18 Watt PT

[passfan]

What kind of voltage can I get away with on an 18 watt build? I have a 340-0-340 unloaded that will run the tube compliment but I'm not sure if it's too much for the design or not.

[menger66]

You can do maybe 350-360 thats what the hammond reverb ao-43 wind up being with there power transformers that are 320-0-320, the amp will have more clean headroom and later break-up than marshalls 18watt design, with those voltages you could go with 6v6 for you're 18watter, or even try el34. I did a 18watt with el34 and it was killer and if the power transformer wont support el34 just go 6v6. mark

[passfan]

Thanks , I was thinking about 6V6 as I saw another member here posting about doing one like that. I have tooled around with the ao-43 a few times and I believe the PT I have is from one.

[menger66]

I have a ao-43 right here the #ao-24150-1 9496223 so you can match it up if yours is the same it'll work fine for 18watter, if you could knock off some voltage with zenner diodes you could use it safely el84 i keep the screen voltages (about 300) down and the el84 hold up pretty good, I was gonna turn this ao-43 into a 6v6 2203 plexi or something mark