Vintage Sound Jazz 35 1x12 Combo, Tan Levant
- DESCRIPTION
The Vintage Sound Jazz 35 is a custom designed 1x12 combo amplifier that caters specifically to the Jazz guitarist. To describe the Jazz 35 in words requires a little bit of mid-60's Fender amp knowledge. At it's core is a blackface era Fender Vibrolux. The Vibrolux was a 35 watt, 2x10" combo version of the much loved 22 watt Deluxe Reverb. With the Jazz 35, we took the amp circuit from the Vibrolux and Deluxe Reverb (known as the AB763), removed Channel 1 ( (the channel rarely anyone used) and placed it in the portable Princeton Reverb cab with a 1x12" speaker configuration. We also removed the Tremolo from the circuit since jazz guitarist have little use for it and it increases the quality of the signal.
Thus, the Jazz 35 is essentially a portable, all hand-wired, all USA made, super-modified blackface Fender with several major and significant upgrades (read more below).
Tell Us About the Upgrades!
1) The overall size of this amp has been reduced to the size of a Princeton Reverb. Much more portable and lighter.
2) Custom tonestack voicing. Rick Hayes at Vintage Sound has worked for many years with jazz guitarists all over the country refining the voicing for his Jazz series amps.
2) The reverb circuit is vastly upgraded. The stock spring reverb tank on a Deluxe Reverb was a small 9" pan spring reverb. The Jazz 35 uses a large 17" spring reverb pan that's the same size as the one used in the Twin Reverb! The reverb circuit also includes a very nifty reverb dwell control for varying the decay time giving you more control over the reverb effect.
3) A "MIDDLE" tone control has been added that the AB763 based amps didn't have. This addition does nothing to hurt the integrity of the circuit or tone. The original Fender circuit actually had a "fixed mid" that was set permanently at 6.8k. Vintage Sound removed this resistor from the circuit and replaced it with a much more versatile 10k pot. You now have the ability to adjust this frequency range without compromising the original tone. If you want it to sound precisely like a blackface Deluxe or Vibrolux, just turn the port to around one o'clock on the dial and you're there. You want to scoop the mids a touch, pull back. Warm the tone a bit, turn up.
4) External Bias Points have been added so as to more easily bias the amp when you swap out tubes.
5) Removal of the tremolo circuit. Since tremolo is rarely used in Jazz, this was omitted from the signal path. The tremolo in this circuit usually draws from the signal path even when not in use, so eliminating this actually increases the quality and strength of the guitar's signal through the preamp. Bonus!
6) Addition of an overall Presence control. What? Even more control of your tone? That's right!
So, as you can see, the Jazz 35 has many upgrades over the original AB763 circuit. As well, all Vintage Sound amps are point-to-point hand-wired using top quality filter caps and electrolytics, carbon comp resistors, Orange Drop tone caps, solid core push back wire, and custom transformers that are hand wound in the USA.
Jazz 35 Specifications:
Wattage: 35 watts
Preamp Tubes: 3 x 12AX7 TAD, 1 X 12AT7 TAD
Power Tubes: 2 x 6L6 TAD
Rectifier: 1 x 5AR4 TAD
Front Controls: Volume, Treble, Middle, Bass, Reverb, Dwell, & Presence.
Effects: Large Pan, Tube Driven Spring Reverb
Speaker: WGS G12C/S - 1 x 12" (read more about this speaker below)
Inputs: 2 Inputs
Auxiliary Input: RCA Footswitch Jack
Extension Speaker Jack: External Speaker Jack
Circuit Construction: All Point-to-Point, Hand-wired
Cabinet Construction: Dove-tail jointed solid pine w/Baltic Birch Plywood baffle and back panels
Pilot Light: Blue Amp Jewel
Combo Dimensions: 17" High x 19 7/8" Wide x 9 1/2" Deep (36 lbs)
Why are we using the 12" WGS G12C/S speaker?
