Up for sale, a 1973 Sound City 120, new old stock and stunningly clean with the original transparent factory slip cover, extra Sound City badge and a couple accompanying factory tags. From the private collection of revered amp builder Mike Soldano, this Sound City originally surfaced via a buyout of NOS Sound City stock courtesy of Angela Instruments. Produced by Dallas Arbiter in the UK, and perhaps a brand best known for the early career of Dave Reeves before he founded Hiwatt, the Sound City 120 is an absolute powerhouse with a sextet of EL34 power tubes and massive Partridge transformers. This two channel (Normal and Brilliant) design features Standard and Attenuated inputs feeding independent Volume knobs and a global three-band EQ circuit which is entirely active. Unlike the EQ stages of most amps, each EQ knob in this lineup is active, and as you turn up Bass, Middle, or Treble respectively, you add gain precisely to that portion of the frequency spectrum, courtesy of an ECC83 (12AX7) triode attached to each stage in the circuit. It’s a unique system and a powerful sound sculpting tool not found on your conventional Marshall or Hiwatt. Beyond the EQ section the Presence knob governs high-end content at the output stage. The circuit is virtually untouched, and the turret board design retains all of the original mustard capacitors. The sextet of EL34 power tubes comes via a variety of manufacturers (Telefunken, Mullard, and Sylvania among them), yet all tubes were carefully matched and perform beautifully in the circuit. The preamp tubes are the original compliment with clean silkscreen graphics on the glass. Cosmetically, the amp is stunningly clean, and not to say that it hasn’t incurred a couple minor scuffs and nicks on the edges of the cabinet in the last four decades, but as the photos attest, this is an immaculate vintage example. All of the original knobs are intact with their transparent skirts, and the faceplate is clean as can be, accented by silver piping on the face of the enclosure. Check out our shop “Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar, ” and please let us know if we can answer any questions! We use double thick boxes, 1″ foam, and industrial 1/2″ bubble wrap to ensure that your amp arrives safely. International orders will be declared as merchandise, and the value of merchandise will be declared as the amount paid. We cannot declare anything as a gift or for a lesser value. We do our best to describe all items with honesty and accuracy, but to be sure, please. The item “1973 Sound City 120 Vintage Tube Amp Head UK Arbiter, Soldano Private Collection” is in sale since Monday, August 5, 2019. This item is in the category “Musical Instruments & Gear\Guitars & Basses\Guitar Amplifiers”. The seller is “mmguitarbar” and is located in Seattle, Washington. This item can be shipped worldwide.
- Number of Channels: 2
- Model: 120
- Country/Region of Manufacture: United Kingdom
- Amplifier Technology: Vacuum Tube
- MPN: Does Not Apply
- Compatible Guitar: Electric Guitar Amplifier
- Amplifier Type: Head
- Brand: Sound City
- Suitable For: Performance
