My name is Ben, and I am hopelessly infatuated with the Germino Club 40.

[Stratoben127]

This amp is too perfect. I feel that if given the opportunity to purchase one, I might combust in a ferocious ball of heavenly tone and happiness. No mortal being should have the ability to create such a device that makes my earholes as aroused as a 40 year old part-time Best Buy employee watching reruns of Baywatch while simultaneously devouring a box of Lean Pockets. I have a problem. Somebody please help me.


The GAS is starting to cause me physical harm, and is affecting my loved ones. If you would like to make a donation of one Germino Club 40 to help me in a time of need, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[Dave_C]

Here's my Germino. This should help you settle down. ;)

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/maz_master/photo.jpg

[Sirloin]

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x164/don_cipriani/56435b59.jpg

Sorry Ben...I'm broke

[lesterchopper]

I don't even gig. Just a silly hobby.

http://i575.photobucket.com/albums/ss195/dbusse/JS_Esquire-3.jpg

[flantrax]

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x164/don_cipriani/56435b59.jpg

Sorry Ben...I'm broke

Is yours in a small head cab? If so, where did you get it? I'd love one for mine...nice rig...

[Sirloin]

Is yours in a small head cab? If so, where did you get it? I'd love one for mine...nice rig...

Thats a CL45 in a mojotone 20 watt headbox with a vent in the top for heat.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x164/don_cipriani/8040611631539_ORIG.jpg

[Hand of Doom]

I know what you mean the C40 is awesome. I like the C45 even better.

[billyjett]

I gave four of them away last week. I got one left, but I would only give it to someone who really deserves it! Whoa, gotta go, Baywatch is on!

[tw6t6]

i want a club 40 too!
Sirloin...the set-up is something to behold. :aok

[davros]

I wish I could pour some medicinal cold water on that GAS of yours but unfortunately I can only make matters worse for you - it's an absolutely awesome amp (I have one)!

Life is too short to be without a Germino....

[tongski_02]

i feel you...that is why i ordered mine. should be ready in 3 months

[Stratoben127]

I was just thinking about the clean sounds that come from this thing and that I would almost rather boost it with pedals on top of that amazing clean sound for versatility and instead of choking it with an attenuator that I can't afford and cranking it for drive. This way, it would also be much easier to run delay into it. I have a Catalinbread DLS MkII, which is voiced to sound like a Marshall, and I LOVE it, but I'm not sure if it's better to run a Marshall Voiced pedal into it, or maybe a Transparent OD. I have a Fulldrive 2 and I really don't like the TS sound. It's never open enough for me and always seems to be lacking in lows and highs. I like running my fuzz into dirt for more sustain, and I don't know how well transparent ODs handle fuzz, but my DLS eats fuzz pedals up. What would you guys do as far as pedals into the Club 40 go? I occasionally do need higher gain sounds and I have an MJM Beano Boost which has a ton of gain, but I was thinking maybe a dual pedal that's two ODs/distortions in one. I love the KOT, but it's a bit out of my price range. A lot of the JHS stuff seems to be TS based on one side. Jetter stuff seems cool. Maybe even the Lovepedal Kalamazoo?

[MadFrank]

I personally love the KOT into my C45, altough for pure transparent gain and tone versatility, the Tim is really the one here and shines with this type of amp. The KOT will add mids and compression, which I like! Perhaps try out some other Bluesbreaker-type pedals. They sparkle and cut in a much more open way than a TS. JHS do a good one apparently, also the BabyBlues from Rockbox. I would bet the kalamazoo, or other 'K' types would work really well, too.

[big mike]

Great amps. You have good taste with gas

[Blunder]

I was just thinking about the clean sounds that come from this thing and that I would almost rather boost it with pedals on top of that amazing clean sound for versatility and instead of choking it with an attenuator that I can't afford and cranking it for drive. This way, it would also be much easier to run delay into it. I have a Catalinbread DLS MkII, which is voiced to sound like a Marshall, and I LOVE it, but I'm not sure if it's better to run a Marshall Voiced pedal into it, or maybe a Transparent OD.


Yeah, the cleans sounds from the Club 40 are really amazing. More so than I expected. The dirty tones are no slouch either. Really just a fantastic amp all around.

