Map of Australia and New Zealand

Australian Valve Amps

Australian and NZ valve amplifiers for guitar and P.A. c1930's - 1970's.

A growing collection of circuits, pictures, data, history, observations, oddities, tips, tricks, traps, and links; concentrating on Australian and New Zealand valve amplifiers for band use, guitar, bass, accordion, harp, keys, and PA.

From the Great to the Ghastly,
from the Gory to the Gold.

constant revision New amp listings, New articles

* * *  http://ozvalveamps.org  * * *
Mirror/archive: http://www.valvolux.com (note)
Please update your “Favorites” now.

Estd. July 2004 | Last site update: 00:23 30/06/11

Note: this site does not cover valve Hi-Fi amps except incidentally,
nor physics-free speaker cables, kozmic capacitors, or the like.
Nor does it sell or advertise anything.
Read the Disclaimer at least once.
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Photos have Rollovers, as do Links (stop cursor over to see).
Time: EAST/Zulu/CUT+10hrs    Dateform: d/m/y (and yymmdd) 		Steve Herenyi and his cranked Maxim
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Australian Valve Amps
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AVA amp pix and circuits
Hint: “cct” and “circuit”.

Jump to...
Safety | Amplifiers by brandname | Photo Gallery | Articles | Projects | AVA100 | Software | Contact
...or know them by the Links page they keep.
How to Submit your amp to AVA

Found an old amp?
Don't just plug it in!
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amp head
Read Caps first, then Mains.

News Briefs

   

Internet Censorship

Dateline: March 2010

The Australian Federal Government is proceeding with
the introduction of Web censorship by ISP Filtering.

I protest. As the legally responsible operator of the Australian Valve Amplifiers website I have been watching this development with growing concern, and finally alarm. AVA carries material that is being swept up in this proposed new law, graffitti, unauthorised copyright (everywhere), and a banned commentry.

  • The stated target of child sexual abuse will not be touched by ISP filtering.
  • The scope of the censorship is ill-defined and already chaotic.
  • The process will be secret with odious implications.
  • There is no way to know if a site, even your own, is banned.
  • Sites will be banned on complaint which has already proven a gift to fanatical axe-grinders.
  • Sites will be banned without notification.
  • There is no way to appeal a banning.

I have written two articles on this issue;
“A gold-plated Government tool of the First Order” - ACMA Blacklist leaks, and issues arising.
“Making The Internet Safe” - a response. - An examination of proponents arguments, the content in question, and how they relate to Web reality.

Please express your views to Prime Minister Julia Gillard; Minister for Communications Senator Stephen Conroy; Opposition Leader Tony Abbott; Independent Senators Nick Xenophon, Steve Fielding(who?); and your local member.

www.nocleanfeed.com

13/12/10: In solidarity with WikiLeaks. The only good politician is an uncomfortable one.

We're Seven

Dateline: July 2011

Birthday time again and July marks AVA's seventh year on line, time for a bit of reflection. Seven's a bit of a nothing number really, odd, prime, but not a major milestone like 10 (double figures), 13 (teens), 18 (can drive, drink, and vote), or 21 (adulthood).

But in InterWeb terms seven years old is almost ancient, and AVA has certainly seen a bit in that time. We've been dumped by ISP's through no fault of our own, and as a result grown a backup mirror thanks to Gavin Vance at Valvolux, left our Elands home and become a dot ORG, now kindly hosted thanks to Andrew Krespanis.

The worldwide panic during our last extended outage gave me an insight into what the site has come to mean to many guitarists and amp techs, and you can be assured that I have no intention of letting AVA fold while there is still user interest.

AVA has put on a quite a bit of weight since the early days, now with around eighty amp marques listed, over 260 pages covering countless models, more than 260 megs of stuff including over 2000 photos of “amp pawn”, and hundreds of circuits.

And it's all down to you, the site users who have made AVA what it is with your submissions. New amp names have tapered off a lot, suggesting we are getting closer to a full listing of all era amps, but new names are still popping up (and we're currently looking for any info on “IW” amps).

AVA is only part of a healthy and growing valve guitar amp scene; ANZamps and AGGH forums, new Ampfests popping up, commercial web sites that range from excellent to outstanding, Grant Wills “Lamington” Amp Schools, and more and more individuals having a go at building their own stomps and amps.

