Laney GH50L with 6v6's

I have an all tube 50 watt Laney GH50L with a self-biasing switch that will allow you to bias between 6L6's and EL-34 power tubes. Is anyone familiar with this amp? Would it be possible to pull my 6L6's which are pushing 50 watts and replace them with 6v6's for around 18 watts? Any help would be appreciated.

I don't think it's possible without some modifications. The voltage requirements between 6L6's and 6V6's is quite different.

Another option you've got is to use some Groove Tube Yellow Jackets. These allow you to use EL84's in place of 6L6's or EL34's, and will lower the gain to around 18 watts.

And yet another option you've got, is to use a power attenuator such as a THD Hotplait, or a Weber Mass.

If you want the best of both worlds, invest in a champ. You can get one for around 200.00. 6 watts of clean 6v6 power at lower settings and good grind at higher settings without making the neighborhood dogs howl. I have 2 old champs and an old vibro champ. I got a 12", 4 ohm quam nichols alnico speaker from an old '58 cab and built my own extention cab that I can use with all 3. Nothing sounds better than a small wattage class a amp that likes being ridden hard and put up wet. My wife refers to my gear as the other women in my life (yes dear, I'm bragging on my amps again. Give me a minute and I'll make another pot of coffee.)

yeah, I've got a '61 Gibson GA-5 (champ clone), and it's a really cool little amp. I've used it to drive a Marshall 4x12 cab, and it blew my socks off! Been thinking about converting it to a head, but haven't come up with a design I'm happy with yet lol.

I saw a champ head cab on ebay the other day. Looked really cool. about the size of an old fender reverb unit. This one was black tolex with the blue sparkle grill cloth like the champs. You should make one yourself. Make it look very Gibsonish, color and grill cloth. I used pine for my 12" cab and stained it walnut and got some burlap for 3.00 a yard at a place called Hobby Lobby. Looks very tweedish. To make a vintage handle I used an old brown belt i had laying around. I got some brass hardware at Home Depot to top it off and dress it up. You can even get corner pieces there. I'll get a digital camera and post some pics. Uh oh, my wife just came out on my porch with a REALLY slinky nitey on. Gotta go. I gotta feelin' somethings gonna happen. I hope I gotta pack of smokes somewhere. She's probably gonna make me want one.

Rock on
Jack

Sweet! you're gonna post some pic's of your wife in a slinky nitey! woo hoo! Just kiddin' ;)! I'd love to see some pics of your champ setup!

PRSplaya where you been all my life!!! I like quick witted people with a sense of humor. Maybe I can get her to pose with my champ setup. Put me up a post if your ever in Atlanta GA. and we'll have a beer. I'm a guitarist who took a 25 year break from my teenage guitar playing days in the seventies. Victoria's secret, Here I come (no pun intended). Maybe she'll do the "champ with a tramp" look for everyone. Uh oh, here she comes again, like Rod Stewart said, "I'm gonna need a shot of vitiman E" (I'm 46 and she's half latino, maybe it should be viagra, Nah)!! Did I get off subject or what... Anyway, My brother-in-laws band just sighned with a record label, I think it's the old Stax label, and he's begging me to sell him one of my champs along with the extension cab for some studiio work he's got scheduled. I put the torres tweed mod in one of them and ended up toning it down with a 12at7 in place of the 12ax7 preamp tube for a little less breakup at lower settings. I know a lot of the vintage guys think this is a bit sacreligious but it actually sounds awesome, especially tweaking the mod with the 12at7.

Later
Jack

Glad you didn't take it the wrong way :) . I was informed by my better half that that might have been a little too far :rolleyes: ha ha. Anyway... My Gibson is bone stock, minus a few caps and such and new power tube and preamp tube. I've used that little amp in almost every way imaginable. I've even ran my PODxt through it, which actually sounded pretty darn good. I even threw a Boss Metal Zone infront of it when I had it hooked to the 4x12, and I know some metal guy's that would have been very jealous. he he :D. I've been dying to try my Carl Martin PlexiTone through it, but just haven't had the time to wire the amps speaker back up, or get a jack so I can use my 5150 combo as a cabinet lol. The amp actually needs to be overhauled. All the wires and everything are the same ones that came from the factory. It sat up in my grandads closet for probably 20-30 years without being played through. So far, the best tones I've got out of it were with an MXR 6-band EQ, MXR Wylde overdrive, and a Boss CH-1 chorus between the guitar and amp. Eventhough it only has a single volume knob, and no tone controlls, with those pedals out front, it's quite a versatile amp, not to mention pretty freakin' loud for ~5 watts and a 45 year old 8" speaker lol.