the 15" speaker cabinet for the VTB and sound unbelievable great. I wish I have not build the cabinet for 2 - 10", could I would used the a 15" speaker after hearing the amp thru John's cabinet. I replacing the speakers in the reverb amp with a pair of Eminence, the same speakers I used in my Fender 5F6 bassman amp. I got 2 more amp waiting to be build all the parts are in but the chassis, which are coming from the Komoboking and the boards which Glen G. is making for me. The first one is 36 watt 4-EL84 with reverb and tremolo and the second one is TBM with an EF86 in the normial channel. John when I get the 36 watt done I guess I need to make an trip down and maybe we can hook up with Jeph.

[Gabi]

John...

let me know when you have a layout for the reverb... I can draw a "18watt.com" style layout for it

gabi.

[jhguitarlab]

will do Gabi.

Oh ya, here's a Bob's Reverb teaser.