Your e-mails show no sign of slackening and continue to run about 1000 per year with news of your finds, refurbs, new builds, site bug reports and corrections (which are always most welcome), or just to say “Hi” and thanks for the site.

And, of course your questions. If there is one thing I continue to really enjoy it's the wide range of technical questions that daily arrive from newbies through to experienced repairers stuck on a curly one.

So here's to many more, and to you, the users - cheers.

Circuit Bin

Dateline: 6/6/11

Out from down behind the filing cabinet...

The new Circuit Bin is for all those circuits that have been gleened, scanned or sent, that don't fit elsewhere, like imported amps and stomps that are part of the everyday working life of the audio technician. This is not intended to be exhaustive, but to present representative examples.

I am also putting up some more technical material on the Farfisa Transicord, and Transicord Deluxe electronic piano-accordions. This includes material on how vintage organs work and some guidelines to repairing combo and console organs.

AVA/Lamington amp builds show no signs of slackening with almost all of them showing some circuit variation or builders touch. These are players amps designed to put the player back in control of their sound. To make it as easy to change your tonestack as to change your strings. The AVA/Lamington designs now cover from Mini Lamington to the Lamington-II 50 watter. So far there is a lot of happy noodling on new builds, confirming these amps have a very high get-go-ability even in the hands of inexperienced builder.

All previous News Briefs are in the archive.

“The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side.” - Hunter S. Thompson

Introduction, Conventions - how these pages came about; and unit conventions used.

Safety

Danger! sign Shock Risk sign Valve amplifiers operate at high voltages that can kill or seriously injure.
If you are at all unsure of your skills please seek skilled assistance, or leave it to a competent technician.

A list of valve amp tech's
by Australian State.
[update: 18/05/11 ]

Some safety reminders and tips on good practice.
(or for instant OH&S, touch 600 volts - you won't do it twice.)

AC v DC electric shocks - body effects.

glenbowker.jpg
Professional valve tweeking.

Amplifiers by brandname

Ear Protectors
New Amp Material:
June 2011 ACE advert, Chandler (p), Diason hybrid (p), Circuit Bin - sundry amps and stomps (c), Eminar PA hex (p), Three Eminars (p), Farfisa - Some Organ Basics (p,c), Fencer (and strobe) repair (p,c), Goldentone 1750 (p), serial, Maton mystery (c), Rex - very old amp (p), Moody Echomaster tape echo (p), Mustang 30 mod 3016 - s.s. (p,c), Mielnik (u/d), Paling - 1938 restoration (p), Recovering flashcaps from disposable cameras, Radio&Hobbies 1954 Build (p,c), Savage - combo (p), Vadis LB60 (p), 6BM8 datasheet, Hum mechanisms in valves (revision),
May 2011 McPherson name confusion cleared, Amps In Action u/d, Goldentone (serial), Chandler (p)
Jan 2011 Playmaster PM-11 and PM-6 conversion to combo (p,c+), (Yamaha) RA-50 and R60 rotary speakers (p), Valve techs update, AmpsInAction (p), McPherson (p), Trent Bobcat (p),
Archive New articles    Top or press your “Home” key

Broadly the amps here represent three eras;

Even some of the more significant imported, and early solid state era amps are included.

Generally the models are arranged under each brandname from most to least powerful, then within that, less featured to more featured... generally. It's a bit arbitary. The latest contributions are (mostly) placed at the top of each section.

Look out for our mystery amps and see if you can add any information.

(p = picture, c = circuit, Circuit highlight symbol)

