Valco Amps

jwargowski · Post by **jwargowski** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 3:45 pm

So now I'm considering getting a vintage Valco amp that many of the boutique makers seem to be copying. They can be had fully reconditioned for less than half the price of most boutique amps. It would see only home, studio and light club use. They seem to be used for harmonica and blues guitar players for the most part. Can they be played clean and be heard at a full band volume? I'll be using it with a tele and of course my Rick 370/12. I'd probably look for something with a 12" Any opinions?

soundmasterg · Post by **soundmasterg** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 5:04 pm

It all depends on which Valco amp you're talking about. They made many brands, including Supro and Danelectro. They were well build, with an almost perfect layout in some, using decent to excellent components. Usually underpowered compared to your typical Fender, but they usually sound raunchier and more raw too, which of course is why blues guys and harp players like them.

In my experience, any of the Valvo amps sound VERY NICE with RICS and Teles. I'll be building myself a copy of a Supro Thunderbolt one of these days, which is a famous Valco built amp. Unfortunately everyone knows about them now so their cost has jumped quite a bit in the last 5 years, so I can't find one at a reasonable price and have to build myself one. The Thunderbolt is probably equivilant to something between a Vibrolux and a Deluxe Reverb for volume, but has a better tone than both for blues, although not as pristine clean as either Fender at any volume.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 5:48 pm

In my experience, playing a 1-12 Valco or Supro at full band volume and expecting clean is too much. You should go for a bigger amp. They are terrific for small venues (bars) and practice, or miking for a vintage tube sound to record with. They are lovely, warm sounding little amps, but can't match a Fender Twin or Deluxe for clean punch.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Thu Feb 09, 2006 9:21 pm

Those old amps are very dirty sounding turned up, they sound great especially as others have mentioned for blues, turn them up and you're back in Chicago in 1955. If you want clean and sweet try an old Bandmaster amp.

karl_teten · Post by **karl_teten** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 2:54 pm

I own a Top Hat Portly Cadet studio amp which is an all tube boutique handwired version of a Fender Champ on 'roids mixed with a Supro. Has Top Boost switch. Lower volumes is gets that Sun Records - Luther Perkins growl. Crank up and it goes into early Zepplin. You can find this amp used in mint condition for around $450. Loves single coil guitars and also great for mic'd harmonica but not a good 'clean' amp. You can play with smoothness factor by playing with different preamp tubes.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 7:42 pm

There is a great Valco/Supro on eBay right now in exceptional condition. It's a '66, 1-15" and would probably give you some clean headroom at band volumes.

It's #7389714020. Twin 6L6s and tremelo. No reverb. It'll probably reach $1000+ before it closes, though.

kenposurf · Post by **kenposurf** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 7:38 pm

Very sweet amps..excellent tremolo on those so equiped...also search for Gretsch and Airline

rick32559 · Post by **rick32559** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 7:27 pm

I`ve got a 1957 Supro "Golden Holiday" with two 6x9 speakers and the output xfmr mounted to one of them. Very overdriven at full gun.

rick32559 · Post by **rick32559** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 7:30 pm

There is an xlnt website called 18 watt.com Anyone who is interested in valve amps should check it out.