This Joe’s 2016 TrailBlazer SCS-50. The chassis was assembled in January 2016. Its beautiful walnut cabinet was built by Joe, starting late October 2016, and the main work finished in January 2017. It has been tweaked and modified over the years, right up until the photos you see below, taken in January 2020.
More of the cabinet build can be found at Joe’s site: https://www.josephwelden.com/filter/Fabrication/BRELLIOTT-SCS-50
The chassis came from a 1947 / 1948 Pye Table Radio 67a, with a Bakelite exterior. At the time, I was really into Selmer Treble’n’Bass. I was already building a long chassis version of the Treble channel amp the SCS-50LC (later to become the FRO) with JCM800 50W transformers, and a full anode current Hammond choke fitted.
I also had a bunch of Engl 50W mains transformers, and a Transformer Equipment interleaved winding 50W output transformer. I also had a 3/8″ drilled board & a bunch of turrets itching to be used, and I got to thinking… surely I can make a lightweight 50w.
So, this became the first SCS-50, with front end based on a Selmer Treble’n’Bass, back end on an Engl 50W (the back ends are all of a muchness the 50W), and using 5881 instead of EL34. Weirdly enough, you can pretty much repair the amp using a Bassman 6G6-B schematic too.
So there you have it – the prototype for the TrailBlazer range – a clean channel with loads of headroom & lovely break-up (as long as you don’t mind it being very loud when it does).
And what a wonderful looking beast it is.