FS: Bella Extreme MK I Platinum tube amp (SOLD)

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TomS

FS: Bella Extreme MK I Platinum tube amp (SOLD)
« on: 29 Jul 2009, 12:56 am »
This was a very special amp Bill Baker built for the 2006 RMAF, shown there by Wayne at Bolder Cables.  It includes every trick available at the time - Platinum Teflon Sonicaps, Bybees, Eichmann Cable Pod binding posts, EH KT88's, upgraded Mills and Dale resistors, WBT RCA's, and more.  As many here will attest, this is a terrific sounding amp that can drive most reasonable loads.  I was pleasantly surprised to find it was an almost perfect match for the Merlin VSM-MX's, since they love modest powered tube amplification.

It has a few flaws - a 1" scratch to the top surface near the driver tube on the right, small chips on the rear corner by the IEC input (see pics).  One binding post was very slightly bent, which made me nervous with the thin Eichmann, so I ended up buying a full set of four posts to replace the one ($120!).  I put in 2 so they would match somewhat better, since they apparently changed the production colors from blue to black (go figure).  The flash makes the flaws seem worse than they are and it's mostly on the rear panel, so I don't worry about it. It would probably be a 6 or 7/10 on the Audiogon scale, so is priced accordingly.

I will include in the sale 2 sets of output tubes - the original EH KT88's and the "Perfect Pair" Shuguang KT88's from The Tube Store as shown in the pics.  The latter probably have less than 100 hours on them and one arrived with the plastic center pin missing.  Also included are 4 large and 4 small of Herbie's Ultrasonic tube dampers as shown (+$100 worth).  No power cord is included, so use whatever magic cord you fancy.

Asking $850 plus shipping and 3% Paypal fee.

Thanks for your interest!









« Last Edit: 7 Aug 2009, 07:51 pm by TomS »

Big Red Machine

Re: FS: Bella Extreme MK I Platinum tube amp
« Reply #1 on: 29 Jul 2009, 01:18 am »
Tom, what kind of power does it have?  I've been kicking around the idea of a tube amp with these 95 db speakers.

TomS

Re: FS: Bella Extreme MK I Platinum tube amp
« Reply #2 on: 29 Jul 2009, 01:24 am »
Tom, what kind of power does it have?  I've been kicking around the idea of a tube amp with these 95 db speakers.
60 wpc @8 ohms with KT88/6550's per Bill's manual.

mgalusha

Re: FS: Bella Extreme MK I Platinum tube amp
« Reply #3 on: 29 Jul 2009, 01:12 pm »
I had this very amp for a few weeks before the 2006 RMAF and can attest to how good it sounds. I was driving my 91.5dB Meadowlark BH2's and it had no trouble at all. It will make an honest 60W into 8R and sounds damn good doing it. Someone is getting a very nice sounding amplifier.  :thumb:

vman71

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Re: FS: Bella Extreme MK I Platinum tube amp
« Reply #4 on: 29 Jul 2009, 03:28 pm »
Tom, what kind of power does it have?  I've been kicking around the idea of a tube amp with these 95 db speakers.

Pete, at 95db sensitivity, you'd be in good shape with even low powered SET amps.

vman71

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Re: FS: Bella Extreme MK I Platinum tube amp
« Reply #5 on: 29 Jul 2009, 04:32 pm »
I would consider buying this, I just need to sell my John Hogan 6sn7/76/300B SET amp.  I love my John Hogan, but when I use my 2-way bookshelf speakers vice my very efficient Klipsch, I could use a little more headroom.  If I was using my efficient Klipsch exclusively, this wouldn't even be on the table for consideration.

Nels Ferre

Re: FS: Bella Extreme MK I Platinum tube amp
« Reply #6 on: 29 Jul 2009, 05:00 pm »
I have the MkII Signature version of this amp. Someone is going to be a happy   camper.  :banana piano:

lonewolfny42

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Re: FS: Bella Extreme MK I Platinum tube amp
« Reply #7 on: 30 Jul 2009, 01:49 am »
Nice amp....nice price !! Did hear it at RMAF '06...good work by Bill Baker...too bad I don't have any more room here... :(

Good luck with the sale Tom... :beer:

TomS


Bill Baker

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Re: FS: Bella Extreme MK I Platinum tube amp
« Reply #9 on: 1 Aug 2009, 03:11 pm »
Let's not forget it still has 1 more year (and 2 months) remaining on the 5 year warranty :wink:

TomS

Re: FS: Bella Extreme MK I Platinum tube amp
« Reply #10 on: 5 Aug 2009, 08:31 pm »
Still available (amazingly to me :scratch: )

TomS

Re: FS: Bella Extreme MK I Platinum tube amp
« Reply #11 on: 7 Aug 2009, 02:58 pm »
bump  aa

mca

Re: FS: Bella Extreme MK I Platinum tube amp
« Reply #12 on: 7 Aug 2009, 03:07 pm »
Wow, wish I could afford to buy this back. I really loved this amp  :duh:

TomS

Re: FS: Bella Extreme MK I Platinum tube amp (SOLD)
« Reply #13 on: 7 Aug 2009, 07:52 pm »
SOLD

Pez

Re: FS: Bella Extreme MK I Platinum tube amp (SOLD)
« Reply #14 on: 7 Aug 2009, 08:16 pm »
You guys, I think I have a problem.  :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:




You see I have a bada$$ amp on the way and I don't want you all to die of jealousy.  :icon_twisted: