@
  • Home
  • No Category
  • Pignose 7-100 from 70’s with Germanium transistors

Pignose 7-100 from 70’s with Germanium transistors

Updated on August 8, 2020 | 4561 Views No Category
Unfollow
14 on February 12, 2019

Grabbed this Pignose 7-100 off reverb.com recently. the seller believed it didn’t work while I believed I could fix it. the price was really good for the reason.

It was a luck. this little thing works fine without any issue. I see 4 Germanium transistors on the circuit board and expected a different sound than the current product. but it sounds pretty much close to the new ones.

 

 

According to the schematic I got  from https://music-electronics-forum.com/showthread.php?t=8790 , it has 4 transistors. 

Two of the germanium transistors (in the black housings) are sitting around the black hood which covers transformers. they seem to be 2SB324H. and I barely see 2SB172A and 2SB175B on the circuit board.

 

  • Liked by
  • CongaFish
Reply
Cancel

Be the first to post a comment.

Add a comment

CongaFish 13 on April 29, 2019

Great Reverb score! I’ve been repairing some Pignoses lately and really enjoy playing them with a little delay pedal. I’ve got a ’72 model with the germanium transistors and would really like to see the actual placement order on the board…for the red, yellow, blue leads of the 2B324’s. I assume that they’re somewhat “switched” (in order) on either side of the black “heatsink”?

Attached pic shows how mine are now.

59burst on April 29, 2019

unfortunately, I’ve sold mine to  buy some vintage capacitors months ago. I put it back on Reverb.com and a german guy took it off. I’m not sure if he’d reply back but I’ll ask him to take some pictures of the leads

Cancel
dragonash on April 29, 2019

a friend loves to play 2 of pignose amps through an ab box. i don’t know how they are old but i can tell they sound really good. i was about to get me an ab box then just realized i could do that with a delay pedal. 

Cancel
CongaFish on April 29, 2019

@dragonash: kinda fun to “dasiy chain” two together, using one as a preamp, out into a 2nd one. But yes, they’re certainly much better-sounding with a simple delay pedal. Haven’t tried the A-B route… yet.

@59burst: Thanks. Think I figured the sequence out. (Emitter-Base-Collector / left to right? May try C-B-E?) Very low volume and hiss/hum/crackle before… but now mostly just low volume. Previously, 1 transistor & the 1Ω resistor were getting smokin’ hot. Now, no more high temps… but still no volume increase. The saga continues.

*Replaced the 2 (A&B in pic) germanium transistors & the resistor “C”.

Cancel
59burst on April 30, 2019

sounds like a challenge to me. I still barely understand the electric circuit. I’ve read about vintage germanium transistors which can be used for NPN and PNP both, probably on a fuzz forum.

the only experience with germanium transistors was this project, btw

https://slowbean.net/search-threads/oc139

 

Cancel
CongaFish on April 30, 2019
I still barely understand the electric circuit.From 59burst

 

Same here, but I’m learning. Thanks for the link. I’ve a few other early solid-state amps that I’m working on, so I can take “breaks” from the Pignose when frustrated / stymied.

 

Cancel
dragonash on May 1, 2019

didn’t see that huge one on the right side till now. actually most of them except for the karate kid’s pignose. 

Cancel
59burst on May 19, 2019

@congafish the reverb.com buyer has replied. unfortunately, he didn’t like the sound of germanium and sold his pignose already

Cancel
dlazzarini on July 12, 2020

@congafish, i just acquired one of these old pignose’s.  Not sure of the year yet but the pcb looks just like yours so I’m assuming 70’s.  I was given the amp by a friend and its in need of some repairs  it hasn’t worked in years.  One problem that stands out right out the gate is a burned up capacitor. Im hoping one of you guys with some knowledge of these amps can help me identify it.  Im not familiar with some of the labeling I’m seeing on the schematic posted above. It’s the brown colored larger ceramic looking cap located right next to one of the 2SB324H’s. I think its labeled “1E” on the above schematic. I could be wrong. I’ve never seen this type of labeling on a schematic. I’m hoping you guys could help provide some insight on this and help me identify this cap. any help would be greatly appreciated..

