Bluesmaster Parts Roundup

[dorrisant]

Just curious as to a starting point... I have a bunch of the NTE 1/2 watt metal film resistors. Probably enough to fill all of the slots in a preamp board. I know that would not be the best combination, but that is my question... Where would you deviate from that pile of resistors to use something better? And I mean sonically. What would you do? I have a whole bunch of 1 and 2 watt carbon film as well as 1 and 2 watt metal film to choose from. As a matter of fact, I have a huge tub full of 1/2 - 2 watt Allen Bradley CCs. Would you use them anywhere? What brand/composition for the slope resistor? What about the PI resistors? Are they CF or MF? If CF, what brand should I look for?

Unless directed, I will build as in T Albany's layout and possibly tweak from there.

My hope is that this is all going to be considered an open discussion, due to some of the parts being gooped that remain a relative mystery. Whatever you've used in the past with good or bad results are all considered good answers. If you changed things up for a particular reason, those results are an even better answer.

Btw, this will be a 100 watt BM, using the TX set I just pulled from a Fender PA 100. So just an 8 ohm tap with this OT, but I'm not worried about that.

About the only deviation I'm sure of will be the Relay/LED supply board, regulator and PT will not be used. I have a board and circuit that will replace all with one board. Nothing fancy, just my way of deriving relay power without a dedicated winding or separate TX.

I'm pretty clear about what I want to use as far as signal caps, different in different places, but I think I have all of them on hand. One question there... Would MPPs be the first choice for the HRM? If not, then what? Refresh my memory... I have been reading BM posts for a couple of weeks.

This post is just for my final parts roundup... I may not have all of the exotic resistors that I need just yet and may need help in sourcing them.

Thanks for reading! Much appreciated!!

[Jake Kershaw]

Sounds like a fun build! I'll keep an eye on this thread to see what results you come up with. As far as the MPPs, they sound decent in the PI as couplers, but I prefer 6PS's or 715Ps there in my Ultraphonix Bassman 100 build. It will probably be up to some experimentation, but I bet you couldn't go wrong with the good old 6PSs in the HRM board! I have yet to build an ODS style amp, so take my words with a grain of salt, but I have certainly seen some very good clones with 6PS in the HRM board position.

What speakers will you be using? EV or Celestion? And what kind of electrolytics? I really like the sound of the Nichicon axial, and the MIEC axials are great too sound wise. The Sprague TEs (silver) sound great as cathode bypass caps in my Ultraphonix Bassman as well; not as much low mid hump as the black and green ones, and it lets the amp breath.

Looking forward to hearing what the experts here have to say! Best of luck.

Jake K.

[dorrisant]

Thanks for the response Jake. I appreciate the input. I'm kinda surprised that no one else has commented yet. I wasn't gonna argue with anyone... I just want suggestions. If I can find the parts brands that you guys suggested, in the values needed, I will end up making this project a parts swap mule. If I have things on hand, I will swap parts to try different combos at your suggestion.

For example... I know Martin has read this. He should post his suggestions... As if he would build the circuit. I kinda know what he's gonna say, if/when he does. I would test this amp with his suggested combo. Ok, who wants to give a suggestion? Martin? Tony? Charlie Wilson? Dan? Erwin? Klaus? Mark? Marcus?

I would try to come up with a looper sample that would test the general and extreme functions of the circuit. Please don't be too critical of that last suggestion. I have sample on a cheap looper that I have used for amp tests/repairs for years now. Seriously, the same damn loop. You can bet I know what to expect an amp to do with it though.

This may be the way to test the amp with different parts combos. If we had a few (3,4 or 5) combos to try for this amp, I'd make a single session out of it. Record as built with the looper, make a few recordings of different control settings, maybe three. Then I could change parts and follow these steps again... Wash, rinse, repeat.

At each step I'd consider making a ToneX Capture. Miles, do you have any suggestions on how to capture with my meager recording equipment? I'd put these up on the ToneNET for anyone to download and try.

I hope the purists can be lenient with this... The looper? ToneX?? I know, but we all say that the ears are the best judge for this and I'd like to bring that to the forum as consistently as possible with exactly the same signal for each test. I have personally witnessed an amp start to bloom while PI tuning with my looper.

I would measure the pots with a meter to assure that those things remain as consistent as possible. If I do this in a single session, I can mic the cab and leave it throughout the session so the mic and placement are equal across the board. The ToneX part is just because... It is for those people who have figured out that they are quite good at nailing some circuit qualities, like bloom. If you want to try out one or all of the combinations, they would be free and accessible.

I have a good stash of 6PS caps and some MPPs too. I'd be willing to buy some others, but I think the HRM may be the only real place I would like to experiment. I'm thinking 6PS through except for the PI and I'd used 715s there. Maybe try a few combos there. I can make a some additional HRM boards and just swap those too. It could get out of hand if I don't put a limit too it though.

Too much? Anyone want to help? Parts to donate?

As a note... I do not want to use the OT from the PA100. I don't think it will be best for the EL34s I plan to use.

[erwin_ve]

I read it Tony. My part is that I'm in a very busy part of life and don't have the time to go deep.
I'll give you a link of my Bluesmaster build with some specifics: https://ampgarage.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=33037

[pottedplant]

I wasn't gonna argue with anyone... I just want suggestions. If I can find the parts brands that you guys suggested, in the values needed, I will end up making this project a parts swap mule

It's weird how I can relate to this... I wonder if we share the same experience with a certain member of this forum. My suggestion is to not let anyone ruin your enjoyment trying to build one of these. I let that happen and gave up for years. I'm back trying to finish it before I can't anymore due to personal/health reasons.

[martin manning]

I wasn't gonna argue with anyone... I just want suggestions. If I can find the parts brands that you guys suggested, in the values needed, I will end up making this project a parts swap mule. If I have things on hand, I will swap parts to try different combos at your suggestion.

For example... I know Martin has read this. He should post his suggestions... As if he would build the circuit. I kinda know what he's gonna say, if/when he does. I would test this amp with his suggested combo. Ok, who wants to give a suggestion? Martin? Tony? Charlie Wilson? Dan? Erwin? Klaus? Mark? Marcus?

Well, having no appetite for argument just now is exactly why I was hanging back. When I read your proposal, the first thought I had was to suggest that you go look up Marcus' BM build threads, and the second was that all we (publicly) know of the specific parts used in a BM is what is on Tony A's layout. Then I thought of course you would already be aware of those things.

As to what I personally would do, your suspicions are probably correct: New, good quality parts of the same type as HAD used. NOS is ok as long as they are in spec, and for caps not leaky. No CC resistors (unless noise is a seen as a good thing), but I wouldn't be afraid to sub MF for CF. Brand doesn't matter, as long as they are high quality. Some people will disagree for various reasons. I can see where an authentic look has value in the marketplace, but that value has both real and imaginary parts (EE joke).

Do you want this to be an experiment investigating the effect of different components? If your first post was meant to identify that as your main interest, it went over my head. What you write above suggests that, i.e. a carefully controlled input signal and recording setup documenting several configurations, and then letting people decide for themselves if these details are significant. I'm all for that, each individual can determine if any of it matters to his ears and brain.

[dbharris]

Hi Tony,

I have not built a bluemaster yet. It's on my todo list, but after another Dumbleator, a low plate classic, and an SSS 002. It'll be a while for me.

My current thoughts for my own BM build is to build the circuit but with a parts composition more like 183. Really just looking to differentiate each of my ODS builds a bit. This why I also used mostly brown drops for my 2nd Gen.

I am definitely interested in hearing your clips of the different parts!

-Dan