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Originally Posted by Greentone
I’m courious to have one someday, I’m sure will suits my 175 as well my L5.
My dream is to see polytone make the world business again, stronger and better then in the past.
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02-23-2019 10:45 PM
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Amen to the Babies. I just acquired the red Baby Taurus pictured upthread and it is a darned amazing amp. I like the open back a lot, sealed cabs often sound kind of boxy to me. It seems to suit me better than my old MB II did and loves my archtop with floating CC, but my 'bucker semi-hollow Tele also sounds great through it as did my GB10 and even nylon string. And bonus- my wife said "another amp?" followed by "it's so cute!"
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New Baby Brute owner here as well. They really nailed the frequency response of this amp. Other amps I have always go up on a stand to eliminate boominess, but this little box is just about perfect for my ES-125. I am not too thrilled with how my (ES-335-ish) Seventy Seven Exrubato Jazz sounds through it though.
Anyone know exactly what the -gain+ switch is doing? I hear a slight change in volume, but I am not sure if it’s introducing dirt into the signal or not.
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The gain switch is pronounced when you are using the distortion knob. It audibly adds about 6db of gain.
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Everybody admires the Baby Brute but the one I had (mid-80s, I guess) was just a feedback machine with my ES-175 VOS. The MB II (two different black felt era ones, another with substitute speaker) sounded just boxy.
All those I sold because I compared them to my 15” black felt era MBIV. No boxiness. Open, wide, warm and perfect classic jazz sound! Only a bit bigness in the cabin but Fender Tilt Bag Legs help in small venues.
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The mid-80s Baby Brute I have is a bit more involved in operating than my late-70s and early-80s Mini Brute II, III, and IV amps...but not much.
The II, III, and IV amps have the simple Bass, Treble, Brite/Dark (switch) and Volume knobs. Oh...and the red distortion knobs--never use them.
The Mini Brute has coaxial knobs. Reverb is one knob. Volume/Distortion is another knob (coax). Treble/Mid is another knob (coax). Finally, Bass is a knob. Also, there is a distortion boost switch and the ubiquitous Brite/Dark switch.
I keep the distortion boost switch in the left (or off) position at all times. I also keep the coaxial Distortion knob fully left-rotated, or off, at all times. I use minimal reverb--which, I think, is where feedback may enter into the picture. The reverb on Polytone amps is kind of dorky anyway. Small cabinets/short springs equals boinky reverb, IMO. Brite I keep in the middle position. Next, I generally use Bass/Treble/Mid at almost middle/almost middle/middle of range values. Amp volume I run about at mid-range. With a ES-175, I put the guitar volume at about nine-o'clock and the tone just below 12 o'clock. (humbucker) This works well. No feedback with flat wound strings, but I don't sit particularly close to the amp.
With carved-body guitars I have a slight preference for my MBIV, currently.
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Originally Posted by Cunamara
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Originally Posted by Greentone
the MBIV felt era cover, with pyramidal grill foam it’s what I recently got. I bought it for 100$ and it had been forgotten by the previous owner for 20 years. So it’s almost new!!!
It has broken reverb magnet (i’m trying to replace the broken transducer, but it’s hard to do)
all original.
The other one I have is the mbII skin diamond 12”. Pristine condition! reverb replaced
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who is the polytone mark owner now?
(if exists).
It would be nice to refound the company and make business again.
There’s no amps good as polytone for jazz.
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The amp company went slowly defunct after founder Tommy Gumina died a half-dozen years ago.
To my knowledge, nobody has any plans to resurrect Polytone at this time. It might be possible, however for someone to acquire the name and bring out a new line of equipment.
GT
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Originally Posted by Greentone
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I’ve measured 72 watt on polytone Mb IV 4ohm speaker. 144 peak watt. curious they say 160 watt or 180! lol
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Originally Posted by BigDaddyLoveHandles
mambo, henriksen, mark jazz, aer compact etc are great amps, but too cold compared to the old polys.
I can’t use the digi fake reverbs.
The shitty polytone spring reverb, works for jazz! it’s shit but works better then digitals
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Originally Posted by Greentone
It’s not dead, a company seems to have his trade. contact me in private if you want
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Originally Posted by billy21
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The trademark is owned by a New York City Company (They have had it since 2012 and have not made any amps yet using this trademark). I doubt it has significant monetary value and I also doubt that it will be brought back to life, but all things are possible.
Polytone's have a spring reverb and do break up ever so slightly making it more "tube amp' like than other, cleaner solid state jazz amps.
I still have a Polytone in my amp collection along with a Henriksen, Acoustic Image and AER. I also have a vintage Fender tube amp. I do like the "Polytone sound". I wonder though if that is due to that fact that so many of my favorite jazz guitar recordings were made with Polytone amps.
An ES-175 with flats played through a Polytone makes a sound that works for me. YMMV
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Originally Posted by Stringswinger
It has monetary value indeed
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Originally Posted by billy21
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The amp billy21 was discussing--the diamond pattern covered, one-cubic foot volume cabinet, Baby Brute from the early 80s is an outstanding amplifier. Uncomplicated, and terrific sounding for archtop guitars. Love that 8" CTS speaker in a closed-back design.
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Originally Posted by Greentone
I can pay 800/1000$ for one of them.
Here in europe, it doesn’t exist.
In Usa, Australia is very very rare.
Lots of them had been shipped in Japan during the 80’s. (custom orders? who know..)
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Originally Posted by billy21
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Originally Posted by Nils
Just a couriosity, do you will sell it someday?
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Originally Posted by Nils
If you ever looked inside, is it equipped with 4000mf caps?
jesus, that bomb is super compressed! i’m courious about caps value
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The funny think about this brand, I’ve read too many people writing bad things about their reliability and customer service reputation. That’s true, comparing with commercial amps. Polytone were homemade non commercial machines. The concept is unique.
Basically a simple HIFI amp, the secret are the wood cabin, speaker and preamp.
All the components are solid but prone to crossover and chips overheat.
Opening and repair one is pretty easy, just be careful to not touch and breath the sticky fiberglass insulation... and of course. Don’t expect a fender reverb and marshall distortion.
They smells bad, fascinating bad!
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There's 2 types of Polytones, those that never worked and those that'll work forever.
So if you find one that works, just enjoy it. I've been enjoying mine for over a decade...
Enharmonics
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