Cancel
CongaFish on July 13, 2020

Hey @dlazzarini,

You talkin’ about the brown resistor labeled “C” in my photo above? That’s a 1Ω (Ohm) resistor. What does yours look like (pic?) is it “blown” apart / fractured, etcetera? Of course I was told that this is normally the go-to culprit to be replaced… as the leading cause of failure in these early Pignoses… but I have not been so lucky with the two ’73-’74 germanium-based Pignose amps here. Hopefully your luck will be better after only replacing that resistor and it’ll spring back to life. Hope so.

Cancel
dlazzarini on July 13, 2020

Hey @CongaFish thanks for replying. So that’s a resistor huh? Sure had me fooled. I thought it was one of those old film caps. It looks just like the one in your pic with the “C” on it. Would you happen to know the wattage on that resistor?  Something made it pop. What I suspect happened is somebody hooked up two 9v batteries to the 9v snaps that connect to the AA battery boxes. They were corroded out and I suspect they hooked up 9 volt batteries and gave it a dose of 18v. 

Cancel
CongaFish on July 14, 2020

Dunno… but with the “touted” 5 Watts output rating ( an over-estimate for certain I’ve heard )… maybe order a 1Ω resistor with a 5 Watt rating (or 1, 2 or 3 Watts). They’re inexpensive and you could test a few different ones. As far as the 18 Volt damage theory goes… rumors have it that Frank Zappa ran his original Pignose  with 18 Volts… and I have done the same on others here with no resultant damage.

Here’s a pic of a 25% larger “Big Pig” that I made, housed in a pine cab with a Jensen MOD 6/15 speaker. It’s basically a Pignose 7-100 upsized into a bigger cab with a bigger speaker and it sounds real “party” @9 Volts – until zapped with 12 or 18 Volts. After hearing a Dwarf amp and comparing it to a Pignose, I thought that maybe if the Pignose had a better cabinet & speaker it could better compete with the Dwarf quality. Nope. *I intend to build one at the exact same internal size as a Pignose with an original speaker to see how that might just compare… but I don’t hold much hope for that either.

The Dwarf amp also pictured (oak / wood stained near-black) with a faceplate of my own making. If everyone knew about the Dwarf amps (made only for two years in direct competition with the Pignose in 1974) there would be a lot more of them in the world. They put the Pignose to shame. (7 Watts!) AND porting the Dwarf out to closed-back extension cab with a 10” or 12” speaker… yields great tones and volume. Alas, the poor Pignose can’t do this anywhere nearly as well (and I have added “speaker out” jacks to several Pignose amps here).

AND if you really want to deep-dive into the early portables, there’s also the (now also very rare) Pygmy amp to consider. Offered as a build-kit from the PAiA company (also initially offered back around 1974) they were $39.95! AND still better than the lowly Pignose 7-100 IMHO.

Best thing about any Pignose?

The “Legendary” marketing.

(Best of luck with your Pig.)

Cancel
CongaFish on July 14, 2020

*”Party” was corrected above – probably due to language.

Cancel
dlazzarini on August 8, 2020

Hey CongaFish you wouldn’t happen to know how to date these 7-100’s would you?  All of my google searches are coming up pretty inconclusive. It’s got a low 4 digit serial number 3384. I can’t seem to find anything conclusive. 

Cancel
Show more replies
  • Liked by
Reply
Cancel
Cancel
Loading more replies

Related Posts

  • en 3.5mm 1/8″ to 1/4″ TRS plug adapter – $1 vs. $10 Sennheiser

    Updated on July 18, 2019 | July 18, 2019 | 116 Views
    all . No reply yet 0 Want to undo ?

