Germino Masonette - Just Got Mine

[LPMojoGL]

Waiting for me when I got home was ebeneezer's old Germino Masonette.
Thanks man!

So, there is no way that this is only 25 watts. It's LOUD!
I only played it briefly through my 2x12 with V30s, but it was enough to find some great clean and crunch tone, not to mention make my ears ring.
It's time to find some less efficient speakers (M75!) and possibly an attenuator.

I can't wait to spend some more time cranking this amp.

 

[TonyBony]

Congratulations on your new amp. I had a Masonette for a few years and it was one of my favorite amps.

 

[MightyGuru]

I have a 22 watt plexi head..not a Germino...but Marshall-toned through and through...loud, baby...very loud.

It's a great wattage....dime it and let the shenanigans ensue.

 

[ebenezer]

Yeah, it's definitely not an amp you'd wanna crank at home. A perfect amp for clubs though. I almost never had to use an attenuator when playing out. Now when playing at church or home......that was another story.
Congrats on the amp. You really have a great sounding one. I'm glad the amp went to someone who will appreciate it. Rock on!!

 

[LPMojoGL]

Thanks!
Yeah, this amp is loud, but I'm able to tolerate it at the sweet spot much better than the JMP 2204 or JCM 4104 amps I briefly had.
I have an M75 on the way to hopefully knock the volume down a notch, plus I've wanted to try one for a while, so that's fun.
The crunch is what I was after compared to the JMP and JCM, the JVM I have, or the DSL50 and Slash sig I had. That's my first impression, any way.
Seems like the perfect amp for blues and classic rock tones. The clean is nice, too.

I'm curious, since I've always preferred master volume amps...
How do you guys running nmv amps use them? Pedals? Attenuators? Straight to the amp and that's it?

 

[StevenS]

I've got a few NMV amps and you can either run them clean with pedals, or ramp them up to get that sound we all love.

I have a Germino Lead 55LV that I just love, but like you, it's way too loud for most applications.
I had a DrZ Airbrake that would work very well to tame it down a couple of notches so it wouldn't take your head off.
I recently replaced it with an Aracom Attenuator, and I have to say there is quite a difference between the two.

The Aracom will take it down to conversation levels and still retain excellent tone.
It's quite a bit more money than the DrZ but it's a great rig.

 

[MightyGuru]

Thanks!
Yeah, this amp is loud, but I'm able to tolerate it at the sweet spot much better than the JMP 2204 or JCM 4104 amps I briefly had.
I have an M75 on the way to hopefully knock the volume down a notch, plus I've wanted to try one for a while, so that's fun.
The crunch is what I was after compared to the JMP and JCM, the JVM I have, or the DSL50 and Slash sig I had. That's my first impression, any way.
Seems like the perfect amp for blues and classic rock tones. The clean is nice, too.

I'm curious, since I've always preferred master volume amps...
How do you guys running nmv amps use them? Pedals? Attenuators? Straight to the amp and that's it?

I usually have a fuzz and an overdrive/boost when I play this rig out. I use my guitar's volume knob a lot too. Play rhythm on 7 then dime it for solos or crunchy rhythm.

One pedal that sounds sooo freaking amazing with this amp...my Addrock Electric Smile...octavia type thing...amazing. The Octavia type pedals don't work very well with preamp gain monsters or Fender amps even...but in front of a Plexi....wow!

 

[LPMojoGL]

I just played through the 2x12 again. Started out with channels jumpered, both volumes at 9 o'clock, neck pup of LP, great bluesy rhythm tones. Turning the treble side up to 12 o'clock, nice barely breaking up crunchy tone. Turning it up just past 1 o'clock, nice AC/DC rock n roll rhythm. Hitting that with a boost, insanity.
Awesome tone.
But it's so freaking loud!
How can 2 6v6s be so brutal?
This thing would drown out an AC15. Or a Budda SD18. 1974x copy. Fender Supersonic 22. Or a PV Classic 30. Or a whole list of amps with similar or even more wattage.
I'm kinda floored by the muscle of this thing.

