schundog Posted February 15, 2014 Share Posted February 15, 2014 I first heard of this company while going through the now-closed Nashville Wolfe Guitar store. They had a couple of these wood-enclosed heads, made from the wood of old organs, and the Hammond transformers of old organs. Neat concept, and based not more than 40 miles from me. I thought I might check them out one day. Today was that day.... I battled yet another snowstorm today, traversing I-74 in near-white-out conditions to see a client that couldn't meet any other time. I had some time to kill before the appointment, and by chance happened to drive by the storefront of this business. I remembered the name from the trip through Nashvillle, and the Premier Guitar article that highlighted them. I pulled up on the busy street, hurried into the shop in the driving snow, and had to wait 2 or 3 minutes before someone even knew I had walked in. They are obviously not a retail outlet, but a repair/manufacturing shop. There were ancient Hammond organs, Leslie speakers, and wierd old amps everywhere I looked. The had some vintage Fender stuff for sale, way out of reach for me, and their own stuff is pretty pricey, too, but it was very cool to check out. The early 20's kid with a ponytail that eventually came out to greet me told me that he was their marketing guy, and that, while they try to utilize their dealer network, they WILL sell direct, if there is not a dealer nearby (likely, I imagine...) He offered me some of their swag, stickers and pics, as I left. Overall, a cool experience. I would have liked to have talked to the owner/ builder, but he wasn't there, and I didn't have a lot of time. Here's some pics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PunkKitty Posted February 15, 2014 Share Posted February 15, 2014 Cool stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schundog Posted February 15, 2014 Author Share Posted February 15, 2014 I wish this pic was in focus; an old Magnatone. Dude... 1970 Called..... They way their amp back.... Yep, a couple REAL B3s laying around. Organ Shit..... Another B3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schundog Posted February 15, 2014 Author Share Posted February 15, 2014 Swag... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schundog Posted February 15, 2014 Author Share Posted February 15, 2014 Here's the link to their article in Premier Guitar from 2012. http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/Analog_Outfitters_Sarge_Amp_Review Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billgelder Posted February 15, 2014 Share Posted February 15, 2014 Thanks Brian, cool pix, I like the wall of speakers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skydog52 Posted February 15, 2014 Share Posted February 15, 2014 Thanks for sharing Brian. Some real B3s, nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SouthpawGuy Posted February 15, 2014 Share Posted February 15, 2014 Looks like a cool place to spend some time, thanks for the pics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steiner Posted February 15, 2014 Share Posted February 15, 2014 I think I would have forgotten the client and got lost there. Thanks Schundog for yet another wonderful & wild vicarious vacation. I'm glad we made the trip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redsand Posted February 15, 2014 Share Posted February 15, 2014 Thanks for the sloid report Brian, you gotta love a company that works with "real deal" vintage gear! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TalismanRich Posted February 15, 2014 Share Posted February 15, 2014 Oh wow! There's nothing better than the sound of a B3 cranking though a spinning Leslie cabinet. PURE HEAVEN! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pressure Posted February 15, 2014 Share Posted February 15, 2014 I have played thru a Baldwin amp like the one in the picture. Battle of the Bands promotion inside the Carson Pirie Scott store on State St. in the Chicago Loop (1966?). Worst, gutless piece-of-crap lifeless amp I have ever played. Time may have clouded my memory a bit and maybe I'm a bit harsh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pressure Posted February 15, 2014 Share Posted February 15, 2014 Thinking more about that day my harshness might be because we got kicked out of the competition for playing, in the words of the judges, a vulgar song, the Rolling Stones "Lets Spend the Night Together". As a related story we got kicked out of the NAMM show as well, back when it was held in Chicago at the McCormick Place Exhibition Hall (The Who "My Generation"). Good times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schundog Posted February 15, 2014 Author Share Posted February 15, 2014 Richard, you crack me up! I'd love to have been your sidekick back in those days! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billgelder Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 This is from the Analog Outfitters Website. http://analogoutfitters.com/amplifiers/ao-sarge The SARGE The AO SARGE is a 15-watt, EL84 based circuit that delivers BIG tone from a small package. TECHNICAL SPECEFICATIONS: (spelled wrong)Power: (2) x EL84 (15 Watts)Preamp: (2) x 12AX7Rectifier: 5Y3Load: 8 OhmsControls: Volume, Treble, & Bass $799.00 Same specifications as my '69 Fender Princeton but without a speaker and twice the price. I played one of these at Jay's. It sounded ok, but I don't see what all the fuss is about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yoslate Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 My amp guy, Dale Laslie, at Mega Tone Amps, turns these and old MASCO PA heads into the most astonishing harp and guitar amps.! He has a bunch, and has converted dozens. They all Kill! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bolero Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 I guess you could say he e-MASCO-pated them that one head with Mad Max's grill on the front used to be a Traynor YBA3 custom special, great amps stock....I wonder what they did to it :banana: what, no dancing banana icon here? ps maybe I meant de-MASCO-pated Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjsanders Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 friend of mine got one of these from Jay Wolfe when they first came out. sounded great into a 1x12" with Celestion Gold. very responsive, mid-early breakup, just crank it & use guitar volumes... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockabilly69 Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 This is from the Analog Outfitters Website. http://analogoutfitters.com/amplifiers/ao-sarge The SARGE The AO SARGE is a 15-watt, EL84 based circuit that delivers BIG tone from a small package. TECHNICAL SPECEFICATIONS: (spelled wrong) Power: (2) x EL84 (15 Watts) Preamp: (2) x 12AX7 Rectifier: 5Y3 Load: 8 Ohms Controls: Volume, Treble, & Bass $799.00 Same specifications as my '69 Fender Princeton but without a speaker and twice the price. I played one of these at Jay's. It sounded ok, but I don't see what all the fuss is about. Your '69 Princeton uses 6v6 power tubes and a 5U4GB rectifier, different specs completely. I'm more of an EL84 guy, but I love Princetons! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schundog Posted February 17, 2014 Author Share Posted February 17, 2014 The kid in the shop told me that Nels Cline had picked up a Sarge, really liked it, but wanted one with more OOMPH, so they built him the Super Sarge. I have no proof of any of this, but he really didn't have any reason to lie to me about it, either. The wood cabinets that they use come from the wood cabinets and foot pedals of old discarded organs, which is kind of cool. The REALLY cool part is that they use the transformers from some of those old organs, ie Hammonds, in the amps. They definitely are a boutique niche; There are many many other amps I'd buy before one of these, but they are pretty cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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