124 skyliner build completed

[trane34]

I've been lurking here for a long time just trying to get the build together. I finally have all the parts and have started assembling it. Will post progress pics and clips when possible. Thank you to all the contributors on this site! I can't wait to get this amp going.

[Structo]

Welcome trane34,

Looks like you are off to a great start.

Those CE chassis are sweet aren't they?

By all accounts #124 was and is a good amplifier.
Do you mainly play single coil guitars?

Hey when you got a minute, could you put your location in your profile so that if you need anything that may be local to you, we can help you out.
Thanks!

[trane34]

Welcome trane34,

Looks like you are off to a great start.

Those CE chassis are sweet aren't they?

By all accounts #124 was and is a good amplifier.
Do you mainly play single coil guitars?

Hey when you got a minute, could you put your location in your profile so that if you need anything that may be local to you, we can help you out.
Thanks!

I'm pretty happy with the CE chassis. I only had to drill the chassis for the OT, boards, and I used a RJ/ethernet interconnect for the pedal. But drilling is to be expected. I really like the brushed finish and the silk screening looks great too.

I play a '87 Strat Plus that has some Lace Sensor Golds. I plan on putting in some Humbuckers though as it has a pool route and I'd love to get the tone that Jimmy Herring has using a Fuchs TDS. Is the 124 good for just single coils or does it work good with hums too? My only experience with a D-style amp was a Ceriatone HRM Bluesmaster. I definitely preferred that amp with hums but the bass was too much. From what I've read I hope to get singing leads and crunchy chords with the 124.

Updated profile! I'm lucky to live in Colorado Springs and have a hard time getting anything done with my building because my family is always dragging me outdoors

[CHIP]

Nice and neat turret mounting.
I like using them too.

[dreric]

Great Start!

I love it when a "lurker" pops up and becomes a builder. To me that's what this forum is all about!

Eric

[talbany]

Nice Iron!!..

Tony

[David Root]

Real nice start! Looks real good! #124 was my first Dumble build. It's a great circuit and also deserves tubes as good as the iron you have put in it.

I can recommend Philips Holland, Heerlen plant (Amperex) from personal experience, short plates are good but a long plate in V1 is very nice! 1966 short plate Orange Globes are particularly nice.

[trane34]

Tks all for the warm welcome. I like using turrets because they are easy to make a solid mechanical connection and swap out components. I've used eyelets before for fender builds but I can't get the mechanical connection as tight...it seems to me the leads are loose under the board and find myself being really careful to not move the board during/right after soldering. The Mercury Magnetics iron sounded great in a twin build that I had used for about five years and I was reluctant to pull them out but it was a no brainer when I looked at the costs of getting a new set

[trane34]

Real nice start! Looks real good! #124 was my first Dumble build. It's a great circuit and also deserves tubes as good as the iron you have put in it.

I can recommend Philips Holland, Heerlen plant (Amperex) from personal experience, short plates are good but a long plate in V1 is very nice! 1966 short plate Orange Globes are particularly nice.

Cool. tks for the info. I'm not very knowledgable about nos tubes but I'll do some research on the ones you suggested. The only nos tubes I have is a Phillips 12ax7wa and few 12at7s. Right now the plan is to use some EH 12ax7 and some SED 6L6s. I like how the EH are warm and have a creamy drive. The SED are from awhile back when they still cost $75 a quad but they are still going strong.

[David Root]

The Amperex has a warmish midrange but maintains its articulate character when overdriven. It's tough to beat IMHO.

The '66 is less scooped in the midrange than other close +/-years which is particularly nice for a Dumble circuit, I think. Used they are still reasonable, I got two last year for $30 each.

[Dr d]

#124 is a great amp to do. IMHO humbuckers sound great in this circuit too .

[Structo]

I think the #124 amp is a great test bed for the various mods and circuits.

The one thing you may notice depending on the guitar you use with it, is the 10uF bypass caps on V1, those may too bass heavy.

But the best advice is to first build it and put some hours on it to break it in so everything settles nicely, then change things if you don't like it.

We sometimes end up chasing our tails if we start changing things and values too early on.

I sent you a PM.

Tom

[bluesfendermanblues]

I think the #124 amp is a great test bed for the various mods and circuits.

The one thing you may notice depending on the guitar you use with it, is the 10uF bypass caps on V1, those may too bass heavy.

But the best advice is to first build it and put some hours on it to break it in so everything settles nicely, then change things if you don't like it.

We sometimes end up chasing our tails if we start changing things and values too early on.

I sent you a PM.

Tom

Interesting observation regarding the 10uf's on V1, when I tried the #124 last time (on a 50w 6L6, with Mercury OT) I found that anything below 22uf would give (that particular) to little bass.

[hans-jörg]

Hi,
depends on your guitar. For LP guitars a 5uF at V1 could be right. For Strat and Tele I would leave it at 10uF.
I changed mine now to 4,7uF all through for a new LP stile. And its quite right.

Hans-Jörg

[trane34]

Here it is completed. Its my first d build and I have a new found respect for the guys here who have built more than one much less who do this for a living. So far I'm limited in my setup...I'm playing it with a Strat with lace sensor golds through a 12" Celestion Gold. I have only two power tubes in for now and am using the 4ohm tap into the 8 ohm speaker. The cleans are thick and juicy with great presence. I really like the OD too especially with the PAB. I get this nice quack and sweet overtones. Still need a cab, some knobs, replace the rj connector for a smaller pcb one (ordered the wrong through connect ), another 12" to open this thing up, and oh yeah I have to build a dlator. I used the values on the skyliner 124 layout/schem except I had to use a .05 mid cap as its all I had. 716p orange caps, some .1 solen fast caps, and mostly 1 watt carbon films. Please let me know if you see something I could do better!