SOLD - Fender Tremolux 5E9-A Tweed Amp Neil Young 1959
$0.00SOLD!
Who buys vintage guitar amps? We do!
Call 530-570-1525 or email sales@maharsvintageguitars.com to sell your vintage guitar amp, guitar, bass, amplifier, etc - one piece or a collection! We are always ready to buy instruments, amps and effects from Fender, Gibson, Martin, Epiphone, Rickenbacker, Gretsch, Marshall, Vox and just about anything else related to musical instruments. You can also click here for more info on selling us vintage instruments, amps, parts, etc.
No Sales Tax For Customers Outside Of California.
We've got something special for you right here!
We're proud to unveil this Tweed Tremolux that served as a key piece of Neil Young's stage rig, as pictured.
Larry Cragg, the fabled tech for Neil and many other Bay Area guitarists, was Neil's road tech for years. He even played some tracks on pedal steel, banjo and saxophone on the records we know and love. Furthermore, his affinity for photography resulted in his pictures gracing many of Neil's album covers over the years. Larry snapped the photo you'll see in this listing, showing this very amp in repose, prior to a show.
Larry acquired most of the amps Neil used over the years. They were modified to meet Neil's wants and needs, becoming an integral part of his distinct tone. We've kept the amp completely as it was when it left service.
The output transformer was purposefully changed to allow use of 6L6 output tubes and a GZ34 rectifier in place of the stock selection of 6V6 and 5U4 tubes. What you get is more output and a slightly "angrier" tone. The other two transformers are original to the amp. Tube selection is pure Larry Cragg - he spent years defining Neil's tone, and the tubes last used in the live setting are still there and working well.
Neil's preferred speaker is in the amp, a Jensen C12N from 1967. The speaker was likely swiped from a 60s Silvertone. They were loaded in all of Neil's amps.
The capacitors in the circuit was fully changed to Neil's spec as well, a process that formed over the years in the quest for his sound.
While a "whizzer" was used to adjust settings on the amp, there is tape on the control panel to mark settings that Neil defaulted to. The whizzers are pictured in the stage shot - a device that used servo motors to automatically turn knobs.
The amp sounds absolutely amazing. Plugging a Les Paul Jr into it is pure bliss. We'll post some audio this week to show you what you can expect.
The tweed and grille are original, and the amp is in pretty great cosmetic condition, which is remarkable after the years of service it provided. The handle was changed, as was the power cable. Oddly, a ground lift was added to the grounded cable, taped on there so it wouldn't disappear. We're just gonna leave that right there!
This is pure rock and roll history here.
Shipping policy:
Shipments will require signature on delivery, no exceptions. If there is damage, the buyer must retain all packing materials intact and picture them immediately and send them to sales@maharsvintageguitars.com. Less than 1% of our shipments are damaged in transit, and we are committed to making sure your item arrives safely, but we are taking these additional measures to make sure you are happy with your purchase.
- Case/Cover?: No
- Color: Tweed
- Dimensions: 21-1/2" x 10-1/4" x 21-3/4"
- Weight: 31lb 10.8oz
- Watts: 15 Watts
- Date: 1959
- Where date is noted: Serial #
- Speaker 1 Brand/Model: Jensen Special Design C12NA
- Speaker 1 Size: 12"
- Speaker 1 Code: 220726
- Power Transformer brand and/or codes: Triad 8160-E, original
- Output Transformer brand and/or codes: Fender C-018343 EIA606 - 937
- Choke Transformer brand and/or codes: Original
- Reverb or other effects?:
- Rectifier Tube: GZ34
- Rectifier Tube Brand: GE
- Power tubes: 2 x 6L6
- Power Tube Brand: GT
- Preamp Tubes: 2 x 12AX7, 1 x 12AY7
- Preamp Tube Brand: Ruby
- Filter Caps: Replaced
- Pots, codes: Replaced
- Grille: Original
- Knobs: Original
- Handle: Repro
- Power cord: Upgraded to 3 Prong, only to be downgraded to 2 Prong
- Notes: Mojo for days!