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Old 25th Jul 2017, 10:13 pm   #1
stevehertz
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Default Bygone manufacturers of amplifiers used by musicans at performances.

It occurred to me today whilst talking to a fellow muso about the old days how many UK companies who produced amplification equipment for musicians and musical performance installations are no longer in existence.

I'll start the ball rolling:

HH
MM
Badger
Selmer
Vamp
Sound City
Carlsbro
Maine
Phoenix
Burman
Music City


I'm sure there's loads more..
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Old 25th Jul 2017, 10:16 pm   #2
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Default Re: Bygone musical amplification manufacturers

Custom Sound (Oswestry).
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Old 25th Jul 2017, 10:18 pm   #3
ms660
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Default Re: Bygone musical amplification manufacturers

FAL:

http://www.vintageguitarandbass.com/adDetails/235

Bird....Poole, Dorset.

Lawrence.

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Old 25th Jul 2017, 10:43 pm   #4
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Default Re: Bygone musical amplification manufacturers

Grampian.
Valradio.
Vortexion.
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Old 26th Jul 2017, 5:57 am   #5
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Default Re: Bygone musical amplification manufacturers

Linear (not US firm Phase Linear). Linear made the Concord valve amp that was used by many an up and coming musician as their first amplifier.
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Old 26th Jul 2017, 6:35 am   #6
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Default Re: Bygone musical amplification manufacturers

I have a 1970's 50 watt amp' by Parrot of Coventry.

Regards

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Old 26th Jul 2017, 6:36 am   #7
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Default Re: Bygone musical amplification manufacturers

There's still HH products for sale - have they gone under?
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Old 26th Jul 2017, 7:21 am   #8
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Default Re: Bygone musical amplification manufacturers

Well spotted. For many years they didn't exist as such but the name was bought by Laney (or something to do with Laney) who offered a spares and repairs service. But it appears a range of products is once again available.
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Old 26th Jul 2017, 7:25 am   #9
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Default Re: Bygone musical amplification manufacturers

HH amplifiers had that electroluminescent panel to illuminate the dial numbers for he controls. Most of the ones I had in for repair had a failed panel.
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Old 26th Jul 2017, 8:42 am   #10
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Default Re: Bygone musical amplification manufacturers

Elgen - wonder what happened to them? From memory I don't think they were around for long.
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Old 26th Jul 2017, 8:46 am   #11
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Default Re: Bygone musical amplification manufacturers

Kelly and Wallace another two that spring to mind.
Also Park - did they have something to do with Marshall?
Simms Watts
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Old 26th Jul 2017, 10:35 am   #12
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Default Re: Bygone musical amplification manufacturers

HI,
an interesting thread ! I think there was a connection between Park and Marshall.
Bird were known for their Electronic Organs ( used Neon dividers ! ) and made a couple of Guitar Amps, servicing was done by Mooore Randall electronics in New Malden.
I think Bird also made television Tuners ?
regards Peter B
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Old 26th Jul 2017, 10:43 am   #13
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HiWatt

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Old 26th Jul 2017, 10:51 am   #14
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Default Re: Bygone musical amplification manufacturers

In, I think, the eighties, Vitavox tried to get invoved in music amplification and set up a competition for amateur bands.

Bob
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Old 26th Jul 2017, 10:59 am   #15
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Default Re: Bygone musical amplification manufacturers

I had a 100 watt amplifier (4 x EL34s) by Beck which I think were a musical amp manufacturer although I used mine for general PA.

I think Linear amps also appeared as RSC if you wanted to build the kit yourself.
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Old 26th Jul 2017, 1:10 pm   #16
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Default Re: Bygone musical amplification manufacturers

Park amplifiers were indeed Marshall. In the 60’s Jim Marshall entered a distribution deal with Rose-Morris. His previous distributors were unhappy with this, so he produced his amplifiers under various badges for them. NARB (Ken Bran, his designer, backwards) was one; there was also PARK, and CMI Cleartone Musical Instruments.

Other names from memory;

Hagstrom.
Burns.
Wem – the brilliant Charlie Watkins.
Norlin.
Teisco.
Orange – the originals by Cliff Cooper, not they current ones.
Tom Scholts – the Rockman
Randall.
Rickenbacker.
Eko – Italy.
Matamp.
George Dennis – anyone ever seen one?

Badger Amplification was owned by my good friend Paul Ripley. Paul is also a very fine percussionist, and now runs an advanced driving school.

Carlsbro amplifiers are still in business, but they are now made by Soundking in China.

Kustom Amplification designed by the brilliant Charles A. Ross. You will remember these from the 60’s with bands like Credence Clearwater Revival. The amplifiers were covered in the distinctive “Naugahyde Tuck-And-Roll" just like a 1960’s car upholstery.

His designs turned up again in the 80’s under the trade name of ROSS; a range of amplifiers and effects pedals distributed by the International Music Corporation in Texas, who also owned Charvel Jackson guitars; and they were also Akai America.

The Kustom amplifier name (and range of amplifiers) is now owned and distributed by Davitt and Hanser in Kentucky

As well as these vintage amplifiers, what about the vintage guitar effects pedals of 40 years ago? One which will always stick in my mind was the DOD Digitech R-944. This was a large rack mounted piece of electronics with distortion, chorus, flanger, delay, and a parametric EQ effects available. That is a lot of electronics for the guitarist to choose from, and control for it needs to be in the form of a foot controller with the guitarist at the front of the stage.

Did Digitech use a special multiway cable to enable the foot controller to talk to the rack mounted processor, maybe 30 feet away? No, not the American way. Use a standard (cheap) 6.35mm stereo jack lead; send a 3.3kHz square wave down one conductor to serve as both the system clock, and as a supply for the electronics in the guitarists foot controller. With a little mountain of 4000 series logic, the foot controller could talk to the rack mounted unit to switch the various effects on and off as required.

Nowadays, you get a hundred times the effects and processing power in a small foot pedal.

A while back, I downloaded a PDF book by a chap called Teemuk which I found on the ssguitar.com website. It is very informative, and it must have taken him quite some time to research and write.

Oh, I wish I could go back 40 years.
Kevin
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Old 26th Jul 2017, 2:24 pm   #17
stevehertz
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Default Re: Bygone musical amplification manufacturers

Kevin, thanks for your input and info. I did say UK companies, but still interesting to remember others from around the world.

Of ones listed by people, some are still going in some 'lesser' (low profile, custom made, made abroad etc) form:

WEM
Park - American Park amps now (same logo)
Orange
Matamp
Hiwatt

But here's one:

Fenton Weill.
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Old 26th Jul 2017, 2:54 pm   #18
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Default Re: Bygone musical amplification manufacturers

Mat's gone now, sadly, but his designs and company continue in Meltham, just outside Huddersfield. You can still buy Matamps close to the originals, made within a few miles of King street or Cowcliffe hill.

So the definition of gone is the point

David
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Old 26th Jul 2017, 3:01 pm   #19
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Default Re: Bygone musical amplification manufacturers

I knew MM in the 80's, the founders said it stood for Mickey Mouse "all our stuff is Mickey Mouse". Darn fine mouse in my opinion.
 
Old 26th Jul 2017, 3:26 pm   #20
kevinaston1
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Default Re: Bygone musical amplification manufacturers

Sorry, I get carried away talking music.

How about Studiomaster - British in their early years, but now made by Soundking in China.

Wilsic amplifiers, Miles Platting amplifiers. Both made by Wilsic in Doncaster in the 70's. My boss told me he got the name Miles Platting one day when he was travelling through Manchester, he saw the railway station and thought it was an excellent name for a range of amplifiers.
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