Polytone Afficianados - Teeny Brute Opinions

[raylinds]

I have a chance to purchase an old Teeny Brute for cheap- it just has the eq controls and dreaded red distortion control. I have a later model Mini Brute II with the Sonic Circuit Channel that I really like (on the normal channel), but I keep reading that the older models sound better

Any thoughts are welcome.

[vintagelove]

If is a diamond tolex, no mid knob model, it will be the classic sound, with a 10 inch speaker.

I haven’t heard that one, but I have the 8 and 15 and had a 12. Even the 8 manages a nice full sound. They’re light and small, and you can plug them into a bigger cab if you want.

Price?

[garybaldy]

My Teeny Brute wasn't that cheap but a rare find in UK. I also have a MBIII which was cheap. I use the Teeny with my Loar 700 with a floater. It has 3 knobs and no distortion. Excellent amp. I suggest you buy one.

[raylinds]

If is a diamond tolex, no mid knob model, it will be the classic sound, with a 10 inch speaker.

I haven’t heard that one, but I have the 8 and 15 and had a 12. Even the 8 manages a nice full sound. They’re light and small, and you can plug them into a bigger cab if you want.

Price?

It's not that one- 12" speaker. Asking $300

[garybaldy]

It's not that one- 12" speaker. Asking $300

I thought the Teeny had a 10" speaker. I learnt it from this forum and that's what I now have.

[vintagelove]

It's not that one- 12" speaker. Asking $300

Interesting, usually the teeny has a 10... but then again,,, it's Polytone, so who the hell knows... maybe it has the lower wattage power amp?

Either way, 12 inch speaker is cool. Here's a great tip. Buy yourself an eq pedal (don't buy the boss, get the one linked below instead, it's way better. Anyway, with this, it only do you have the classic polytone sounds, but kick on the eq, and you get some very nice fender'ish sounds by scooping the mids. And secondly, you can get WAY more volume out of a polytone if you boost going into it.

Depending on where you are, 300 bucks isn't exactly a crazy good deal. I'd say it's the going price for a Diamond tolex era one. Certainly not a bad price. Worst case scenario, in a few years you have to put a hundred bucks into servicing it, and it lasts another 30 years.

How many $300 amps can you buy today that will still be around in 30 years?

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/22518...yAdapt=glo2usa

[raylinds]

So I looked at it again and it is a circuit with no mid EQ. Also, it is advertised as a 12" speaker, but looks to me like a 10".

[vintagelove]

So I looked at it again and it is a circuit with no mid EQ. Also, it is advertised as a 12" speaker, but looks to me like a 10".

Are you in the US?

[garybaldy]

So I looked at it again and it is a circuit with no mid EQ. Also, it is advertised as a 12" speaker, but looks to me like a 10".

Confusion over!

[raylinds]

Are you in the US?

Yes

[Cunamara]

That should be the original classic circuit, without the distortion channel. There's no reverb on that one.

[raylinds]

That should be the original classic circuit, without the distortion channel. There's no reverb on that one.

I have a wonderful Surfybear real spring reverb unit that I use with my Megabrute. I made an offer of $270 and it was accepted, so it is on the way. I am excited to be able to get an original circuit and am looking forward to comparing to my later production MBII. I have become a huge Polytone fan. I have recapped several Hi-Fi Audio amps (and built some, so I am comfortable if I run into issues.

[raylinds]

The Teeny Brute arrived today and, of course it had a 10" speaker as suspected. After spending a lot time with it and a/b'ing with the Mega Brute II, I ended up liking the Mega Brute just a teeny bit (pun intended) better to my surprise. I think the difference was the mid control on the mega. My favorite settings on it have the mid turned up a fair amount- I like the warmth. The TB lacked just a little bit of warmth. When I was playing it, I liked the sound, but when I switched to the MB, there was just the little bit of added warmth that I liked. Other than that they really sounded identical despite the different speaker size. The TB was also not very loud, I had to turn the volume up to 7 to get a decent (but by no means loud) volume. I don't see how anyone could use this in anything more than a small club without micing.

Anyway, I am going to keep it. It could be a backup and it is much lighter, so if I ever play a small club. I could always use an eq pedal to get more mids.

[garybaldy]

The Teeny Brute arrived today and, of course it had a 10" speaker as suspected. After spending a lot time with it and a/b'ing with the Mega Brute II, I ended up liking the Mega Brute just a teeny bit (pun intended) better to my surprise. I think the difference was the mid control on the mega. My favorite settings on it have the mid turned up a fair amount- I like the warmth. The TB lacked just a little bit of warmth. When I was playing it, I liked the sound, but when I switched to the MB, there was just the little bit of added warmth that I liked. Other than that they really sounded identical despite the different speaker size. The TB was also not very loud, I had to turn the volume up to 7 to get a decent (but by no means loud) volume. I don't see how anyone could use this in anything more than a small club without micing.