  1. Abbey circuits - Boogie (p,c)
  2. A.C.E. Radio - Sonata (p)
  3. Amplivox (see also Farfisa) - the oldest guitar amps? (p,c)
  4. AWA/STC circuits (incl. Philips)- AWA PA774 (p,c), PA826 (p), PA828 (p,c), PA872 (p,c), STC PA1001 (p), AWA PA1002BY (p), AWA PA1003Z (p), PS1002 (c), XM392 (p), Philips 961 (p,c), Philips LowLine 10 PA (p)STC 6CM5 rebuild, 55W 6DQ6 (p), Jeremy's “Critter”, AWA Broadcast Monitor Amp
  5. Baez - (p)
  6. (Barclay) - 3W solid-state amp
  7. Belto - (Gary Kurzer, Sydney)
  8. Betts - Solid-state 2x 15 (p), 200W Bass Slave (p)
  9. Calstan circuits (p,c)
  10. Challenge (old) - see also Mielnik
  11. Chandler circuits (Guitar City, Sydney) - Combo (p), 40W head (p,c), PA Phono (p)
  12. Claybridge - ?
  13. Coltone - ?
  14. Concord Allegro, Contina, Conquest, Contessa, Statesman, Super-Pro, Chief, Superchief, Constellation, 1964 Catalog, Professional catalog, Service Manual (circuits)
  15. Conqueror - 6V6 PA (p) ?
  16. Cord - 4x 6CA7 head (p)
  17. Coronet -
  18. Diason - tallboy (p,c), Bovine (p), Baby (p), Diason 30 (p), unknown 2, 3 and 4 (p), Solid State 40 Bass (p)
  19. Dimco - (NZ) Mustang-10 (name,p,c)
  20. E.D.A. - (Brisbane) see Overeem
  21. Electravox - Mini, ET8 Escort, ET10 (p), BR40 (p,c), BR60 (p), G?60 (p)
  22. Eminar - circuits Serial Table, PA hex, 200 Watt, 2x 15 Celestions (p), 150 Watt PA (p,c), 100 Watt PA (p), 100 Watt (p), Apollo 80 (p), Apollo 160 (p), 50 Watt PA
  23. Eston - circuits Super 20 (p,c)
  24. ETI - circuits ETI456 Rocker (c), Paleface Minor (full article)
  25. (Farfisa) - Amplivox-18 (p)
  26. Farrington - ?
  27. Fhone - 500W slave (p), Century (p)
  28. Fi-Sonic circuits - 30WGR (p), 4 Chan PA (p), combo, head, 5WG (c,p), 60 (p), EL84 2x12 (p), Fuzz-Blender MKIV (p), 2x12 extension cab (p)
  29. Flame - (p)
  30. Fountain 15 watt (c), Mustang 30 (c), Thunderbird 55 (c), Fireball 125 (c)
  31. Galaxie - see Vadis
  32. Garl - (p)
  33. Goldentone - circuits serial table, all models, galleries, and advert's.
  34. Gunn - Classic 100 (p), 50
  35. Havila Company Victoria - Rock Bender
  36. Holden/Wasp - circuits 200XL (p), 4x 6550 Slave 200, Wasp 50 and 100 (p), 4x KT88 (p), Holden 100 4x 6CA7 (p,c), 4x KT88 Slave (p,c), Holden 50
  37. Jade - (s.s. only?) ?
  38. Jansen - Bass 100 (p), Eight-25 (p), Bassman 50, Bass 75 (p)
    Circuits for most valve and MOSFET models (Conquest 220, 8-200 MOSFET, Crusader Bass 440, SR200T, SR400T, SR600T)
  39. Leed - ?
  40. Lenard - circuits GB 60 (p), GB 200 (p), SGB 150 (p), SGB 200 6x 6CA7 Head (p,c), PA output stage (c)
  41. Maton - circuits History, AM-1 (p), AM-2 (p), AM-3 (p), Pasha (p), SRG75 (p), Starline T506 (p), Tremolux 30x (p), V-606 (p), Vibra Tone V202 and V202 EP (p), Hi-Mark 15, Powerpack Studio (p), Opal T-30 (p), Mastersound 10 (p,c), CPA80 (p)
  42. Maxim - Slide Combo (p), KT88 Head (p)
