Dean Markley Signature Series 60

[Gtr_tech]

Got one of these on the way, would like to peek at the guts to see what I snagged and "plan my attack" so to speak.

[Gtr_tech]

Nevermind....don't need it now. Just FYI, these amps can be made into real screamers.

[LaroldC]

Markley Signature 60

These gems are getting very hard to find -- you're lucky. Maybe fifteen years ago, I bought an early-model Sig 60 head from a private seller. It has the beige vinyl enclosure without the handle on top (just the front-mounted metal handles). Mine does not have reverb and only offers a +10dB boost switch, whereas the later ones have reverb and offer a +15dB boost.

I have been putting it off for a year, but now I think I need to send the Sig 60 head back to Terry Laul (one of the original designers/builders, out of Kansas) for what he says would be a rebuild using original parts. My fear is that once he opens it up he will tell me that it is somehow not stock. I have no way of knowing what stock means in this amp. But I believe I will have him do the standard rebuild anyway, hopefully to leave alone whatever beneficial add-ins he might find. See, from all reviews that I have read on the model, the consensus is that it can't get big soaring distortion tones -- but mine most certainly can, and impressively so. Maybe the previous owner stepped it up. Would hate to lose that OD capacity, but I think I will risk it to have it stop humming and hissing. The clean sounds alone are worth it.

I am about to look at an original mid-80's Markley CD 60 combo from another private seller. He says it's mint and has recent tubes. It has the two attributes that I have always wished the Sig 60 had -- two switchable channels and reverb. I am praying it has something close to the same tonal offerings as the Sig 60 head.

Enjoy your new (old) toy!

[Gtr_tech]

I played thru it when I first hauled it back here for just a few mins....I didn't care for it. The OD character was tubby and unfocused....kinda like a dist pedal with a low battery. Reminded me of those old brown Acoustic tube amps....icky. So I redid the front end with my std preamp circuit and it just sings now. I really like the active midrange control....nice touch....very useable.

Shortly after doing that work it developed a hum so I recapped the plate/screen supplies as well as the bias/op amp supply. Still had the hum....tracked it down to the bias supply. That ended up being a leaky diode in the bias supply. So I basically rebuilt 75% of the damn thing.....

I gigged it out last weekend and was pretty happy with it......although it ran quite hot. There's a place for a 3" fan in the side of the chassis (complete with molex connector wired to the mains voltage) so I'm gonna stick one in to keep some air moving thru it.

Th only thing I don't like about it is theres *very* little clearance from the top of the output tubes to the cover. So yer kinda limited to what tubes will physically fit. JJ 6L6s will *not* clear the cover. USA Sylvania's barely fit (thats what they came with from the factory). I don't run old stock tubes as "daily drivers", so I'll prolly end up stuffing some Sovwreck 6L6WXT+ in it....they're cheap and pretty good sounding...and they'll fit.

If you want I can take care of the issues your amp has. Terry is getting ready to retire (or maybe already has). I'm not that far from you. But be warned....it will need basically the same treatment I did to mine. Complete pwr supply rebuild, and the bias trimpot has to go as well....mine failed open...lucky I was running it on the bench and noticed the redplating as it happened. PM me if yer interested...I'll take care of ya.

[Gtr_tech]

Forgot....here's a pic....looks sexy with the Mar$hall knobs....

Flickr Photo Download: Mean Darkley

[tsand]

Rebuild Signature Series 60

I have an old Dean Markley signature series 60 that's been sitting for at least ten years and I'm thinking about restoring but I can't seem to find schematics. I used to gig with this amp back in the early 90's and sent to Terry Laul from Kansas repair a couple times. Someone mentioned that he might have retired so I'm not sure where to go. There are a couple great tube amp techs in my town but neither will touch this amp without schematics. A friend asked me if I still had this amp and reminded me how great it sounded, when it worked. Please help, it's a shame this amp is just sitting here collecting dust. I no long have tubes in this so does anyone have any recommendations?

[Gtr_tech]

The schematics are on the Dean Markley site.
http://www.deanmarkley.com/Info/Lega...tics/D2528.pdf
http://www.deanmarkley.com/Info/Lega...tics/D1502.pdf

I recommend to whoever works on it to series stack the caps in the screen supply. I redid one for another MEF member and the screen V is right on the hairy edge of 450v. I series stacked caps there to get better safety margin. And, they'll need to change the bias circuit as well. The way they have it setup it *will* fail and roast your output tubes. If your tech has any questions about any of this have them contact me and I'll clarify.

