Guitars Amps Pedals
logo

Email Us

Hand-Wired Tube Amplifiers

Wednesday, 07 January 2009 18:57

[de Lisle Nickel Box] [de Lisle 15P] [de Lisle 15P Studio] [de Lisle 30P] [de Lisle 35P]

Share | |


de Lisle amplifiers are built on-site from start to finish--including cabinets and chassis. We use top quality components, and we stand behind our work with a lifetime warranty. Be sure to check out our reviews to see what others are saying about their de Lisle products. Also, visit the Why Buy Our Gear? page for more details about our commitment to you. Please contact us should you have any questions.

Available Options Include: XLR out, unbalanced line out with level control, extension out, ground lift, headphone jack / attenuated output, dc heater supply, dc balance pot for push-pull power tubes, our unique reverb circuit and a tube buffered effects loop that features series/parallel operation in addition to send, mix and phase control. A tube rectifier is available on all amplifiers. Contact us for lead-times and pricing.

de Lisle Nickel Box ™ Tube Amp



click to view the slideshow

The de Lisle Nickel Box is a cathode biased 5 watt single-ended design that features an EF86 preamp tube fronted by a 12AX7 twin-triode. Output is powered by an EL84, which puts out just over 5 watts at the onset of clipping. It's also available with a 6V6.

The low wattage makes it a great practice or recording amp. There is a convenient line-out jack on the bottom of the chassis for plugging into a console. The speaker can safely be unplugged for late-night recording sessions. The bright and punchy output through a 12" Eminence Private Jack speaker allows the de Lisle Nickel Box to sound much larger on tape (or disc). We opted for a larger, solid pine cabinet to avoid the "boxy" sound typically associated with low wattage amps. In fact, the Nickel Box cabinet is about the same size as a vintage Vox AC15 TV. This speaker and cabinet combination allows the amp to sound open, full and rich.

The clean tones are sparkly and complex with a good amount of level. When pushed, or when the gain switch is flipped, the overdrive can be thick and creamy or bright and edgy. But it's voiced to overdrive without getting muddy. This filtering is aided by a modified "James" style passive tone stack which allows the player to tailor a wide range of bass and treble frequencies around mids.

The Nickel Box is also a very quiet amp. Preamp grid wires are shielded to extraneous noise. We use a "galactic" star grounding scheme to keep hum and noise from entering the signal path. We also use a DC elevated heater supply in addition to a balance pot to eliminate filament hum.

We're also happy to announce that the Nickel Box is now available with tube driven reverb. Reverb models feature an Accutronics tank with rear-mounted dwell and level controls.

The Nickel Box is hand-built right here in our workshop using only high quality components. Here are some of this amp's features:

• 5 Watts
• Power Switch
• Standby Switch
• Volume Control
• Treble Control
• Bass Control
• Single Input
• Line-level Out
• Gain Switch
• CTS Pots
• Carling Switches
• Isolated Cliff Jacks
• JJ/Tesla 12AX7 Preamp Tube
• NOS EF86 Preamp Tube
• JJ/Tesla EL84 Output Tube
• Cathode Biased
• Eminence Private Jack 12" Speaker
• US Made Transformers
• Hand-Wired
• Star Grounding
• Shielded Input/Grid Wiring
• Sprague and Mallory Capacitors
• Aluminum Chassis
• Dimensions: 20.75 X 20 X 9.75
• Solid Pine Cabinet with Dovetail Joinery
• Ivory Tolex Covering
• Brown Grillcloth
DE LISLE NICKEL BOX MANUAL (PDF)
Bryan in SC on his Nickel Box Combo

"As I have played it more over the past week, I am so impressed by something I can't explain very well. I just get this feeling that I am hearing exactly what noise the guitar is making and nothing else. There is an absolute clarity to each tone that is amazing - I find myself playing one note and just listening to it!"

John in Tx via email on his Nickel Box Combo


click to view the slideshow

Audio Samples

Dirty Nickel

Recorded with a Nady tube condenser mic into a Yamaha MD-8 with the EQ flat. The guitar is a de Lisle Standard equipped with TV Jones Classics. The guitar is plugged directly into the amp. The treble is set around 2 o'clock, the bass at 12 o'clock, and the volume at 3 o'clock. No effects were used during recording or mixdown.