  43. Martstone (current builder) - Blues Breaker (p), 807 “Lounge Toy” (p,c), KT66 amp (p)
  44. McPherson
  45. Mielnik (Zoltan J Mielnik)
  46. Moody - circuits Ultratone 18 (p), GA60 (p,c), GA40 (p,c,cabinet), Ultratone Custom 40 (p), BA40 (p,c), GA35 (p,c), BA17 (p,c), GA12 Vibralux 10/12
  47. “No name” and homebuilt - Joe “Ampmangler's” Radio & Hobbies 1954 build (p,c), David Timson's 6L6 build (p), Steve's build (p), circuits Phil's DiyWatt 10 (c), Derek's 6CA7 (p,c), Shaun's AX84 (p), Howard's 6CA7 (c), Panky's 6CA7 (c), anon 6BQ5 (p), Tweed re-creation (p), Anthony's “Warthog” (p), GraemeD's mystery (p)
  48. Nova Sound - see Strauss
  49. Noyce - (current guitar builder) mystery amp ?
  50. Overeem - PA100 (p)
  51. W.H.Paling - mystery amp ?
  52. Philips - see AWA/STC
  53. Phoenix - (p)
  54. Playmaster circuits (R,TV&H, EA) - Old amps, Guitar Speakers, “Leslie”, Unit 2 (c,p), 101 (article), 102 (p), 103 (c,p), 112, 113, 115, 116 (c,p,article), 117 (c,p), 125 (c,p), 134, 136, KT88 PA (c,p), valve tremolo (c), transistor tremolo (c), fuzzbox (c,p), phase vibrato (c), compressor (c), Miniwatt Hi-Z buffer (c)
  55. Quantum
  56. Ratajczyk
  57. Reynolds-valveart - (current builder, opens site in new window)
  58. Rex - circuits Mascot (p), Bassking BA200A (p,c), AG6 (p), AG6T Combo (p), BA600 (p)
  59. Rite circuits - Travis 100 (c,p).
  60. Savage circuits - Combo (p), 85 (p,c), 100 (p) - a vintage solid-state warning (heatsink tips), Discussion and Mods (o/p stage)
  61. Scion - ?
  62. Sonata see ACE Radio
  63. Sonola - ? made in Adelaide, 60's and 70's by Manfred Bear(?) for Ron Pearce Music
  64. Soundmaster - see also Garl ?
  65. Steane's Sound Systems P/L. mystery marque
  66. Stradivarius - Special (p)
  67. STC - see AWA
  68. Strauss - circuits NS120 (p), Lancer (p), Polka 200 (p), early 60W (c), Mouse (p), '200W' KT88 PA (c), Solid-state (p)
  69. Stud - s.s. Combo
  70. (Teisco) (p,c)
  71. Travis - see Rite
  72. Trent - Invicta, Invicta Super, Bobcat T60 (p), Bobcat Super T60, Cougar (p), Super Cougar, Panther, Super Panther, Panther Bass, Super Panther Bass, Panther P.A. (p), Tygon (p), Tygon P.A. (p), Sonic Boom A/B/C/D (p), Sonic Boom P.A., Wildcat A/B/C/D (p), B150 (p)
  73. Ultratone - see Moody
  74. Vadis - ET20 (p,c), BR20 (p), 408R (p), LB60 (p), LB61 (p), 601 (p), PA60 (p), ET10 (p), Escort (p,c)
  75. Vase - Split/Sound KT88's (p), Bassman 150, Bassman 120, Bassman 100, Trendsetter 120 Deluxe, Bassman 80 (p), Dynabass (p), Trendsetter 80 (p), Trendsetter 60 Deluxe, PA 200 (p), PA100 (p,c), PA60 (p), Hybrid 100 (p)
  76. Vedette - see Mielnik
  77. (Vox) - circuits AC30 (p,c), Build your own
  78. Warland
  79. Wasp - see Holden
  80. Woogie (current builder) - 100 watt heads
  81. (Yamaha) - “Flexion” speaker TA-20, TA-30, TA-60, TA-90, RA-50, R-60 (p)
  82. ZJM - see Mielnik

