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Photo Page 5

Model "One Hundred"
This link provides photos of a stupidly-rare Dallas Arbiter-era amp. There are quite a few photos so be patient... it's well worth the wait.

Model "One Hundred"

L100 Mark 2
This external link provides photos of a rare Dallas Arbiter-era amp. There are quite a few photos... etc.

L100 Mark 2

B100W Mark 3

L100 and L100W Mark 3

1.1: Sound City "One Hundred" Lead 105 Front View
This extremely rare 100-watt amp (what I call a Mark 1 model) was the predecessor to the Mark 2 and Mark 3 Sound City L/B100s, which were the progeny of Dave Reeves. This particular amp is owned by a collector-friend who recently bought it from a collector in England. This model is very similar to the Arbiter Sound City 100 and 200 amps that preceded it (and that are shown on Photo Page 1), as well as to the later Hiwatt CP-103, in that they all have four separate inputs, each with its own volume control. (This particuar amp appers to have a later Sound City logo. The "One Hundreds" linked above and shown below have what are presumed to be original logos for this Mark 1 model.)

Several stories are circulating about the model "One Hundred": one is that it was a transitional model for Dave Reeves who built it during the time he was leaving Sound City and starting Hiwatt; another (and, I think, the more likely) story is that this amp was a Sound City amp (their Mark 1 model) definitely designed by DR, but modified and retagged by him after he had left Sound City. This DR-modified amp is referred to as a Lead 105.

Whichever story is correct (or maybe it's something in between), it's a cool amp nevertheless. This model was used by Pete Townsend for a while and by Jimi Hendrix as well.    Photos Home Page

1.2: Sound City "One Hundred" Lead 105 Chassis Interior View
Very Hiwatt-like in its layout and wiring, with just enough messiness to preserve its Sound City flavor. A schematic of this amp's preamp can be found here (through the courtesy of Chris M. and Mark H.).   Photos Home Page

1.3: Sound City "One Hundred" Lead 105 Rear ID Badge
The stamped numbers (and the design) suggest more of a Hiwatt badge than a Sound City badge (which had typed letters and numbers), yet the word "LEAD" appears to have been scratched in by hand. The Russell Acott badge refers to the now-defunct instrument-rental company that used to own this amp.   Photos Home Page

1.4: Sound City "One Hundred" Lead 105 Interior Hiwatt Badge
This is the Hiwatt badge that is mounted inside the amp on the chassis's top; note the corner of the transformer in the top-left of the photo. An identical Hylight Electronics badge appears on the chassis of the other "One Hundred," photos of which are linked above.    Photos Home Page

1.5: Sound City "One Hundred" Lead 105 Rear External View    Photos Home Page

1.6: Sound City "One Hundred" Lead 105 Chassis Exterior Top View
This Mark 1 model and the Mark 2 L100 model both used four EL34s, but what's interesting is that unlike the Mark 3 and later chassis, the Mark 1 and Mark 2 chassis had only four holes cut in the chassis for EL34 tube sockets. The Mark 3, which also used four EL34s, had six holes cut in its chassis, which suggests a six-EL34 model (the Mark 4 120?) wasn't far behind or was already in the works.    Photos Home Page

2.1: Sound City "One Hundred" Lead 105 Front View
First of all, and with all due respect to the sender, my apologies for the smallish photos; this was how they were sent to me, and we beggars can't be choosers. This Model "One Hundred" Lead 105 is owned by Paul Tribe, of Two Tribes Music, who was kind enough to send me these photos.