Shiny Nickel

Recorded with a Nady tube condenser mic into a Xenyx 802 mixer out to laptop running Audacity. The guitar is a de Lisle Standard equipped with TV Jones Classics. The guitar is plugged directly into the amp. The treble is set around 2 o'clock, the bass at 3 o'clock, and the volume is between 1 and 2 o'clock. No effects were used during recording or mixdown.

More to come!

Nickel Box Combo: $679.00-$799.00 + Shipping
Lead-time is approximately four weeks.

Please enter your five digit US postal code and click the Calculate Shipping button to determine shipping costs. This amount will be added to your order should you click the Buy button.

 
Nickel Box Head: $599.00-$719.00 + Shipping
Lead-time is approximately four weeks.
 


de Lisle 15P ™ Tube Amp

click to view the slideshow

"I am 100% pleased with this amp." "...most likely one of the finest 15 watt amps out there." That's how players have described the de Lisle 15P. We are humbled by those words, and we are thrilled by the feedback we have received.

Just like our previous models, the 15P is an original de Lisle design. The Hi/Lo gain inputs is where the journey starts. Our unique preamp features an EF86 fronted by a 12AX7 twin-triode. From there the signal is fed to the rugged 12AT7 which takes on phase inverting duties. Output power is provided by a pair of EL84s. In the standard configuration, a single 12" Eminence Private Jack sits behind the TV front cabinet putting out beautiful, textured tones. We chose the Private Jack note only for its great sound, but also for its sensitivity. An efficient speaker really allows the amp to open up. The 15P is also available with the slightly more sensitive Eminence Red Fang speaker. Either way, the 15P can deliver the goods in the loudness category.

It's crisp and bright without being harsh and voiced to overdrive without getting muddy. Good power supply filtering and solid state rectification help deliver a solid bottom end, too. A modified James-style tone stack allows the player to tailor bass and treble frequencies. The slope is adjustable with the Contour control. Tone shaping and the gain structure are also manipulated by the EF86's Tri-Pent control. This pot allows the tube to function as either a triode or a pentode with variable screen compression in between.

We have taken several steps to ensure that your tone is what comes through the speaker: sheilded wiring, star grounding, a DC elevated heater supply, and a sensible gain structure ensure a very quiet EF86-based preamp. This model also features a switched negative feedback circuit to reduce gain/noise and flatten frequency response. This feature, along with the Tri-Pent control, allows the player to go from classic British tones to American-style with just a flip and a twist.

The 15P is hand-built right here in our workshop using only high quality components. Both the combo and head versions are housed in a road-ready solid pine cabinet constructed with dovetail joinery. Board components are mounted on a turrets for ease of service and reliability. It's a versatile, professional piece of gear at a price many players can afford. Here's a list of features:

• 15 Watts
• Power Switch
• Standby Switch
• Volume Control
• Treble Control
• Contour Control
• Bass Control
• NOS EF86 Tri-Pentode
• Negative Feedback Switch
• Master Volume
• Hi/Lo Inputs
• CTS Pots
• Carling Switches
• Isolated Cliff Jacks
• DC Elevated Heater Supply
• JJ/Tesla 12AX7 Preamp Tube
• NOS EF86 Preamp Tube
• JJ/Tesla 12AT7 PI Tube
• JJ/Tesla EL84 Output Tubes
• Solid State Rectifier
• Cathode Bias
• Eminence 12" Speaker
• US Made Transformers
• Hand-Wired
• Star Grounding
• Shielded Input/Grid Wiring
• Sprague and Mallory Capacitors
• Aluminum Chassis
• Dimensions: 21 5/8 X 20 X 11, 39 lbs.
• Solid Pine Cabinet with Dovetail Joinery
• Ivory Tolex Covering
• Brown Grillcloth
DE LISLE 15P MANUAL (PDF)

"I am 100% pleased with this amp."
Wayne in MN commenting on his custom de Lisle 15P head.

"...most likely one of the finest 15 watt amps out there."
Dan in KS commenting on his de Lisle 15P Combo.



15P Combo: $1,049.00-$1,429.00 + Shipping
Lead-time is approximately four weeks.

Please enter your five digit US postal code and click the Calculate Shipping button to determine shipping costs. This amount will be added to your order should you click the Buy button.