    • didn’t expect any noticeable difference between them. but there are actually. Sennheiser 1/8″ to 1/4″ phone plug adapter sounds way better

     

    Load More...

  • en Jensen EM-1002 10″ speaker with syntox-6 ceramic magnet

    Updated on June 16, 2019 | June 16, 2019 | 137 Views
    all . No reply yet 0 Want to undo ?

    • didn’t know Jensen had Concert series with ceramic magnets. this PM-1002 sounds more like Jensen 10J11 than WGS Veteran ceramic to me. even I believed it was an alnico speaker when I grabbed this off ebay for $69 plus shipping. then googled what Syntox-6 was after a week playing this in my 5F1 project. a bit disappointed while figuring out what the magnet was. but still happy with this NOS Jensen with the original box. and it is way louder than Jensen 10J11 alnico speaker as I expected.

    I’ve tried Mullard and a few different 12ax7 tubes with it. and going to stick with GE black plate 5751 for a while. 

     

    Load More...

  • en the only long plate 12ax7 I like with 5F1, Tung-Sol

    Updated on May 26, 2019 | May 25, 2019 | 133 Views
    all . Last reply by 59burst. 1 Want to undo ?

    • I’ve tried a few long plate 12ax7 tubes like black plate RCA, one of the common Telefunken, gray plate Sylvania with copper grid posts, and this one. Telefunken sounds great with 5D3 but ain’t good with my original and recent 5F1 amps.

    this Tung Sol sounds like Telefunken with a modern 5F1 has Heyboer HTS-12005 PT. this PT’s B+ is over 400V with usual 5y3gt tubes. and this 12ax7 sounds great with the original 5F1 to me. grabbed off Reverb.com for $24

     

    Load More...

  • en 1962 Fender 5F1 champ

    Updated on May 24, 2019 | May 24, 2019 | 160 Views
    all . No reply yet 0 Want to undo ?

    • I met this little guy again this morning. and gave it RCA Command 5751 as a present. I’ve tried more than a few 12ax7 tubes with this Champ for a while. and love the sound with this 5751. and, one 6v6gt from Valvo factory in Frankfurt is coming to me for this Champ.

    the 3rf filter cap is Sprague which replaced the big 8uf 500V Astron minimite last winter. it still has the 2 prong power cord even with the death cap. this 57-year-old Champ is beautiful and sounds great of course. but didn’t sing as much as my ’59 Champ till this morning. now it does sing like a magic.

    pictures of the transformers are here

    https://slowbean.net/thread/gathering-information-on-vintage-tweed-champ-output-transformer/

     

     

    Load More...

  • en 40’s Ken-Rad 6v6GT/G is louder than RCA, GE, Sylvania 6v6GT

    Updated on May 17, 2019 | May 17, 2019 | 155 Views
    all . No reply yet 0 Want to undo ?

    • while my 5F1 project is not loud enough with Jensen 10J11 speaker, I tried a few different 6v6 tubes for the last few days.

    I noticed Ken-Rad 6v6GT/G tubes are louder than the other tubes. and the texture with this tube is acoustic and strong. 

    I don’t see the difference between RCA, GE, and Sylvania 6v6gt tubes that much. GE Canada 6v6GT is a bit brighter than 50’s stock tweed RCA and 60’s Sylvania but, Ken-Rad 6v6GT/G sounds way different to them

    Load More...

  • en DNA: Life’s Changelog

    Updated on April 8, 2019 | April 7, 2019 | 89 Views
    all . Last reply by OnceMoonwalked. 2 Want to undo ?

    • One of the most interesting things about DNA is that we have discovered, in humans, the 3% of the code which builds our physical bodies also has encoded within the bodies of all of our ancestors. We can switch on these old systems (in animals of course since this would be highly unethical to do to human beings) and give a chicken teeth or scales. We are not just us. We are all the physical forms in our lineage.

