Just gave the Wasp a blast, sounds huge!!! Even the distortion with the push/pull pots i knew nothing about sounds pretty good when blended with the other channel.
Thanks again.
Troy
I’m the idiot who got mixed up with AA763 and AB763 circuitry (circa ’63 and ’66 respectfully)…….my apologies IR.
But i am very glad to find a electronics tech who talks about what they’ve done and doing because people like me who relish the sound of old amps i.e. fender’s ‘chinnng’, guitars and pedals, dont have the nouse to understand it and hence can never find out enough about their amps; you can read all you like but if you dont understand it properly you always end up with that empty feeling.
Thanks, ’66 Bandmaster.
hello there _ Stevie Ray is known for playing & recording with multiple amps at any given time; his favoured Fender amps were the 60’s Vibroverb 1×15 combo, and the Super Reverb 4×10 combo; he also favoured the Marshall ‘Town & Country’ club combo from the late 1970’s, which is voiced quite differently to the standard Marshall amps of that time; it would be difficult to say what combination of amps was employed on any given track; we do build amps voiced as per vintage Vibroverbs & Super Reverbs, as part of our ‘Blue Mood’ series amplifiers, most often as separate heads & cabs; hope this helps; IR.
in your opinion and experience, which commercially available amp brands has a perfect marriage of build quality and affordability?
also, i’m looking at small wattage heads for home recording from pop to modern metal. a few i’ve shortlisted are the laney lionheart l5-studio, h&k tubemeister series and a vht special 6 ultra. what’s your take on them and any recommendations?
sorry Danny – I can’t pass comment on amps in general other than what has been written in the blogs with ref to
specific amp repairs & projects; thanks for checking out the blog; IR.
Does anyone know what transformers Laney UK used when they replaced the transformer in their VC30 (and some other models) class A amps?
Laney were notified of fuses blowing with Australian bought amps due to variation in voltage supply ‘at the wall’ in Australia.
I think the original trannys were Noratel.
thanks mitchell
To my opinion,you wrote a very good blog,about this Rivera Bonehead problem.
I own one myself(#00049),also signed by Steve Lukather on the backpanel,with a slanted Bonehead 4 × 12″ can and a 2 × 12″ active subwoofer(made by House of Speakers,from Germany).Luckely,i didn’t came across this switching problems, with my Bonehead. Maybe this had to do to the fact,that there are 3 versions of the Bonehead model.Hopefully ,only the first version of the Bonehead, had those “consumer version IC sockets”,but i don’t know if this was changed by the later versions. Still a sad fact,to an amp of this pricerange,for sure at the time of release.
Do you remember the serialnumber of this Bonehead?
Greats Jochem Jonker Arnhem, “from up upper”The Netherlands.
Hey Mitchell – I use my own “Richards” custom amps, and have done for many years now – the world’s greatest almost unknown amps !! completely hand-wired & hand-assembled by a lifetime audio obsessive; but seriously there is no budget for advertising & promotion, it is all word of mouth; there are a number of blogs on this site describing selected specific models, and individual custom designs are also possible; thanks for checking in to the blog ! IR.
Recently had my Ulbrick Venue 30 serviced by Ivan. He did a fantastic job, picking up faults that other technicians had missed. The amp now sounds amazing. He also has all the time in the world for you and is happy to answer any question you may have. I will be brining in all my amps to him for servicing from now on and will soon also be purchasing one of his hand made amps. That’s how good he is!
Brought my Ulbrick Venue 30 to Ivan for a service. He not only identified faults that other amp. technicians missed but has brought the amp back to life with his expertise. Really friendly and patient and answered all my amp related questions. A great amp technician who I would highly recommend. He also makes hand built and hand wired amps as well as tone cabinets and i’ll be buying one of each soon !
Hi, I’m a little late leaving a post but Ivan did a fantastic job on my 1963 Fender 6G3 Brown Deluxe last year, thank you Ivan. New MM output transformer and assorted bits all lovingly done with a great ear.
I have been servicing valve [tube] audio equipment now for over 30 years and have worked on most brands and models from the early 1960's to current production. I can restore your amp to correct and original working order, removing unwanted modifications and correcting previous servicing mistakes and poor workmanship.
Quality workmanship and components will always be my first priority,with a strong emphasis on electrical safety.
ivanrichards 
April 7, 2011 at 9:13 am |
So who does your printing Ivan?
May 3, 2012 at 3:03 am |
Just gave the Wasp a blast, sounds huge!!! Even the distortion with the push/pull pots i knew nothing about sounds pretty good when blended with the other channel.
Thanks again.
Troy
May 3, 2012 at 4:40 am |
thanks for the feedback, Troy, I was pretty amazed at the huge sound too; IR.
June 26, 2012 at 8:40 pm |
Very impressive … I’ve been away from Australia for 10 years and it’s great to see skills like yours exist
June 27, 2012 at 11:03 am |
thanks Kit – please stay in touch. IR.
November 4, 2012 at 3:58 am |
I’m the idiot who got mixed up with AA763 and AB763 circuitry (circa ’63 and ’66 respectfully)…….my apologies IR.