I run a DLS SB into a Marshall style amp (Emplexador 40) and am happy with the sounds I get. I mostly use the vintage setting on the Emplex. Amp set with a little bit of grit. The DLS and a treble booster gives me all kinds of good tones.

[Stratoben127]

My DLS with a treble booster is great! I'd love to try out a SB model. They became available a week after I got mine.

[bluesjuke]

Thats a CL45 in a mojotone 20 watt headbox with a vent in the top for heat.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x164/don_cipriani/8040611631539_ORIG.jpg


I like this setup!
No heat problems?

[Sirloin]

Nope...but I'm running short bottle TAD 6L6s too.

I use mine more as a clean/cleanish platform and use a Barber Ltd SR and Barber DD.

Heritage G12H75s are killer too.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x164/don_cipriani/Picture028.jpg

[Stratoben127]

My goal is to acquire a Club 40 by the end of the summer. I'm still not set on my dirt choice. I'm thinking maybe a KOT, but that's pricey. The new Prince of Tone seems like its right up my alley price-wise, and has a great design. Like I said, I already have a Catalinbread DLS MkII, and an MJM Dallas Boost. The MJM has a ton of gain in the full range "Cream" setting. Enough to make my 40 watt Hot Rod Deluxe break up with the amps volume on 2, and the pedals volume at about 7:30. That's like nothing, and it's not even that loud. When running it into my Dyna Comp with no compression, it breaks up even more. I think I'd rather have the DLS MkII for when I need a smaller rig. I would probably prefer running a slightly transparent OD like a Prince of Tone or something like that. I do like to have some compression and boost in midrange when using higher gain, like a real Marshall is when cranked up. I'll be running the amp at the edge of break up. I have a FD2, which I'm not a fan of. Too much Mids, and not enough highs and lows. I feel that it's quite nasally and boxy. I prefer a very open, airy sound.

[Hand of Doom]

Just don't crank the C40 up. Your pedals will become door stops.

[flantrax]

Thats a CL45 in a mojotone 20 watt headbox with a vent in the top for heat.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x164/don_cipriani/8040611631539_ORIG.jpg

Cool...thanks for the info...did you add the top vent or can Mojo do that as well?

[esoteric pete]

killer amps, thanks for the new sig ben.

[Stratoben127]

killer amps, thanks for the new sig ben.

YES.

[1moreknob]

Fulltone Plimsoul really shines with this style amp. I built at Metro JTM45 kit, whit is now a JTM50. I run it clean, and us a FD2 for light and medium gain, and the Plimsoul for heavy stuff

[Stratoben127]

Just sold my Plimsoul. Too dark. My DLS MkII was everything I liked about that, but fixed everything I didn't. I have a FD2 and I'm not a fan. Too nasally.

[Sirloin]

Cool...thanks for the info...did you add the top vent or can Mojo do that as well?

Ordered from MOjo with the top vent

[J.T. Guitar]

Awesome amps for sure!

http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh10/JT_Guitar/IMG_0008.jpg

[Carmen Ghia Pet]

Awesome amps for sure!

http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh10/JT_Guitar/IMG_0008.jpg

What cab is that? I thought it was a 100 watter on a 412 until I saw the amp beside it, and saw it looked more like a 50 watter. Am i right?

[J.T. Guitar]

What cab is that? I thought it was a 100 watter on a 412 until I saw the amp beside it, and saw it looked more like a 50 watter. Am i right?

Right you are my man... That is a Club 40 on a custom diagonal 2x12 built by Mr. K. Wright.

[cg]

Could not possibly love my Club 40 more!! A perfect amp for me.

[FREELESSONSNOW]

I am new to the land of germino. I recently picked up a Club 40 and classic 45. They are the only 2 amps that I have now. One is upstairs and the other is downstairs. Good luck with the gas. Once i got one, I had to get another.

[pjrhd28]

I also had both a C40 and a CL 45

I liked the C40

I loved the C45, and am kind of sniffing around for one now.

[Stratoben127]

Some of you guys are giving me GAS for a Classic 45! Maybe that would break up even earlier?

[big mike]

Earlier breakup, thicker, rounder woolier tone. Not as 'solid' a break up, looser low end.

[pjrhd28]

KT-66 Cleans (with the CL 45)

Nothing sounds like that......

[Stratoben127]

Hmmmm.... maybe that would be more useable. Why do you guys do this to me! I'm not a clean player by any means... but I wouldn't be cranking it either. I'd love to have both, but just one is pushing it. A LoVo C45 might do what I want and give up the goods earlier.

[big mike]

Well,you want later tight crisp marshall tone, or earlier, loose Beano era marshall tone?

[Stratoben127]

Umm... A little of both? Haha. I guess earlier Cream, Beano, Are You Experienced? Kind of stuff would be more along the lines of what I'm looking for. That's all JTM45 or JTM45/100s, right? The thing is, Allmans, BOG, and Kossoff stuff might not be as easy to get. The clips on Greg's site are all great! His clips do a good job at showing the differences in all the amps, yet they all sound great. The C45 is definitely woolier and a little less defined. I think Les Pauls sound better through the C40 and Strats are better through the C45. I do like the LP tone from the C45 though.

[pjrhd28]

I NEVER had my CL 45 dialed in for Beano tones, although that's clearly the benchmark JTM 45 tone (or at least one of them). I just don't care for that "wooly" tone. Iprefer much less bass and much more mids. More Angus like snarl.

But clean or edge of breakup with a strat, there is just something magic about those KT-66 tube in the JTM-45 platform. Like the ones on the Germino website where the guy has the gold strat.

[DICKIE C]

Umm... A little of both? Haha. I guess earlier Cream, Beano, Are You Experienced? Kind of stuff would be more along the lines of what I'm looking for. That's all JTM45 or JTM45/100s, right? The thing is, Allmans, BOG, and Kossoff stuff might not be as easy to get. The clips on Greg's site are all great! His clips do a good job at showing the differences in all the amps, yet they all sound great. The C45 is definitely woolier and a little less defined. I think Les Pauls sound better through the C40 and Strats are better through the C45. I do like the LP tone from the C45 though.
Strats sound good thru the club40 too. Do what I recommended in another thread. Save yer dough, buy the club40. especially if you 'want a little of both'. You can switch between tube abd ss rectification.

BTW, I own a C45. Great amp. ;)

[LPMojoGL]

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x164/don_cipriani/56435b59.jpg

Sorry Ben...I'm broke

Lovely LP! Does your Barber DD sound anything like the amp's natural breakup?

[FREELESSONSNOW]

I think Les Pauls sound better through the C40 and Strats are better through the C45. I do like the LP tone from the C45 though.

That is exactly how I feel and what my ears tell me. The strat sounds best through the C45 although it sounds wonderful through the C40. My les paul sounds sweeter through the C40. Although, through my c45, the aggressive blues breaker tones are hard to equal.

[Sirloin]

Lovely LP! Does your Barber DD sound anything like the amp's natural breakup?

Not really. It's more "dense" if that makes sense. Not too compressed but still different. DDs are killer live. Now the Barber LTD SR can sound more like the amp of you tweek it right. Unfortunately, they are discontinued. I have both.

[Blind Dog]

Actually, Greg stopped using the switchable rectifier for the Club 40.

[LPMojoGL]

Not really. It's more "dense" if that makes sense. Not too compressed but still different. DDs are killer live. Now the Barber LTD SR can sound more like the amp of you tweek it right. Unfortunately, they are discontinued. I have both.


Thanks!

[Stratoben127]

Is there any way to either slightly tighten up a Classic 45, or slightly loosen up a Club 40 and lower the headroom? I think ultimately a C45 might do what I want more easily than a Club 40, but I don't want to feel like I'm missing out if I chose not to get a C40.

[big mike]

Put 6l6s in it.

[Stratoben127]

In the classic 45?

[Sirloin]

In the classic 45?

Yep. I run them in my Classic 45.

[DICKIE C]

I'm currently running 6l6s in my C45 also.

[saltydogg]

Actually, Greg stopped using the switchable rectifier for the Club 40.

Any idea what the stock rectifier will now be? Solid state I'm guessing?

I picked up a 2011 C40 and a Germino 1x12 (ASW KTS 70) about 10 days ago from TGPer "1987x". Fantastic amp/rig. The big test will be tomorrow night at rehearsal. Looking forward to opening this amp up for 3+ hours.

