Fender 5B6 with 6V6 point to point build

Fender Amp Discussion

Moderators: pompeiisneaks, Colossal

User avatar
norburybrook
Posts: 3290
Joined: Mon Jan 06, 2014 12:47 am
Location: London
Contact:

Re: Fender 5B6 with 6V6 point to point build

Post by norburybrook »

M Fowler wrote:I've built a few of these 5b6 amps and preamps finding no issues other then selecting good tubes.

I tried to use NOS but after trying current production tubes I stopped searching for NOS preamp tubes and no more microphonic problems. I do like to use o'rings on the tubes.

More headroom then 5E3 with a compressed almost reverb like quality to the tone with octal preamp tubes.

that' s a great sound description :)

Which tubes would you recommend then M Fowler(is it Mark?)
regarding 'o' rings do you mean these kind of things?


Marcus
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
User avatar
M Fowler
Posts: 14036
Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2008 2:19 am
Location: Walcott ND

Re: Fender 5B6 with 6V6 point to point build

Post by M Fowler »

Yeah those are really nice tube dampers. The vendor I had received mine from is no longer selling so a quick ebay search shows these, but you can narrow it down for your area of the world these are from China.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-23mm-Tube-D ... 256d764186
User avatar
RWood
Posts: 254
Joined: Sun Jul 07, 2013 7:56 pm

Re: Fender 5B6 with 6V6 point to point build

Post by RWood »

I got 2 of these which sound great and are perfect after 6 months of fairly hard use in 2 of my PTP 5B6s.
I won't waste time on NOS 6sc7s any more.

http://www.parts-express.com/sovtek-6sc ... e--072-402
Synchu
Posts: 523
Joined: Sun Mar 11, 2012 5:24 am

Re: Fender 5B6 with 6V6 point to point build

Post by Synchu »

drew wrote:Nice sounding clip, and thanks for posting the Visio layout. Can you tell me what the setup/technique/secret is to drawing those closely-spaced parallel lines with the neat 90 degree curves on the left side of the diagram? I have a copy of Visio (2007, I think) and various collections of amp-related parts to use with it that I've accumulated over the years, but I've never quite been able to sit down and really learn to use the program properly.
Hi Drew,
See the attached picture for "constructing" the outer curved line. It consists of 3 items and is not a big thing - just needs a bit of patience, rotating and zooming :).

As for the NOS stuff, Sovtek current production seems quite alright, albeit the two 6SC7, I got were quite different in construction. An older one looked like 6SL7, but both sounded good. There's a bunch of ebay sellers of, I guess what Sovtek was offering as 6SL7 some years ago, i.e. NOS 6N9S (6SL7) that are cheap and sound great as well. I guess I got lucky with a metal RCA 6SC7 that is non microphonic and sounds great too.
But there's current production that sounds excellent so I wouldn't scratch my head with NOS as well.
Niki
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
User avatar
norburybrook
Posts: 3290
Joined: Mon Jan 06, 2014 12:47 am
Location: London
Contact:

Re: Fender 5B6 with 6V6 point to point build

Post by norburybrook »

RWood wrote:I got 2 of these which sound great and are perfect after 6 months of fairly hard use in 2 of my PTP 5B6s.
I won't waste time on NOS 6sc7s any more.

http://www.parts-express.com/sovtek-6sc ... e--072-402

Thanks that's good to know.

Synchu, which Power transformer did you use, and is that little 25w OT working OK for you, would there be any mileage in using a 40/50w one?



Marcus
Synchu
Posts: 523
Joined: Sun Mar 11, 2012 5:24 am

Re: Fender 5B6 with 6V6 point to point build

Post by Synchu »

Marcus,

I used Hammond's Blackface Deluxe replacement - 1750H. It is 6.6K, rated 20W from 70Hz to 15Khz - (i.e. performance decreases with wattage increase, if the current rating per side is still close to the specs - can't find them right now though, but seems to be alright - i.e. the transformer doesn't melt) :)

I primarily use the amp with 6V6 tubes, but have extensively played it with 5881 (russian equivalents 6p3s-e) and 5U4 rectifier. It works good, sounds good and the output is at around 25-26 watts. In any case, if you intend to use it with 5881/6L6 predominantly, I will recommend going with the Bassman iron. It is better suited and rated for the purpose and you will get higher output (lower primary resistance 4 - 4.4K, if memory serves right).

Niki.
User avatar
norburybrook
Posts: 3290
Joined: Mon Jan 06, 2014 12:47 am
Location: London
Contact:

Re: Fender 5B6 with 6V6 point to point build

Post by norburybrook »

Thanks Nikki,

Yes I saw that was the OT, but which power transformer did you use?


25w sounds perfect to me, my JTM45 is a bit loud when dimed so a slightly less wattage amp will be great, I'll build this for cleans though and use the JTM for grit :)

From what I've read the p2p actually seems to work better with this circuit so it will be a nice 'challenge' for me to do a p2p well.

