Bare neckid clips Hammond AO-35 spitfire build

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skyboltone
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Bare neckid clips Hammond AO-35 spitfire build

Post by skyboltone »

Ok, here's where I'm at. I've taken most of PRR's excellent advice and made a number of changes from the Sampson design. I tried my darndest to keep the Hollow State rectifier but just couldn't get the voltages and tone that I wanted. It's an interesting amp. Please look it over and rip it up. I got thick skin and though I may be done with the tweaking, (my son's birthday is around the corner) I've MUCH to learn about amp tone. I'm a radio guy if truth be known. Ask my about kilowatt AM transmitters.

As for the clip, tear the tone up by all means but, be nice. We're not all Scott, or Mat, or Geetarpicker. I've been struggleing with this damn thing for 40 years. One of these days I'll cut a rhythm track first and do what Albert King always advocated; "Play every other lick son....." There is some barely audible commentary in the background. The basics are we go from master 5 gain down tone 5 gain 3 or so, to tone and master dimed with gain 3 or so, to master down gain up and finally a bit with gain 10 tone 10 and Master as high as I could go with the H-535. I need a Strat in the worst way.

http://www.zshare.net/audio/3111791396e971/

I don't have an SM58 so this is recorded onto Guitar Tracks with a Rode NT2A laying on a stool with a piece of foam rubber. About 18 inches away. The speaker isn't helping me a bit. It's the infamous Altec 417C and it won't make much hair with 15 watts. Any Eminence (cheap) greenback clone recommendation would be highly appreciated. The track is, as stated bare neckid. What's comming out is what you hear.

Thanks for the help guys.

[IMG:1024:638]http://i10.tinypic.com/4ptw1hd.jpg[/img]
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skyboltone
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Re: Bare neckid clips Hammond AO-35 spitfire build

Post by skyboltone »

What? Nothin'? Sheesh, I'm gonna go cry.
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dartanion
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Re: Bare neckid clips Hammond AO-35 spitfire build

Post by dartanion »

Sounds good man! Very Vox like cleans.

Sounded like single coils and low volume...am I right?

How about some sizzling distorted clips.
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benoit
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Re: Bare neckid clips Hammond AO-35 spitfire build

Post by benoit »

I actually like a lot of the NT series mics on guitar, particularly on D-style and fender amps, both for studio and for live. The large diaphrams in particular.
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skyboltone
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Re: Bare neckid clips Hammond AO-35 spitfire build

Post by skyboltone »

dartanion wrote:Sounds good man! Very Vox like cleans.

Sounded like single coils and low volume...am I right?

How about some sizzling distorted clips.
Hehe :lol: No, The Heritage H-535 semi Hollow. Like a 335, humbuckers. I think I'm gonna hook up the G12-65. I've got a Delta Demon and a bunch of Legend 1058s to play with too. See if I can get more hair out of it. That speaker just aint right on this amp.

Anyway, that's what I need to hear from this bunch. The last part of the clip is the gnarliest it gets. As far as I know, the spitfire isn't known as a distortion monster anyway. PRR might be right, split the pre tube and get some gain. With parallel triodes though you can half the plate resistance. Maybe I'll clip some parallel resistance on that 193.2K plate resistor and see what happens.
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keithrick
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Re: Bare neckid clips Hammond AO-35 spitfire build

Post by keithrick »

Clips sound good. Its hard to tell the exact tone the way they are recorded.

Regarding your layout. I will first admit I am unfamiliar with the schematic.

I am assuming you are using both sides of the V1 in parallel? Was there a reason you didn't use V1 as two gain stages ala Fender? Might give you more control.

Also using the 820 ohm resistor in the PI you can try a 6800 tail, or use 1K with 47K tail.

I think the Bruno UG30 is based off a Fender Tweed Pro mated to a EL84 output section? Someone please correct if I am wrong. :lol:

Good luck wrapping it up!
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Re: Bare neckid clips Hammond AO-35 spitfire build

Post by dartanion »

One suggestion would be to change V1 Rp to 120K and Rk to 820 which should warm up the preamp tone a bit. You may consider going with a single 1K feeding the EL84 screens.

You're in South City right? I'm in Redwood City. We should get together sometime and geek out about amps.
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dartanion
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Re: Bare neckid clips Hammond AO-35 spitfire build

Post by dartanion »

Must have been the Altec Speaker :wink:

Try the G12-65. A buddy of mine has this speaker in a Soldano cab that sounds fantastic with my 18watters.
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skyboltone
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Re: Bare neckid clips Hammond AO-35 spitfire build

Post by skyboltone »

keithrick wrote:Clips sound good. Its hard to tell the exact tone the way they are recorded.

Regarding your layout. I will first admit I am unfamiliar with the schematic.

I am assuming you are using both sides of the V1 in parallel? Was there a reason you didn't use V1 as two gain stages ala Fender? Might give you more control. I was looking for a sheme that would fit in the little tiny Hammond Ao-35 chassis that was simple three knob job. I'm sure I could get more gain out of it with cascaded triodes in the pre spot but the Matchless Spitfire (from which this thing is modeled) used a parallel 12AX7.

Also using the 820 ohm resistor in the PI you can try a 6800 tail, or use 1K with 47K tail.

I'll try that. What can I expect with the 6.8K tail?

I think the Bruno UG30 is based off a Fender Tweed Pro mated to a EL84 output section? Someone please correct if I am wrong. :lol:

Good luck wrapping it up!
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Re: Bare neckid clips Hammond AO-35 spitfire build

Post by skyboltone »

dartanion wrote:You're in South City right? I'm in Redwood City. We should get together sometime and geek out about amps.
Yeah, I noticed your RWC in the "from" space and knew immediately what that meant. "Weather best by Government Test" was RWC slogan in years gone by. I'm a bay area long timer. I remember when the Giants played in Seals Stadium and the 49ers were at Keezar (sp). Anyway, I'm away from home for an indeterminate time right now. I live on a boat at Oyster Point when I'm there. When I get back we can grab a couple of amps and take the Hatteras out in the Bay for some LOUDNESS without neighbors. :D
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Re: Bare neckid clips Hammond AO-35 spitfire build

Post by dartanion »

Cool! I'm a Bay area short timer at 5 years. I almost lived on a boat at Oyster point when I first came out here. I was consulting at Genentech, so it would have been very convenient.

I haven't been out on the bay or ocean yet, save for swimming :shock:

I hope to make headway on my 18watt Wreck this week, so hopefully I'll have it ready for a jam soon.
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skyboltone
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Re: Bare neckid clips Hammond AO-35 spitfire build

Post by skyboltone »

benoit wrote:I actually like a lot of the NT series mics on guitar, particularly on D-style and fender amps, both for studio and for live. The large diaphrams in particular.
Well, I bought the NT2A primarily for vocals with acoustic guitar but It's supposed to be good for just about anything. I thought I had an old SM-48 with me, (I'm not at home) but I can't find it. I think the speaker is the main problem here. I've got some options there. I'm gonna dive in and get some more gain out of the amp and use a different speaker and see what happens.
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Re: Bare neckid clips Hammond AO-35 spitfire build

Post by skyboltone »

dartanion wrote:Cool! I'm a Bay area short timer at 5 years. I almost lived on a boat at Oyster point when I first came out here. I was consulting at Genentech, so it would have been very convenient.

I haven't been out on the bay or ocean yet, save for swimming :shock:

I hope to make headway on my 18watt Wreck this week, so hopefully I'll have it ready for a jam soon.
We'll get together this early Fall. When my current madness is over.

Dan
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