Vintage Amp Repair

Introducing...

The Hush Puppy Tube Module

Quiets your amp – what a treat!

The Hush Puppy Tube Module is a replacement for the output tubes of your guitar amplifier to quiet it down. It is a drop-in replacement for most common output tubes.
According to folklore, a “hush puppy” was a tidbit given to dogs during cookouts after the hunt to quiet them down.

The normal 50 watts of power furnished by a pair of 6L6's is way too much for studio or small-room use. It is also hard to mic an amp when it is at full volume!

Without any changes to your amp, these modules reduce the power down to about 3 watts, and they sound good... perhaps better than your favorite 6L6, EL34, or 6V6.

Sound Samples:

(Note - I noticed the MP3 conversion resulted in a distortion-like fuzz that was not there in the original recording.)
Adam Burchfield On Guitar - short boogie with Hush Puppy
Adam Burchfield short rhythm with Hush Puppy
On these samples, which were done on a Fender Blues DeVille, I progressively increased the input volume until I hit the max. You can hear how it goes from clean to quite dirty and compressed.
Tommy Luna playing bass riffs with Hush Puppy, also done with increasing volume until max. It really changes the sound as you push it.
Musicians courtesy of Rockin' Robin Guitars in Houston, Texas.

There is no need to use a volume reducer your amp. Most of those add their own coloration to the sound anyway.

The Hush Puppy uses a smaller tube than your original tube. It is also self-biased, and does not require resetting the bias in your amp. It operates in a class AB mode, in which it is conducting most of the time. This is similar to Class A, but draws less current, and still has great sound.

Most tube amps start sounding good only above 7 or so. That is where that unique tube compression and distortion happens. Your amp sounds so good at those levels only because the tubes are near their limit of current capacity. Too long like that, and your whole amp (and your hearing) could suffer.

The tubes in the Hush Puppy Module are working just as hard as the larger tubes, and they sound like it. But they are only drawing a few milliamps, one tenth of what two 6L6's would draw.

The Hush Puppy module currently comes in two forms: Model 2, which is switchable; and Model 1, which is set on the middle setting of Model 2. The Model 2 settings are called "quiet pup," "nice dog," and "bad dog. "Bad dog" is purposely distorted."

They are compatible with all varieties of:
5881, 6550, 6K6, 6L6, 6V6, KT66, KT77, KT88, STR387, STR415, EL34, 6CA7, CV1741.
(with varieties being 6L6, -G, -GA, -GB, -GC, -GT, -WGA, -WXT+, etc.)


The Hush Puppy is supplied with the proper tube. It is truly a simple installation.

Buy them online! Click below to order one or more Hush Puppy Modules.
More info? Email me with the subject: Hush Puppy, at mfratus2001-at-yahoo.com

Pricing and Purchasing:
Model 1...(shown)..... $40

Model 2 (switchable) .. $65




I repair vintage and classic guitar amps in Houston, Texas. Tube amps especially!
  • I am centrally located in the Museum District just off of Montrose and Richmond avenues.
  • Reasonably fast repair, most often under two weeks.
  • Same-day repair is available if needed and if possible.
  • I have a good parts-supply chain if I need to order something, but many parts in stock already.
  • My prices are low compared to many long-lead-time shops:
  • Thorough Examination with Accurate Estimate: $45
  • Minor Repair: $75 (fuses, adjustments, cleaning, simple component replacement)
  • Most often: $95 (multiple component replacements + cleaning + adjustment + functional test)
  • I can rebuild, re-cap, and restore your amp into whatever shape you want it to be.

    References available.

    Call .
    The "Amp Repair Guy."

I am now creating custom amps.
These are amps that I have done:

Click on image for closer look!
Click on image for closer look!
The R.R. Special Guitar Amplifier
- This amp is an all-tube, one-input design, with two internal channels. The Normal channel is used all the time and can be run clean or dirty, depending on your settings. The Overdrive channel is mixed with the Normal channel via the Mix control, into the Master Volume control.
- This amplifier design uses dual outputs: standard 6L6's or the Hush Puppy outputs, so that the output power is selectable as either 45 Watts or 4 Watts. It can be switched on the fly, during play in fact.
- The Effects Loop Output is buffered and the level is adjustable. The Effects Loop Input goes right to the Master Volume Control input.
- The power supply is selectable for either a solid state diode or a tube rectifier. The Diode give more power, but the Tube gives more personality, and the amp responds more to your playing.
- There is a Feedback control that controls linearity. Completely off, and the amp can get real dirty. Turn it up, and errors (distortion) in the output are corrected, and the amp becomes more linear.
- The Ultralinear switch cuts in the Ultralinear windings on the output transformer, creating even more linearity.
- Bias for the 6L6's is switchable to self-bias (Class A-like), or adjustable bias. Bias is adjustable from the front panel, and is limited to extremes of Cold and Hot. The Hot setting would break up sooner.
- The Harmonic switch purposely unbalances the Phase Inverter to create even harmonics safely.

The Mr. J. Guitar Amplifier
The goal with this design was a Hendrix-like sound with plenty of gain and overdrive distortion. Power is from two 6V6's, with switchable Hush Puppies to reduce power. A reverb adds a nice dimension, and effects-box loop makes it expandable.
The owner will pick it up soon.

More shots: Those are Gold Plated jacks... Click on image for closer look!

Click on image for closer look!
Contact me with your requirements and ideas, and I'll work up a quote.

Reparo los AMPLIFICADORES de la GUITARRA en Houston.

  • Tubos y transistores.
  • Servicio rapido. Tarifas razonables.
  • Llamar a .
  • Lo siento, no hablo español.

Servicing Fender, Marshall, Ampeg, Peavey, Silvertone, EBS, Orange, Genz-Benz, Mesa Boogie, VOX, Hartke, Gibson, Legend, Trace-Elliot, Traynor, SWR, Gallien-Krueger, QSC, Crate, MusicMan, Earth, Epiphone, Matchless, Diesel, ENGL, Carvin, Metaltronix, Eden.




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