Now let's talk about the speaker and “farty" issues. Typical of budget amps from this era, the Royal 500 has multiple instrument inputs and tremolo. While the output tube in a Champ is a 6V6, the 6AQ5 is in the same family and supposedly sounds very similar. While similar, the Regal's tone control puts this amp right between a Tweed Champ (no tone control) and a blackface or silverface Champ (with bass and treble controls). The tremolo is a cathode-modulated style, modulating the first 6AV6 preamp tube, and the output is approximately 4 watts, which puts it in the same category as a Fender Champ. The tube component of the amp consists of a 6X4 rectifier tube, three 6AV6 preamp tubes, and a single-ended 6AQ5 output tube.
Several major manufacturers make ready-to-go substitutes. Replacing the speaker could provide big tonal rewards.
I'm not sure why they would produce three different styles of the same model amp, but we'll just chalk that up to the '60s! One style is the almost square box model that you have, another has a noticeably taller cabinet, and the third is a similar-shaped cabinet to yours but with no large bezel around the speaker grill. This photo of the amp's back shows its tube array, including a 6X4 rectifier tube, three 6AV6 preamp tubes, and a single-ended 6AQ5 output tube.įrom what I can tell, these Model 500 amps were probably only produced for a few years in the '60s and came in three different configurations. Small, low-power amps like this have been responsible for more great-sounding guitar tones than we'll ever probably know, so, having never had one of these Regal amps cross my bench, I was definitely curious and decided to do some research on your little Canadian. Thanks for the question and the pics of this interesting little amp. What is your past experience in dealing with these little 10" speaker tube amps? Have you been able to make them sound amazing or is it just better to keep it the way it is? Please give me any info you can. But I just wonder if I was to put a higher-wattage speaker in it, would it get rid of all the unwanted sounds and make it into a great amp? I will send you a couple pics, so you can see what I am talking about. The Regal turned up all the way, either by itself or with a wah or a good vintage fuzz, has a good sound for that.
I like playing bluesy rock-that early '70s-type Free, Cream, Led Zep sort of music. I know it's hard to know anything without seeing or hearing the amp in person, but you have a lot of experience with old tube amps. If I try a different speaker, would I have to change any of the capacitors or resistors or anything like that? I have no idea what wattage the speaker in it now is. It's so close to sounding like a million-dollar amp, at least to me. I want to know, would it be possible to put a bigger speaker in it? Or a speaker that is higher-wattage? The sound now can get a little fuzzy and a little farty at times. The sound is very good-almost to the point of incredible. I've been playing it a lot lately, and I really like it. 500" and “Made in Canada" on the control panel. The amp says Regal on the front, with “Model No. I have this early 1960s' Canadian-made tube amp.