I'm gonna start with using the tube rectifier and, if I can remember, switch over to solid state later. Curious to see how long the clean headroom will hang in there for..

The C40 does a nice job with dirt pedals sand modulation but, nothing compares to the Monterey in that department.

What power tubes are you C40 owners using?

[jboyjams]

The website says the recifier is ss, but can also be built with the tube.

Anybody know why the switch is no longer available?

[Hand of Doom]

Any idea what the stock rectifier will now be? Solid state I'm guessing?

I picked up a 2011 C40 and a Germino 1x12 (ASW KTS 70) about 10 days ago from TGPer "1987x". Fantastic amp/rig. The big test will be tomorrow night at rehearsal. Looking forward to opening this amp up for 3+ hours.

I'm gonna start with using the tube rectifier and, if I can remember, switch over to solid state later. Curious to see how long the clean headroom will hang in there for..

The C40 does a nice job with dirt pedals sand modulation but, nothing compares to the Monterey in that department.

What power tubes are you C40 owners using?


Mullard xf2 from the early 60's

[JPW]

The website says the recifier is ss, but can also be built with the tube.

Anybody know why the switch is no longer available?

I believe they are still made standard with the switch for both rectifiers. As an option you can have it built with either tube or SS rectifier alone. That is what i'm pickin up on the description. Is says it is 425 volts in SS mode. With the tube rectifier it would be more like 405 volts.

[chillytc]

The website says the recifier is ss, but can also be built with the tube.

Anybody know why the switch is no longer available?

Greg will let you choose one or the other. I believe he said the switchable version had some issue that put it in conflict with some European environmental law or something like that (maybe the switch isn't RoHS compliant?). Not 100% sure I'm remembering that right, but I think I am.

[Summerisle]

Good Lord, never heard of these amps but after hearing those clips... the sound is fantastic!! Too bad it'll probably cost me the same as the amp again to get one shipped here :/

[MadFrank]

Is there any way to either slightly tighten up a Classic 45, or slightly loosen up a Club 40 and lower the headroom? I think ultimately a C45 might do what I want more easily than a Club 40, but I don't want to feel like I'm missing out if I chose not to get a C40.

I agree with all the reccomendations to run it with 6L6's. I re-biased my C45 with them recently and really like the results. Although I did give myself an electric shock doing it, it was worth it! :omg

Greg also installed the SS/tube rectifier switch into my C45 as a request. Very useful, as it tightens up the tone, specifically the bass, some, and reduces the 'sag' a little, without really affecting the overall tone much at all. It's more of a 'feel' difference.

[Blind Dog]

Greg told me that the rectifier decision was based several reasons. Basically, it had to do with CE certification issues, patent issues, and staying true to JMP 50 which were primarily solid state. The option still stands but tube needs to be requested for early spec versions. Hope this helps, but obviously talking to Greg is the best bet.

[JPW]

So the Lead 55 LoVo only comes with a tube rectifier now and no SS unlest requested, but not both?

[Stratoben127]

No. The Club 40 comes with SS, tube by request. The Lead 55 LoVo was always SS or a switch (early ones), being a later '68 style circuit.

[jboyjams]

"The Lead 55LV™ model is delivered stock with optional tube/ss rectifier switching."

I've been contemplating the Club 40 vs. the Lead 55LV - I wonder if it's possible to get the Club 40 with the switch upon request, or if that's now only an option for the LV55.

[Sirloin]

The Lead 55 LoVo was always SS or a switch (early ones), being a later '68 style circuit.

My 2010 Lead 55 LV with both SS and Tube rectifier:

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x164/don_cipriani/guts_left.jpg

[JPW]

"The Lead 55LV™ model is delivered stock with optional tube/ss rectifier switching."

I've been contemplating the Club 40 vs. the Lead 55LV - I wonder if it's possible to get the Club 40 with the switch upon request, or if that's now only an option for the LV55.
If there is an issue with the switch on the Club 40 there will be an issue with the switch on the Lead 55. They are almost identical except for the preamp sections. I have an older 2006 lead 55 LoVo that is tube rectified only, But at 425 volts on the plates it is more of a medium volt Lead 55.