    Now, that accounts for 3% of our storage. What of the other 97%? It is memories. Now the skeptic will go “yeah right Mr. Science”. Hear me out here though. Why is it so hard to accept memories encoded into the helix? In fact all “instinct” is encoded memory. What beach to lay your eggs by the light of the full moon if you are a tortoise. Where to migrate if you are a starling or a monarch butterfly. Sharks even have maps of the magnetic markers on the seafloor. None of this is learned. It is there at birth.

    There is a very good evolutionary reason for this. Rapid adaptation. We have a repository of past experiences so we do not have to reinvent the wheel every time our environment changes. Human beings have noted this for at least as long as we have records and this has given rise to theories of reincarnation which appeared in nearly every civilization on Earth. Science has resisted this because it sounds too “supernatural” in the same way they resisted the “Big Bang” because it sounded too much like creation. Yet, it is anything but supernatural. It is entirely natural and the only explanation which makes any sense.

    #Science #Philosophy #Biology #Life #Origins

    (Picture courtesy of Ya-Webdesign)

    Load More...

  • en gibson les paul junior DC ’83

    Updated on April 6, 2019 | March 27, 2019 | 92 Views
    all . Last reply by 59burst. 4 Want to undo ?

    • i’ve got this les paul tv yellow a couple of weeks ago.

    it has very nice tone saturation and the ranges of volume control.

    very simple control with playability, of course the design is simple too.

    i checked the serial number as I learned through the wikipedia. it has made at ’83 when gibson company shifted kalamazoo to nashville before they established historic / customshop line.

    replaced the stock ceramic cap with sprague black beauty capacitor right after I got this beauty. and this les paul sounds way better than before with the sustain.

    lucky strike it is.

     

    Load More...

  • Lab-made “whiskey”? Just as good as the real thing?

    Updated on March 24, 2019 | March 23, 2019 | 43 Views
    all . Last reply by 59burst. 3 Want to undo ?

    • Since I follow a couple of startup incubators I come across of many interesting companies and ideas. Many of those create some real diversity in their field while others simplify production processes. Last night I read about the San Francisco based startup “Endless West” who has just launched the first-ever lab-made whiskey. Sounds crazy? It certainly is, because it forces consumers like ourselves to pose the important question as to what actually constitutes whiskey.

    But if it looks like high-end whiskey, smells like high-end whiskey, and tastes like high-end whiskey, then that’s probably what it is. So far, the results have been positive, even earning a friendly review from the Wall Street Journal. I hope I get the chance to try it someday. Better yet, I can’t wait to try it blind alongside “legit” similar tasting whiskies and seeing if I can tell the difference between them.

    You can find more informations here: https://endlesswest.com/glyph/

    (Picture courtesy of Endless West)

    Load More...

  • en inside of Wem Pepbox rush from British Pedal Company

    Updated on June 23, 2019 | March 12, 2019 | 223 Views
    No category . Last reply by funkgene. 5 Want to undo ?

    • I see two of ACY41 germanium transistors on the board.

    Grabbed this off ebay for a great price. two hundred something in USD. it sounds great and quite different than my Bum fuzz and old Sola Sound fuzz pedal a friend has.

    but, it has an issue. it rattles on high level. I’m sending back this back to British Pedal Company. 

     

     

    Load More...

  • en Fender tweed champ 5F1 1959 pics – inside and outisde

    Updated on May 25, 2019 | February 24, 2019 | 484 Views
    No category . Last reply by 59burst. 3 Want to undo ?

    • it’s a ’59 fender tweed champ with 8″ stock jensen speaker. I’ve learned more than a few things from this amp. mostly about the tone. and it forces me to play more than before I got this small tweed amp. 

    I’m using 5y3 rectifier for the original setup along with 5v4g for more clean headroom. and  watching that huge rectifier from the back side. 5v4g and Bendix 5y3 look beautiful at night.

    5F1 breaks up early and it’s the character of this amp. 5v4g makes 5F1 sounds a bit like tweed deluxe. but, it’s still tweed champ of course. and, I recently noticed 5f1 with 5v4g is more vulnerable to 60hz hum. so, I came back to the stock 5y3

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Load More...