The knobs aren't original and the logo is missing, but who cares? Or should I say "Who" cares? as this is another one of the Sound City "One Hundred" heads that was presumably modified by Dave Reeves; some of these DR-modified amps were used by Pete Townsend, but I can't say if this sample is one of PT's former amps.    Photos Home Page

2.2: Sound City "One Hundred" Lead 105 Chassis Top Back to Front View
As you can see, this is a very clean example of this brutally rare amplifier.   Photos Home Page

2.3: Sound City "One Hundred" Lead 105 Chassis Top Front to Back View    Photos Home Page

2.4: Sound City "One Hundred" Lead 105 Chassis Interior Back to Front View
Again, sorry for the photo sizes, but you can clearly see that this amplifier's wiring bears the orderly imprimatur of DR. Note the word "LEAD" hand-written on the chassis, which is similar to the sample shown above (in Photos 1.1 to 1.6).    Photos Home Page

2.5: Sound City "One Hundred" Lead 105 Chassis Interior Front to Back View    Photos Home Page

2.6: Sound City "One Hundred" Lead 105 Rear ID Badge
Again, the rear tag has the hand-etched (some would say "scratched") LEAD designation. And it would appear this amp was once owned by a guy named Jon. (Hmmm... I wonder if Jon would like it back.) You can also just make out the "05" (of 105) in the model number. The serial number is 221, which is two digits away from the amp shown earlier.    Photos Home Page

2.7: Sound City "One Hundred" Lead 105 Interior Hiwatt Badge
And here is the Hiwatt (Hylight) badge mounted on the top of the chassis, adjacent to the power transformer. This badge is characteristic of these DR-modified "One Hundred" amps, which were designated by DR as the Lead 105. Yet another piece of Sound City history.    Photos Home Page

3.1: Sound City "One Hundred" Front View
When it rains it pours; here's yet another "One Hundred!" Note the Sound City logo on this amp is completely different from any other SC logo, is presumably original to this model, and is just a piece of plexi-glass with yellow letters either painted or engraved. Also, note the Hiwatt-like white piping which is a departure from the gold metal or plastic trim and gold or silver piping used on so many other SC amps (but which is identical to the "One Hundred" shown above in Photos 2.1 through 2.7). These are such cool amps. This amp is not a DR-modified "One Hundred" (also called a CP-105). This appears to be a stock "One Hundred."    Photos Home Page

3.2: Sound City "One Hundred" Front View
This is the same amp as shown in Photo 3.1, except it's a slightly less glared view. Note the piping on the top; it travels across (and around) the head cabinet from left to right, rather than from front to back as with other Sound City head cabinets. Note also its Hiwatt-like white front piping.  Photos Home Page

1.1: Sound City L100 Mark 2 Front View
With only one view of this amp available, there's not much to be said except that this Mark 2 also has Hiwatt-like white piping. A very nice specimen of this rare amp.   Photos Home Page

1.1: Sound City B100W Front View
The Bass version of this amp: ~100 watts from four EL34s, Mark 3 (III), four inputs, smooth black Tolex, (probably) original knobs, silver vein, gold trim; the logo, with its black borders above and below the letters, is a type I've only seen one other time: on an early Sound City speaker cabinet. (See Photo 4.7 for some additional information.)   Photos Home Page

1.2: Sound City B100W Rear View
No tubes, but Patridges, of course! Note the two extra chassis cutouts for EL34s, which furthers my belief that the six-EL34 Sound City 120 Mark 4 was right around the corner when this Mark 3 model was built.   Photos Home Page

1.3: Sound City B100W Chassis Exterior Front View
I'm told by this amp's owner that the four preamp tubes are all Mullard ECC83s; lucky guy! They're probably originals. Note the extra chassis cutouts for extra preamp tubes.   Photos Home Page

1.4: Sound City B100W Chassis Exterior Rear View
This shot is a bit dark, but a nice specimen nontheless!   Photos Home Page

1.5: Sound City B100W Chassis Interior View
All things considered, a fairly clean layout.   Photos Home Page

1.6: Sound City B100W Serial Number Plate
Another example of Sound City's wacky serial numbering. I'd say this amp dates anywhere from as early as 1968 to as late as 1970, which is when the Mark 4 line was first introduced in England, and which I'm basing on aspects other than the serial number.   Photos Home Page

