| Amplifier service technicians |
Rob Hawkins, Cub Creek Audio
Rob Hawkins of Cub Creek Audio is a great tech and a great guy to deal with,
period. He has worked on Fender and Ampeg amplifiers for me, and I've heard a number
of other pieces he's worked his magic on. Want more headroom? earlier breakup?
lusher reverb? - tell Rob what you are after, and he'll produce it for you. He knows
his stuff! Rob picks up and delivers weekly in Charlottesville and Lynchburg, so
he's convenient too. Jaye Urgo "Betty Gone Bad" Charlottesville, VA |
Rob Hawkins
Rob does a really superb job of bringing a tube amp up to its highest potential. He worked
over my old b-18 head, and it never sounded better. I've seen his workmanship and heard
the startling transformations occur many times. He tries to bring amps back to their
original physical condition by replacing tubes, caps and other bad or suspect components.
But then he tweaks them and biases them and really finds the 'sweet spot.' once they're
fixed if he plays them for me, I always want to buy the amp or he wants to keep it cause
it sounds so good. He prefers older hand-wired amps to work on. I've heard at least 10
fenders of various pedigree simply sing. Half a dozen Ampegs like Gemini's for example ,
B-15's too, and my B-18, which I always thought of as accordion amps; sound fat and warm
and unbelievably loud for whatever watts the book said they were doing. As word is getting
around, the professional and serious players in the area are giving him their amps one at
a time as they can spare them, so he can sweeten them. Some are a little screwed up and
were in the closet, some are their favorite amp, but they gotta agree that the equipment
never sounded as good as it does when he's done. He is also getting a fair amount of
repairs from some of the boutique music stores who have fussy clients who they have to
service in order to keep selling them guitars. I say this because, I know they are less
concerned with the profit they make, and more concerned that the customer is happy. In one
store Stringfellows, where I bought my schector bass, they are all guitarists in there,
blue grass, country, rock, blues. they know. Rob has reworked all their amps by now, and
many of them are these incredible 10+fenders or other high end's. But they all have one
thing in common, they sound a whole lot better when he's done! He also gets these
emergency calls, to hurry on in and "fix this thing, the guy needs it tonight."
He also will repair solid state & printed circuit stuff, but doesn't feel it is
possible to perform alchemy on that type of equipment. Rob is quite into guitar speakers
too, and gets weird speakers and other exotic components from suppliers everywhere whoever
has the kinds of things he needs to get the results he wants. Lots of folks can handle a
soldering iron, but few take the care and interest, or have the talent to extract tone out
of old tube amps as does Rob. Rob is real honest and business oriented, treats other
people's equipment as he would his own, and deals with you in a way that makes you want to
come back. Tim O'Leary. E-mail toleary@nextfrontier.net
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Manfred
Schmidt
Doug, I just wanted to comment on the excellent job that manfred schmidt of Newtown
Connecticut did on my reissue bassman....the sound is excellent....I have known Fred for a
number of years and when I ordered your kit, I took it to him to do the work....he is an
electrical engineer with his own business and I would highly recommend him as someone to
do the installation of these kits in amps. thank you for a great product........AL
BRISOTTI. |
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So Flo Amps
Reviews at Harmony Central;
http://www.harmony-central.com/Guitar/Data/So_Flo/
Our Feed Back on EBay;
http---cgi2.ebay.com-aw-cgi-eBayISAPI.dll-ViewFeedback&userid=tubesnob |
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Jim`s Pro Audio
N Wilkesboro Music Center 336-838-2209
Labradog Music 828-324-4364
A+ Music 828-345-1979
Minton Pawn 336-667-2274
Hamby`s Pawn 336-667-5166 |
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Hoffman Amplifiers |
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These are actual E-mails from customers. Some of the E-mails have been
edited to shorten them. Thanks to all my great customers, business is booming and I busy
from sun up to sun down. |
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Thanks for all the parts over the past few months; I finally delivered the amp
yesterday (modified Bandmaster Reverb with custom cabinet), the customer was literally
ecstatic; I was really proud. I used your oversized
multi-tap OT, 018343, various capacitors, and the cream chickenhead knobs, looked
and sounded GREAT. That was my first "real" custom job, what a chore, but
it was worth it to see the reaction. Take care.
