(non-tube) Sessionette 75: repair or gut? Any more info?

vanslycken · 07-26-2009, 06:53 PM

Apparently the Session Sessionette 75 amps were/are made in England; they're based on TL072 opamps in the preamp and a couple of fets for the power amp. (Beats me why it says "bi-fet preamp".) I got this for free from a friend, the power amp is defective. I disconnected the power amp and listened through headphones, it sounded very poor.
I'm a tube amp enthusiast (I don't have anything digital or transistorized in my house) so my first thought was to gut it and use the cabinet and chassis for a nice small tube project.

Would that be a waste of a good amp (when repaired) or are these sessionettes beginner's amps? There seem to be a lot of them around on ebay and such, I was wondering what the story is behind these amps. They're not collectible are they?

Alex R · 07-26-2009, 07:55 PM

No not collectible particularly, but very useful amps, with a good clean sound and an immense amount of clean headroom. Take pedals well. I have one which I lend out to people who've left an amp for repair and lack a spare; they are often surprised how useful it is.

The original firm went out of business, but the designer and original manufacturer, Steward Ward, still supports the amps and will sell you parts and advise on repairs. Here's his website:

Award Session Website. Welcome to award-session.com [AwardSession Website], guitar amps and music amplifiers

I guess 'bi-fet preamp' refers to the presence of fets in the TL071/072s in there.

Steve Conner · 07-29-2009, 10:50 AM

Texas Instruments marketed the TL07x as "BiFet" op-amps, because they contain a JFET input stage while the rest of the op-amp is ordinary bipolar transistors. So that's presumably why it's called a BiFet preamp. Like all op-amp circuits, it'll be completely clean unless the designer deliberately added distortion circuitry.

I looked at the Session website, and I like his advertising...

Award Session. Welcome to award-session.com [Why choose Award Session]

"We use real TO3 power transistors, not those crappy chips you find in Marshalls"... a man after my own heart

vanslycken · 07-29-2009, 10:56 AM

Thanks for the replies, I've been reading on that site (the pdf about the history is fun!) and it seems these amps were designed and built by passionate people. That's why I think it would be a waste to gut it. I've ordered the power module (replacements are available and not too expensive). I'm very curious what it will sound like...

07-26-2009, 06:53 PM	#1
vanslycken Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Sinaai, Belgium Posts: 35	(non-tube) Sessionette 75: repair or gut? Any more info? Apparently the Session Sessionette 75 amps were/are made in England; they're based on TL072 opamps in the preamp and a couple of fets for the power amp. (Beats me why it says "bi-fet preamp".) I got this for free from a friend, the power amp is defective. I disconnected the power amp and listened through headphones, it sounded very poor. I'm a tube amp enthusiast (I don't have anything digital or transistorized in my house) so my first thought was to gut it and use the cabinet and chassis for a nice small tube project. Would that be a waste of a good amp (when repaired) or are these sessionettes beginner's amps? There seem to be a lot of them around on ebay and such, I was wondering what the story is behind these amps. They're not collectible are they?

07-29-2009, 10:50 AM	#3
Steve Conner Supporting Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Glasgow, Scotland Posts: 2,978	Texas Instruments marketed the TL07x as "BiFet" op-amps, because they contain a JFET input stage while the rest of the op-amp is ordinary bipolar transistors. So that's presumably why it's called a BiFet preamp. Like all op-amp circuits, it'll be completely clean unless the designer deliberately added distortion circuitry. I looked at the Session website, and I like his advertising... Award Session. Welcome to award-session.com [Why choose Award Session] "We use real TO3 power transistors, not those crappy chips you find in Marshalls"... a man after my own heart __________________ "Ohhhh miracle bulb shines feebly"

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07-26-2009, 07:55 PM	#2
Alex R Supporting Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: UK Posts: 676	No not collectible particularly, but very useful amps, with a good clean sound and an immense amount of clean headroom. Take pedals well. I have one which I lend out to people who've left an amp for repair and lack a spare; they are often surprised how useful it is. The original firm went out of business, but the designer and original manufacturer, Steward Ward, still supports the amps and will sell you parts and advise on repairs. Here's his website: Award Session Website. Welcome to award-session.com [AwardSession Website], guitar amps and music amplifiers I guess 'bi-fet preamp' refers to the presence of fets in the TL071/072s in there.

07-29-2009, 10:56 AM	#4
vanslycken Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Sinaai, Belgium Posts: 35	Thanks for the replies, I've been reading on that site (the pdf about the history is fun!) and it seems these amps were designed and built by passionate people. That's why I think it would be a waste to gut it. I've ordered the power module (replacements are available and not too expensive). I'm very curious what it will sound like...

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