[Advice needed] SSS 002 Rock/Jazz conversions + other tonestack mods?

[jstnj]

Hey all,

I recently got a Texas Flood 100W from Bill at Sebago Sound. It's the best amp I have ever played, and I will own it forever (if you see this, thanks again Bill). It is dynamic, expressive, well-constructed, and all the other buzz words you can think of. I'm in love with it.

I still want to mess with the SSS circuit though, because that's just who I am

To preface, I am not an expert in audio circuitry. I am a hobbyist pedal circuit tweaker...and pretty handy with a soldering iron. I am fully aware of all the danger/cap voltage/shock implications in opening up the amp, and I am looking for guidance or advice for this project as someone who is now learning how to actually read a schematic.

After searching the forum I would appreciate help with:

• Figuring out what would be required to convert the rock/jazz switch to a 3-way mid switch (I would hard wire the amp to "Rock" and replace the switch)

• Secondly, I would like to modify the current bright switch to be 3-way as well

---------------If using TWO 3-way DPDT switches with the original Deep switch...circuit considerations to ensure all variations are available I assume?

• General viewpoints from people who have messed around with the SSS 002 (or any SSS) circuit who might have opinions

I have found some threads but having trouble applying it to my current situation, but any direction you all can point me in would be appreciated.I'm trying to "teach myself to fish" here, so if someone who has already modified and played with the SSS 002 circuit and has any general insight, I would appreciate that too!

[erwin_ve]

Hey all,

I recently got a Texas Flood 100W from Bill at Sebago Sound. It's the best amp I have ever played, and I will own it forever (if you see this, thanks again Bill). It is dynamic, expressive, well-constructed, and all the other buzz words you can think of. I'm in love with it.

I still want to mess with the SSS circuit though, because that's just who I am

To preface, I am not an expert in audio circuitry. I am a hobbyist pedal circuit tweaker...and pretty handy with a soldering iron. I am fully aware of all the danger/cap voltage/shock implications in opening up the amp, and I am looking for guidance or advice for this project as someone who is now learning how to actually read a schematic.

After searching the forum I would appreciate help with:

• Figuring out what would be required to convert the rock/jazz switch to a 3-way mid switch (I would hard wire the amp to "Rock" and replace the switch)

• Secondly, I would like to modify the current bright switch to be 3-way as well

---------------If using TWO 3-way DPDT switches with the original Deep switch...circuit considerations to ensure all variations are available I assume?

• General viewpoints from people who have messed around with the SSS 002 (or any SSS) circuit who might have opinions

I have found some threads but having trouble applying it to my current situation, but any direction you all can point me in would be appreciated.I'm trying to "teach myself to fish" here, so if someone who has already modified and played with the SSS 002 circuit and has any general insight, I would appreciate that too!

Hi welcome to TAG!

I dont know on which model SSS the Texas Flood is based on, nor have I seen the inside of the Texas Flood amp so I cant give clues on the sound, I only have expierence with the SSS002 build.
Why do you want a mid boost alongside with a deep switch. Deep switch circuitry cuts mid... Off course this is possible not sure if it meets your demands.

For the rock vs jazz circuitry; Ill post a schematic; for the SSS the cap across the bass pot is not on all SSS tonestack. (Updated schematic as suggested by Martin Manning)

[jstnj]

Hi welcome to TAG!

I dont know on which model SSS the Texas Flood is based on, nor have I seen the inside of the Texas Flood amp so I cant give clues on the sound, I only have expierence with the SSS002 build.
Why do you want a mid boost alongside with a deep switch. Deep switch circuitry cuts mid... Off course this is possible not sure if it meets your demands.

For the rock vs jazz circuitry; Ill post a schematic; for the SSS the cap across the bass pot is not on all SSS tonestack.

Thanks for this, and thanks for the welcome!

The Texas Flood is indeed a #002 SSS circuit, w cathode follower.

Why do you want a mid boost alongside with a deep switch

Well, good question...The TF doesn't include the mid switch, so I wanted to add it using an ON/OFF/ON DPDT with the original .001uF and one other (higher? lower?) value.The original #002 mid switch is completely out of the tonestack ?? and is wired to the master volume per Ryan Colgan's layout and the block diagram by Shockway. Might that be a giant pain in the ass (and maybe bad practice?) given that I'd have to run the wires for the DPDT from the original Rock/Jazz faceplate position across to the master volume?

I dont know if this is an opportunity to make this my own and experiment with hybridizing these Bright and Mid 3-ways using something like what Nik did with the JM100. This is where my eyes get bigger than my stomach, because I know nothing of the implications of messing with the tonestack in such a way, nor how to lay it out/where to insert into the stack in a way that makes sense sonically.

I am just throwing my thought processes out there, with no regards to reality, if anyone can bring me down to earth I would appreciate

[martin manning]

For the rock vs jazz circuitry; Ill post a schematic; for the SSS the cap across the bass pot is not on all SSS tonestack.

In Rock mode the top of the bass pot is shorted to the wiper.

[mojotom]

Replacing the ON/ON toggle with an ON/OFF/ON would give you PAB option in the middle position, something to try.

Soldering caps across the treble cap (after a discharge of the amp) is an easy way to check various mid boost and check if you like that option before wiring it permanently or find a better value for you without a switch.

You could also raise the bass pot R to ground for another form of boost option.

PAB boost cut some bass (maybe too much for a clean amp like an SSS). Raising the tail of the bass pot felt better balanced for a clean amp imo.

Anyway try it first by desoldering some connections inside the amp, remove and change a component or add in serie or // first inside the amp, then back and forth play tests and when you’re convinced this is the one to go then rewire the amp.

[talbany]

IIRC
Bill's SSS is Pretty much an exact replica of #002 accept I believe he modified both PI for an AT7 and the filters to be more like Martins (with a tighter more even range).As I recall he didn't like the filters in 002.So those have already been modified. I don't really understand the logic behind the 3 way mid switch when you already have a deep switch/R/J and the Hi filters that gives more than enough range in the mids"s to a practically un-useable settings for guitar. I used the same filters as Bill and I get plenty of mids?

BTW.If you wanted to just lift some mids you could simply lift the mid pot further from gnd with a pot or a fixed resistor.
Tony

[jstnj]

IIRC
Bill's SSS is Pretty much an exact replica of #002 accept I believe he modified both PI for an AT7 and the filters to be more like Martins (with a tighter more even more range).As I recall he didn't like the filters in 002.So those have already been modified. I don't really understand the logic behind the 3 way mid switch when you already have a deep switch/R/J and the Hi filters that gives more than enough range in the mids"s to a practically un-useable settings for guitar. I used the same filters as Bill and I get plenty of mids?

Tony

Yep this is great context. It's quite possible that it wouldn't really be worth the trouble since the filters are indeed very flexible as it stands already. Thanks for the input.

It may very well be that I adhere to "if it ain't broke, dont fix it" because the amp sounds great already...but want to gather opinions.

[talbany]

I thought of this after you posted.

if you wanted to just lift some mids you could simply lift the mid pot further from gnd with a pot or a fixed resistor put that on a switch.
Tony

[erwin_ve]

For the rock vs jazz circuitry; Ill post a schematic; for the SSS the cap across the bass pot is not on all SSS tonestack.

In Rock mode the top of the bass pot is shorted to the wiper.

Thanks Martin! Updated.