Vintage 47 Amps, Spectator / National, 5w Hand Wired, Valco, (3) Extra Vintage Preamp Tubes

Let me say up front that I really hate to part with this amp, but we’re in a serious down-size phase in preparation for an eventual move….. So here’s a truly unique guitar amp from Vintage 47 Amps in mint condition (literally identical to when it was new). It’s essentially their Spectator amp, which is true to the original Valco 510-11 circuit. However, this one was built as a special one-off with National Reso-Phonic cosmetics and branding. I bought it new in 2022 from Vintage 47 Amps, and have only used it for occasional recording in my home studio. It’s a wonderful recording amp for those smoky Valco sounds! It gets a delicious bluesy crunch at modest volumes, making it great for home practice & recording, and maybe for small gigs too (caveat, it breaks up pretty early).

This little guy is all-tube, with a point-to-point hand wired circuit. It puts out 5 Class A watts, with a 6SL7 preamp tube (various, see below), 6V6GTA power tube (old Tung-Sol), and 5Y3GT rectifier tube (new JJ). The 6SL7 is an octal tube, which responds very differently than a 12AX7 — more dynamic, and tonally thicker but with a more open top end. Vintage 47 also added a Boost switch to the Valco design, for when you want added crunch at lower volumes, or more volume & drive when turned up. The speaker is a 10” Ted Weber Signature Series. On top of the amp chassis is the 8 ohm speaker jack — for yet another tonal dimension, hook up your favorite 12” speaker!

The cabinet is finger jointed baltic birch with a white Tolex covering. This wasn’t their best day in the Tolex department though — note the slight separations in pics 14 ~ 17. It doesn’t affect the sound and they're barely noticeable unless you get very close (pic 14 is top-right side, 15 is right-rear corner, 16 & 17 are both on the bottom). The cabinet also features black piping, a leather handle, and rubber feet. The 3-prong power cord is 7 feet long.

The volume & tone controls are interactive, and getting a feel for those controls is an important step in making the most out of what this amp can deliver. It has three input jacks with slightly different sensitivities. Here again, experimentation is your friend, to find the sound you prefer with your particular guitar & pickups.

Like any gear-aholic, I couldn’t help doing a little tube-rolling after getting this amp, SO…. included with the sale are (3) vintage preamp tubes in addition to the JJ 6SL7 that originally came with it: (#1) 1953 RCA Red Base 5691 / 6SL7 (USA); (#2) Tung-Sol 6SL7GT (Red Base, USA); (#3) Sylvania 6SL7GT (unknown, definitely old). I might be fooling myself, but to my ear the JJ is nice & full with an open top-end, the RCA is a little darker & more aggressive in the midrange, and the Sylvania & the Tung-Sol are slightly more chimey. PLEASE NOTE: the RCA Red Base is in the amp for these pics.

The last pic shows the amp mic’d up with a simple yet very effective setup, allowing for blending of the mics to taste, in order to get a thicker or brighter tone as needed for the part being recorded. (nothing other than the amp in that last pic is included in this sale)

This amp will ship in its original Vintage 47 double-box container, with the tubes removed from their sockets & securely bubble-wrapped. It will ship with Reverb Safe Shipping (to protect the buyer and myself), with signature required.

INCLUDED IN THIS SALE:

- Vintage 47 Amps Spectator / National Reso-Phonic 5w Guitar Amp

- (3) additional octal preamp tubes as listed above

- Original operations manual (sheets, actually) and hang tag.

I pack all my items very carefully and ship quickly — check my feedback.

Please contact me if you have any questions!