As far as tubes go, you'll have fun trying to find output tubes to fit....physically. They need to clear the mesh cover and alot of the current production won't. JJ's won't go, Svetlanas won't go, Ruby's won't go. Limiting. The Sovwreck wafer base 5881/6L6 fits, but is not the best choice for tone. If there's no fan, have one added. There's a pwr connector already on the chassis thats wired for 110vac.

I've been gigging mine out lately and it kicks ass and takes names. But....its not stock either. I changed the front end to alter the voicing and smooth out the respose.

[tsand]

Tube preference

The metal mesh top came off over time so I could put any tubes in there and not worry about the height issue. I remember this amp had really great natural distortion so I never had to use effects pedals. I was thinking about dropping some Ruby Tubes in there. Any thoughts? I not longer have the beige box that the amp was mounted in so I plan to build an oversize box to the house the amp and allow plenty of airflow. Can't wait to play this again.

[Gtr_tech]

I've been using the Ruby 6L6GCMSTR for quite some time now. I like the tone, and they've been holding up great. The JJ 6L6 is a good chioce too if the height isn't an issue.

[Chuck H]

I've worked with Dean on a few projects. His approach is commendable and any amp he decides to sell will have some "it" factor. FWIW the CD60 is resissued. It never made a big noise when it was released but now people are paying some attention. The CD amps were ahead of their time and though I tried to talk him into a 'plug and play' series effects loop he stuck with the adjustable one, I digress.

Sans Laul you can contact Greg Farres at UltraSound amps (owned by Dean) and he can help you. Greg has been with Dean almost since the beginning of his amp ventures and is knowledgable and accomodating. I had the opportunity to do Winter NAMM 2009 with Greg and I can say that he is brilliant. And he is the current go to DM amp guy. He is also the designer of the UltraSound acoustic amps. Which IME will, dollar for dollar, out perform anything on the market. I liked Greg a lot.

I had an amp design on the table when Dean decided to re issue the CD amps. Mine was a "boutique style" amp that would have offered all the +++ of such an amp. Eyelet board construction, name recognized components, etc... But the economy took a bad turn and, much to his credit as a marketer, Dean decided to sell something more in the 'working musician's' price range. I think he nailed it with the CD reissue. When the economy picks up I'll get my shot. But the good news is that for now there is a very affordable option back on the market. Greg Farres IS the go to guy for DM amplifier info and service at this time.

Hope this helps.

Ultrasound Amplifiers

Chuck

[Trenton MO]

I have a DM CD-60 amp and a RM-80 amp.....is Terry Laul still around to work on these?

[Chuck H]

Not as far as I know. DMS now owns UltraSound amps. They're an acoustic guitar amp company mostly, but Dean charged Greg Farres, the designer of the UltraSound line with the CD60 reissue. Greg is a good guy. I did winter NAMM 2009 with him. You could always contact UltraSound and check but I don't think they run repairs outside of the current product line. They may be able to direct you to service in your area though.
Ultrasound Amplifiers

[Trenton MO]

The serial # on my CD-60 is 072...maybe it's worth something? I dont' get the two inputs they both sound the same to me. Also has 3 buttons on the front: voicing, bright and mid boost. Also has a power amp in on the back, effects send/receive, pre amp out, volume control and a extra plug in. Anybody kind enough to explain to me what the hell all these are for??? Sorry, I"m a new tube amp user!

[Chuck H]

The two inputs are high/low. Input "2" should produce lower gain than input "1". "voicing" triggers the lead channel. The other two buttons are self explanitory. The volume control on the back adjusts the effects loop drive. The pre amp out (send preamp signal wherever you want) and power amp in (use only the power amp as a "slave") are self explanitory. The extra plug in is probably for the channel switching footswitch.

[Trenton MO]

Channel switching footswitch appears to be wired direct or it's just plugged in on the bottom by the tubes. Amp really sounds sweet....I bought it on e-bay for $350....maybe I overpaid but these amps seem hard to find.