Good question! We chose the WGS G12C/S for several reasons. This speaker works great with lower wattage amps in allowing a bit more clean headroom. The G12C/S is essentially their take on the Jensen C12n, but with several refinements, such as a smoother top end, more touch sensitivity, and an overall warmer tone while remaining articulate. Even modified, the AB763 circuit can be a bit trebly. The G12C/S addresses this very well with it's more rounded top end. Furthermore, Warehouse Guitar Speakers are made here in the USA and not in China like most of today's Celestions. Added bonus!
Thus, the Jazz 35 is essentially a portable, all hand-wired, all USA made, super-modified blackface Fender with several major and significant upgrades (read more below).
Tell Us About the Upgrades!
1) The overall size of this amp has been reduced to the size of a Princeton Reverb. Much more portable and lighter.
2) Custom tonestack voicing. Rick Hayes at Vintage Sound has worked for many years with jazz guitarists all over the country refining the voicing for his Jazz series amps.
2) The reverb circuit is vastly upgraded. The stock spring reverb tank on a Deluxe Reverb was a small 9" pan spring reverb. The Jazz 35 uses a large 17" spring reverb pan that's the same size as the one used in the Twin Reverb! The reverb circuit also includes a very nifty reverb dwell control for varying the decay time giving you more control over the reverb effect.
3) A "MIDDLE" tone control has been added that the AB763 based amps didn't have. This addition does nothing to hurt the integrity of the circuit or tone. The original Fender circuit actually had a "fixed mid" that was set permanently at 6.8k. Vintage Sound removed this resistor from the circuit and replaced it with a much more versatile 10k pot. You now have the ability to adjust this frequency range without compromising the original tone. If you want it to sound precisely like a blackface Deluxe or Vibrolux, just turn the port to around one o'clock on the dial and you're there. You want to scoop the mids a touch, pull back. Warm the tone a bit, turn up.
4) External Bias Points have been added so as to more easily bias the amp when you swap out tubes.
5) Removal of the tremolo circuit. Since tremolo is rarely used in Jazz, this was omitted from the signal path. The tremolo in this circuit usually draws from the signal path even when not in use, so eliminating this actually increases the quality and strength of the guitar's signal through the preamp. Bonus!
6) Addition of an overall Presence control. What? Even more control of your tone? That's right!
So, as you can see, the Jazz 35 has many upgrades over the original AB763 circuit. As well, all Vintage Sound amps are point-to-point hand-wired using top quality filter caps and electrolytics, carbon comp resistors, Orange Drop tone caps, solid core push back wire, and custom transformers that are hand wound in the USA.
Jazz 35 Specifications:
Wattage: 35 watts
Preamp Tubes: 3 x 12AX7 TAD, 1 X 12AT7 TAD
Power Tubes: 2 x 6L6 TAD
Rectifier: 1 x 5AR4 TAD
Front Controls: Volume, Treble, Middle, Bass, Reverb, Dwell, & Presence.
Effects: Large Pan, Tube Driven Spring Reverb
Speaker: WGS G12C/S - 1 x 12" (read more about this speaker below)
Inputs: 2 Inputs
Auxiliary Input: RCA Footswitch Jack
Extension Speaker Jack: External Speaker Jack
Circuit Construction: All Point-to-Point, Hand-wired
Cabinet Construction: Dove-tail jointed solid pine w/Baltic Birch Plywood baffle and back panels
Pilot Light: Blue Amp Jewel
Combo Dimensions: 17" High x 19 7/8" Wide x 9 1/2" Deep (36 lbs)
Why are we using the 12" WGS G12C/S speaker?
Good question! We chose the WGS G12C/S for several reasons. This speaker works great with lower wattage amps in allowing a bit more clean headroom. The G12C/S is essentially their take on the Jensen C12n, but with several refinements, such as a smoother top end, more touch sensitivity, and an overall warmer tone while remaining articulate. Even modified, the AB763 circuit can be a bit trebly. The G12C/S addresses this very well with it's more rounded top end. Furthermore, Warehouse Guitar Speakers are made here in the USA and not in China like most of today's Celestions. Added bonus!
