I've had my trusty old Studio .22 for about 20 years. Last year I bought an extension cab for it, and boy, did it sound good! Ending up playing it only piggybacking on a 2x12, I decided it should be transformed into a head. The idea of ordering a custom-made headshell from Mesa factory to Finland sounded a bit cumbersome and quite expensive, so I decided to build one myself. Luckily, my dad is an experienced amateur carpenter, and he lent both his expertise and his workshop at my disposal for the project.
The headshell was built from 18 mm (13-ply) birch plywood.
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/ind...ID=430640803&albumID=1083334&imageID=10566185
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/ind...ID=430640803&albumID=1083334&imageID=10566188
Tolex, grille cloth (Marshall spare part), handle (Fender spare part), corner plates and rubber feet were ordered from http://www.thomann.de.
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/ind...ID=430640803&albumID=1083334&imageID=10566192
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/ind...ID=430640803&albumID=1083334&imageID=10566193
Here, fully assembled on top of Mesa 2x12" vertical slant Recto cab, loaded with Vintage 30's:
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/ind...ID=430640803&albumID=1083334&imageID=10566195
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/ind...ID=430640803&albumID=1083334&imageID=10566200
By the way, I have 12AT7 as the V2 tube on my .22 (instead of the original 12AX7). Originally I made the switch to balance the volume between lead and rhythm channels, but immediately fell in love with the change in tonal characteristics, as well. In addition to decreasing gain in both channels, the "mod" results in decreased level of compression that completely transforms the lead channel! The lead channel distortion with AT7 as V2 sounds richer, more harmonically complex, and chunkier than with the original set of all AX7's.
Cheers!
The headshell was built from 18 mm (13-ply) birch plywood.
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/ind...ID=430640803&albumID=1083334&imageID=10566185
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/ind...ID=430640803&albumID=1083334&imageID=10566188
Tolex, grille cloth (Marshall spare part), handle (Fender spare part), corner plates and rubber feet were ordered from http://www.thomann.de.
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/ind...ID=430640803&albumID=1083334&imageID=10566192
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/ind...ID=430640803&albumID=1083334&imageID=10566193
Here, fully assembled on top of Mesa 2x12" vertical slant Recto cab, loaded with Vintage 30's:
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/ind...ID=430640803&albumID=1083334&imageID=10566195
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/ind...ID=430640803&albumID=1083334&imageID=10566200
By the way, I have 12AT7 as the V2 tube on my .22 (instead of the original 12AX7). Originally I made the switch to balance the volume between lead and rhythm channels, but immediately fell in love with the change in tonal characteristics, as well. In addition to decreasing gain in both channels, the "mod" results in decreased level of compression that completely transforms the lead channel! The lead channel distortion with AT7 as V2 sounds richer, more harmonically complex, and chunkier than with the original set of all AX7's.
Cheers!
