Tweed Bassman 5b6 50w head started

[Matt D]

But it looks like they both use the same deluxe reverb PT. I could be wrong.

[Milkmansound]

nothing says "reliable" like zip tie-ing an electrolytic cap to a wirewound resistor

[Cliff Schecht]

nothing says "reliable" like zip tie-ing an electrolytic cap to a wirewound resistor

Ha! I saw that too. Honestly if the cap is supported on both sides then it does NOT need the zip tie, especially because it's so small. It's bad enough that we usually shove the electrolytic (that hates heat) right up onto the power resistor and don't think about it, but that zip tie is an additional step in the wrong direction. If you can, try to get some space between those two parts.

[rp]

i wasn't sure whose amp that was pictured so I reserved comment but, yeh, zip tying a heat sensitive cap to a heat source sure caught my attention. I'm a tenderfoot and I'd never do that.

50W? For 2 6L6s @~380V cathode biased - No way on any planet, even Jupiter where Elvis weighs 648lbs. More like 25W, and the 2nd unit is ~15 Watts. Labeled that way it'd be a much harder sell and begs the question, "what's the point?" I hear the answer - headroom, but to me real headroom is increasing the envelope you play in ie if you play a Pro Reverb on 7 and you need more headroom you get a Twin and play it on 4. Just swapping OTs and 6V6s -> 6L6s while fun and a different tone and harder to push into saturation distortion I don't feel is what a pedal steel player buying a 22/50W amp would be expecting. Crazy expensive way to get two tones too. Two of every thing, except the cab, for the exact same circuit - ouch! There's a reason no manufacturer through time and space has done this. Maybe a bigger chassis with two OTs and some Macgyver use of DP3Ts or a relay to switch OTs?

On the praise side: as a DYI build for kicks I'm all for it, and I take my hat off to the ultra cool 5 octal tubes in a tiny chassis done ptp. That's nice work. I'm definitely gonna rip that off. I'll build a 5B6 at some point and now I've decide it will be small enough to fit into Sputnik.

[Jana]

Nice work Mark.

As for zip ties, I hate them! When you cut off the tail, they leave this little razor sharp pointy thing that is just waiting to slice a finger.

[Milkmansound]

Nice work Mark.

As for zip ties, I hate them! When you cut off the tail, they leave this little razor sharp pointy thing that is just waiting to slice a finger.

get a pair of flush cut dykes - I like these:

http://www.amazon.com/Xcelite-170M-Gene ... B0002BBZIS

that way you leave no razor sharp bit on the tip - unless you want to (hey, it said no user serviceable parts inside )

[Jana]

"flush cut dykes"

Sounds like a hairstyle.

[M Fowler]

Those last five photos are a Little Walter dual head sporting small chassis. One with 6L6's and the other with 6V6's claiming 50w/22w but we all know better

Anyway I hadn't seen LW gut shots since his early days, I posted those photos earlier. I'm looking for a regular LW50 or LW80 (6550 or KT88) gut shot to compare to a Tino 5b6 project layout. Just for my own interest really.

Recent news is new model with KT120's I already tried that in a 5b6 and it was smooth no more power with stock transformers. My recent build used MC 50w transformers and running 6550's currently but is now an Ampeg B-15N circuit with two 6SL7's. I'll stop now since I'm probably just repeating myself, old age.

Mark

[billc]

Nice work Mark.

As for zip ties, I hate them! When you cut off the tail, they leave this little razor sharp pointy thing that is just waiting to slice a finger.

get a pair of flush cut dykes - I like these:

http://www.amazon.com/Xcelite-170M-Gene ... B0002BBZIS

that way you leave no razor sharp bit on the tip - unless you want to (hey, it said no user serviceable parts inside )

I like those too....FWIW Home Depot sells them packaged with a set of needle nose pliers for $14

[img:400:400]http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/produc ... cf_400.jpg[/img]

[Phil_S]

As for zip ties, I hate them! When you cut off the tail, they leave this little razor sharp pointy thing that is just waiting to slice a finger.

One of those disposable match/lighter things. Just heat the cutting for 3 seconds and the sharps are gone.

[vibratoking]

I'd recommend using the hot tip of your soldering iron to melt that sharp edge off the zip tie. Bonus, the melted zip tie plastic acts a barrier to oxide formation. Think of it as a protective soldering tip cover.

[M Fowler]

One of our TAG members had posted this on FB so I thought I would post here to show the inside of a very expensive Little Walter octal tube amp.

[M Fowler]

Compare my version #2 cage amp to version #1 cage amp but more importantly this Tino Zottola designed layout matches the famous expensive Little Walter

https://tubeamparchive.com/viewtopic.ph ... hlight=5b6

[Regan]

Yours is much more pleasing to the eye, Mark!!!
Ummm, maybe its just me, but do those resistors in the LW look really small, like 1/4W carbon film at best?
I have to give the guy credit, his amps may sound good and have a following, but times like these I'm glad I can build my own because his amp looks like it would be decent at half the price.
Regan

[M Fowler]

Regan, thanks I appreciate that.

It looks like he is using some 1/2w CF and some 1w CF in various places!

Yes, amps do seem to play better at 1/2 price don't they.