A friend asked me to price out (and maybe build) subject. After studying the various related threads (e.g., Rawnster, KT66/dscribbs, Normster) I don't yet clearly see the "best" approach.
The original request was..."how would I get an amp for the Brad Paisley tone?". He is a VERY good guitarist with all the right chops and "feel" and a beautiful custom built Tele....so I thought that the Rocket was the best place to start.
The amp will be used in various venue sizes so the ability to play and be toneful at, say, coffee houses up to medium sized clubs is desireable. Amp micing into PA system available for larger venues.
I am envisioning the standard 4 hole Rocket with RJ Edcor iron and I already have a Hall cathode bias VVR in hand. I layout and make my own turret boards and have plenty of flexibility in that departement.
Soliciting input from the experienced on a couple of topics as follow:
VVR implementation: Whole amp, PI+output tubes, just output tubes? If just output tubes, would a PPIMV be justified and/or worth the effort for flexibility sake?
Reverb driver tube: VVR implemented if whole amp implementation is the best approach?
Reverb recovery triode: Same or different VVR implementation as driver tube?
I am just getting going on this so please feel free to point out any other considerations that I haven't mentioned and/or other approaches.
TIA,
Dave O.
Rocket Reverb with VVR
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Re: Rocket Reverb with VVR
Rocket with reverb.. I wouldn't worry with a VVR for a gigging amp. I believe more parts are more places to fail at a bad time.
I just don't think they get all that loud. (lol it's a subjective thing)
PPIMV I use to scale a touch off the NFB on Marshalls, not volume.. so that is a toss up. A rocket competes with a snare drum favorably. Expect that much and worry about it later?
Just build the amp I say, then add what you find that it needs.
(and build me one too!) l
I just don't think they get all that loud. (lol it's a subjective thing)
PPIMV I use to scale a touch off the NFB on Marshalls, not volume.. so that is a toss up. A rocket competes with a snare drum favorably. Expect that much and worry about it later?
Just build the amp I say, then add what you find that it needs.
(and build me one too!) l
Signatures have a 255 character limit that I could abuse, but I am not Cecil B. DeMille.
Re: Rocket Reverb with VVR
Love my rockets with whole amp VVR. Makes getting the right amount of crunch with single coils at stage volume or any volume so easy. See my build thread called Rocket Dog.
Re: Rocket Reverb with VVR
The VVR question you may get 10 different answers. I just built a Rocket which i posted a few pics of.
https://tubeamparchive.com/viewtopic.php?t=18612
It uses the VVR and it is regulating the whole amp. Thats how i usually set them up. But you can do what you like or think works or sounds best.
The amp i built was one i built for a friend.
He already had some EL84 amps,so i suggested we put in octal sockets,and run it cathode biased.
So its more like Express output section. No choke, And Rocket front end section.
The amp works and sounds very good. Other things like what speakers you match the amp how it will sound etc...
https://tubeamparchive.com/viewtopic.php?t=18612
It uses the VVR and it is regulating the whole amp. Thats how i usually set them up. But you can do what you like or think works or sounds best.
The amp i built was one i built for a friend.
He already had some EL84 amps,so i suggested we put in octal sockets,and run it cathode biased.
So its more like Express output section. No choke, And Rocket front end section.
The amp works and sounds very good. Other things like what speakers you match the amp how it will sound etc...
Re: Rocket Reverb with VVR
Appreciate the input partners!
Nah Reeltarded...I suspect that you dig the much more aggressive tones just like me!!
I really like the full amp VVR on my Express but am starting to lean toward the KISS approach for this project.
Need to discuss further with the guitarist to find out what he is really after with this one. He is no dummy and realizes that there isn't a single amp that does everything.
Thanks again!
Dave O.
Nah Reeltarded...I suspect that you dig the much more aggressive tones just like me!!
I really like the full amp VVR on my Express but am starting to lean toward the KISS approach for this project.
Need to discuss further with the guitarist to find out what he is really after with this one. He is no dummy and realizes that there isn't a single amp that does everything.
Thanks again!
Dave O.
Re: Rocket Reverb with VVR
I recently built a Rocket/AC30 inspired amp, and was set on installing a VVR for the power tubes, coupled with a LarMar PPIMV. I found out, after installing the VVR, that the amp had lost some of it's touch responsivness. Also, the VVR didn't add anything that couldn't be achieved with the PPIMV.
Almost all of this circuit's tone comes from overdriving the PI, with a little bit of OD and compression from the second stage/cathode follower. This is where one can tweak the tone and feel of the amp - the B+ of the second stage and the voltage divider before the PI. Installing a voltage regulator, that is somehow sensible, with the need of good heat sinking and electical insulation from the chassis is, IMO, too big a hassle for this particular circuit.
Almost all of this circuit's tone comes from overdriving the PI, with a little bit of OD and compression from the second stage/cathode follower. This is where one can tweak the tone and feel of the amp - the B+ of the second stage and the voltage divider before the PI. Installing a voltage regulator, that is somehow sensible, with the need of good heat sinking and electical insulation from the chassis is, IMO, too big a hassle for this particular circuit.