October Bell
This is a photo album documenting the conversion of a 1956 Bell tube amplifier into a guitar amplifier. I'd like to credit Cliff Chappell for the October design and thank the AX84 community for their help. I modified the October Club (in fact I used an older schematic (07.08.25)). I omitted the choke, added a pot for NFB and a selectable zener chain in the B+ line as the Bell power transformer is too hot for the October. I also replace the PI with a 12AU7 as I prefer the grittier sound and the lower volume. At the end of the album are some (poorly recorded) clips and links to web sites.
 Bell 2256 Original Front - I inherited two Bell 2256 mono Tube amplifiers from my Grandparents in the 60's. They came with two speaker cabinets and this was my stereo for many years. |
 Bell 2256 - I did some experiments with the amps when I was a kid, but basically left them alone |
 Bell 2256 original rear - original tubes too. |
 Front Panel Removed |
 Bell 2256 Original front panel removed |
 Original top removed - The dust is half a century old... |
 Original Guts bottom view - I did a test hookup, bypassing the original tonestack and played through the original amp. It had a clean tube sound that helped me be sure I wanted to modify this old classic amplifier. |
 Bell 2256 Photofact - A must have. Cost ~$15. |
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