  • en Sola Sound Bum fuzz with NPN OC139 Germanium transistors works great

    Updated on March 7, 2019 | February 15, 2019 | 515 Views
    No category . Last reply by 59burst. 1 Want to undo ?

    • I just tried this from a hunch while I barely understand electric circuits.

    Bum fuzz was made after B&M fuzz. it came from Tonebender Jumbo, and Jumbo came from Big muff. and they are not far from Tonebender MK3. it means this pedal would work with Germanium transistors.

    Sola Sound make 3 different versions of Bum Fuzz units with BC184, BC549C, and ZTX109. BC184  and ZTX109 versions look same to each other except ZTX109 version comes with better and older electric components. BC549C comes with cheap ass version. and, it has 3 of different resistors and 2 of electrolytic capacitors at least. I replaced them with 33k, 100, and 100k resistors an 2 of 0.1uf fixed caps.

    OC139, OC140, OC141 are NPN germanium transistors for computers (yes, the computer) from late 60’s. They are period correct for late 60’s and early 70’s fuzz I guess. and, have the similar Hfe range as well. most of them I found on ebay.co.uk had 100 to 200 Hfe range. some are less than 100, and some of them are over 200.

    It’s the shop I found ZTX109 and OC139 transistors

    https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/J-H-Components-Limited/Transistors-Vintage-Germanium/_i.html?_storecat=14509182015

    And, this pedal sounds great with OC139. I don’t see any reason to try a different setup anymore. this modified Germanium Bum fuzz unit has overdrive to medium or leather high gain fuzz range now. somewhat sounds like MK2 and feels like MK3.

    It was like this a couple of months ago

     

    Inside of Sola Sound Bum Fuzz Unit - Cheap ass version - Slowbean
    Inside of Sola Sound Bum Fuzz Unit – Cheap ass version – Slowbean
    Came across this big red bum fuzz here on reverb.com https://reverb.com/item/17423735-sola-sound-cheap-ass-bum-fuzz-jumbo-tone-bender-direct-from-sola-sound-london Sola Sound / Macaris sells a few different versions with different components along with the pricing. this one is a literally cheap, actually the cheapest version of them. they had/have more coming as well. http://www.macaris.co.uk/colorsound They have 3 different versions by the price. £399.00, …
    slowbean.net
    Load More...

  • Sola Sound BUM Fuzz update

    Updated on March 19, 2019 | February 12, 2019 | 1158 Views
    No category . Last reply by 59burst. 1 Want to undo ?

    • This cheap ass version came with BC549C transistors known as one of the common high-gain transistors. The original B&M fuzz seemed to come with BC184C silicon transistors. and, I believe there were few different transistors Sola Sound tried at 70’s for the original B&M fuzz.

    I replaced the components one by one to see the difference one by one. Omeg pots and 470pf caps made a improvement while NOS 0.1uf Mullard trpical fish didn’t bring a noticeable difference.

    Most of the resistors are staying on the circuit board except for 3 of them. cheap ass version came with 3 different resistors than the normal and expensive BUM fuzz. you’ll need each of 100 ohm, 100K, and 33K resistors to revert this circuit to 70’s style. (or expensive version of BUM fuzz). 100 ohm resistor can be replaced with 220 ohm or 0 ohm as well. I’ll check the resistors and update later.

    ZTX109 brought a tonal difference anyway. this bum fuzz sounds a bit older and bit alive than the original state with BC549C

     

     

    Load More...

  • en I’m into 5v4g than 5y3 with 6v6 tweed amps

    Updated on May 25, 2019 | February 7, 2019 | 325 Views
    No category . Last reply by 59burst. 2 Want to undo ?