Some data for commonly used valve types.

For more complete valve data sources please see Links page.

If your amp should be in this archive please see How to Submit.

AVA100-Series

Build your own valve guitar amp and save heaps.

New: 22/1/08

A design for a DIY valve guitar amp that is cheap and easy to build using available parts, and is expandable with a full range of popular options, for gigging and recording.


Hip Pedlars, Wauchope Arts Festival 2001

Amps in Action

A picture gallery of valve amplifiers in use.
...and some singular looking amps from around the world.

“A rock show is just like cooking in a busy kitchen - hot, loud, smells funny . . .
. . . you always get burned, and someone invariably complains” - Dan Kelly

Articles

Essays, discussions, considerations, opinionated raves...

New Articles:
Dec 2010 Studio multi-headphone amp repair,
Pioneer/MiTAC 6120 Notebook recovery,
Resistor values - why?, Output stage overdrive “choking” - a consideration
Nov 2010 Hum induction mechanism within valves by Tim Robbins
Jan 2010 Farfisa (revisited - reproducing a missing power supply)
Dec 2009 Microphonics in valves, Pot tapers
Sept 2009 Vibrators
June 2009 Solid-State Amp Repair - how to
“Electric Guitar Amplifier Handbook” 1965-73 by Jack Darr
Archive Up to New Amp Listings   Top or press your “Home” key
“In our book, anything above 1% harmonic distortion is gross.”
Silicon Chip reply to Sean Kerrigan re: valve preamp, Jan 2005

Overview

Why valves and not later technologies?
Not infatuated, just pragmatic.

Significant circuit collection
The stages of a typical valve guitar amplifier, from input to output. (large page, 26 circuits, 5 photos)
A walk-through tour of common period guitar amp practice.

Particular issues

Danger! sign Bringing the mains into the amplifier. No need to die for your art.

Heaters, wiring, and hum. Bright and quiet is good.

Internal signal grounding arrangements. Many amps can be noise-improved.

Pots or “volume controls”. Some characteristics.

Tonestacks, how they work, and some popular ones considered. Endless tinkering fun.

Stability problems in valve guitar amplifiers. Symptoms and what they mean.

Standby switching, why, and what's the best way? Some cherished guitarists myth exploded.

How to build stomp switches that are tough, neat, and road-worthy. A good first project.

Some reverb lines compared electrically. Operation in detail. Put the “boing” back in your amp.

Reverbs, tremolos, and other add-in's. Fit missing features.

Tremolo LFO filter for speaker “pumping” on older amps. A simple and effective solution.

Pickups - magnetic and piezo, as a signal source. The character of your amp signal source.

Variable Damping, current feedback, and “Damping Factor”. Sort the gems from the hype.

Applying 100-volt PA line transformers as valve output transformers, including examples.
New build or repair, this is the answer to a prayer.

Output stage “choking” under overdrive. Cause and possible solutions.

Data on larger transformers from A&R Sonar and Ferguson, power and output.
Some popular period tranny info.

Mains filters, theory, construction. Reduce “noises off” in performance and recording.

Decoding factory and date codes on old valves. Find where and when was it made.

Valve abuse, some failure modes illustrated.

Voltage regulator tubes data, applications, and some other gas tubes. These still turn up.

Theory (lite)

Resistors - why the strange values? Colours; and how they relate to your fretboard.

Hum mechanisms within valves - Tim Robbins investigates the causes.

Mixing and modulation theory - tremolo, vibrato, ring mixers, Leslie's.

Formants - how do all those frequencies go down one wire?

Not really tone but sonics, beer, cabinets, drivers, output stages. And sheep.

Do you break out in a cold sweat if somebody mentions maths? A phrasebook for tourists.

Etcettera

Vibrators in old battery operated gear. ID, operation, repair.

Generators and DIY stage power. Shows in the Bush.

Tape-loop echo units. Keeping them going.

Scope soldering irons, and some soldering and desoldering tips.

Valve-based test equipment - VTVM's, Oscillators, and CRO's

History and some really old valves (slow page, lotsa big pix).

What I really think of “High Fidelity”.

Silicon Chip 12AX7 preamp - why, and who for? Failed to exceed my already low expectations.

Plugpacks/wallwarts for musicians. Selection, and repair tips - FAQ.

A/B/C/D Switch/Fx selector - more than just an A/B box. A couple of design ideas for tinkerers.

Repairs

Found an old amp? Don't just plug it in! Read this first.

General

How to fix (almost) anything.

Faultfinding in valve amps.

Solid-State Amp Repair - output stage arrangements and repair techniques.

Danger! sign Electrolytic caps - How to bring up an old amp without fireworks.

Microphonics in valves. Some causes and cures.

Transformer Testing - Basic testing of power and output transformers.

Overheating transformer - fault diagnosis.

6DQ6 substitution in Goldies, Playmasters, Matons, etc.

