HoSo56 6BM8 minimalist

[10thTx]

I wanted a light weight grab and go amp & so I built a HoSo56 using 5879 V1 and 6BM8 triode/pentodes. Only 4 tubes! I used a mosfet cathode follower so I could have an active FX without adding another tube. The FX works great! The amp chassis was small and it was a challenge fitting everything in neatly in such a compact space.

The amp is super quiet at idle. No floor noise at all which surprised me. 7-9 watts of power. I am very happy with the tone. Reasonably touch sensitive with the 5879 preamp tube. I'm using a 10" Emminence Legend 1058. I had some Orange Drop PS caps and some Vishay-Dale RN65 resistors that I used in places.

I used ALOT of parts left over from other projects. 190-0-190 PT 120ma using solid state rectification. Tweed Deluxe Classictone OT.

Cabinet is figured maple on top and front edge trim. Sapele front upper panel. Sides and bottom are ordinary pine. 16" x 18" x 9.25"

With respect, 10thtx

(More pics here & editable schematic and layout on another thread if you want a look http://el34world.com/Forum/index.php?topic=23013.0 )

[xtian]

Well, that kicks ass very much!

How’s the power tube distortion? I’ve heard something magical from the 2x 6BM8 hi-fi amps I’ve (Calrad AP-15). Something in the interaction between the triode and pentode in the same package?

[ChopSauce]

This cab

It is minimalist as in "naked beauty", not as in "minimum of efforts" ...

Thanks for the link, I'll check that.

[10thTx]

I think this is a remarkably full sounding amp with great bass response at very low volumes (somewhere between conversational and lower TV volumes)

I've only made two small tweaks. Mid-boost switch and a 121p smoothing cap on the FX return. Both the mid-boost and the cathode cap engaged boost are useful.

The Legend 1058 10" speaker seems to be a great choice for this amp.

It's sounded good to me with single coils, humbuckers, solid body and semi-hollow body.

I've tried a delay and a Digitech RV-7 reverb pedal in the effects loop. I like the tone of both of them & the FX loop works great.

With respect, 10thtx

I added negative feedback using 100R/4.7k

[DenDanger]

Beautiful combo you got there. Super job!

Denny

[10thTx]

Finally got around to recording my HoSo56 minimalist with 6BM8 power tubes. This is my "practice amp" at home and probably has maybe 7 watts total. I am very impressed with the bass response of such a low wattage amp.

The tune is sort of a jazz tune similar to "Misty" but it doesn't contain the bridge.

https://www.soundclick.com/html5/v4/pla ... D=13741593

Essentially recorded as a clean tone. Straight into amp. Very light compression, very light delay and some EQ in mix. Otherwise, just plugged
straight into the amp. This has become my "go to" practice amp.

https://www.soundclick.com/html5/v4/pla ... D=13741608

The recordings are not very loud & you may need to increase volume on your computer speakers to hear them OK?

With respect, 10thtx

[Guy77]

Very nice tone! I almost built one similar a while back before I did my CJ11 build. Will have to build one sometime in the future.
Very smooth tone.

Congrats.

Cheers

Guy

[Reeltarded]

Supernice! It is extra smooth.. you could hammer that with attack and not be punished. Love it.

[Stevem]

6BM8s have a great thing going on!
If you ever get a chance to play a 65 to 67 Univox UB45 ( or any Univox model using these tubes ) don't pass up the chance if it's in good working order!
I have two of them and record with them a lot.
They only put out 8 watts , but with humbuckers or P90s they sound like a small Non master volume Marshall even thru it's Jensen driver!
That 6X4 recto tube also is a big part of the amps nature!
If you want a tad more head room out of these amps you can unpowered the one side of the 12ax7 that does the Tremolo function.

[TUBEDUDE]

10thTx,
Very nice cabinet! Dynamic woods and nice dovetails.