 
15P Head: $899.00-$1,049.00 + Shipping
Lead-time is approximately four weeks.
 


de Lisle 15P Studio ™ Tube Amp

click to view the slideshow

The Studio is based on the original 15P, but it includes a number of additions. (Items unique to the 15P Studio appear in bold below.)

The Studio comes standard with our own "transformerless" reverb circuit, which is a great sounding and quiet version of this classic effect.

This amp is also the first de Lisle model to feature a tube buffered FX loop. Both the send and return jacks have corresponding level controls. The return mix control is actually a multi-function pot. In addition to mixing the wet and dry signals, it's duties include series/parallel operation, phase, and gain (when no effects are connected). The latter allows the EF86 to be overdriven to a greater degree than the stock 15P since the signal is amplified slightly before entering the loop.

The rear panel features both a balanced (XLR) transformer-isolated output and an unbalanced (1/4") output with a common level control. Either output can be used with or without a speaker load. The XLR output requires a larger signal to give us the required output level, so we have incorporated the 1/4" / XLR toggle switch to bump up the source voltage.

The speaker can be safely unplugged for late night practicing through the headphone jack, which also doubles as an attenuated output when a speaker is connected to it.

Just like our previous models, the 15P Studio is an original de Lisle design. The Hi/Lo gain inputs is where the journey starts. Our preamp features an EF86 fronted by a 12AX7 twin-triode. The rugged 12AT7 takes on phase inverting duties. Output power is provided by a pair of EL84s.

It's crisp and bright without being harsh and voiced to overdrive without getting muddy. Good power supply filtering and solid state rectification help deliver a solid bottom end, too. A modified James-style tone stack allows the player to tailor bass and treble frequencies. The slope is adjustable with the Contour control. Tone shaping and the gain structure are also manipulated by the EF86's Tri-Pent control. This pot allows the tube to function as either a triode or a pentode with variable screen compression in between. The master volume control is a unique post-phase inverter design that has no affect on tone when in the full clock-wise position. Our set up also eliminates the sensitivity issues that can affect the usefulness of other designs.

We have taken several steps to ensure that your tone is what comes through the speaker: shielded wiring, star grounding, a DC heater supply, and a sensible gain structure ensure a very quiet EF86-based preamp. This model also features a switched negative feedback circuit to reduce gain/noise and flatten frequency response. This feature, along with the Tri-Pent control, allows the player to go from classic British tones to American-style with just a flip and a twist.

The 15P Studio is hand-built right here in our workshop using only high quality components. It's housed in a road-ready solid pine cabinet constructed with dovetail joinery. Board components are mounted on a turrets for ease of service and reliability. (Like all de Lisle products, it comes with a lifetime warranty.) It's a versatile, professional piece of gear at a price many players can afford.

Here's a list of features:

• 15 Watts
• Power Switch
• Standby Switch
• Volume Control
• Treble Control
• Contour Control
• Bass Control
• EF86 Tri-Pentode
• Negative Feedback Switch
• Master Volume
• Hi/Lo Inputs
• CTS Pots
• Carling Switches
• Isolated Cliff Jacks
• JJ/Tesla 12AX7 Preamp Tube
• NOS EF86 Preamp Tube
• JJ/Tesla 12AT7 PI Tube
• JJ/Tesla EL84 Output Tubes
• Cathode Bias
• Solid State Rectifier
• 8 and 16 Ohm Taps
• US Made Transformers
• Hand-Wired, Turret Board Construction
• Star Grounding
• Shielded Input/Grid Wiring
• Sprague and Mallory Capacitors
• Aluminum Chassis
• Dimensions: 21.25 X 10 X 9.25, 25 lbs.
• Solid Pine Cabinet with Dovetail Joinery
Silver Plated Copper / TFE Teflon Wire
Tube Rectifier Sag Emulation
DC Heater Supply
Preamp Boost Switch
Tube Driven Reverb
Reverb Level / Foot Switch Jack
Tube Buffered Series / Parallel FX Loop
Send Level, Mix / Phase Controls
Transformer Isolated XLR Out with Ground Lift
Lineout
Lineout / XLR Voltage Switch
Lineout / XLR Level Control
Headphone / Attenuated Ouput Jack
DE LISLE 15P STUDIO MANUAL (PDF)


15P Studio: $1,199.00 + Shipping
Lead-time is approximately four weeks.

Please enter your five digit US postal code and click the Calculate Shipping button to determine shipping costs. This amount will be added to your order should you click the Buy button.

