Built-in D'lator questions

[greiswig]

I know several people here have built a Dumbleator into their amps. I am wondering about doing the same, and about using the amps heater and HV supplies to run the tube, so I don't have to use a new transformer and power supply.

Is there anything liable to go haywire doing something like that?

Thanks!

[odourboy]

Well 've done it twice now without issues (ducks for cover!).

Just check your PT specs and make sure you're not taxing it with the added heater current.

The biggest challenge is shoe-horning in all the extra hardware.

[Bob-I]

I've done it a few times too. I take a node off of the screen supply and adjust the dropping string to get the voltages to approx 320V. In all cases it seems to add something to the harmonics.

[heisthl]

The only issue I've experienced is a little more hum, It's very important to shield the signal paths and observe placement rules (no grid leads close to plate leads, nothing close to the heater wires etc.) Ground it like the PI and you should have no problems.

[greiswig]

Excellent. Thank you, all!

[drz400]

There might be bleed issues when using a volume pedal in the loop when it is shut off.

[dogears]

Use ceramic discs to simulate some of the cabling capacitance.... That is one of the trademarks of the real exernal Dumbleator tones. Then experiment with bright caps on the master.

[greiswig]

Use ceramic discs to simulate some of the cabling capacitance.... That is one of the trademarks of the real exernal Dumbleator tones. Then experiment with bright caps on the master.

Yup...that's one thing I'd noted in a conversation with you earlier: that these units seemed to sound their best with several feet of cable connecting amp to D'lator. Thanks, Scott!