66 Rockster Build

[bluesbreaker62]

Hi everyone,

First time poster here.

I’ve been lurking around for way too long without posting anything.

First off, I would like to thank RJ for all the support, for answering my questions and for supplying me with a chassis and transformers.

Secondly I’d like to say that this place must be one of the most friendly forums I’ve ever come across, you guys are great, I love this place.

I’ve been planning on building a wreck style amp for a long time now. So when I saw RJ’s 66 Rockster, which basically combined my favorite amp (a jtm 45) with a wreck, I knew that would be the one.

I’ll do my best and try not to make mistakes, but if you do spot one, please let me know.

Here are some pictures of the progress I’ve made so far:

http://i610.photobucket.com/albums/tt18 ... G_1153.jpg
http://i610.photobucket.com/albums/tt18 ... G_1149.jpg

[kec]

Nice bluesbreaker!

[bluesbreaker62]

for some reason the pictures of the underside of the boards dont open, but the links are there.

I also have some questions:

Why are the positive sides of the first 22uf and the last 80uf filter cap connected to ground via a 1M ressitor.

and

Can I just connect the negative side of the 80uf directly to the ground lug on the right next to the cap, or will that cause grounding issues?

[sst4270]

Bluesbreaker,

The 1M resistors are bleeder resistors. They drain the caps after you turn the amp off to help prevent accidental shock when servicing the amp. They are optional.

You can ground the 80uF cap anywhere you want, but if you look at RJ's photos he clearly followed a true star grounding scheme. I would suggest you follow that scheme for your build since that's the amp you're copying. You may notice, however, if you look at photos of Allyn's Rocket build (an accurate Rocket reproduction) that Ken Fisher did not use a star grounding scheme. The grounding scheme on my Rocket build was even a little different from that and I had no ground hum at all.

Fortunately for you the Rocket is the most stable of the wrecks. Even a KT66 version. So you'll find that different grounding schemes will probably work just fine for you with little or no discernable hum.

Good Luck, and keep the photo updates coming.

Regards,

Steve

[angelodp]

Very nice start, keep the pics coming. this looks like its gonna be a great build.

Cheers ange

[bluesbreaker62]

Hey everyone,

thanks for all the kind comments,

and Steve, thanks a lot, I see it now, the 1M bypasses the caps (via the chassis), I think the layout confused me a little.

I'll keep you updated,

Robert

[bluesbreaker62]

made some progress today,

did the heaters and some other small things, hope I got it right.

http://i610.photobucket.com/albums/tt18 ... G_1159.jpg

[M Fowler]

I think your on the right track with this built.

The Rocket is a great amp and to combine that with the KT66 of JTM fame is also great.

Keep the pictures and progress notes coming.

<ark

[bluesbreaker62]

Thanks for all the kind words everyone.

It looks like I'm having some problems with the pics, is there a better way of posting pictures, rather than posting direct links?

Anyway, I made some more progress, I hope these will show:

[img768]http://i610.photobucket.com/albums/tt18 ... G_1195.jpg[/img]

[img768]http://i610.photobucket.com/albums/tt18 ... G_1198.jpg[/img]


[img768]http://i610.photobucket.com/albums/tt18 ... G_1200.jpg[/img]

[img768]http://i610.photobucket.com/albums/tt18 ... G_1203.jpg[/img]

[KellyBass]

Very nice job! This is a design that makes a lot of sense and I can't wait to hear some clips. But, keep the pics and build diary coming.

KB

[bluesbreaker62]

Ok, I just mounted the transformers and have some questions before I start soldering the leads.

I feel kind'a stupid asking these questions, but I rather look stupid now than end up frying some parts.

-Is the PT, oriented the right way? Or does it even make a difference, as it will be oriented 90 degrees form the OT either way I mount it?

-The yellow wires coming from the primary side of the PT, these are my 5v rectifier heather wires right?

Thanks,

Robert

Here's some pics:

[img768]http://i610.photobucket.com/albums/tt18 ... G_1204.jpg[/img]
[img768]http://i610.photobucket.com/albums/tt18 ... G_1208.jpg[/img]
[img768]http://i610.photobucket.com/albums/tt18 ... G_1210.jpg[/img]

[Travis_HY]

It looks like the yellow wires are your 5v rectifier heaters. You are correct about that. I don't know Trainwrecks too well (that's why I'm here!), or any thing related to their transformer layout, but it seems with every amp I've ever seen (lots of Marshalls, Voxes and Fenders), the laminates are 90 degrees in relation to each other.

I remember reading somewhere that if you don't mount your transformers as such, it will ruin your transformers. I've always gone by that advice and never had any problems, but I'd be curious to know if you could get away with the transformers oriented differently (similar to not twisting heaters...you can make a very quiet amp without twisted heaters, but it's been like that for years because people are afraid to try something new:)). Anyone have any light to shed on this?

[angelodp]

https://tubeamparchive.com/download/file.php?id=7748

https://tubeamparchive.com/download/file.php?id=8779

ange

[M Fowler]

Your building a Rocket but using KT66 so follow the layout below.

https://tubeamparchive.com/files/rocket ... 09_860.pdf

Orient your PT parallel to the long side of the chassis in such a matter that best suits the primary wires of the PT to the switches etc. The yellow wires are indeed your 5v taps.

The OT is then mounted so the lamination is 90 degrees of the PT. And the choke can be mounted towards the front center of the chassis.

Also this layout. https://tubeamparchive.com/download/file.php?id=8216

Mark

[Allynmey]

Nice lookin' JTM!