 


de Lisle 30P ™ Tube Amp

The de Lisle 30P is a 30 watt push-pull design. The preamp features our signature arrangement--an EF86 preamp tube fronted by a 12AX7 twin-triode. Gain in this section is extremely flexible. The Boost switch on the 12AX7 and Pentode/Triode switch for the EF86 allow for a wide range of harmonic content. Turn the Boost off and put the EF86 in Triode mode for some sparkly cleans. Both stages have their own gain pot.

Output is powered by four EL84 tubes, which are preceded by a 12AT7 long-tailed-pair phase inverter. Rectification is solid state with a passive sag circuit which offers solid state reliability and tube-style compression. The 30P puts out 30 watts, but also features a half power switch to drop output down to 15 watts. This is a "true" half power switch in that both the bias and the plate load are affected to maintain frequency response.

A US made, 12" Eminence Private Jack speaker comes standard. The 30P is also available with an Eminence Red Fang, which features a 35 oz. AlNiCo magnet. The combo version is housed in a large, solid pine cabinet constructed with dovetail joinery and a TV front. Our classic cream and brown color scheme is carried over from our earlier designs.

It's voice is unmistakeably de Lisle: crisp, bright, and voiced to overdrive without getting muddy or harsh. This filtering is aided by a variation of the "James" tone stack, which allows the player to tailor bass and treble frequencies. The slope is also adjustable with the Contour control.

The 30P is hand-built right here in our workshop using only high quality components. Here are some of this amp's features:

• 30/15 Watts
• Power Switch
• Standby Switch
• Volume Control
• Treble Control
• Contour Control
• Bass Control
• Master Volume
• Hi/Lo Inputs
• Half Power Switch
• CTS Pots
• Carling Switches
• Isolated Cliff Jacks
• DC Elevated Heater Supply
• JJ/Tesla 12AX7 Preamp Tube
• NOS EF86 Preamp Tube
• JJ/Tesla 12AT7 PI Tube
• JJ/Tesla EL84 Output Tubes
• Solid State Rectifier
• Cathode Bias
• Eminence 12" Speaker
• US Made Transformers
• Hand-Wired
• Star Grounding
• Shielded Input/Grid Wiring
• Sprague and Mallory Capacitors
• Aluminum Chassis
• Dimensions: 20.75 X 20 X 9.75
• Solid Pine Cabinet with Dovetail Joinery
• Ivory Tolex Covering
• Brown Grillcloth
DE LISLE 30P MANUAL (PDF)

30P Samples

Check out our Youtube page for a few demos.


30P Combo: $1,349.00-$1,729.00 + Shipping
Lead-time is approximately four weeks.

Please enter your five digit US postal code and click the Calculate Shipping button to determine shipping costs. This amount will be added to your order should you click the Buy button.

 
30P Head: $1,199.00-$1,399.00 + Shipping
Lead-time is approximately four weeks.
 


de Lisle 35P ™ Tube Amp

• 35W Push-Pull / 12W Single-Ended
• Power Switch / Standby Switch
• Volume Control
• Treble Control
• Contour Control
• Bass Control
• Master Volume
• Hi/Lo Inputs
• Half Power Switch
• CTS Pots
• Carling Switches
• Isolated Cliff Jacks
• DC Elevated Heater Supply
• JJ/Tesla 12AX7 Preamp Tube
• NOS EF86 Preamp Tube
• JJ/Tesla 12AT7 PI Tube
• JJ/Tesla EL34 Output Tubes (2)
• Solid State Rectifier
• Cathode Bias
• Eminence Wizard 12" Speaker
• US Made Transformers
• Hand-Wired
• Star Grounding
• Shielded Input/Grid Wiring
• Sprague and Mallory Capacitors
• Aluminum Chassis
• Dimensions: 20.75 X 20 X 9.75
• Solid Pine Cabinet with Dovetail Joinery
• Ivory Tolex Covering
• Brown Grillcloth

35P Combo: $1,349.00-$1,549.00 + Shipping
Lead-time is approximately four weeks.

Please enter your five digit US postal code and click the Calculate Shipping button to determine shipping costs. This amount will be added to your order should you click the Buy button.

 
35P Head: $1,199.00-$1,399.00 + Shipping
Lead-time is approximately four weeks.
 


Last Updated ( Monday, 30 August 2010 01:50 )