Cygnus SEL

[Cygnus X1]

Based on the AX84 project.
It's a beast!

I am running through a closed back '67 Fender cab with an 8 ohm setup on 16 ohm POS speakers.
I really like the sound of this amp. Not too loud...very nice Marshall old school distortion...creamy!
Off the path...I used Weber trannies, an Audio Classic (junk) 6550 power tube, metal film and ceramic resistors, whatever 12AX7's that sounded best (telefunken, and a sovtek).

A couple of links on build questions:
https://tubeamparchive.com/viewtopic.ph ... hlight=sel
https://tubeamparchive.com/viewtopic.ph ... hlight=sel

I have ordered the proper Hammond transformers to build another one.
What would you guys recommend for tone caps? I am using the chocolate brown ones, I have no idea exactly what they are. I have a feeling I could do better in that area.

http://www.jacksonforums.com/gallery/da ... Front1.JPG
http://www.jacksonforums.com/gallery/da ... oBack1.JPG
http://www.jacksonforums.com/gallery/da ... pBoard.JPG

I did secure that power resistor hanging by itself. I didn't have the proper one, so I had to run two to get the right value on the filament circuit.
The tone caps I'm talking about are the first ones on the board next to that white resistor.

[FunkyE9th]

That's cool. What is the black thing behind the grill on the right side?

[Cygnus X1]

It's a doghouse to cover the main filter caps.
Kind of like Fender BF.

I ran out of room underneath, and I think this helps to isolate
those caps a little better. Plus it helps in heat dissipation from the power portion of the board.

Any help on the tone caps?
My only complaint is this amp is a bit too mid-rangey.
I'm thinking part of the problem is the tone cap connected to the mid control.
The value is .01 uF. But are those caps good for tone?

[FunkyE9th]

I've only built one amp and I used Mallory 150's and silver mica.

[Cygnus X1]

I've only built one amp and I used Mallory 150's and silver mica.

I did a bit more homework.
And plugged this amp into a few different other speakers.

It actually sounded best with a Celestion G12M70 I have in a Kustom!.
Who would have thought?
I think the caps are ok, now.

[oldhousescott]

Those caps are fine. You could certainly try Mallory's (yellow tubular) or Orange Drops, but I believe the biggest difference you will hear is by tweaking the values of the caps, not the type. You often see .02uF for the mid cap, so that might be a place to tinker. .01 is going to move the mid notch up a bit in frequency and leave a good bit of lower mids, maybe making things too muddy.