Voicing an amp for singlecoils/humbuckers

[beasleybodyshop]

Anyone ever do this? I really never take into account what type of guitar im playing when im building an amp (thats what eq is for, right? ) But i got to thinking, would it be more beneficial to tailor V1 (assuming we are talking about a 2 channel amp that mixes after the first tube) or to have a series of switches for different sets of coupling caps? The first idea to me sounds easier, but the second idea is to me, theoretically better suited.

Any thoughts?

[Reeltarded]

Me, never. I voice some guitars to match other guitars but not much. You get what you get and you don't pitch a fit about that in my world.

[matt h]

(deleted)

[PaisleyTube]

I always use a couple of guitars when voicing my own (brand) amps; at least a LP and a Strat.

For some customers I do voice amps to certain guitars.

[Firestorm]

Mike Holland used to use a variable slope resistor to help match the amp to different guitars. I forget what the control was called.

[Reeltarded]

"Slope" on my amps!

That's THEE ticket.

[M Fowler]

From Blue Guitar Notes hot rod tweed build by Steve Ahola

Tracing the Audio Signal:

We will now trace the audio signal through the circuit. Starting with the input from the guitar, the jacks are wired up in a Hi/Lo arrangement, with the 33k grid stopper resistor mounted directly on the tube socket pin to reduce hum and noise. The circuitry at the two jacks is courtesy of Bruce Collins and allows for separate high gain and low gain inputs by altering the value of the grid load resistor. I added in a further refinement here.
Here's the background: I hardly ever use the low gain inputs on any of my amps since it really seems to load down the signal from the guitar. But then again there is another problem I complain about a lot: if I have the amp controls set perfectly for my strat and then plug in my LP, I have to readjust the controls to get the same playing volume. Solution: why not design the #2 jack so that with a typical vintage-style LP plugged in
you get the same volume and response as a vintage-style strat plugged into the #1 jack? The value I ended up using for my own guitars is a 150k resistor mounted between the hot and switch terminals of the #2 jack instead of the 68k resistor on the original design from Bruce. However, you may wish to experiment to see what value works best for your own guitars (you probably don't want to go much lower than 120k for a vintage style PAF); incidentally, the #1 jack has a 1M grid load resistance.

[M Fowler]

When I built Steve's Hot Rod Tweed Blues Master I used this hi/low jack he talks about and it does seem to work well.

[M Fowler]

Mike Holland used to use a variable slope resistor to help match the amp to different guitars. I forget what the control was called.

Mojotone calls that mid-shift on their bass amp kit.

[Meat&Beer]

Solution: why not design the #2 jack so that with a typical vintage-style LP plugged in
you get the same volume and response as a vintage-style strat plugged into the #1 jack? The value I ended up using for my own guitars is a 150k resistor mounted between the hot and switch terminals of the #2 jack instead of the 68k resistor on the original design from Bruce.

This is getting neat, and makes me think of things. Can't we use a switch on this? A three way, and one R in between, or maybe even for active pickups if someone fancy's that sort of thing?

In a build that I'm bulldoze pile-driving as most of you are probably already aware of, I have a pot on the grid stopper of V1a that seems really useful/fun. Because it is. THIS suggestion, is talking about the leak, or load resistor (Also of V1a)...

One could do a SPDT on/off/on to where center (off) is the norm for whatever amplifier, say an LP is the norm guitar, having a run-of-the-mill output humbucker equipped job.

Up position could be for something like the Strat, (Or just call it a single coil, of the common variety) wanting a less resistive load to ground. (referring to this article)

A more powerful humbucker in the down position like a Duncan Invader, or a Bill Lawrence L500-XL, etc wanting more resistance to ground than the center position... (Given, that equalizing the amplifiers output to specific guitars is your end game)

Am I right in this reasoning? It could be tailored in so many ways depending on your personal guitarsenal.

Taking it further could incorporate stopper AND load R's with a DPDT ON (OFF) ON...

Oops... Having dual ganged pot ideas...

[Reeltarded]

Deja vu! Yeah, I like the input trim on a Rivera rack amp wide open all the time. It's a knob with a switch with three stops, no, no, and that works.

I like my guitars to sound different.

[Structo]

On my D clone I have a switchable cathode capacitor on V1.

One position is 0.68uF and the other puts a 5uF in parallel with it.

So the 0.68uF is for humbuckers (LP) and the 5.68uF is for single coils (Strats)

Fairly subtle but it works.

You could also take a capacitor decade box and switch through different values to dial it in for your needs.

[VacuumVoodoo]

This is a standard feature on the Zagray from its very beginning:

[img:400:400]http://louderandmore.com/chwilowe/znimk ... oicing.jpg[/img]

The Dual Pole ON-OFF-ON switch although installed above the input jack is not changing anything at the input or 1st gain stage. It changes both gain and frequency response at 2 coupling points between 3 gain stages further down the signal chain. In P90 position the modifying networks are disconnected. Basically, they modify mid & treble balance as well as gain for each pickup type.
It's not disallowed to play a Tele in HB position or vice-versa.
Miles &Co - you missed this during your expected ambush style midnight invasion of my demo room in Nashville in August. Don't worry, there'll be a show in August again.

[Reeltarded]

Noooo! I flipped it. Your amp is much more nuanced than the typical stuff guys are building. I'd love to try it out with a dearmond and a decent archtop.

[rp]

On my D clone I have a switchable cathode capacitor on V1. One position is 0.68uF and the other puts a 5uF in parallel with it. So the 0.68uF is for humbuckers (LP) and the 5.68uF is for single coils (Strats) Fairly subtle but it works.

+1