Fender 5B6 with 6V6 point to point build

[Synchu]

Alrighty, I made me a 5B6 p2p with 6V6s. It can take 5881 as well with a little bit of push on the 6.6K Hammond OT transformer. Works excellent with both with the added headroom (of course) with 5881. Power transformer is appropriately rated and works very well with both types.

Very happy how it turned out, as I used a bunch of leftover caps (even few Mundorf's that I had for a hi fi build). Sounds excellent and I love these octals in the preamp.

I did Visio layout based on some pictures, posted here, that I used for reference and the kudos go to mfowler (thanks a lot Mark!) and ultimately Tino Zotolla as I understood, reading through posts. I need to clean it up a bit and can post in few days, if someone is interested and is appropriate.

Few pictures




Sound bytes
Strat - I've used few pedals throughout (Klon and G2D CreamTone clones - it is visible in the comments in SoundClound what is when)
Listen on Soundcloud.com

Gibson LP - again few pedals used. Klon and Vemuram Jan Ray (which itself is based on Tim drive, AFAIR) based overdrive
Listen on Soundcloud.com

This amp eats pedals for breakfast and then some.
Very happy,
Niki

[xtian]

Just FYI, syntax for images in posts is

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[img]URL[/img]

Ah, you fixed it already!

[dannyreckless]

That sounds great!

also really dig the cool temperature of the pictures.

[Synchu]

Just FYI, syntax for images in posts is

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[img]URL[/img]

Ah, you fixed it already!

Thanks whatsoever

Yeah, my cave has incandescent sort of lighting. So I edit these photos or I get questions whether I used Sozo's all the time. No incandescent bulbs, though. It's these energy savers and I keep incandescents for amps testing you can't them anymore in Europe or at least here.
Niki

[M Fowler]

Now that's how to build an amp, love it and it sounds great too!

[RWood]

Great build. Looks great but wish I could hear it straight through. When I try sound cloud it comes in 2 second bunches with 4 second pauses. Guess I don't have enough processing power and memory...I spend all the extra scratch I get on amps and not computers!

Octal preamps are the best ....Enjoy

[Phil_S]

Bravo!

[Synchu]

Thank you all for the good words, gents.

RWood, let me try to attach these.
I use SoundCloud for convenience, but they changed their software a lot over the years and it seems not for the better.
Btw. to me Strat sounds slightly better, some mates around though, like the Gibson sound more.

Niki

[Regan]

Sounds gorgeous, looks gorgeous, and I want one! lol!
I'm a gonna have to build this!
Regan

[RWood]

I was playing around with sound cloud and discovered that if I click the home tab while the song is playing that the music plays continuously without interruption. Clicking back to the song continues the interruptions.

That amp sounds great...also love that music. Do you have any CDs available?

Regan: Go for it. The best amp I've built...The more I play mine the more I like it. Last week I needed a little more volume so I reamped through a clean Carvin tube power amp with great success.

[drew]

I did Visio layout based on some pictures, posted here, that I used for reference and the kudos go to mfowler (thanks a lot Mark!) and ultimately Tino Zotolla as I understood, reading through posts. I need to clean it up a bit and can post in few days, if someone is interested and is appropriate.

Yes, please!

What are the dimensions of the chassis you used?

[Synchu]

Thank you all,
RWood - flattered that you like the music, but no, no CD is available . For all the amp demos, these are mostly complete improvisations, but who knows - some day I may find the time to publish them

Drew - I used a Hammond 1444-24 http://www.hammondmfg.com/dwg21.htm. It is a bit bigger than necessary, though and you can certainly go smaller than that. Bigger provides a bit more comfort working inside and cooling space between tubes.
I will polish the layout a bit (as far as my limited skills allow) and post it in a few days or so.

Regan - build it, build it, build it. Great amp

I am just contemplating whether to put a switchable VVR, but will see.

Niki

[rp]

Sounds and looks really good. Pretty sure the orig had a way oversized OT, here's a pict of '55 5D6A I got off the web. Early Bassman & Twins had this very big (and supposedly very good Triad) OT, the smaller (non end bell IIRC) ones went into the Bandmaster/Pro/Super. Considering that the 'big' amps had 6L6G types, cathode bias, and 370-400V on the plates, someone at Fender was being rather optimistic about how clear and tight the top of the line was going to be.

I think it's cool you went with a BFDR type OT and 6V6s probably more useful for guitar, and the good sound proves that. If you find you need to plug in a guitar, bass and accordion all at the same time I guess you can always get a bigger OT

Did you stick with the 6SC7? ST 6L6Gs are expensive but metal 6L6s are cheap and fun try. In my 5C8 clone I put in 6L6Gs for show but 5881 and 6L6GB (NOS) sound richer and more 3D. Too lazy to try 6V6s yet.

[Colossal]

Really great build! Excellent tone! Love the point to point construction. Well done!

[Synchu]

Thanks, guys
I use 6SC7 in v1 and 6SL7 v2, currently NOS - metal RCA and Sylvania respectively. I have some new production Sovtek glass 6SC7 and Tung sol 6SL7, both sound quite good as well, but first ones look so vintage

I tried it with a JJ 5U4 (rattling as hell), and russian 6p3s-ev which are 20.5W rated 5881 subs. Sounds quite good and with more headroom. Doesn't seem to melt the OT, so I guess its all good. Plate voltage raises to about 390V with the 5U4.
I just received some NOS russian 5C3S, which are excellent 5U4 subs and I am going to try this combo tonight, since the JJ 5U4 drives me crazy. I haven't seen bad JJs in a long time, but this one is really bad.
I am sure I have some NOS 6L6WGB (Phillips, I think) somewhere that I have to dig out and try. They sound excellent with the Small Special build so should give the props in this one as well.
This amp is so much fun to play.
Niki