 

[ebenezer]

Yeah the Masonette is not for the home player. It needs to be played out as it definitely has muscle!

 

[LPMojoGL]

I've been playing this amp clean, at quieter volumes for the past few hours.
The woody sound and detail is amazing. It's like my Les Paul purely amplified. It sounds just like it does unplugged, but bigger and warmer.
I haven't played straight up clean for this long since I can't remember...

Kinda makes me wanna get some dirt pedals and mess around.
I bet a Riot or Reeza would sound killer through this.

 

[LPMojoGL]

 

[wedewer]

Am I wrong, but wasn't this up in the emporium, yesterday or the day before?

 

[flcmcya]

Still there and I still want it!

 

[LPMojoGL]

Am I wrong, but wasn't this up in the emporium, yesterday or the day before?

Yep, got it a week ago.
It is now in the emporium.
Nothing wrong with it. It's a beautiful sounding amp.
Just not a home amp.

Although I was able to get some really great clean sounds last night with the volume barely cracked. And it takes drive pedals wonderfully well.
I'm liking it more and more, even at lower volumes.
I might end up keeping it if someone doesn't buy it soon!

 

[LPMojoGL]

Dude take that tesla in v3 and put it in v1
Move the JJ to v2 and the eh in v3


Thank me later

Take one down and pass it around?
Cool man, I'll try it tomorrow when I can put the volume up.
I just recorded some cool stuff at low volumes with cheap pedals.
I know it probably sounds stupid, but even at low volumes, this amp is alive.

 

[LPMojoGL]

yo Big Mike,

Sounds good!
I actually ended up with the JJ in the pi slot, and after testing the jj, ehx, tung sol ri and GE tube, the GE took the v2 spot. It was more musical than the rest. The Tung Sol was a close second with a ratty nature when cranked that was really fun.

So thanks! My ears are ringing.
The delivery man is on the way with a Scumback M75. We'll see how that changes things...

 

[Frank Speak]

Where is V1 on the Germinos (info I might need sometime)? Is it like Fender where V1 is the closest to the power tubes? It's been so long since I had my blackface amps I don't even remember if that's right or not. Lol

p.s. Congrats to the op on the new amp purchase.

 

[LPMojoGL]

Yeah, the tesla is in the V1 spot per your suggestion. Nice.
No attenuator. I've read alot about them and was considering the Alex or Rivera.
The only attenuators I've ever encountered are those built in to the THD amps, which I believe is the hot plate? I did not like what they did to the tone at all.
Will one of the two attenuators I mentioned allow lower volumes without touching the tone the way the THDs did?

Thanks, Frank Speak!
I initially was bummed about this amp because of the loudness needed to achieve rocking tones.
But, I'm having fun recording it at lower volumes and blasting it during the day when noone is home.
It's currently listed in the emporium, but I'm working my way to keeping it. I'm thinking that this with pedals might be more fun than the JVM for lower volumes, and cranked it's no contest, the Germino sounds so much better.

 

[Frank Speak]

Thanks! Yes, it has a big tube on the far right, and then a blue canister looking thing. I think both are rectifiers? I know the tube is, and I know it has a SS rectifier too. There's a switch on the side of the chasis that is accessible through a cutout in the back panel. I've only messed with it a couple of times. I leave it in the up position (Greg said that's the tube setting).

 

[wrxplayer]

Yep, got it a week ago.
It is now in the emporium.
Nothing wrong with it. It's a beautiful sounding amp.
Just not a home amp.

Although I was able to get some really great clean sounds last night with the volume barely cracked. And it takes drive pedals wonderfully well.
I'm liking it more and more, even at lower volumes.
I might end up keeping it if someone doesn't buy it soon!

Sorry it remains on the fence. A nice inexpensive attenuator that works great cutting some volume is the Brake Lite from Dr. Z. Doesn't get you to quiet levels but retains good tone for the first three clicks.

Should you decide to move on, I'd suggest you check out a Suhr Badger 18. It's the best amp I've ever played for thick English tones and crystal cleans at "home" volumes levels and is also up to the task of gigging in small clubs.

Good luck.