Sundown amp - to restore or not?

I posted this some time back in alt.guitar.amps, but never really got an
answer, so I figured I'd try it here:

First, a bit of history: When I purchased this Sundown amp, used, it was
represented as a 50-W head, and was equipped with 6L6 output tubes. By and
by, I had the brainstorm to have it converted to EL34s, which I did. Later,
communicating with Dennis Kager (the original designer and builder), I
learned from the serial number that this amp was in fact, a 100W unit,
making those hundred watts from just 2 6550 output tubes.

(See the amp here: http://www.rootwerx.com/music/gear/sundown/default.htm)

This raises several questions.

Since most amps with which I am familiar, e.g., some Marshalls, use FOUR
6550s to make a nominal 100W, does this indicate that, as originally
configured, this amp was running at an exceptionally high voltage? What are
the implications of now running my EL34s at these higher voltages?

I'm actually very happy with the tone as it stands right now. The clean
channel (which I use 90% of the time) is reminiscent of an older Marshall
50. While I hate to mess with something I like, I'm contemplating bringing
the amp over to Dennis Kager and having him restore it to its original
output configuration. Any feelings for how this would affect the tone (i.e.,
EL34s vs 6550s)?

I'd also like to have him try to voice the "hot" channel as an alternative
clean channel, in particular, I'd like it to approximate an old Fender
Vibroverb, to fully take advantage of the amp's current configuration as a
JBL-equipped 1X15" combo.

Obviously, I'm not real concerned about keeping it in "original condition",
since I've already converted it from a head to a combo. One of the reasons
I'm even considering the electronic restoration is that the amp originally
featured an "RMS" control, which, according to the amp tech who did the
conversion from 6L6's, could not be kept operative with the EL34s (I wonder
why not?) I'm also wondering whether the combination of output tubes with
the existing transformers might be less than optimal.

Thoughts?

Thanks.

Joe
http://www.rootwerx.com









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