1.1: Sound City L100 Mark 3 Front View
The Lead model of this amp: ~100 watts from four EL34s, Mark 3 (III), four inputs, smooth black Tolex, non-original "chickenhead" knobs, silver vein, gold trim, original large metal logo.   Photos Home Page

1.2: Sound City L100 Mark 3 Chassis Front View
New caps, Partridge transformers, three ECC83s (12AX7s), one ECC81 (12AT7).   Photos Home Page

1.3: Sound City L100 Mark 3 Chassis Interior View
Owner has suggested that although this amp shows "Mark 3" on the faceplate, this amp does not have a purely Mark 3 circuit.   Photos Home Page

2.1: Sound City L100 Mark 3 Front View
~100 watts from four EL34s, Mark 3 (III), four inputs, smooth black Tolex, (probably) original knobs, silver vein, gold trim, original large metal logo. Note: This amp's companion 4x12 cab is shown on Photo Page 5.   Photos Home Page

2.2: Sound City L100 Mark 3 Chassis Front View
Insanely clean chassis; Partridge transformers. An excellent example of a Mark 3 L100!   Photos Home Page

2.3: Sound City L100 Mark 3 Chassis Rear View
Note "Reverberation" label. These labels were common on Mark 3 heads: the speaker outputs probably had a label such as this at some point.   Photos Home Page

2.4: Sound City L100 Mark 3 Chassis Interior View
The chassis' interior is just as clean as its exterior. A clean machine.   Photos Home Page

3.1: Sound City L100 Mark 3 Front View
~100 watts from four EL34s, Mark 3 (III), four inputs, smooth black Tolex, (possibly) original knobs, silver vein, and gold trim; note the seemingly unique black-on-white logo.   Photos Home Page

3.2: Sound City L100 Mark 3 Rear View (w/ Panel)
Original, unmodified Mark 3 rear panel.   Photos Home Page

3.3: Sound City L100 Mark 3 Rear View (w/o Panel)
It appears the output transformer was replaced; manufacturer unknown.   Photos Home Page

4.1: Sound City L100W Mark 3 Front View
~100 watts from four EL34s, Mark 3 (III), four inputs, black basketweave Tolex, (some) original knobs, silver vein, and gold trim. The logo for this model was either 1) the larger black on silver offset logo, 2) the larger black on white offset logo, or 3) the larger white on black centered logo. I have seen all three on the Mark 3 L100.   Photos Home Page

4.2: Sound City L100W Mark 3 Rear View   Photos Home Page

4.3: Sound City L100W Mark 3 Chassis Front View
Note the Mullard preamp tubes!   Photos Home Page

4.4: Sound City L100W Mark 3 Chassis Rear View
Note the Mullard EL34s! Also note the two extra chassis cutouts for output tubes; this is odd as at the time this amp was produced, there was no model (at least, that I know of) that had six EL34s. The SC 120 Mark 4 used six EL34s, but that model came out years later. And the L200 Mark 3 used four KT88s and a choke where the two extra utouts would have been. It is possible, therefore, that this is a later L100 that used the same chassis as the L120 Mark 4, as the 120 was in development around the time this L100 was built.   Photos Home Page

4.5: Sound City L100W Mark 3 Chassis Top View   Photos Home Page

4.6: Sound City L100W Mark 3 Chassis Interior View
Note the relatively clean layout that definitely suggests a Dave Reeves influence, although at the time this amp was built, Dave Reeves had already left Dallas Arbiter to start Hiwatt.   Photos Home Page

4.7: Sound City L100W Mark 3 Serial Number Plate
There is much speculation as to what the "M" designation stands for. It might simply be a design version/revision or it might indicate a specific manufacturing facility. Sadly, no one knows (or recalls). But a magazine article I was sent (which originally appeared in "Guitar Magazine," Vol.12, No.3, p. 20) suggests that for a time Sound City amps shared the same production facility as Reeve's nascent Hiwatt amps, although I think this Mark 3 head came after Hylight stopped building Sound City heads.   Photos Home Page

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