“Electric Guitar Amplifier Handbook” 1965-73 by Jack Darr

Examples

XLR cable capers.

Gibson G-70 combo resurrection (S.S.).

Roland Cube-40 investigation (S.S.).

Farfisa Transicord Deluxe electronic piano accordion.
31/12/09 Power supplies for Transicord, Deluxe, and Compact.

Leem Pro 4-Channel mixer.

E-Mu Proteus/1 rack-mounting flagstone.

Roland D-50 Synth common socket fault.

The Superboard - the shortcomings of instruments. Calibration and standards.

MiTAC 6120 Notebook recovery. Blow by blow with Windows.   new-icon.jpg

Soft toy repair - put the cackle back in your Kooka.

Sony TA-1010 stereo amp (S.S.) - repair and mod.

Electric fence energiser repair.

Projects

Small but useful construction projects.

Circuit Bin

New: 7/7/11

Circuit collecton - a random collection of circuits for non-ANZ amps and stomps that the ANZ service tech might encounter, with comments. Many of the stomps are buildable.

Performing (etc)

Don't forget to connect the speaker before switching on!

Posters and other ways to promote your band.
   (what the Melbourne Hot-Rod Show 2006 organisers should have read before putting the dates and prices on their web site. ;)

Related chords for all major and minor keys; working out songs.

Transposing instruments, or why the brass is in “B-flat”.

Some of those moments when things go wrong on stage.

More moments when things go wrong (2).

More wrong (3) - greyplanet reviews the motherf**king death set.

New Years Eve 2001.

Electro-Quackery “Looks great, but whatsit do?”

The Worlds Biggest Guitar Amp

Sony BMG virused their music CD's? Yep. Read all about it on my omnibus blog. (Now archived on the WayBack Machine.)

Review of the Countdown Spectacular at the Rod Laver Arena 9/9/06.

“I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone,
but they've always worked for me”. Hunter S. Thompson

Directory

Bibliography - a list of books that people have found useful when working with valves.

Table of frequencies for musical notes.

Project numbering systems used by Australian electronics magazines. EA, SC, ETI, AEM, HE

A glossary of PA, lighting and stage terms.

ZIP files FAQ - The what, why and how of using ZIP files.

Links

Can't find it here? Selected links to valve data, circuits, circuit theory, and related material; with reviews.

Spread the word about AVA with this small poster you can print out for your favorite music shop or musicians hangout, cafe, laundrette, web shop, etc.

Put one on your fridge door for your mates.

Forums (Fora?)

ANZAmps Yahoo! group (requires simple free registration).

A single thread mainly frequented by amp techs and builders, and technically-inclined musicians.

Aussie Guitar Gear Heads forum (requires simple free registration).

Multiple threads on general equipment matters of interest to the serious guitarist.

Vale - the halt, the sick, and the lame, and obituaries.

Disclaimer - read this at least once.

The Fine Print:
While every care is taken to keep this compilation as accurate as possible, by its nature the information is presented “as-is” without warranty of any sort. It is intended only to provide assistance to those struggling with repairing an amplifier who have no other information. You should keep in mind that any information here may be wrong or misleading. Corrections are most welcome.

Privacy

I hate pop-ups, spam, marketing calls, junk mail, door knocking, trojan mailing list or address-book hacking or mis-use.
E-mails received may be quoted or used on this site and may be edited.
All contributions will be credited to the e-mail name unless otherwise requested.
Contributor e-mail addresses will not be published except by specific request.
Specific requests for information I can't directly supply may be forwarded with your e-mail address for direct reply to, an editor, contributor, or ANZamp forum.

I love to get your e-mails, but I am a technician, not a trader.
I do not buy or sell amps or parts nor provide valuations.

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Site URL (2010- ) - http://www.ozvalveamps.org/ - thanks to Andrew Krespanis
Mirror/archive (2010- ) - http://www.valvolux.com - thanks to Gavin Vance
2004-10 http://www.ozvalveamps.elands.com/ (offline) - thanks to Jeffrey Nicholls and the E-Crew
Mirror URL - http://www.ozvalveamps.lucidtone.com/ (offline) - thanks to Darren Inwood of Lucidtone in NZ
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