Mini HRM/86 Special build

[Structo]

Nice!

[rogb]

Thanks again

I have just tried it with my HB equipped Strat and the 6V6 and it definitely likes this combo. The voicing seems set up better for it, the SC Strat is great but this is different, rounder and smoother but with a Marshall bite in there too, if you dig in.

[mat]

Hi Roger,

What a really cool looking little combo ! Congrats ! Must be really light weight with that speaker. Would very much like to hear how the combo sounds. Have You had any problems with the EF86 with the drive pot cranked ?

I haven't started yet mine 86-Special build

[ampbldr2]

Nice build!

[rogb]

Hi Roger,

What a really cool looking little combo ! Congrats ! Must be really light weight with that speaker. Would very much like to hear how the combo sounds. Have You had any problems with the EF86 with the drive pot cranked ?

I haven't started yet mine 86-Special build

Hej Mat, thanks! It weighs 20lb. I hope to do some clips some time, but this speaker really needs something like 80 hrs to loosen up

When I first fired up the EF86 squealed past 12 oclock on the Drive in non HRM but was fine in HRM, now it is fine way past 12 up to 4, maybe the O ring shield is doing its stuff?

What do you think about putting an OD trim in as per Dstyle amps? I haven't done that but ISTRC Colossal had one in his schematic?

PS I have just posted a spare mountain bike I had here over to Helsinki, ready for some summer rides out to Vantaankoski

[mat]

Hej Mat, thanks! It weighs 20lb. I hope to do some clips some time, but this speaker really needs something like 80 hrs to loosen up

One thing You could try is to put a mp3 player on the input to play a solo guitar track (with a dumble flavour) on repeat mode and put the amp in a basement for few nights

When I first fired up the EF86 squealed past 12 oclock on the Drive in non HRM but was fine in HRM, now it is fine way past 12 up to 4, maybe the O ring shield is doing its stuff?

I have to find a O ring shield also to try. All in all I can put the drive to full if the guitar is not too close of the amp.

What do you think about putting an OD trim in as per Dstyle amps? I haven't done that but ISTRC Colossal had one in his schematic?

I think I'll put that also on my next build but one should be careful to not turn the trimmer too open because the EF86 is starting to behave if it gets too hot signal.

PS I have just posted a spare mountain bike I had here over to Helsinki, ready for some summer rides out to Vantaankoski

Ok, have a nice rides ! All we know now in Finland is: http://www.worldcuphockey2011.com/IIHF- ... nland.html and of course:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRJGRnCAvzQ&feature=fvsr

16 years from the last golden one.. sorry for the OT.. could not resist

[rogb]

Ah beautiful, Leijonat, I was there, it was awesome, next morning my voice was gone from singing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atp_FaXn5ek

Even though I'm English, I was given NO CHOICE in this LOL

[hans-jörg]

Argh, this hurts.

My wife is from Cech republik. She says, if the Cech had not a bad menthal day with Sweden, Finnland never had have the chance to beat Sweden. But thats the game
Congratulations.

Hans-Jörg

end off topic

[rogb]

Well I have been tweaking this for a week or so now, put an OD trim in, took it out again, added a 250K mid pot to the underside of the chassis along with pre volume pot, which I am always adjusting so I wish it had gone on the front panel, something to bear in mind.

Hooked up the ax84 style bias adjuster but didn't like the tone with it in, so out it has come. Also the cathode resistor is now at 150R, rather than 220R as advised for the octal and Mat's 130R.

Been changing back and forth between el84 and 6v6, and have left the 6v6 in for now.

Took the amp up into my computer room this afternoon and recorded my first ever clip of any kind over this Beck type backer. Please don't be too harsh! Jeez I am embarassed but this is really the first take I did, just a bit of reverb added in the mix. HRM left on.

Just used this free Kristal program, with an SM57 at pretty low volume, wish I could have gone a bit louder, my 18 year old Kent Armstrong rewound Dimarzio SD HB MIJ Squier Strat with its new fret level and recrown which I did yesterday (feels smmmoootthh!) Kurt Mangan 10-52s
Sorry in advance for the extreme boredom and clams.... dunno what else to tell ya - oh yeah, switching between the HB and a silver Lace in the middle.

http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=10718055

[overtone]

Well I think that is very cool. That is the last tune of the day for me, the one to finish the day with

Did you run into any single ended buzzing issues or is it acceptable?
Best, tony

[SoundPerf]

Took the amp up into my computer room this afternoon and recorded my first ever clip of any kind over this Beck type backer. Please don't be too harsh! Jeez I am embarassed but this is really the first take I did, just a bit of reverb added in the mix. HRM left on.

Just used this free Kristal program, with an SM57 at pretty low volume, wish I could have gone a bit louder, my 18 year old Kent Armstrong rewound Dimarzio SD HB MIJ Squier Strat with its new fret level and recrown which I did yesterday (feels smmmoootthh!) Kurt Mangan 10-52s
Sorry in advance for the extreme boredom and clams.... dunno what else to tell ya - oh yeah, switching between the HB and a silver Lace in the middle.

http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=10718055

What you talk'n about? You're sounding great. I'm really digging the sound of this amp. Very smooth break up. I'm starting to think that making one of these for a next project than another standard D-style build would be very cool.

Anyway, nice playing and nice sound. I've been using the Curt Mangan's for about a year now. Great choice with a great price.

[mat]

Hi Roger,

Thanks for the clip ! To me it sounds very, very good Congrats !

I've also noted that the louder I play this amp the better it sounds. I wonder if VVR would make the home levels sound better ?

[rogb]

Thanks guys, appreciate the comments, it really means a lot

By the way this was recorded with PAB on and mid boost on, it's a must in the OD mode!

With regard to buzzing, the EF86 is a VERY lively tube, to get it as quiet as far as background hiss and hum you need the gain pretty far down and the HRM on. With the HRM off and drive /pre volume up, it goes wild but is hard to control
I did try chopsticking the wires around but it didn't change anything, it is just a gainy tube that you need to treat with caution -some days it howls a bit past noon on the Drive, other days it doesn't - could be the full moon

I think I should have had just a touch more OD Master up and then it would feedback and bloom a little more, which it does even better with the EL84, but at the cost of the clean sound - but it was Sunday and I didn't want my neighbour banging on my front door
Might try the same track with the EL84 in and see how it feels

[rogb]

With regard to the VVR, now that is an idea, my only problem is space in the 12" chassis.

Having set my mid pot though, I haven't really changed it again so maybe I can measure it and go back to Mat's mid resistor on the board idea and use that mid pot space for the VVR.

I toasted mine sometime back so I need to check and replace some parts on it I guess.

Definitely sounds like a plan to get the power amp cooking for home recording levels

[azatplayer]

Sounds great Rog. Nice work!