I HATE Snubbers! ;-)

[massygt6]

Well, let's keep it straight and simple...I've just removed them from both V2 halves and the gain in dynamic and splarkle has been dramatic...but the tone was still mid heavy and "honky", while I'm searching for some blackface sparkle, especially on the clean channell.
So here's a list of mods that I did to fine tune the amp to my taste:

1) Slope resistor down to 70K (thanks Sebastian)
2) Bass cap now is 0,047uF
3) 1uF bypass cap on the first cathode. (V1a)
4) Gil's treble bleed trimmer mod
5) Removed BOTH snubbers from V2
6) Re-arranged lead dress on V1 anodes
7) No bright cap on Master
V1 V2 are TungSol Ecc83, V3 Sovtek LPS, power tubes are TungSol 6L6GCSTR, biased at 41mA with a B+ of 475Volts.

Hope this helps in some way.
Cheers...
Max

[Structo]

Which circuit is your amp based on?

[lbradshaw]

Sounds interesting... I thought about removing the snubbers, but figured it would make the OD a mess. So, you got me thinking.

Anyhow, all your amp info, and setting would be cool. What is your OD trimmer set to, etc....

[massygt6]

Which circuit is your amp based on?

It's based on the second revision of the Ceriatone Layout, with some changes, such as a Marshall Plexi 100 OT and Choke (100R 7H) and a B+ a couple of 10volts higher than standard voltage measures on dumble circuits. NO HRM, I've experimented the HRM but I prefer the singing voice of the NON HRM...

[massygt6]

Sounds interesting... I thought about removing the snubbers, but figured it would make the OD a mess. So, you got me thinking.

Anyhow, all your amp info, and setting would be cool. What is your OD trimmer set to, etc....

The OD trimmer is set at 90k to ground, about 11 o'clock and the cap is 0,001uF.
It's a NON HRM layout with 220k-150k on V1a/b anodes and 180k/150k on V2a/b anodes.
Cathodes are 3.3k/1uf, 2.2k/5uF for V1a/b and 3.3k/5uF, 2.2k/5uF for V2a/b.
Voltages on anode of V1 and V2 are in the 195-205v range with small variations happening with different preamp tubes, the B+ on power tubes is 470-475V, and they're biased at 41mA.
220k into 100k trimmer OD network with no bass cut mod.
If you want to know more feel free to ask!

[lbradshaw]

If you want to know more feel free to ask!

Well, how's it sound without the Snubbers? I had assumed that people put them in because some how the OD sounded ungodly without them.

[massygt6]

The dynamics are greatly improved, I'd say dramatically improved...
The OD is a tad brighter, but in a good way...the sound is "alive" and sparkly. Probably without the Gil's treble bleed mod the OD would sound a bit harsh and trebly, and the slope at 70k helps a lot to bring in some low mid meat...you should try to remove the snubbers only with these mods IMHO...

[Structo]

What values did you end up using for the treble bleed?

I put in a .001uf and a 150K to ground.

Then later when I had the amp open I took my resistance substitute box and tried everything from 10K to 330K.
To my ears it seemed smoother down around 45K. The lower resistance seemed to be smoother than the higher ones.
I ended up putting a 500K trimmer there and right now it's adjusted to around 45K.

[Bob-I]

I've tried snubbers of many vaues, even different values on V1a and V1b, even snubbers on one stage and not on the other. IMHO the non-HRM sounds best with snubbers, but the cool thing about amp building is making it your own. There are no rules.

[Structo]

What's your favorite for the V2 snubbers Bob?

I changed mine to 330pf a long time ago, so I can't really recall how it sounded with the 270's.

And I wonder if a 60pf difference would even be audible.

[massygt6]

What values did you end up using for the treble bleed?

I put in a .001uf and a 150K to ground.

Then later when I had the amp open I took my resistance substitute box and tried everything from 10K to 330K.
To my ears it seemed smoother down around 45K. The lower resistance seemed to be smoother than the higher ones.
I ended up putting a 500K trimmer there and right now it's adjusted to around 45K.

I've a 0.001uF to 220k trim to ground...the trimmer is 90k to ground...
My snubbers were both 330pf...without the mods...maybe I'll try to put back a 100pf snubber only on the dirt side, but the sound now is very very good without snubs...

[Bob-I]

What's your favorite for the V2 snubbers Bob?

I changed mine to 330pf a long time ago, so I can't really recall how it sounded with the 270's.

And I wonder if a 60pf difference would even be audible.

Yes 60pF is VERY audible. Currently I'm liking 270pF on my only remaining non-HRM. I don't have a treble bleed on it either.

It's a very agressive little amp using a Deluxe reverb OT and Princeton PT and Sovtek 5881's. I had it in a little head cab but just today I put it in a combo cab with a 10. I need to find the right 10 for it though as the Weber 10S doesn't really suit it.