I'm also curious if the serial number relates to the year of manufacture.
In fact, any further information and insight about these amps is much appreciated.
Here's a picture of my Compactra 100.
I sold it, reluctantly, about 20 years ago.
It came back to me recently in need of a speaker recone and some electronic attention.
It'll be my 'fix up' project for 2012!
(Much thanks to Ken for the schematic).
It would be very interesting (to me at least) to find out what Jim's "serial numbers" mean. For example, my amp has no "model" markings and is Serial number 2045 (with no "/" or other digits).
Totally. It also seems like there were different controls while all being considered the same model. I've been trying to find out information about these since i got mine last November and everything i found was from posts on this forum. It would be nice to have a good solid history of these things. I also feel that if you re-made one and marketed it to plain old guitar players as the warm and elegant sounding amp that it is, it would find a much larger fan base. Most regular guitarists will not try an amp that is not historically played by their heros, and they miss out because of it. On the other hand, we can still buy these amps at REALLY cheap prices because of just that reason.
'64 Sho-Bud Fingertip D-10 9+1, Goodrich VP, Sho-Bud/Evans Compactra 100 Custom, Sho-Bud/Evans Compactra 100 Head unit, '75 Tele, '77 Guild D25, '71 YBA-1, Marshall 4x10 and a Les Paul.
Hi guys,
It's been so long since I've played this amp (20 years), I forget what those switches do.
Having said that, something from the murky recesses of my brain is telling me they turned the reverb on and off per channel.
Certainly very cool (and unusual) amps!
Lee
Got the amp back from Austin Amp (great guys). It works incredibly well. My tech says that the circuit in this amp is a variant of the schematic that Jim Evans sent to Ken. Whatever it is, it is WAY cool. Here are some pictures.
Top of the amp, showing reverb unit "cover" (sanded plexi w/ graphics)
Completed amp w/ Standel 1x15 cabinet. Bad cell phone pic--GREAT AMP!
Got a few knobs off ebay to "fill in" and have been playing/gigging the amp for a couple of weeks. SO GOOD. Each channel has its own character, though both are clean and lush sounding. The amp can be pushed to break up (particularly with the reverb on) which makes it a "no pedals required" dream come true for me.
Highly recommend this amp/circuit to any of you who are searchers for "the tone you hear in your head." Mr. Evans got it right with these amps...its a shame that more folks don't know.
Hi Geoff,
I'm glad that your Compactra is meeting and exceeding your expectations!
If all goes well, I hope to get started refurbishing mine in February and can't wait.
Lee
