Fender Tremolux
Encyclopedia
The Fender Tremolux was a guitar amplifier
made by Fender. It was introduced in the summer of 1955 with a rated power output of 15 watts, cathode bias
, two 6V6
output tubes, and a 5V4 tube rectifier. The Tremolux was the first Fender amp with a built in effect, tremolo
.
In 1957, the rated power output of the Tremolux was increased to 18 watts when it changed to a fixed bias design and a 5U4 rectifier. In 1961 the Tremolux was changed from a 1x12 tweed-fabric covered combo amp to a piggyback amp with oxblood grillcloth, covered with white tolex
. Its rated power output was increased to 30 watts, its output tubes were a pair of 6BQ5/EL84
(the only Fender amp of that time feature them), but was soon changed to 35 watts and a pair of 6L6GC with a GZ34 rectifier (circuits 6G9-A and 6G9-B.) There were 10", 12" and 2-10" speaker cabinet configurations. In 1963 the grillcloth changed to gold colored. In 1964, the white tolex was replaced with black tolex and the circuit was changed to AB763, which used an optoisolator to couple the tremolo effect, replacing the earlier direct bias-modulation circuits. The Tremolux was discontinued in the summer of 1966.
Guitar amplifier
A guitar amplifier is an electronic amplifier designed to make the signal of an electric or acoustic guitar louder so that it will produce sound through a loudspeaker...
made by Fender. It was introduced in the summer of 1955 with a rated power output of 15 watts, cathode bias
Cathode bias
In order for a vacuum tube to operate in a fairly linear region of its characteristic curve, the grid element must be maintained at a bias voltage more negative than the cathode. One method for accomplishing this is "cathode bias."-Early techniques:...
, two 6V6
6V6
The 6V6 is a beam-power tetrode, introduced by Radio Corporation of America RCA United States in late 1937, and still in use in niche applications.Similar to its predecessor the 6L6, the 6V6 was far more widely used...
output tubes, and a 5V4 tube rectifier. The Tremolux was the first Fender amp with a built in effect, tremolo
Tremolo
Tremolo, or tremolando, is a musical term that describes various trembling effects, falling roughly into two types. The first is a rapid reiteration...
.
In 1957, the rated power output of the Tremolux was increased to 18 watts when it changed to a fixed bias design and a 5U4 rectifier. In 1961 the Tremolux was changed from a 1x12 tweed-fabric covered combo amp to a piggyback amp with oxblood grillcloth, covered with white tolex
Tolex
Tolex is the trade name of a flexible vinyl material used to cover Fender amplifiers, Coffin Case guitar cases and guitar cases from the 1960s onwards....
. Its rated power output was increased to 30 watts, its output tubes were a pair of 6BQ5/EL84
EL84
The EL84 is a vacuum tube of the power pentode type. It has a 9 pin Noval base and is found mainly in the final output stages of amplification circuits, most commonly now in guitar amplifiers, but originally in radios and many other devices of the pre-transistor era.It was developed to eliminate...
(the only Fender amp of that time feature them), but was soon changed to 35 watts and a pair of 6L6GC with a GZ34 rectifier (circuits 6G9-A and 6G9-B.) There were 10", 12" and 2-10" speaker cabinet configurations. In 1963 the grillcloth changed to gold colored. In 1964, the white tolex was replaced with black tolex and the circuit was changed to AB763, which used an optoisolator to couple the tremolo effect, replacing the earlier direct bias-modulation circuits. The Tremolux was discontinued in the summer of 1966.