Anybody Else Want A Jim Kelley Amp?

[Leo_Gnardo]

Please justify your comments.

With thanks and regards,

Jim Kelley

Miles hasn't been well lately. (I'm not sure he ever was.) Nonetheless he keeps us amused at TAG.

So let me have a go...

Since I first heard of Jim Kelley amps they were owned and played by people who cared about their tone. Early owners included Bonnie Raitt & Jackson Browne. Please correct me and/or add to the list, Jim.

I've had to repair a few of the amps made in the what late 70's - early 80's, and the same thing - care about their tone - can be said for the most recent owners of those Kelley amps. Two were for college professors (Mark Dziuba at SUNY New Paltz, and another for a prof at Bard College.) Also one for Jim Weider, who was guitar player with The Band for the last 17 years of their existence, and continues to turn out solo albums with excellent tone & production.

Jim I see you've teamed up with my old friend John Suhr. Fantastic! You could not have picked a better partner. I'm looking forward to see what you two and your assistants create.

It's wonderful to have these amps back in production, and I'm absolutely chuffed to have Jim Kelley on The Amp Garage!

[M Fowler]

They all sounded really different because each one has something else really wrong with it. lol

It is my hope that you're simply referring to the state of repair of your equipment at the time. Because otherwise, the implication here is neither fair nor accurate, in general. The experience you describe is not typical of these amps. While it may be true that no two amps sound exactly alike, it is simply incorrect to characterize the amps as having something wrong with them. I have seen a number of them that have been butchered with well-intentioned but ill-advised modifications over the years, and perhaps that is what you're referring to, but it is ludicrous to saddle the brand with this kind of generalized, reckless portrayal. People here respect what you have to say. Please justify your comments.

With thanks and regards,

Jim Kelley

Reeltarded was merely expressing his god given talent of humor and should not be mistaken for insult. He is a very talented person operating a professional business in the music industry so we know he is capable of keeping his mind from wander off too far.

Mark

[Reeltarded]

Yeah, I didn't mean to come off like a dick!

But I am one, so it happens..

[cbass]

I want one I thought that clip sounded great but I can't pay that much for an amp

Wasn't Kelley's amps the ones that ran 6V6GTA's at like 480 volts.

[M Fowler]

I've read good things about them and knew that John Suhr was helping to bring a limited run back.

But I've never come across one and never heard one but then I'm only 57 and many more roads to travel so I might run into a Kelly amp.

Mark

[M Fowler]

Yeah, I didn't mean to come off like a dick!

But I am one, so it happens..

I thought Nik was the Dik around here?

[musant]

Yeah, I didn't mean to come off like a dick!

But I am one, so it happens..

It was one of those kinds of things where at first I laughed, and then after a pause I said hey, wait a minute.

[Leo_Gnardo]

I've never come across one and never heard one but then I'm only 57 and many more roads to travel so I might run into a Kelly amp.

Mark

According to Jim Kelley's website only 600 or so were made in late 70's - early 80's which makes 'em kind of rare. People that have Kelleys generally like them enough to not sell, so we don't see the old ones often on the 2nd hand market.

Now you have something (else) to look forward to.

[NickC]

Yeah, I didn't mean to come off like a dick!

But I am one, so it happens..

It was one of those kinds of things where at first I laughed, and then after a pause I said hey, wait a minute.

Howdy Mr. Kelley,

Reel is good people, as are you. You sure do make great sounding and great looking amps. Real beauties! My compliments to you!

Best Wishes,
Nick

[Structo]

I think it is cool when these old classic amps are brought back into production.

The Jim Kelly amps have a great reputation for good tone and reliability.

Another amp brought back is the Magnatone.

They are saying they still use the pitch shifting Varistor vibrato.
I wonder where they are getting the Varistors? (me want!)

Spendy though with the 45w combo retail at $4,000!

http://www.magnatoneusa.com/

[musant]

I want one I thought that clip sounded great but I can't pay that much for an amp

I can't afford one either. The only thing I've ever paid that much for is an automatic transmission.

Wasn't Kelley's amps the ones that ran 6V6GTA's at like 480 volts.

Why does no one ever feel sorry for the poor little EL84's that are abused in so many other amps? They're even littler, and more helpless. Cathode bias - oh the agony!

[Teleguy61]

Great to see you posting here Jim, and great news that your amps are back in production.
Interesting, unusual design, beautifully actualized.
Good luck!

[Leo_Gnardo]

Why does no one ever feel sorry for the poor little EL84's that are abused in so many other amps? They're even littler, and more helpless. Cathode bias - oh the agony!

As much as one can feel sorry for a tube, yes EL84 or 6V6 run at elevated B+, OW! I'm more thinking "what were THEY thinking" referring to the designer/manufacturer. There's always some spec-sheet-reading wag who will sound off, "EL84 rated up to 800V plate, as long as you don't draw any current," or "6V6 were used in B&W TV Vertical circuits with voltages up to 850V." But we're concerned with guitar amps & looking for trouble-free operation as well as good tone & power. Now that you're here Jim, what's your solution A) for your current amp design and B) for the older amps. We now have JJ 6V6 which seem to put up with 500V plates, but techs & amp owners who try other brands or NOS 6V6 find themselves with a fireworks show instead of an amp. (And heaven help those who try it with Visseaux or Mazda 6V6 - these have no tolerance at all for B+ beyond 325V.) For the moment I'll select JJ's when re tubing a Kelley or other amp with elevated B+. At times in the past, I've been tempted to substitute a pair of 6L6 for the quad of 6V6, with bias set accordingly.

[Phil_S]

Another amp brought back is the Magnatone.

They are saying they still use the pitch shifting Varistor vibrato.
I wonder where they are getting the Varistors? (me want!)

Ordinarily, I am against electronic parts made in developing nations on the non-existent midnight shift that go out the back door. Let's call it parts piracy. In this case, we see a classic set of market conditions that will encourage this. When you can't get it anywhere else, what is one to do? Live without? Perhaps the maker will loosen his grip on the new stock and allow some to make their way to market as service parts.

[M Fowler]

Maybe Magnatone bought a Juke amp to see how to build the new Magnatone