I'm actually procrastinating my first Dumble ODS build as it still looks quite daunting with all the switches and relays etc. this looks like a simple build.......... famous last words :)


Marcus
User avatar
rp
Posts: 2528
Joined: Sun Apr 25, 2010 4:21 am
Location: Italy

Re: Fender 5B6 with 6V6 point to point build

Post by rp »

norburybrook wrote:Synchu, which Power transformer did you use, and is that little 25w OT working OK for you, would there be any mileage in using a 40/50w one?
Scroll back, I posted a pict of a close descendant of the 5B6, the OT was mad big. But Fender were desperately trying to make a clean bass amp. The LW amps, and I think MF here, were done predominantly as either pedal steel amps or bass amps too.

Given the modest actual output of the circuit I think synchu's onto something here going w/ the smaller OT for a guitar specific amp, turn it into a variant of the TV Deluxes. Not using the trad 8K dinky 5E3 OT but the BF OT was a good idea too, give you a bit of both, cleaner than a 5B/C/D3 dirtier that a 5B6 and will handle 5881s. I'm building a 5G9 and I chose the BF OT too. Next step up without going nuts would be something like an Allen TO22 and he has TO20B that could be interesting for this. But apparently Synchu found the best way to unleash the ripping little screamer in the circuit.

Synchu, you should try a traditional 5E3 OT (non interleaved/no end bell) if you have, just for curiosity's sake. BTW synchu does this amp swell up like a 5E3 - that ability to try and run out ahead of you?
Synchu
Posts: 523
Joined: Sun Mar 11, 2012 5:24 am

Re: Fender 5B6 with 6V6 point to point build

Post by Synchu »

Ah, Marcus, apologies - the PT is Hammond 290BEX.
Keep in mind that the amp is not a clean machine. Has a bit more headroom than 5E3 that certain.

rp - that is quite a good suggestion. I don't have spare one around, but I have few other 15-20 watters in my list (like a half power Rocket or Liverpool) and since (ironically) my speed of putting all the amps in headshells is much slower than building them, I am sure I will have the opportunity to try this :)

As for the swell - I find this one to be a bit more immediate in response, does not sacrifice sustain which is quite even, if this makes sense. Same breed, different beast.

Niki
User avatar
norburybrook
Posts: 3290
Joined: Mon Jan 06, 2014 12:47 am
Location: London
Contact:

Re: Fender 5B6 with 6V6 point to point build

Post by norburybrook »

thanks Guys, I always use the term clean but in reality I don't really mean 100% clean so this sounds perfect.

those transformers are fairly cheap as well so we're not looking at an expensive build here are we.

would solid core wire be better for doing a p2p as it will stay where you put it, or does the extra haste of solid not warrant it?


Marcus
User avatar
rp
Posts: 2528
Joined: Sun Apr 25, 2010 4:21 am
Location: Italy

Re: Fender 5B6 with 6V6 point to point build

Post by rp »

norburybrook wrote:would solid core wire be better for doing a p2p as it will stay where you put it, or does the extra haste of solid not warrant it?
Doesn't matter, with ptp and a well thought out layout you use very little wire, with me it's often only the B+ string, even that's just the power stage, as on the prees you can put the filter caps right on the stage. If you use a bus your only ground runs will likely be the output socket, OT and the power tube cathodes.

edit: look for resistors with long leads, use 1W if that's all you can find.
User avatar
M Fowler
Posts: 14036
Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2008 2:19 am
Location: Walcott ND

Re: Fender 5B6 with 6V6 point to point build

Post by M Fowler »

My first 5b6 used can cap and that works very well. Lately I started adding the filter cap right in the circuit that eliminated long wire runs, cap stacks, cap boards or cap turret strips.

Mark
LedZepp007
Posts: 96
Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2014 1:42 pm

Re: Fender 5B6 with 6V6 point to point build

Post by LedZepp007 »

Has anyone tried a 5B6 in which they cascaded the input channels? This circuit looks and sounds awesome.
User avatar
M Fowler
Posts: 14036
Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2008 2:19 am
Location: Walcott ND

Re: Fender 5B6 with 6V6 point to point build

Post by M Fowler »

LedZepp007 wrote:Has anyone tried a 5B6 in which they cascaded the input channels? This circuit looks and sounds awesome.
No haven't done that.
LedZepp007
Posts: 96
Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2014 1:42 pm

Re: Fender 5B6 with 6V6 point to point build

Post by LedZepp007 »

M Fowler wrote:
LedZepp007 wrote:Has anyone tried a 5B6 in which they cascaded the input channels? This circuit looks and sounds awesome.
No haven't done that.
Your builds look awesome btw.

I guess I'm wondering whether cascading would sound like crap with the octal tubes.

I was thinking about tinkering around with the circuit. Use only one channel. Eliminate the tone control and replace it with another volume control. Cascade the input channels. Use the first volume control as a gain control and the second volume control as the master volume.
Post Reply