NAD... Straub

[Red_Label]

So I've been mainly doing modern rock/metal for a the past couple of years and currently own an Engl Powerball II and Marshall DSL50 (owned Bogner Shiva, XTC Classic, VHT UL before those).

But I'm starting to play around with country and classic rock again and decided to pick this used Straub up at my local dealer. Dunno much about it though, as it has a pair of 6L6s and the Straub site only shows an EL34 model (and an 18 watt model). If anyone could tell me more about this amp, that would be much appreciated. Wondering if I can put EL34s in there and try those without causing issues (I do have a set of bias probes and have biased my old Shiva, XTC, etc in the past).

I'm running it into a 4X12 cab loaded with a pair of V30s and T75s in an X-pattern. Sounds great. VERY LOUD with tons of clean headroom. Though it does get a nice edge-of-breakup slightly "hairy" thing going. Reminds me of the Twin Reverb I used to have. Running a Carl Martin Plexitone into the front of it for OD tones and pretty happy with those. Also using an MXR Dyna Comp for squishy Brad Paisley type lead stuff.

 

[tubetone74]

Didn't Rory Gallagher use Straub amps at one time? Or was it Stramp??? I think they were German made.

 

[flcmcya]

Go here and Harry will hook you up. mailto:[email protected]

Great amp and a great guy to deal with.

Had a prob with an amp, day before thanksgiving a couple years ago...

He goes "Bring it on over and I'll check it out!

Thats customer service!

 

[Red_Label]

Go here and Harry will hook you up. mailto:[email protected]

Great amp and a great guy to deal with.

Had a prob with an amp, day before thanksgiving a couple years ago...

He goes "Bring it on over and I'll check it out!

Thats customer service!

Nice! Thanks. I wasn't sure if he was still around as it looks like his site hasn't been updated in several years. I'll shoot him an email.

 

[Red_Label]

Hmmm... must not be checking his email anymore. Email was rejected due to a full mailbox on his end.

 

[flcmcya]

Hey Red ... PM'd Ya

Would be worth asking about the 6l6's.

 

[Red_Label]

Thanks bud!

 

[ugameus]

I have a Straub Cantus. It is an incredible amp. Mine has el34's and does not remind me at all of the twin I had. Mine has mercury iron and upgraded caps. Apparently it was some sort of custom job. It is possible yours is as well.

I have contacted Harry and he has been very helpful even though I didn't buy the amp new from him. In fact I shot him some bias questions a few months back and he responded very quickly. Maybe he is on vacation?

Anyway, the amp is awesome. I play mine through a pair of Scholz and it is a beast. I call it my disto-box. It has great cleans, if you like plexi cleans, but the overdrive is amazing on this thing. Again it doesn't sound like a twin at all to me.

I would find the serial number, maybe inside the chassis, and contact Harry again. From my experience he he has good customer service and builds a hell of an amp. BTW, the inside of my Cantus looks like a piece of art. Meticulous build quality.

 

[Red_Label]

I have a Straub Cantus. It is an incredible amp. Mine has el34's and does not remind me at all of the twin I had. Mine has mercury iron and upgraded caps. Apparently it was some sort of custom job. It is possible yours is as well.

I have contacted Harry and he has been very helpful even though I didn't buy the amp new from him. In fact I shot him some bias questions a few months back and he responded very quickly. Maybe he is on vacation?

Anyway, the amp is awesome. I play mine through a pair of Scholz and it is a beast. I call it my disto-box. It has great cleans, if you like plexi cleans, but the overdrive is amazing on this thing. Again it doesn't sound like a twin at all to me.

I would find the serial number, maybe inside the chassis, and contact Harry again. From my experience he he has good customer service and builds a hell of an amp. BTW, the inside of my Cantus looks like a piece of art. Meticulous build quality.

I think so. A helpful TGP'er told me that looked to be the case. Going to IM him here.

In regards to mine reminding me of my Twin... I have a very limited experience with clean amps. Nearly all of my tube amps have been two, three, and four channel amps -- whether combo or head. Most of them have also been EL34 amps. Only the Twin and my current Engl Powerball were 6L6 amps (and my VHT UL was a KT88 amp). So the Straub reminding me of my Twin should be taken with a grain of salt. Still... it's got that Fender chimey, bell, spanky, etc quality to the tone. Honestly, I haven't yet played it above about 9:00 on the volume. I did wick it up above noon and played a quick chord and it definitely had some breakup (which the Twin never had), but it was way too loud for me to spend much time up there. I use my Plexitone to get my OD. I'm definitely looking forward to getting the Straub into a gigging situation because that's when I truly know what my amps are like.

 

[zzmoore]

That guy is definitely an "underrated" builder.
The few times I have corresponded with him, left me with the impression of a humble and capable guy.
Enjoy your amp.!