But i am very glad to find a electronics tech who talks about what they’ve done and doing because people like me who relish the sound of old amps i.e. fender’s ‘chinnng’, guitars and pedals, dont have the nouse to understand it and hence can never find out enough about their amps; you can read all you like but if you dont understand it properly you always end up with that empty feeling.
Thanks, ’66 Bandmaster.
November 4, 2012 at 11:22 pm |
thanks Mr 66 Bandmaster, please check in to the blog from time to time – there are now over 50 blogs to choose from – IR.
November 24, 2021 at 12:11 am |
That’s funny, my names mitchell and i have a ’65 bandmaster.
i’m in Bermagui nsw.
October 28, 2013 at 2:34 am |
Hi ivan,
Just wondering what kind of rig you would recommend for a stevie ray vaughn tone?
October 28, 2013 at 11:21 am |
hello there _ Stevie Ray is known for playing & recording with multiple amps at any given time; his favoured Fender amps were the 60’s Vibroverb 1×15 combo, and the Super Reverb 4×10 combo; he also favoured the Marshall ‘Town & Country’ club combo from the late 1970’s, which is voiced quite differently to the standard Marshall amps of that time; it would be difficult to say what combination of amps was employed on any given track; we do build amps voiced as per vintage Vibroverbs & Super Reverbs, as part of our ‘Blue Mood’ series amplifiers, most often as separate heads & cabs; hope this helps; IR.
June 13, 2018 at 10:15 am |
hi ivan,
in your opinion and experience, which commercially available amp brands has a perfect marriage of build quality and affordability?
also, i’m looking at small wattage heads for home recording from pop to modern metal. a few i’ve shortlisted are the laney lionheart l5-studio, h&k tubemeister series and a vht special 6 ultra. what’s your take on them and any recommendations?
thanks!
danny
June 13, 2018 at 10:52 am |
sorry Danny – I can’t pass comment on amps in general other than what has been written in the blogs with ref to
specific amp repairs & projects; thanks for checking out the blog; IR.
November 24, 2021 at 12:04 am |
Does anyone know what transformers Laney UK used when they replaced the transformer in their VC30 (and some other models) class A amps?
Laney were notified of fuses blowing with Australian bought amps due to variation in voltage supply ‘at the wall’ in Australia.
I think the original trannys were Noratel.
thanks mitchell
September 10, 2023 at 7:11 am |
Hi Ivan Richards.
To my opinion,you wrote a very good blog,about this Rivera Bonehead problem.
I own one myself(#00049),also signed by Steve Lukather on the backpanel,with a slanted Bonehead 4 × 12″ can and a 2 × 12″ active subwoofer(made by House of Speakers,from Germany).Luckely,i didn’t came across this switching problems, with my Bonehead. Maybe this had to do to the fact,that there are 3 versions of the Bonehead model.Hopefully ,only the first version of the Bonehead, had those “consumer version IC sockets”,but i don’t know if this was changed by the later versions. Still a sad fact,to an amp of this pricerange,for sure at the time of release.
Do you remember the serialnumber of this Bonehead?
Greats Jochem Jonker Arnhem, “from up upper”The Netherlands.
September 10, 2023 at 8:48 am |
sorry Jochem, I have lost contact with that customer and his problematic Rivera amplifier; best regards from Ivan Richards.
September 11, 2023 at 1:53 am |
mon 11/9/23
Ive been wondering what amps you have/use and why as a discussion point.
Thanks, Mitchell. Bermagui nsw.
September 11, 2023 at 10:38 am |
Hey Mitchell – I use my own “Richards” custom amps, and have done for many years now – the world’s greatest almost unknown amps !! completely hand-wired & hand-assembled by a lifetime audio obsessive; but seriously there is no budget for advertising & promotion, it is all word of mouth; there are a number of blogs on this site describing selected specific models, and individual custom designs are also possible; thanks for checking in to the blog ! IR.
September 11, 2023 at 11:32 am |
mon 11/9/23
I guess i I shouldve guessed that.. Thanks ill checkem out. Mitchell
June 3, 2024 at 1:44 am |
Recently had my Ulbrick Venue 30 serviced by Ivan. He did a fantastic job, picking up faults that other technicians had missed. The amp now sounds amazing. He also has all the time in the world for you and is happy to answer any question you may have. I will be brining in all my amps to him for servicing from now on and will soon also be purchasing one of his hand made amps. That’s how good he is!
June 3, 2024 at 6:13 am |
thank you Arnold for your very positive feedback; IR.
June 3, 2024 at 5:15 am |
Brought my Ulbrick Venue 30 to Ivan for a service. He not only identified faults that other amp. technicians missed but has brought the amp back to life with his expertise. Really friendly and patient and answered all my amp related questions. A great amp technician who I would highly recommend. He also makes hand built and hand wired amps as well as tone cabinets and i’ll be buying one of each soon !
June 5, 2024 at 6:45 am |
Hi, I’m a little late leaving a post but Ivan did a fantastic job on my 1963 Fender 6G3 Brown Deluxe last year, thank you Ivan. New MM output transformer and assorted bits all lovingly done with a great ear.
Gary Fredericks
June 5, 2024 at 7:17 am |
thanks Gary for your customer feedback; there is no time limit for positive comments !! IR.