#124 now a #102

[norburybrook]

I've been really busy in the studio and this week started a months tour, so have had little spare time of late. I've got a day off today at home and decided I could really do with a day off so got the soldering iron out as a way of relaxing.

I've never been 100% convinced with my #124 build, I've changed it backwards and forwards between 'classic and Skyliner' but I've always felt it lacked a certain something.
also I sold my original #102 recently , but that's another story (went to a well know UK guitarist who wants to remain anonymous)

so today I rummaged through my parts box and found the necessary bits to convert it to a #102 .

Suddenly it came to life, the sound I remembered from my other #102 the dumble bloom and compression I love, on clean and OD, and for some reason the boost sounds fantastic on this amp, it's really more usable than on my last #102, it crunches the clean really nicely and adds that extra to the OD.

so I'm a happy camper.

marcus

p.s. I 'm still waiting to complete my parts order for the wonderland build...however I've a feeling my new #102 is going to be my keeper.

[Bombacaototal]

Thanks for the post and for sharing the story

I got curious about the UK guitarist lol

I am wondering if you went high plates on your built with 33k v1a grid and if you lowered the 68pf

Are you a tele, gibson or strat player

[norburybrook]

it's all stock #102 so;

33k grid, 3k3-4.7uf- 2k2...high plates 150K/220K 2.2uf instead of 1uf for the presence, and I've added a 47pF to the 15pF that was there on the master.
Swapped the 350k OD trimmer for 100K.


really has come to life.

I'll start a new thread about selling my original #102 when I get chance.

I've paired the new #102 up with my P90/little 59 tele at the moment. I have about 30 guitars of all kinds here in the studio


Marcus

[martin manning]

Didn't happen to try it out along the way, did you? Good opportunity to see what does what.

[norburybrook]

good point Martin. No I didn't, I got home yesterday evening after a 9 hour drive so I was wiped today. I just swapped everything in one go. It's not a lot of components but it's made a big difference, I'm unsure thought what exactly has made the big difference. I'm not sure of why my old #102 sounded so good, but it sure did. This one now sounds as good if not better and it has different transformers and resistors, so I'm still no wiser as to what gives an amp the X-factor.

Marcus

[telentubes]

I may be making that conversion as well, sooner rather than later. Converted my 3rd gen to a low plate 124/high plate 102 a few months ago, and it's still not an amp that I'm drawn to. I spend all my time spinning dials looking for the sound, and hardly playing. I ordered a new OT this morning to see if that will liven things up. Glad it's worked out for you.

[aflynt]

As a 50 watter, it may be benefitting from that extra low end gain afforded by the highplate topology.

-Aaron

[norburybrook]

I forgot to add that I went back to the full 100w filtering as well previous to this. I didn't notice any sound difference. I'm really not sure why the boost suddenly sounds great on this one. On my previous #102 it was a straight up volume boost with a low end cut/mid accent. On this new build it actually gives the clean a nice crunch as well, perhaps it's because I now use a higher input volume so it was on the edge already of clean/crunch.

anyway, I'm happy the amp is what it should be sound wise now. I do really need to re cover it though after the mess I made of the original job. this time I'm going to tolex it with the proper glue! time to watch Taylor's video again.......


M

[groovtubin]

Thats really great, but my 124 has KILLER plexi grind w/PAB on clean w/vol at 2 oclock, OD iza beast as well...who knows i may have finally gotten lead dress rit! lol