Bedroom Plexi PPIMV

[Littlewyan]

I'm now looking to build myself a Marshall Plexi but with 6V6s in the Output Section and with a switch between 250V and 350V B+. Yes I know this isn't TRUE Plexi sound but its as close as I'll get. Now I've never used the PPIMV, so if I implemented one into this amp would it be playable in the bedroom? Its not like I need to play whilst everyone is asleep but my Trainwreck Express is difficult to control volume wise, even with an attenuator. So I'm thinking a 6V6 Plexi at 250V B+ pushing out 10Watts might be easier, especially with a PPIMV.

[10thTx]

Now I've never used the PPIMV, so if I implemented one into this amp would it be playable in the bedroom?

I've done this very thing and the answer is Yes.

With respect, 10thtx

[Littlewyan]

Sweet . Probably going to include a Voltage Selector Switch to go between 250V B+ and 350V B+. I believe 250V should give me 10Watts whereas 350V will give around 18watts. Not a massive difference but will give different sounds. If you followed my other thread I was looking at building a small 5watt SE Amp, this Amp will cost me an extra £90 to build but might make me happier. Tough decision!

[Cantplay]

Take a look at the Ampmaker Double 6.

It has most of what you are looking for, and a James tone stack.

John

[Littlewyan]

The Double 6 is basically the Single Ended Amp that I might build instead, however without the NFB and low wattage selection. However I don't think it would have enough distortion for my liking. I don't want to use pedals either. Both the Double 6 and 6V6 Plexi would need some sort of attenuation, although the Plexi would have a PPIMV. Decisions decisions.

The Plexi would be more fun to build and probably bit more flexible.....

[xtian]

I've put the LarMar PPIMV on all three of my plexi (1987) builds, and my recent Express build. All awesome. Three out of four had no trouble with oscillation or noise, using unshielded wire. The fourth (my first plexi) was troublesome, even WITH shielded wire--I figure the problem was something else. Anyway, great master to have available, and completely transparent when dimed, to my ear.

[PaisleyTube]

good circuit + good iron + good ppimv> good plexi tone at any volume

[Littlewyan]

Hmm i'm leaning more towards the small plexi, it'll be so much more fun to build and play. With the 5W amp I'm not sure if i'll like it so it'd be a waste. Whereas if I spend a bit more on parts I can build a small Plexi that I know i'll like. I'll also have a lot more flexibility with the Plexi in terms of tweaking or in an extreme case rebuilding into something else.

[Smokebreak]

Hmm i'm leaning more towards the small plexi, it'll be so much more fun to build and play. With the 5W amp I'm not sure if i'll like it so it'd be a waste. Whereas if I spend a bit more on parts I can build a small Plexi that I know i'll like. I'll also have a lot more flexibility with the Plexi in terms of tweaking or in an extreme case rebuilding into something else.

IMO There's nothing small about a 6V6 plexi. You might as well build a 50w. I'm a big fan of 6V6 amps, but not with Marshalls, so much. I've got one and a few 50w , and even for bedroom levels, I always go for a 50w, with the normal master.

[Phil_S]

Hmm i'm leaning more towards the small plexi, it'll be so much more fun to build and play. With the 5W amp I'm not sure if i'll like it so it'd be a waste. Whereas if I spend a bit more on parts I can build a small Plexi that I know i'll like. I'll also have a lot more flexibility with the Plexi in terms of tweaking or in an extreme case rebuilding into something else.

You may want to look at the 18W TMB with the LARMAR MV. Volume-wise, there is not that much difference between 18W and 5W. You need to go down to 1.8W to get half the volume of the 18W.

If you really want to cut down on POut, look at the 18W TMB design with either 6BM8 or EL95. Personally, I'd lean towards the EL95 for a Plexi type build. You can probably buy first-rate EL95's on eBait for dirt cheap. Either of these tubes in a PP amp will probably give you POut < 7W. Add the MV if you want.

Don't expect "real" Plexi. For that you really need to have a speaker cab that is moving lots of air. At under 10W, that is going to be hard, if not impossible. At 50W, you can feel the music, not just hear it. Your ears have bones and they feel it, too.

[Littlewyan]

To get to bedroom level I need a .5W Amp really, but strangely enough these are harder to build. Mainly down to finding a valve that has an output that low. I know you can use a 12AU7 and others but they tend to sound a bit fizzy to my ears. So my idea is to build a 6V6 Plexi which will put out either 10Watts or 20Watts and to use the PPIMV to bring it down to bedroom level. Then when no one is home its cranking time .

Also the issue with a 50W Amp is it will be harder to bring down to bedroom level, I have a Trainwreck Express and Marshall 1987xl at the moment and both are difficult. My attenuator only just goes down enough to bring them to bedroom level and then you can't play for too long because it gets quite hot and it just kills the sound using that much attenuation. With a 5W or 10W or even a 20W Amp however it will be much easier. I might not even need the attenuator with the PPIMV.

I've never been blessed to hear the real Plexi sound in person Phil. I only have a 2x12 Cab and the 1987xl isn't really my kind of Plexi, which is why its for sale.

[PaisleyTube]

again: good circuit, really good iron and a good post pi mv will do

[Colossal]

Yeah, a 6V6 Plexi is a great circuit. Freakishly loud at 22W. I had one running at 440V and it would peel wallpaper through a 2x12 with Greenbacks.

You could also consider EL84s.

[Littlewyan]

Yeah, a 6V6 Plexi is a great circuit. Freakishly loud at 22W. I had one running at 440V and it would peel wallpaper through a 2x12

Colossal you're not helping . Mine could run at 250V which would be 10watts, then using PPIMV or attenuator or both should be easy to get down to bedroom level.

Never liked EL84s, every amp I've heard them in they just sounded fizzy. Well I built an 18W once from Ampmaker but wasn't a fan of the tone and had a big lack of distortion which I could never work out. Loved clips of the 1974x but could never get mine to sound similar!

Edit: Just remembered when I had a 100W Marshall 6100 and I used to play that in my room. Although that had a Gain, Pre Amp Volume AND Master Volume.

[Phil_S]

I've never been blessed to hear the real Plexi sound in person Phil. I only have a 2x12 Cab and the 1987xl isn't really my kind of Plexi, which is why its for sale.

It is sad to day, but after seeing Cream in 1968, Eric through the Marshall stacks with his ES-335, it is all downhill, tone-wise. As I recall, there was no PA to speak of, though something must have been done to mic Ginger and vocals. Mostly, it was a wall of sound from behind the band. Back in those days, Eric really did care about tone. Not so much now, from what I gather.
picture (not sure from where, but good representation): http://www.pinkrobert.net/Cream.html
better quality:
http://winfieldgallery.com/wp-content/u ... 930x40.jpg
I was fairly deaf afterwards for a day or so, but it was quite literally, tone to the bone. I still have the ticket stub
Yes, I'm sure I qualify as an old fart now.