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Heritage Owners Club

Heritage Colonial


aneurysm

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Posted

Hi folks,

 

so hello everbody this is my first post...it´s nice to have a seperate forum where we can discuss the line of heritage amps.

well, i own the colonial and wonder how close can i get to a JTM - 45 tone.

currently i´ve got EL34 tubes in it but the JTM - 45 usually runs with two KT66, so can i put in some and don´t have to worry about it ?

i would also like to know what are your settings to get the ultimative JTM - 45 tone.

i play two les pauls fitted with WCR pickups.

 

thanks,

 

Mario

Posted

Hello, Mario and welcome to the Club!  I think you're the first person that's posted about Heritage amps!  Maybe you should get a special graphic for being the first Heritage Amps person on the site. :)

 

I don't know much about the Heritage amps other than I love the looks of the Kenny Burrell.  As to switching out the tubes, I would think you would have to adjust the bias (assuming it's adjustable) to get optimal performance out of the tubes.  If the the amp is designed to run with just the EL34s and has a fixed bias, you might be able to run the KT66s, just not get the best sound (or life) out of them.  IIRC, 6L6s and KT66s require more negative bias than EL34s

 

But, like I said, I'm not familiar with Heritage Amp's circuits (I do have a list of questions for them, and Val said he'd happily answer them, but I haven't had a chance to clean them up and send them to him).  Your best bet, if you haven't tried, is to email them directly and ask.  Good luck and report back if you find an answer!

Posted

Welcome.  I've not had a chance to hear the Colonel, but have heard nothing but rave reivews about.  The website says it allows for Tweed or Plexi style amps.  The JTM-45 was Marshalls take off of the Tweed '59 Bassman, so I would assume the Tweed circuit would be the place to start.  The Colonel also allows you to run el34s or 6l6s.  The JTM-45 as you already mentioned used KT66 output tubes - I'm not sure which would get you closer the 6l6 or el34.  ???  It also mentions the choice of two different power suplies.  Well the JTM-45 used a tube rectifer, while later plexi circuits used a solid state rectifier - so if you have the option for tube rectifier, that's what I'd use.  Good luck.  The JTM-45 is a classic tone.  I still remember the time I plugged into an original Bluesbreaker - what a tone!

Posted

guys,

 

thanks for your attention...well, i think i can remember reading on TGP that you only have to change ohm.

for example : if you run the colonial with a 8 ohm mono cab ( EL34 or 6L6 ) you only have to use the 4 or 2 ( i´m not really sure ) ohm output casue the KT66 needs another biasment.

 

on the other hand i LOVE the colonial but it´s damn loud ;D

i also have a demeter TGA 2,1 head which i use with 2 celestion bulldogs, it´s a completely different animal but volumewise easier to control.

 

are there other heritage owners or am i the only one ??? 8)

Posted
...on the other hand i LOVE the colonial but it´s damn loud ;D...

 

I have a single-ended, 6V6 powered toob amp that I built from scratch.  By my calculations it puts out *maybe* 12W (on a good day and with a fresh tube...heh).  I think *that* is loud, so I can't imagine what kind of sound pressure levels your generating with that Colonial.  :o

 

As to the load, I do remember also reading somewhere that KT66s sound better through lower resistance speakers, but I can't remember where I read that or what the justification was.  It seems to me that the signal is going through the output transformer first anyway, so as long as it's matched to the speaker load, what difference it would make on the tubes is beyond my limited ability to fathom.

Posted

Hey guys,

Had to register just to say that I recently bought a Heritage Colonial, the first Colonial sold in Atlantic Canada. 50w head with matching 2x12" cab loaded with Celestions; one G12H30, one vintage 30. Simply put, this amp is incredible. I am still getting used to it but so far I have nothing but great things to say about it. Great versatility (US and UK voicing as well as a choice of power supplies is a really nice touch), handles pedals really well, and it is LOUD!! My Tube Screamer really likes this amp, but once you get the chance to crank it you probably won't even need an overdrive, except for maybe a solo boost. I have never heard or felt anything quite like this amp when it was pushed into overdrive.. It has Incredible, truly Ridiculous touch sensitivity and there is surprisingly little unwanted noise when pushed hard. When cranked you have the ability to play softly and get some nice clean tones, but then once you start really digging your pick into those strings you can rip out some crunchy riffs and screamin' solos. I may post again once I really get some more quality time with this beast. I Love This Amp!

Oh, and did I mention it looks damn sexy too?  ;D

  • 10 months later...
Posted

Hi guys,

 

I just went here to see what kind of information I could get about the Colonial.

Because there's one for sale on EBay Germany.

The seller says :

 

The Colonial

 

A versatile take on a classic 50 watt design. This circuit has been used in Tweed and

Plexi style amps with small changes giving them their unique voice. The Colonial uses

this same base circuit, but offers user options that allow the amplifier to be setup like a

Tweed or Plexi style amp. The amp allows for EL34 or 6L6 power tubes. The US or

UK voicing of the preamp, along with a choice of two different power supplies

(Patent Applied For), allow for a wide range of tones from this classic circuit.

Control Panel:

US / UK: Preamp voicing switch. Set on US for a Tweed voiced preamp. Set on UK for a Plexi

voiced preamp.

Normal Volume: Controls the Normal channel volume/gain

Bright Volume: Controls the Bright channel volume/gain. Pulling this volume control engages a

“bright” cap for this channel.

US / UK: Tone control voicing switch. Set on US for Tweed voiced tone controls. Set on UK for

Plexi voiced tone controls.

