Symfonia Grand amp
Moderators: rickenbrother, ajish4
Symfonia Grand amp
I never even knew that these amps existed.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 809wt_1141
Rickenbacker (Electro String) built a small number of Symfonia Grand instruments in 1962. Maybe less than 75. I own one, a friend owns another and Dave from Dave's guitar owns another. I believe that they were all basically single p/up (425s) in a rare Blueburst finish. Interestingly enough, they had rounded upper bouts (ala McCartney's customized bass) and used trapeze tailpieces. I recently saw this Symfonia Grand amp and had to have to have it. Cool!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 809wt_1141
Rickenbacker (Electro String) built a small number of Symfonia Grand instruments in 1962. Maybe less than 75. I own one, a friend owns another and Dave from Dave's guitar owns another. I believe that they were all basically single p/up (425s) in a rare Blueburst finish. Interestingly enough, they had rounded upper bouts (ala McCartney's customized bass) and used trapeze tailpieces. I recently saw this Symfonia Grand amp and had to have to have it. Cool!
- superdick2112
- Member
- Posts: 256
- Joined: Fri May 08, 2009 11:46 am
Re: Symfonia Grand amp
John, what a rare & beautiful set - congrats!
Yet another lesser-know but wonderful brand that I'll have to keep my eyes peeled for.
Yet another lesser-know but wonderful brand that I'll have to keep my eyes peeled for.
Re: Symfonia Grand amp
Thanks, Richard. Man.....until a couple of days ago, i never knew that this brand of amp even existed. Of course, its a regular Rickenbacker amp renamed but rare as can be. I plan to have it restored. The Symfonia Grand guitar I own needs a total restoration. Someone tried to modify it for two pickups and a wider control cavity. UGH.
Re: Symfonia Grand amp
Wow! What an amazing find. What are the chances of that I wonder? Congrats John.
“We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” - Albert Einstein
"You do not really understand something unless you can explain it to your grandmother" - Albert Einstein
"You do not really understand something unless you can explain it to your grandmother" - Albert Einstein
Re: Symfonia Grand amp
BTW, the Symfonia Grand pictured above is owned by Dave @ Dave's Guitars.
Re: Symfonia Grand amp
Hi guys, yeah, the amp is super rare. Never had one in the shop but I'm assuming it's a single 6V6?
I once had a two pickup Contello so at this point nothing (or everything) surprises me.
That shaded blue isn't blueburst, it's softer. I asked F.C. about it back in '68. He called it "natural grain light blue". It impressed me enough that I wrote it down verbatum. Sometime in '69 I saw a single pickup Contello in the same finish; not yellowed at all, it was beautiful. A double bound n-g-l-b 360 hung in the Rick showroom for the longest time. I've always wanted a Miami in that color.
Is that very 360 owned by a Forumite? I see someone using it as an avatar.
I once had a two pickup Contello so at this point nothing (or everything) surprises me.
That shaded blue isn't blueburst, it's softer. I asked F.C. about it back in '68. He called it "natural grain light blue". It impressed me enough that I wrote it down verbatum. Sometime in '69 I saw a single pickup Contello in the same finish; not yellowed at all, it was beautiful. A double bound n-g-l-b 360 hung in the Rick showroom for the longest time. I've always wanted a Miami in that color.
Is that very 360 owned by a Forumite? I see someone using it as an avatar.
Re: Symfonia Grand amp
John, thanks for the cool photos of that guitar. That was a new one for me, never seen that body style or color before!
Great Ramp In My Opinion.
Re: Symfonia Grand amp
Tracy, thanks for the info!
Re: Symfonia Grand amp
Wow! I learn something new all the time on this forum. I had no idea that brand even existed, but they're obviously made by Rickenbacker. There's no mention of these in any of the books I've read, but I'm going to find my copy of the Vintage Guitar Price Guide and see if it's in there--I've seen stuff in there that I've never seen elsewhere--but I don't think I'll find anything. I'd have remembered that! That natural/blueburst is beautiful.
Re: Symfonia Grand amp
Tracy, the tubes are (1) 6V6, (1) 5Y3 and (2) 12AX7.
Speaker is 12" Jensen.
Amp is maybe an E-12?
Speaker is 12" Jensen.
Amp is maybe an E-12?
Re: Symfonia Grand amp
THANK YOU!
-
- New member
- Posts: 36
- Joined: Fri Sep 23, 2011 12:52 pm
Re: Symfonia Grand amp
Great find!
Re: Symfonia Grand amp
Thanks to a heads up from T. Blair, another Symfonia Grand found (and sold!)
Re: Symfonia Grand amp
I have an amp very similar to this one. I actually got it from Seth Lover many years ago. I always thought it was some kind of accordion amp, because the only info I could find on Contello was about accordians. I have used it for playing many times, it’s a rocker! I’ve never had any work done to it. There is no nameplate on the grillcloth. Mine is different in that there are two volumes, one tremelo, and a tone, which is also the on/off. The lamp is green. 12”Jensen. It says Contello model SC5. My box looks well used and the grill cloth looks like maybe the amp got wet at one time. It sure beats humping around big power and 4x12 cab! I’ll post pics when I can. Very cool to see the info! Thanks, John
Re: Symfonia Grand amp
Hi John, would love to see a pic of your Contello amp.