Fast / Gradual Mode

[Rob Livesey]

Hi Chaps,

I hear a lot about the Fast / Gradual Mode switch on the Komet amps and most recently on the new Concorde Model. There's a great movie clip over on the GearPage today of a guy playing a Les Paul through a new Concorde, he has it set in Gradual Mode.

My Fuchs Train-45 has a Hard/Soft switch on the back panel. Does anyone know if this performs the same function as a Fast/Gradual switch on a Komet.

What exactly do these switches do?

That clip of the Concorde on the GearPage sounds very much like there's a lot of Express in it to me. Beautiful indeed. My Fuchs and the Ceriatone amp sound very similar to it.

Cheers,
Rob.

Cheers,
Rob.

[VaughnC]

Hi Rob.

I've owned a few Komets and the fast/gradual switch changes the feel & gain of the amp. It's difficult to put into words but you know it when you hear/play the amp. It's basically switches in/out a tap on one of the preamp stages plate load resistor but, for something that simple, it has a dramatic effect on how the amp responds to the players input. To my ear, the gradual mode is less responsive to the players input but the amp seems to break up later on the volume control. In the fast mode, the amp seems to get more lively and more sensitive to the players input, but it breaks up sooner. Personally, in a K60, I always left mine in the fast mode as it felt better to me with my input.

[FUCHSAUDIO]

The fast/slow switch is a split plate load on V-1-B, before it feeds the single triode before the power amp. It selets "full signal" or padded signal. The Komet pictures show its wiring and values fairly clearly.

The current Train-45 does not have this function. The hard-soft switch alters the hardness or softness of the power supply by introducing a resistor to emulate a tube rectified supply. Forgive me if I keep the value and circuit location to myself...lol.

[sobersuds]

The split load is well documented on this site, while Kevin O'Connor's, The Ultimate Tone I, explains how to add a simple circuit, and switch, to a solid state rectified amp to emulate the softer response of a tube rectified amplifier.

His books are excellent, especially for advanced amp builders. He is also a nice guy and would probably talk to you about the circuit.

[Rob Livesey]

The fast/slow switch is a split plate load on V-1-B, before it feeds the single triode before the power amp. It selets "full signal" or padded signal. The Komet pictures show its wiring and values fairly clearly.

The current Train-45 does not have this function. The hard-soft switch alters the hardness or softness of the power supply by introducing a resistor to emulate a tube rectified supply. Forgive me if I keep the value and circuit location to myself...lol.

Thanks for the replies chaps and you too Andy. Sometimes I post on forums for answers to my questions because I'm concerned about hassling the manufacturers themselves with too many qustions. But when manufacturers themselves take part in the forums, it's a real bonus.

Btw, I think I like Hard mode best on the Fuchs Train 45, it's just got more punch.

Cheers,
Rob.

[AdmiralB]

Rob, I went a different direction with the Komet clone I built. Instead of the split-load, I replaced the voltage divider in front of V3 with a 500K pot, which gives the effect of a continously variable 'fast/slow' switch, and also gives the possibility of somewhat more gain.

I also set up a switch to totally bypass V3; with V3 out of the circuit you essentially have the 'normal' channel on a BF/SF Fender, albeit with slightly different component values. This gives the option of a LOT more clean headroom than stock.

[sandman]

The fast/slow switch is a split plate load on V-1-B, before it feeds the single triode before the power amp. It selets "full signal" or padded signal. The Komet pictures show its wiring and values fairly clearly.

The current Train-45 does not have this function. The hard-soft switch alters the hardness or softness of the power supply by introducing a resistor to emulate a tube rectified supply. Forgive me if I keep the value and circuit location to myself...lol.

I own both a custom KF modded komet and a Fuchs T-45, I love the soft hard switch! especially with 6v6's (now andy should know who i am ) I use it as my main lead track amp in my session work. Both great amps but the train 45 seem's to go to tape(media) better at a more manageable volume.
I like the komet in gradual but it lose's something besides gain and slower transient response, were the S/F sw on the fuchs turns it in to a more loose attack and allow's it to be used for other tones/music styles while still giving all the sustain and saturation. SaNdMaN

[Elcabong]

Rob, I went a different direction with the Komet clone I built. Instead of the split-load, I replaced the voltage divider in front of V3 with a 500K pot, which gives the effect of a continously variable 'fast/slow' switch, and also gives the possibility of somewhat more gain.

I replaced the 100k pot and 56K I had in this position with a 500K pot as you mentionned. Now things are even better! Thanks for sharing!