 

[ugameus]

Does your amp have the boost? I can't tell from the pic. If you have the boost, flip that sucker and you will have gain galore. At least I do.

You are right that the cleans are chimey. Spanky and all that. They are incredible, just not what I would consider fender clean. It has a woody character I love.

What speakers are you using?

 

[oinge]

I have nothing important to add other than I also own said amp and Harry is a great guy. Very helpful. I purchased mine new and will not likely let it go. It sets the standard for silent operation.

 

[ugameus]

Oh yeah, it is silent. Sometimes I put my guitar down and forget to flip the standby switch. It is that quiet.

 

[Red_Label]

Does your amp have the boost? I can't tell from the pic. If you have the boost, flip that sucker and you will have gain galore. At least I do.

You are right that the cleans are chimey. Spanky and all that. They are incredible, just not what I would consider fender clean. It has a woody character I love.

What speakers are you using?

Mine does have the boost on it. But I'm not exactly sure what it does yet. It only seems to add volume on mine... and maybe a bit of hair. Sort of like what a clean boost pedal would do. Doesn't really seem to matter whether the switch is in the up or down position. But then again... I don't really know how to operate it. I haven't tried it with the amp turned-up a ways yet. So maybe that's a factor. But for right now... it's almost like I just have the two seperate volume controls that seem to mostly do the same thing (add the said volume and hair) and the switch seems to do nothing.

Edit: Will make a study of the boost thing tonight and really play with the switch and volume controls in different positions to see if I can nail-down any differences between boosted and un-boosted.

Speakers that I'm currently using with this head is a 4X12 loaded with T75s and V30s in an X-pattern (have been using two cabs loaded this way with the Engl for metal/rock). So I think that I'm getting a bit of speaker breakup, where I'm sure it'd be cleaner with some Webers or EVs. Eventually would like to get an open-back 2X12 to run under the Straub. Seems like it'd be most at-home in that config.

 

[flcmcya]

My TT turns into a firebreather with the boost on......


Thats one of the nicest cabs I've seen...nice score.
I've actually used an at7 to mello it out....check your preamp tubes out.

 

[HCStraub]

John,
I got your message today (out traveling), sorry for the delay. You can thank flcmcya for giving me a heads up (call) that you were looking for info.
You are correct that the amp you have is a 'one off' built specifically for a customer who was looking for a specific sound. Your ears are right on, it IS based on an old Fender circuit and the boost is not the same as is found on the Cantus or TT.
When I get back to my records I will have to dig up any info I can on that amp. It was built years ago, a one off and my memory is fuzzy on what I worked on with that customer.
You can check your email, I sent you basically the same response there.
Harry

 

[Red_Label]

John,
I got your message today (out traveling), sorry for the delay. You can thank flcmcya for giving me a heads up (call) that you were looking for info.
You are correct that the amp you have is a 'one off' built specifically for a customer who was looking for a specific sound. Your ears are right on, it IS based on an old Fender circuit and the boost is not the same as is found on the Cantus or TT.
When I get back to my records I will have to dig up any info I can on that amp. It was built years ago, a one off and my memory is fuzzy on what I worked on with that customer.
You can check your email, I sent you basically the same response there.
Harry

Wow... thanks for the quick response Harry! Just responded to your email. Loving this amp! And glad to hear that my ears were "right". ;-)

BTW... VERY cool to own such a rare amp. Everything else I've ever owned was production.

 

[Red_Label]

My TT turns into a firebreather with the boost on......


Thats one of the nicest cabs I've seen...nice score.
I've actually used an at7 to mello it out....check your preamp tubes out.

Will do man, and thanks for all the help!

 

[Red_Label]

WOW!!! I just spent a few very LOUD hours in the man cave and am REALLY starting to fall in love with this thing. The first couple of days I played it like a Fender Blackface. Clean, with a slight breakup, add some squishy compressor for country leads. But tonight I decided to play with the boost switch in the up position and experimented with dialing up the boost volume. Definitely adds some punch and hair on there. In fact, with the boost set to "on" this thing's really starting to remind me of an old plexi. Very fat, bouncy, vibey. So I played around with my Fulltone OCD and also my Carl Martin Plexitone in front of it and was just grinning from ear to ear. Played along with some early ACDC and some Def Leppard (High N Dry era). Then pulled-out my favorite old school tone CD (Brother Cane's "Seeds") to play along with and was REALLY grinning. What a pure joy! Just PURE tone in this amp. LOVE IT! I'm now starting really wonder what the Cantus and Twisted Triode models are like.

It's funny... because I've been floating around in the high-gain channel switcher world for years. But I think I'm really starting get this purer signal path thing and the thought of "gaining-up and scooping-out" is just a total turn-off right now. Dayum... like I needed to be GAS'ing for yet more amps! :/

 

[sickboy79]

Sweet amp ! Congrats!