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Univox Stage 65

Started by ChewyNasalPrize, October 31, 2013, 07:30:40 PM

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ChewyNasalPrize

New to the forums- I've always appreciated solid state amps if for no other reasons that they are cheaper and more reliable. I own a Peavy Express and Rage 158, Trace Elliot Super Tramp, Lab Series L5, Yamaha G100 II head- all solid state. Had a David Eden bass head solid state too that sounded great.

My latest find is a funky late 70's Stage 65 by Univox. Not a top-shelf amp by any means at the time but the cleans are surprisingly good. I put a WGS Reaper in it and it really blossomed!

Here's a video of me reviewing it: http://youtu.be/uAq5mzFLtMQ

Let me know what you think. I may be able to pick up a 2x12 combo on the cheap here soon too.

J M Fahey


gfr

#2
My first amp was the brazilian equivalent of this (Giannini U65G). Mine was the version without reverb, just tremolo.

Just like this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPC6N6HHzA8

The power amp driver uses a transformer as a phase splitter, I think it's the "secret" of its bluesy clean sound.

I used the chassis and cabinet of mine to build another amp, but I still have all the guts (including the transformers). I plan to rebuild it someday :)

BTW there's a slightly higher wattage version, the U75, that doesn't have the interstage transformer (and that doesn't sound as good).

ChewyNasalPrize

Checked out your vid- cool old amp!  8)

Here's some pics of mine....

It still has the original two-prong cord. I'm going to replace it with a grounded cord soon.

gfr

Not my video, I just found it on YT.

Here's a recording of mine, unfortunately I don't have a photo with the amp:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRJwbhC1XPY&feature=youtu.be

Both the guitar and the bass through the same U65, everything recorded with the built-in mic on a portable radio/tape recorder. Hard times :). We used to plug a mic at the 3rd input of this same amp too... The guitar is a Giannini 1982 Les Paul copy (I hated it), DIY fuzz (741 + diodes on the feedback loop). My guitar, my amp, my fuzz, however I didn't play on this one - but it's the best sounding recording I have of this gear.

Some schematics:

From Univox:
http://www.univox.org/pics/schematics/u65rn.jpg

From Giannini:
http://medias.audiofanzine.com/images/normal/giannini-u65g-130133.jpg

The reverbless version (that's the one I owned):
http://s17.postimg.org/tt0jdycqn/d1a0eba532aeadfd5bfcb7fa42f0b3ea.jpg

The bigger brother U75:
http://s21.postimg.org/afhxswto7/0fe01f6c94cdb4c2d095e2fa213e0b5f.jpg

ChewyNasalPrize

Yeah- I like how the older amps had multiple inputs so the whole band could play through one amp!  :lmao:

I guess they wised up and figured out that selling three or four amps with one input was more profitable than selling one with three or four inputs!  :)

ChewyNasalPrize

Just finished installing a grounded power cord in it. Had to pull the PCB board out and flip it over to get to the pots. These are some heavy-duty pots too. Some BIG transistors on there as well. Hosed out the pots and jacks good with contact cleaner and now she should be good to go for another 35 years!  :dbtu:

Roly

They were intended as alternatives chewie, not a band PA.   :loco

It's a nice sized combo that one, and it looks like it should have a lot of potential.

35 years?  I find it's a constant battle.  {but then I fix stuff, so I get the impression that everything in the world is broken.  :duh }
If you say theory and practice don't agree you haven't applied enough theory.

ChewyNasalPrize

Welp, just traded this to my guitar tech for a Vox wah, AnalogMan DS-1 and a setup on one of my Telecasters. He really seems to like it. He plays a lot of country sounding stuff with twang and it really delivers that. He's going to keep it in his shop for testing guitars.

Bye, Bye little buddy... I know you will be well-loved.