Treble: Adjusts the amount of high frequencies

Middle: Adjusts the amount of mid frequencies

Bass: Adjusts the amount of low-end frequencies

Presence: Increases the gain of high frequencies in the power amp section

Mood: Adjusts the amount of negative feedback in the power amp section. Lower mood settings

will be tighter and more focused sounding, while higher settings will be more aggressive sounding

with a looser bottom end.

Standby / Punch /Sag: This patent applied for circuit selects between two separate power

supplies in the amplifier. Each setting uses it’s own high voltage winding and rectifiers along

with different amounts of power supply filtering, preamp and bias voltages. The “Punch” setting

is unique in that it is designed to respond with a 2 tube 50 watt output section like the power

supplies used in the 100watt amps respond with 4 tubes. This setting produces a punchier and

more muscular sound along the lines of a classic British 100 watt amp then what is normally

found in a 50 watt design. The “Sag” setting uses a different power supply winding along with

a tube rectifier, lower values of filtering, and higher preamp voltages to produce a looser vintage

sound and feel. The amp comes stock biased for EL34’s, but can also use 6L6 tubes with a

simple bias adjustment.

Back Panel:

Fuse: 3 Amp fuse housed within the AC receptacle.

Bias pot and test points: See biasing instructions in the owners manual.

Speaker jacks: 4, 8 and 16 ohm. The matching 2x12 extension cab is wired in series for 16 ohm.

 

 

Colonial Settings:

 

59 Tweed:

- Preamp voicing switch to US

- Tone control voicing switch to US

- Mood control fully clockwise

- Standby switch in the Sag position

- 6L6 power tubes

45:

- Preamp voicing switch to US

- Tone control voicing switch to US

- Mood control fully counter clockwise

- Standby switch in the Sag position

- 6L6 or EL34 power tubes

Bass Plexi:

- Preamp voicing switch to US

- Tone control voicing switch to US

- Mood control in the middle

- Standby switch in the Punch position

- EL34 power tubes

Plexi / Super Lead:

- Preamp voicing switch to UK

- Tone control voicing switch to UK

- Mood control in the middle

- Standby switch in the Punch position

- EL34 power tubes.

 

 

Biasing Instructions

 

These instructions are here to help you properly bias your power tubes

when replacing them with new ones. To do this, all you need is a multimeter

and a small flat head screwdriver. This is a safe and quick

method for biasing your tubes and keeps your amplifier functioning

properly. Your amplifier has 3 bias test points, 2 Red and 1 Black

(ground connection), and an adjustable bias potentiometer attached to

the back of the chassis. The Red test points will allow you to read the

current draw of each tube and the bias pot will let you adjust the bias

current when you change your power tubes.

1. Insert new power tubes; allow warming up on Stand-by for at least

5 minutes.

2. Adjust the bias pot to the full clockwise position with a small flat

head screwdriver before the amp is taken off Stand-by. This ensures

that the tubes will not be running too hot before a bias adjustment

can be made.

3. Set your volt meter to the lowest DC volts settings, and insert the

negative probe of your volt meter into the Black ground connection.

Each power tube has its own Red colored probe connection, allowing

the user to check the bias of each tube. Insert the positive probe of

your volt meter into either Red jack.

4. For amps using 6L6 power tubes, adjust the bias pot to give a

reading between 25 to 35 mv for each tube. For amps using 6V6’s

adjust the bias between 18-27mv. For amps using EL34’s adjust the

bias between 30-40mv. Lower settings will sound cleaner with longer

tube life. Higher settings will have an earlier break-up and shorter

tube life. A properly matched set of tubes will generally be less than

5mv off from each other.

5. Leave the amp on for at least 20 minutes and re-check the bias.

Tubes will drift over time and checking and adjusting the bias

periodically will extend the life of your tubes.

 

 

Maybe It'll help you...

 

Anyway, this amp seems to be really gorgeous...

 

Best regards !

 

Xstian67.

  • 2 months later...
Posted

I've a Victory that I always use to A/B guitars in the shop (along with a few others). I've never cranked it up or played it out (it is new and for sale), but it just perfect for good, clean tone at low volume levels. I'll be giving it better work out in the coming weeks and let you know what I think.

Posted
I've a Victory that I always use to A/B guitars in the shop (along with a few others). I've never cranked it up or played it out (it is new and for sale), but it just perfect for good, clean tone at low volume levels. I'll be giving it better work out in the coming weeks and let you know what I think.

 

:this_thread_is_useless_withou...

 

Amp porn please. 8)

Posted
I've a Victory that I always use to A/B guitars in the shop (along with a few others). I've never cranked it up or played it out (it is new and for sale), but it just perfect for good, clean tone at low volume levels. I'll be giving it better work out in the coming weeks and let you know what I think.

 

 

With a certain cherry red 535 no doubt  :angel:

 

The start of a slippery slope to temptation  Jerry  >:D

  • 1 month later...
Posted

I've been checking these out a lot lately.  They seem to be going for lower prices than usual on the bay right now.  I would love to get one.  I wish more of us had the amps so we could really discuss them with aneurysm.  Welcome by the way aneurysm.  All us have Heritage guitars, but I think very few of us actually have the amps.  Hopefully that starts to change ;D

  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

guys,

 

hell, what´s up long time no see i know ;D

 

well, still have the colonial and it has a little brother now called the briton 8)

so, anyone want to have pictures of it.

Posted
so, anyone want to have pictures of it.

 

With this crowd? What do you think?

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