Sean Fokes, Mad Sound |
Doug, Just a note to say WOW,I bought your AB763 bare board and installed the
components myself. I put it in a 93 Deluxe Reverb RI that sounded..well....stiff,weak,no
punch,(need I go on?) .This amp is now a TONE machine.A beautiful layout!!!! and a
pleasure to work with. I highly recommend the installation of this in any of the
re-issues. Anyone who thinks they sound good stock,better have a listen to one of these
amps with this kit in it!!!
WELL DONE !!!! KILLER.... Glen Keiser The Music Depot |
Hi,
I just wanted to let you know that I finished an AC30 clone using your transformers and
the bare board kit you sell. I am amazed at how nice it sounds. I have owned
plexi marshalls, tweed and blackface fenders, and newer marshalls in the past. This
amp is every bit as wonderful sounding as they were and it was fun to make. In spite
of what you say, I couldn't have bought even a reissue AC30 for what I spent on parts for
this amp. Thanks for being available for us musicians who enjoy doing this sort of
work. Steve Holst |
Doug,
Just wanted to thank you for your web page. Besides providing parts also has provide great
amount of info in my amp building. Just finishing up my third tube amp.( http://home.james-gang.org/jca/nov ) I'd
still be scratching my head trying to get my first one trying to work if it wasn't for you
and your site. ( http://home.james-gang.org/1959
)
already contemplating my next amp project (either a hiwatt or ab763, both with el84 push
pulls for the lower wattage). so I'll be in touch soon for the necessary parts ;) but just
wanted to say thanks
-Bryan James |
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Hey Doug, Skip here from Skips Guitar Shop in Ct. Thanx again for all your
help!!! The Bassman board kit is beyond verbal description! TOTALLY AWESOME! |
Mr. Hoffman,
I wanted to take a minute and thank you for your excellent service. A couple of weeks ago
I placed an order for some tubes to try in my harmonica amplifier. You were great at
honestly answering questions via e-mail and I received the tubes in 3 days following my
order. I appreciate the friendly, casual, and efficient customer service you provide.
Whit Patrick |
Doug,
I received my tweed twin board you made me and I can't thank you enough! it's a work of
art...seriously you do incredible work and you don't charge enough for a completely hand
made product,but I am appreciative of the price you gave me! Anyway, I wanted to thank you
again and I will be doing more business with you in the future.....thanks again, Jim
Phillips |
Mr. Doug Hoffman,
I purchase from you a bassman board
kit few months ago, I've told myself then that all the comments about your board around
the web couldn't be untrue. My fender bassman 59
reissue was already sounding great and the only way to find out if your board was a
valuable upgrade was to buy one. Today my amp is sounding better
than ever, I'm fully satisfied for each penny invested on your board. You get that
sound that is impossible to get without this type of board. I 'm the owner of a fender
twin, a fender blues junior, but nothing sounds sweet as my modified bassman!
Ps.If you ever sell a bassman board in Quebec
Canada in the Montreal area my brother was the tech who did my amp, if somebody looks for
a tech in this area you can give my email.
Pierre Lajoie. Email - pierre.lajoie@videotron.ca |
Hey Doug,
This is Scott, hows it going? My CD's should be finished by next week so I will fire one
off to you so you can hear the plexi kit. It worked great, killed my matchless ha!
thanx, Scott Manor scottkiffmanor@earthlink.net |
Doug,
I just finished my 5-f6a kit with the help of you and your excellent products. Sounds
fantastic and was not difficult following your instructions. BTW, I did mount the filter
caps inside the chassis with no problems and it is as quiet as any tube amp I've heard.
Thanks, Kent Woodruff |
Hello out
there, firstly I must say you have absolutely one of the best amp-related webpages I've
seen! Easy to navigate, super-high quality with quick speed, not to mention lots of useful
items for us fellow ampaholics.
Thanks, Steve Rumley steve_rumley@liebert.com |
Dear Doug,
Just a few more lines regarding my Bassman (with the board kit). Used it for the last
couple of weeks at a loud jam, for harp, and generally been able to be heard. Quite a feat
considering the house guitar amps were both Twins last week (for example I saw a friend
with a loud, modded Bassman and he was being drowned out by his guitar player, also using
a Bassman.) The hot switch mod also lets me vary the tone considerably at reasonable
volumes, the master vol/vol mix also allows me to run the volume up to flat out, though
the tone suffers once you get above 8 on the master vol (sometimes you just have to be
heard though).
Have lowered pre-amp tube values as I can now dial in as much gain as I need, V1=12AU7,
V2=12AY7, V3=12AT7 (although AU/AT/AX, cleaner, or AU/AY/AX, crunchy- work well).
Vol/Master Vol settings that work well are 2-3/6-8 using an Astatic crystal through the
high gain input; 4/6-7 using Shure controlled magnetic in same input; 4-5/7-8 using a
Shure 545 in the lo gain input (all with the hot switch off, the extra gain is more useful
in lo volume situations). Admittedly at the jam I had it set 1.5-2/10-11 with the crystal
in the interests of loudness but the tone went a bit woolly (having said that, half the
harp players there seemed to prefer this, "sounds like Rod Piazza").
In short it's terrifically versatile, loud enough in all but the loudest situations - I
wouldn't swap it for anything. Kind regards, Mark Burness |
Hi Doug,
I make a Amp at last. I'm first time, and it was very difficult. This is a good sound. I'm
satisfied. Thank you very much. Cya. Sincerely yours, Yosuke maeda, JAPAN |
Doug,
I wanted to say thanks for the prompt and friendly service I received last week when I
ordered parts from your company. I live in a rural area where it is impossible to find the
kind of parts you carry. (and other companies I found on the internet did not answer the
phone or required you to go through all kinds of annoying steps just to place an order)
Thanks again, Cris Bessette, Tektone Technical Support teksupt@tektone.net |
Hey Doug,
This may sound a little corny, but I wanted to wish you a Happy New Year and I hope your
company does well in the new millennium. I have dealt with a number of vintage amp parts
sources and yours is certainly the most friendly and most efficient. I appreciate your
consultation and quick delivery. Some of the "other guys" can be quite sour at
times and sometimes I wonder if I'll ever get the goods I paid for. You have always been
cordial and the parts are always at my shop in time to work on the amp in service.
Thanks alot and I look forward to dealing with you in Y2K. Rich Allen St. Louis, MO |
Hello Doug,
Well I finished my 3rd amp with the parts supplied by you. I used the twin reverb power
with 2-EL34 tubes and your bassman/ plexi board with reverb. I'm running it thru a
15" speaker a let me tell you it is a tone monster I just want to thank you again for
the most excellent parts and service. Oh by the way have a good holiday season.
Don Jones |
Doug,
I Wanted you to be one of the first to know that I had success building the 5F4A Bassman
using most of your components & all of your guidance! It performed flawlessly &
sounds great through 4 jensen p10r's in a cabinet I built, best of all - NO HUM. Next
project is something using a pair of 6V6's I can overdrive. Thanks for the superb quality
parts you sent over the months & I'm sure I'll be calling for more.
Thanks, Bob Lacey |
Doug,
I just finished my 5F6A with the help of you and your excellent products. (5F6A kit)
Sounds fantastic and was not difficult following your instructions. BTW, I did mount
the filter caps inside the chassis with no problems and it is as quiet as any tube amp
I've heard. Thanks, Kent Woodruff. |
Doug,
I received the H50WO output transformer thursday and my amp sounds wonderful. You really
helped me out alot. Thank you very much, Billy Yates |
Mr. Hoffman,
I started my Hoffman Fender Reverb kit several days ago and am pleased to report I'm
almost done. A truly first class kit. The parts and instructions are of the highest
caliber. Working with your kit has been a pleasure. I cannot say the same about a kit I
purchased several years ago from your competitor, Torres Engineering. Thanks again for a
great kit. I would recommend your products to anyone.
Dave Bessler. |
Hello Doug,
Once again you have helped me build another amp. This one I call royale bassman deluxe
reverb. I built it using all the parts and info that
I got from you. I really have to say your help is
invaluable to a two
time amp builder like me. The amp was built for a harp player friend of mine. You got the best
service and parts around.
Thanks,
Don Jones in Kansas |
Doug,
I finished my amp on 8/18/99 it is one killer sound machine. I did a tone taste test
against my hot rod deville no comparison. The bassman kit I got from you is just fabulous
and at the right price. It is tonealishious thank you for a great product. Donald Jones,
Osage City ks. |
Mr. Hoffman,
I recently posted a 'help' notice on the Vintage Guitar site for information re: Deluxe
kits. Of the 9 responses, 8 suggested/some insisted on your board kit. I thought you might
like hearing about this.
Yours, Keith Sellers |
Mr. Hoffman,
I am writing this letter in appreciation of your company. While not being the
cheapest vintage amp parts supplier that I have dealt with I think the extra value and
"know how" your company has to offer far exceeds what the competition has to
offer. Your willingness and advice to help me restore my amplifier to working order
even before you knew I was going to spend money will keep me buying from you for all
future amplifier projects.
