Hey,
I'm in the process of building my first too. The TS trannys will be a definite upgrade, it's the same iron the Trainwrecks used, not just the same spec.
I think the filters could be better too. Like I said I haven't build my TW yet, but in all moy other amp builds the Sprague Atoms are just fantastic sounding.
I'm also planning on using different signal caps. The ODs don't get it. I'll probably go with Sozo myself.
Good luck! Ceria's amp is fairly close, but has a ways to go IMO. But the potential's there!
Hi Matt,
Are you having Nik build your amp or are you doing it yourself? Where are you in the process of amp building? I just placed my order the other day. Any thoughts on tubes?
Hey,
I'm building mine. I got the chassis and board(s) from Nik. Mother! that guy is fast and good! I'm really impressed with him and his service/parts.
Anyway, I just got the chassis and I'm in the process of trying to see if I have enough spare parts laying around to build this with what I have. This weekend I hope to put some time in and get it almost done. But I still don't have the trannys ordered yet.
As far as tubes, I don't know. I have a bunch of older Groove Tube EL34s so I'm going to use that for the time being. I also have some NOS RCA and philips that I'll use for the preamp. If I was going to go with new tubes, I'd probably go with JJs. To my ear those sound as good as mid-line NOS like GEs or Philips. They're rugged too.
And I should make a correction to my post above, I thought Nik shipped with ODs, but I see he uses the Mallory 150 caps. I like these better than the ODs but I still think the Sozos have just a richer, more musical/less harsh quality to them.
Is Nik building yours? What are your plans?
Last edited by Matt72 on Mon Apr 23, 2007 11:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Nik is building mine... Larry (distortion on here) is building the cab. I don't have any real plans beyond that. I was thinking of getting some NOS tubes and maybe other upgrades like the trannys. That's why I started this thread.
Matt and DSP, Nik makes great amps that's for sure. I'm not sure if he has these as options but, go with Mallory PVC Series caps and not Sozo's.
Spragues are fine as is F&T. Mooses iron is the closest available.
KF didn't use Mullards in the TW's They are designed around Siemans EL-34's
In italy Siemens EL34 are not so cheap.
After testing different tubes I'm very satisfied with this set:
- 1 Sovtek 12AX7 LPS in pos 1
- 2 Tung Sol 12AX7 in pos 2 and 3
- 2 Sylvania wingled C (they must have C written on the glass) EL34
Probably in future I'll change everything to Siemens tubes.. But I'm waiting to find some nos at good price
I agree with Allyn, I replaced the supply caps (3x40 + 3x20) with Atom ones and everything is better and tone more balanced. Another good things is to change the 2 pre 25 micro caps with 2 of 22 micro (I put 2 x 25 from Atom).
Replacing output Trans: this will change your sound.. but at the end if your kit comes with Nik new irons, you can keep them.. in my opinion they're pretty good (but i never tested moose ones)
Castor
Castor, it isn't th 25uF that sound bad in that position...it is the Atoms. I suggest that nobody uses the 25uF/25V atoms in anything for a while. I just got 10 in a month ago and I've ripped them out of everything I put them in! They test OK but, the sound like sh*t!
I love those Sozoz though. I've never heard another cap with the harmonic complexity of those things (except the 60s Philips mustards). But, while I know what I like in other amps, I'm new to this TW thing, so I might give the PVCs a whirl. But I have yet to be able to track these mysterious caps down!
I talked to Nik, he experimented with different caps and said
""I have fully tested the Sprague PS caps, and indeed results were slightly better, and is quite noticeable after the amp has burned in. I find the fizzle a bit less, and with more of the wooden tonal quality as versus the Mallory. Definition is slightly better."
Ask Nik to make sure he puts those in your amp if it's on order.