    • [EDIT]

    I’m updating this post not to make people confused. I believed B+ was lower with 5v4g than 5y3. but 5v4g is increasing B+ and makes the bias warmer than 5y3. I guess it is the reason I feel the amps are more alive with 5v4g

    then I noticed the vintage amps with the original caps from 50’s and early 60’s are more vulnerable with 5v4g to 60hz hum. I’m just guessing leakage of the coupling caps and the filter caps could be the reason. I’m still enjoying 5v4g with the amps with new components. didn’t have an issue with my 5D3 which has new filter caps either. 

    [EDIT again]
    one of my 5V4G tubes shows very low B+. the 60hz hum came from it I believe

    there are more and better info for 5vg and 5y3 rectifiers on the gearpage.net 

    https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/swapping-rectifier-tubes-5ar4-vs-5r4-vs-5v4-vs-5y3.1382681/

     

    I hook up tweed champ, deluxe, and m-track 2×2 together while jamming with youtube. 5v4g sounds still alive with this stereo and digital setup to me. but, m-track 2×2 is cheap and sharing the one single full bandwidth with usb and instrument at the same time. it sounds good while using only one of them. it sucks when the knob is at the center.

    it’s the knob on m-track 2×2. don’t buy it if you want to use your guitar amps as monitor speakers while playing guitar through the direct input. maybe I’m just doing this wrong. 

    Load More...

  • en 5D3 tweed deluxe with the factory original P12R

    Updated on March 26, 2019 | January 14, 2019 | 239 Views
    No category . Last reply by 59burst. 1 Want to undo ?

    • my jenen P12R came back from the re-cone job at my local speaker repair shop. this new cone I got off ebay doesn’t look like the original as I expected. but it still sounds very close to my silver P12R speaker came from the friend who gave me this P12R. 

    50’s Jensen P12R restoration has begun

    this tweed deluxe 5D3 came from December 1954. and the speaker came from a ’54 5C3. the date code one the speaker is 1953. they are like a family. 

    it’s not easy to pick only one speaker for my tweed deluxe so far. P12n is a great sounding speaker with it’s chime and volume. but I want a jensen which is crispy at the lower volume. maybe the bell cover doesn’t affect the sound. but me and the friends tested two different jensen p12r came from the same era. and the result was different at low volume in 5C3. and most of all, p12r looks way better with the bell. 

    it sounds really good with it’s look. even I like that red safety sticker on the bell. 

     

    #fender #tweed #5d3 #p12r #12n

     

     

    Load More...

  • en Sprague 16uf 475v fits perfect to Astron vintage paper sleeve

    Updated on June 2, 2023 | December 25, 2018 | 145 Views
    No category . No reply yet 0 Want to undo ?

    • 5y3 rectifier tube in my 5F1 tweed champ went dead a month ago. and everything was fine after I put a new 5y3 tube.

    then, the same thing happened today. I figured out this 16uf 450V Astron minimite filter cap was the problem.

     

    Sprague 16uf 475v fits Astron Minimite 16uf 450V paper sleeve. my champ sounds firm and clear than ever with this new cap.

    You need to strip off the blue shrink cover to put it in the paper sleeve as you can see

     

     

     

     

    Sadly, I’ve lost 2 of these 5y3 tubes from this issue. but still good with the better sounding from this small tweed amp.

     

    Load More...

  • en Elliot Mechanics – Mechanicland Strat Neck pictures

    Updated on April 7, 2019 | November 20, 2018 | 230 Views
    No category . Last reply by 59burst. 14 Want to undo ?

    • got this brazilian strat neck a couple of years ago. it has refinished before. unfortunately, it’s urethan finish on it.  it still ages well though.

    trussrod nut and the decal have replaced at 90’s by the owner before me. and I don’t think this Mechanicland neck came with the decal. the decal on the head is definitely a aftermarket product. and it looks funny a bit

    everything else is great with this beautiful with brazilian fretboard. and, sounds stunning along with this light ash (not swamp ash) body

     

    #mechanicland #strat #brazilian

    Load More...