New Liverpool done!

[fzfwyv]

Finished a Liverpool build yesterday (3rd in as many years). Thanks to Ron & the gang for the docs & all the work put into them...they are great!!

[img:960:720]http://mywebpages.comcast.net/rszmagaj/twlp_001.JPG[/img]

[img:960:720]http://mywebpages.comcast.net/rszmagaj/twlp_002.JPG[/img]

[img:960:720]http://mywebpages.comcast.net/rszmagaj/twlp_003.JPG[/img]

[img:960:720]http://mywebpages.comcast.net/rszmagaj/twlp_004.JPG[/img]

So some of the details only us amp nerds can appreciate:

- Allyn's chassis
- Toneslut trannies...using the 6600 taps
- PEC pots
- Mallory caps (except where you see the F&T's)
- Freaking phenominal face plate from Eric (Lonely Raven)

I'm thinking this is my best sounding one yet. One thing I immediately noticed was this one was not a bright as my others. When I say that, I mean there is a ton of usable range in this amp. The other ones I built were very bright. And I'm using a 2x12 cab with a Blue/G12H30 and it sounds great.

One thing I chose to forgo this time was the solid core wire. I used a mix of 20g stranded wire, some Alpha teflon coated and some Tubes & More cloth covered stranded. Maybe that has an effect? Who knows.

The other thing I notice is that the tone controls actually work!!! I say that a little sarcastically because the last couple I built I noticed the Mid control really didn't do anything and the Presence was not very wide it it's sweep. Well, much different on this amp. Controls work great and have a very noticable sweep from 1 - 10. Great for dialing in your sound.

Also able to play the amp with either bright switch engaged. Something that was out of the question on my other builds.

Next thing I have to do is find some serious tubes for the amp. It's also very quiet with the sh!t tubes I have in there. Power tubes are some older Sovteks and the preamps are a (decent) 7025 in V1 and 2 JJ's in V2 & V3.

I would also like to tune the amp a bit just because I am a constant tweaker. Any tips for tweaking the Liverpool strictly for a Les Paul. I have a nice R9 with some WCR Darkbursts.

So I'm open to suggestions for tweaking C8 & R7 and what I can expect when I do that. If I tweak one is there a ratio or formula for tweaking the other? Any tips are welcome.

Yep, so the amp is killer & sounds kick butt. I'm going to borrow a 4x12 with Greenbacks over the holidays and I'm sure that will leave me wanting one for the house (just don't have any where to put it).

-Rich

[Trigger]

Looks great. What kind of cab are you going to place her in? Usable tone controls would be a nice feature. It seems in my Express the treble and presence are the only tone controls that have any effect. The bass just adds a little more treble "character" Anyway beautiful build, you should be proud.

[M Fowler]

Good job on your build. What next?

Mark

[Zippy]

Finished a Liverpool build yesterday (3rd in as many years).

The other thing I notice is that the tone controls actually work!!! I say that a little sarcastically because the last couple I built I noticed the Mid control really didn't do anything and the Presence was not very wide it it's sweep. Well, much different on this amp. Controls work great and have a very noticable sweep from 1 - 10. Great for dialing in your sound.

Also able to play the amp with either bright switch engaged. Something that was out of the question on my other builds.

Very cool, Rich. Rather than let the others goad you into your next build, it would certainly be interesting to learn WHY this amp is so different - especially with respect to why it's tone stack works (and the others didn't). That difference in brightness is interesting too.

[fzfwyv]

Zippy, you're right on. I am going to tweak a couple of the values of C8 & R7, and possibly C12 & R15. Those seem to be the ones on the schem that people have used different values. Just to see what happens.

I'm also going to try some different tubes. I don't know if I'm really that great of a detective but why this build is really so much different (better) than the others has me very curious.

The other thing, is I read in other threads about solid core vs. stranded wire. I'm not sure I can prove one way or the other but I really think this may have something to do with it. I'm not willing to rewire using all solid core so I guess I can never really say for sure.

I do think that this amp is a combination of a lot of things that seemed to have went right. I was careful in the lead dress, I read Roosters post on the BRIGHT switch, and I've read a lot of posts here trying to capture those little details about wire placement, etc... wherever I could.

I did try the other Primary on the OT. I originally wired it up witht he 6600 and it sounded great. I switched to the 5200 and I think I like it a little better. To my ears it sounds a little softer. The 6600 had a harder more distinct edge to it. A stiffer attack. The 5200 seems to a little more bounce int he attack. Something that translates better with my Les Paul. I hope I'm using words that convey, but I think the 5200 gives the amp a more rersponsive feel.

-Rich

[drhulsey]

... Mallory caps (except where you see the F&T's)...

Rich,
C1 and C7 seem to be much larger (I suppose higher voltage) caps than I have used. Can you give us some details on those caps?

Beautiful build

[fzfwyv]

Those are 22uf's I had left over from a Lightning build. They are F&T's I bought from CE Distribution (www.tubesandmore.com).

500v caps. A little big so I had to put the resistor directly underneath it that's why you can't see 'em. Got the boards from www.turretboards.com

-Rich