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Bell 'Carillon' Model 6060 Retro 30W + 30W Tube Amp / Preamp


This item was sold on ebay 9/1/01
    This amplifier is a wonderfully styled amp/preamp made by Bell Sound Labs sometime around the 1960's. It has a very retro look and the color is scheme is stunning. It is similar to the Dynaco ST-70 in that it uses four EL34's in push-pull configuration, and has approximately the same dynamic range and power output. It also uses six 12AX7 preamp tubes, and a 5V3 rectifier tube. This unit has an integrated preamplifier along with the power amplifier and is rated to draw 235 watts. It also has two switched 125V output sockets rated up to 300 Watts total to power other devices. It has 8 sets of inputs and an unusually large number of outputs-- the typical 'common,' 4-ohm, 8-ohm, and 16-ohm taps, as well as an 'A' output terminal, and a 'B' output terminal, per channel. The 'Carillon' weighs 35lbs, and is 16 inches wide, 11.5 inches in depth and under 6 inches tall total.
    The controls are as follows (L to R):
  • Low frequency cut filter: 40Hz, 80Hz, Off
  • Selector switch: Microphone, Tape head, RIAA phono, LP phono, Eur (european phono?), Tuner, Tape amp, and Auxiliary
  • Left channel tone: Bass, Treble
  • High frequency cut filter: 4kHz, 8kHz, Off
  • Balance / Loudness control: L/R, loudness variable from -40dB to 0dB.
  • Function: Rev (reverse L and R?), Stereo, Mono
  • Right channel tone: Bass, Treble
  • Power / Volume control: Main On/Off (pull for on)
  • Speaker selector: A, B, AB
The Silk screening on the back of the chassis reads:
Model 6060
Dual 30W. Amplifier
117-125VAC, 60CY. 235Watts
Bell Sound Division
Thompson Ramo Wooldridge, Inc.
The number on the chassis reads '100162,' which could be the serial number, but I'm not entirely sure.
Bell 'Carillon' Model 6060 Tube Amp


  • As the pictures show, the outside of the amplifier is in near pristine condition, with no pitting, no paint dings, only minor scratches on the gold-colored metal frame, and no other significant defects. The inside is not as pretty as the outside, with a lot of light surface corrosion on the chassis, which will in no way affect the performance of the amplifier, nor compromise the integrity of the chassis itself. The paint on the main power transformer has flaked off in patches, and subsequently, the sides have been attacked by light rust. The two output transformers have light rust between the plates-- hardly more than a red-brown coloring. The vertical metal plates are not actually corroded, as they might appear, but are coated with old dust that has baked on over the years-- they can simply be cleaned with a wire brush, although it isn't necessary. To avoid interference, the signal wires inside are wired using shielded cable, and there are the vertical steel plates between the stages (as seen below). The original silk-screening on the top of the chassis is very strong, but has some baked-on dust on it that can be removed with a wire brush (also unnecessary). Underneath the chassis (see below) is very very clean and shiny with no rust on the transformers. This amplifier has the original tubes in it: High quality Amperex EL34's, and Telefunken 12AX7's.
Bell 'Carillon' Model 6060 Tube Amp


  • The sound of the amplifier has a warmer bass than a Dynaco ST-70 with more prescence. It sounds best on my Voigt pipes with the "volume" control all the way up, using the loudness control to vary the gain. You can tweak the system in almost any way just by varying the position of these two controls. There is no hum present in the output. The controls were cleaned with tuner cleaner, so there is no crackle in the controls for volume, balance, tone, etc. The two lamps that light the front panel work perfectly. The fuse is rated for 3.2 amps, and the fuse is original, which seems to indicate that the amplifier had never had any electrical problems, nor been pushed too hard.
Bell 'Carillon' Model 6060 Tube Amp


Serious bidders only, please; bidders who do not follow through with the deal will receive negative feedback. Buyer pays shipping from South East PA (19341), all sales are final. Based on the UPS rates, it would cost around $45 to send this item to California. The shipping will be less if you live near the east coast. I can accept money orders, cashier's checks, or bank checks. Feel free to contact me for more information: cdanjo@aol.com. Good luck bidding!
Bell 'Carillon' Model 6060 Tube Amp



Bell 'Carillon' Model 6060 Retro 30W + 30W Tube Amp / Preamp


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