NAD - 18W TMB

[Caesar]

I don't know if this is the correct forum for this since it is a kit and not an official 1974, but I got one this afternoon.

I was out shopping for a vertical 2x12 and happened into a small/independent shop to take a look around. While chatting with the proprietor, I noticed the tiny info tag on a head that i walked right past on my way in. It said "18 watt clone" and the price. The conversation shifted to that and i was telling him it has been on my (very) shortlist of amps I want to build.

He told me what he knew about it: built by a local guy, thinks its a mojotone, etc. I told him that I wished I hadn't seen it because the price was very attractive. He then told me that if I wanted it and was paying cash, he knock $100 off the price.

I said "Yup."

Soon as I got it home, I popped the chassis out to inspect the build and try to determine the source of the kit. It is a Weber 6M18TMB and it looks really well done. I'm no expert (I've only built a 5F2A Princeton), but it looks clean to me.

That curiosity satisfied, it was time to plug it in. Oh boy. I love this amp. I'm blown away by how good it sounds. I ran it through 2 open back 1x12s (one Avatar Fane M65 and a Celestion G12T75) with single coils and humbuckers and everything sounded great.

I thought I was content with my SC20H, but this thing... Wow. Just awesome.

Here's a pic. I didn't think to get any while the chassis was out.

 

[fitz]

HNAD!
I'm not sure if clones go in "Other Amps" or not.
Other than the paisley, it seems plenty Marshal-ish to me.
Now spend some of that $100 you saved on some less hideous tolex.

 

[scozz]

What @fitz said,..

Congrats, enjoy.

 

[dtier]

Are you liking the TMB channel best? How loud do you have to get for good breakup? Most of the TMB 18 watt clones have a master on that channel. Without it your surely clipping the power tubes first.

 

[neikeel]

18w are sweet amps, both trem and tmb types.
Is yours valve or solid state rectification?

 

[BlueX]

HNAD! 18watters can be really nice amps.

 

[Caesar]

HNAD!
I'm not sure if clones go in "Other Amps" or not.
Other than the paisley, it seems plenty Marshal-ish to me.
Now spend some of that $100 you saved on some less hideous tolex.

Yeah... Part me likes it because it's different, but I'm not sure if i would re-tolex it or replace the cab altogether with one that is more SC20H sized.

 

[Caesar]

Are you liking the TMB channel best? How loud do you have to get for good breakup? Most of the TMB 18 watt clones have a master on that channel. Without it your surely clipping the power tubes first.

Honestly, i need to play with it a lot more. I don't really know anything about the circuit (real or clone). I looked at the 1974X manual to see what it's supposed to do.

I didn't hear a significant difference on any input. I downloaded different layouts and schematics so i can try to find changes that were made.

 

[Caesar]

18w are sweet amps, both trem and tmb types.
Is yours valve or solid state rectification?

It is a Weber solid state rec. I don't know if i can simply pop in an EZ81 or what difference it makes. More to research...

 

[wavytech]

I built a Mojotone 18W TMB 1x12 combo with EZ81 rectification and a Celestion Blue Bell that sits next to my JCM800 4104 2x12 combo. They share the same preamp design; the 18W has a dual EL84 output while the 4104 uses dual EL34 output. The Marshall is heavier and 3db louder but they sound eerily similar and react to pedals the same way. I have a crude demo here JCM800 v 18W TMB.

 

[Neville]

Nice addition to the sc20.