Anyway, I am going to keep it. It could be a backup and it is much lighter, so if I ever play a small club. I could always use an eq pedal to get more mids.

You mention a Mega Brute II. This there a Mega Brute I? If so, what is the difference?

[raylinds]

You mention a Mega Brute II. This there a Mega Brute I? If so, what is the difference?

The MB I has no built-in reverb. This thread has the lowdown on the different models and history of Polytone: Polytone Amp History (jazzguitar.be)

[garybaldy]

The MB I has no built-in reverb. This thread has the lowdown on the different models and history of Polytone: Polytone Amp History (jazzguitar.be)

So do you mean a Mini Brute I and II rather than a Mega Brute I and II?

[Nick-Ald]

Just acquired one of these, in my wisdom. Sounds lovely.

Have been advised to change the caps: looking inside they are original, and may therefore be haunted.

It also has a very long built in power cord and plug which must weigh about as much as the rest of the amp, and which I am minded to have replaced by an IEC kettle lead connector. Is that a good plan or will I be cursed?

[garybaldy]

Just acquired one of these, in my wisdom. Sounds lovely.

Have been advised to change the caps: looking inside they are original, and may therefore be haunted.

It also has a very long built in power cord and plug which must weigh about as much as the rest of the amp, and which I am minded to have replaced by an IEC kettle lead connector. Is that a good plan or will I be cursed?

I have a separate cable for my MBIII but for my teeny brute I have shortened the hardwired cable. In the UK though the 3 pin plugs are very obtrusive and become a nuisance.

[vintagelove]

Just acquired one of these, in my wisdom. Sounds lovely.

Have been advised to change the caps: looking inside they are original, and may therefore be haunted.

It also has a very long built in power cord and plug which must weigh about as much as the rest of the amp, and which I am minded to have replaced by an IEC kettle lead connector. Is that a good plan or will I be cursed?

I have had 1 poly out of 4 die from a bad cap (fixed with no issue), but it gave some warning first, excess hum if I remember correctly. So I wouldn't advise everyone just run out and put new cabs in. That being said, that first cap doesn't look so good.

Either way, it's a small price to pay for a classic jazz amp to last another couple decades.

[Nick-Ald]

I have had 1 poly out of 4 die from a bad cap (fixed with no issue), but it gave some warning first, excess hum if I remember correctly. So I wouldn't advise everyone just run out and put new caps in. That being said, that first cap doesn't look so good.

Either way, it's a small price to pay for a classic jazz amp to last another couple decades.

yes, there’s a low hum when the amp is on with no volume. Not really loud but louder than other amps. Then it pops loudly when turned off and hums for a bit more before going silent. Is that normal for a small 80s Polytone? My mini brute from the 90s does a bit of that but much more quietly.

My guess is that the noises plus the visibly swollen front cap seem like signs it could do with a service and almost definitely at least one new cap pretty soon?

[Herbie]

yes, there’s a low hum when the amp is on with no volume. Not really loud but louder than other amps. Then it pops loudly when turned off and hums for a bit more before going silent. Is that normal for a small 80s Polytone? My mini brute from the 90s does a bit of that but much more quietly.

My guess is that the noises plus the visibly swollen front cap seem like signs it could do with a service and almost definitely at least one new cap pretty soon?

My tech said that the pop is a feature, not a fault. He said that he could build some capacitor-based system to eliminate that but I just decided to not care about it.

The need for cap job is not necessarily must for solid state amps, it is more a tuba amp thing.

[vintagelove]

yes, there’s a low hum when the amp is on with no volume. Not really loud but louder than other amps. Then it pops loudly when turned off and hums for a bit more before going silent. Is that normal for a small 80s Polytone? My mini brute from the 90s does a bit of that but much more quietly.

My guess is that the noises plus the visibly swollen front cap seem like signs it could do with a service and almost definitely at least one new cap pretty soon?

A healthy Polytone will have a soft hum, and they will pop when you turn it off.

[raylinds]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[Franz 1997]

yes, there’s a low hum when the amp is on with no volume. Not really loud but louder than other amps. Then it pops loudly when turned off and hums for a bit more before going silent. Is that normal for a small 80s Polytone? My mini brute from the 90s does a bit of that but much more quietly.

My guess is that the noises plus the visibly swollen front cap seem like signs it could do with a service and almost definitely at least one new cap pretty soon?

Hello Nick.
Yes. If the cap explodes it will take out other components. I had mine fixed by Jon Shaw.

C

[raylinds]

Hello Nick.
Yes. If the cap explodes it will take out other components. I had mine fixed by Jon Shaw.

C

I did not notice it, but you are right- the cap in the photo is swollen, so should be replaced. Good catch!