Thank You, Kurt Cathcart |
Hi,
I had your Bassman board put in by my amp tech, Chuck Hauke at Ziggys here in Phoenix,
with great results. It really sounds better, for sure, more like an original than
before, and there's no question that the setup is more reliable than the stock
setup. Incidentally, Chuck did a great job, he always does clean work, put in the
screen grid resistors too, and everything's neat and solid. I was going to
have Tony Dow do it, but changed my mind only because Chuck has worked on all my Fender
amps over many years (he is the Fender warranty guy, too, and has several decades of
experience).
Thanks for the high quality of your product. I'm sure we'll do business again.
John Kally |
Hello Doug,
I got my order on Saturday. I had also placed an order with Antique Audio for some
other parts. They charged more for shipping and it still isn't here yet. I
just wanted to thank you for fast, honest, and accurate service. Customer
service like that is becoming rarer and rarer. I will certainly order first
from you in the future. I am a studio guitarist constantly working with my
gear. Once again, thank you for such great service and have a great week. thanks,
Paul Sahakian |
Doug,
The guy building an amp for me over here took one look and immediately said "get me
some more of these"! (the H50WO output transformer). He gave me a demo of the clean
channel .... EL34 tube based amp sounding bigger than a Fender Twin ... amazing! The tech
was extremely impressed and is going to talk to you about quantities of transformers being
shipped. I will wait for my amp to be fully assembled before I sprout your incredible
talents over the web.
Thanks mate, Chris Milanko, Adelaide Australia |
Hi Doug,
This is Al Adams in Albuquerque. this week we finished the amp (using your tweed
Bassman circuitry...I have 3-THD Vintage 10's in it and the cab looks great too!!!
Well, all the guys in the worship group at church are Bonkers for it! When I get a
photo, I'll send it to you. THANKS SO MUCH FOR SUCH AN INCREDIBLY WELL BUILT AND
AWESOME SOUNDING BOARD...AND I WILL BE GETTING BACK TO YOU SO THAT I CAN BUILD MORE OF
THESE.
Thanks, again...AL Adams |
| Thanks, Doug for the quick
e-mail reply. By the way, I have your tweed Bassman circuit installed in my reissue
cabinet. The original board burned out. The new board sounds amazingly
better! I realize that it should, compared to the original board, but I was so
thrilled to get such a great insert for such a great price. It's my main amp and I wasn't
looking forward to shopping around for the right tone again. Guess I found it.
thanks, Dave Manoucheri |
Doug,
Once again, I don't know how you do the incredibly high quality job you do for so little
money. While the price is more than fine with me, I have to admit I was expecting about
twice that. I know before I even hear it that the amp will be great. Remember I have three
others you've built for me: Tweed Bassman rebuilt as plexi Marshall; one of your own 30
watt rack mount heads; and your rebuild of my plexi Marshall reissue which is now my
number 1. I'll be recording my band's second CD with these amps this summer. Again, thanks
for the outstanding tone, quality, speed and service (I remember how quick you were when I
lost that transformer last fall.).
Regards, Andy Cottle, Houlton, Maine |
| Well, after your phone help
last week, the Bassman is up and running. Built it on a silverface Bassman 50 chassis -
very nice; good tone, extremely punchy. I'm running it through a single 12 cab so I'll
wait to see how its really going to sound with a 4 ohm load - I'm building a 2 10 cab for
it. FYI, the Eminence speaker sounds fine in my Deluxe Reverb. Thanks for the assistance,
I'm really pleased with the kit! Phil Gibson |
(Regarding an
old Hoffman 50 watt head)
Doug,
Thanks for your help in looking at Jim Gray's Hoffman 50w Plexi. I just wanted to write
you and say that this head rocks the world. I love the fact that you can get so many good
sounds just by tweaking the volume and master. I own a couple AC-30 Voxes, a Matchless
Clubman 35, and a 100w Marshall 4 input and this amp will not only hang with the Big boys
but has more variety of tones which is important to my style (rock to funk to blues). This
head is the perfect combination with my 100w Marshall Greenback cabinet. Please feel free
to suggest my name to any tone freak (like myself) who is looking for a tone that will
rock your socks off.
Sincerely, A Tone Freak Friend For Hoffman Amps, J.D Email: jldavis@ dellnet.com |
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