[kpgraham]

I repair tube guitar amplifiers from time to time, and I cringe when I see the 50L6 power tube and the 35Z4 rectifier. These tubes light up like lightbulbs, and run so hot that the amplifier case is often charred near them. The chassis shows staining from the heat, and the plastic tube socket can even melt. These amps always hum because the same reasoning that goes for the cheap on the circuit design also uses cheap and low value capacitors. I hate these circuits. Several times I've gutted the chassis, screwed a power transformer in place and wired the amp as a tweed champ, Gibson Skylark or Premier 50, so I have a chassis with the right number of tube sockets and pots, and I get a brand-new vintage amp for the cost of a used transformer. I have a Gretsch amp that had two 50L6 tubes, that made a beautiful 1957 Fender Pro amp and sounds wonderful.