Blast Off....Got'er Dun

[Blind Lemon]

Got it cranked up yesterday. Had a couple small hitches, I guess a Fil wire slipped out when going over them again and a bad AX7, but other than that it pretty much just started right up. Still pretty much voicing it right now. Working on getting it set up for an LP and a Strat.

I have the first tube paralleled (split the cathode), half power switch and the cathode on V2 bypassed. Not sure if I'll keep the half power. By the way if you go to half power, kill the ground to two cathodes on opposing power tubes, with the same speaker load you increase the impedance of the OP transformer one step?

Anyway here are a couple of pics.

RJ thanks for bringing the chassis and transformers to Tulsa with you.

BL

[dartanion]

The grid leak resistor for the left bank of power tubes is connected to the cut control when it should be connected at the turret just to it's left on the 0.047uF power tube coupling cap.

I'll be finishing my Rocket (w/ reverb) today. It's been a fun build so far and should sound killer.

[UR12]

Is it me or do you have the cap going from the cut control across the 220k resistors. I think the 220k on the left in you photo should be going to the .047uf cap instead of the .0047. That should be the only thing you need to change.

[Normster]

You mean like this?

(From Allyn's build pics.)

[Blind Lemon]

Hey good eye.........like this......

What solder do you use that's that clean. I'm using Kester"44" rosin core .031thick. Splatters and is'nt all that clean as you can see.

Also......replaced picture above.

[xk49w]

What solder do you use that's that clean. I'm using Kester"44" rosin core .031thick. Splatters and is'nt all that clean as you can see.

Soldering schools require flux removal as one of the last steps. With rosin core solder we used alcohol and a brush.

[Voodoo_Man]

Try lowering the temp. a bit.

God Bless,
John

[RJ Guitars]

Dude that looks pretty cool - Are you sure you're really blind?

Just jivin' of course... it looks great!

I'll be curious what you think of the Tech-Caps.

Also would love to hear some clips and get your tone report after you believe you've got it dialed in.

I'll anxiously await your posts on the various things you do to tweak and tune it plus what you used as far as tubes go.

A hybrid with the "Official" transformer compliment - a data point that many of us are interested in.

Great looking front panel too.

GO SOONERS!

rj

[Blind Lemon]

RJ wrote....."I'll be curious what you think of the Tech-Caps."

They work great, this is the quietest amp I have built.

I'll write more after I try a few things, I'd like to bring the mids a little more forward and tone down the treble.

I've got a number of speaker boxes, but so far I like the Brit taste speakers better than the US flavored one. I've got a deep box single 12 with a V30 that sounds real good, although as I said, pretty bright. I've got a WS Green Beret that I may stick in that box and see how it sounds.

BL

[RJ Guitars]

Tech-Caps - work great, this is the quietest amp I have built.

BL

These amps are becoming famous for the low noise floor in both the traditional and the hybrid versions.

I'll write more after I try a few things, I'd like to bring the mid's a little more forward and tone down the treble.


BL

I changed the mid resistor from a 10K to an 18K... this brought out the mids. Many folks believe this amp begs for a mid pot. So far nobody has been asking for a bright switch though.

I've got a number of speaker boxes, but so far I like the Brit taste speakers better than the US flavored one. I've got a deep box single 12 with a V30 that sounds real good, although as I said, pretty bright. I've got a WS Green Beret that I may stick in that box and see how it sounds.

BL

There doesn't seem to be a lot of bad choices for the speaker selection in these amps. But there is also not one outstanding favorite so your results will be quite useful.

If you get the urge to experiment, there is a little evidence building up to show that the Heyboer 5200 output transformer allows for an earlier breakup and adds some additional harmonic thickness.

Congrats, these are great amps and so far there aren't very many folks who don't like them.

rj

[JimiB]

so which transformers did you use?

[fishy]

Nice looking build. I will be interested to hear a few clips and read your observations on the tuning.

A bright switch provide flexibility at various volume settings. IIRC, Fischerman has commented on this and has experimented with his build.
There is also some discussion on the PI which might be worth reviewing.

I have recently played a strat with mine and was "happier" with the tone stack than when I use Les Paul. With that in mind a mid pot looks like good move to me also.

Transformer wise, I prefer the 5.2k. The amp is clean enough for me and having tried the 4.3k, I was less happy with the overall amp. What clinched it was the results when you drive the amp harder. To my ear, it was clearly a better choice and I do agree with RJ comments. Harmonically, there is something there with the 5.2k I missed when the 4.3k was in. The 4.3k did better the 5.2k on the cleans though.

With all that said, I think the amp is wonderful. Never fails to please and its quite hard to pick fault with it.

[gearhead]

What solder do you use that's that clean. I'm using Kester"44" rosin core .031thick. Splatters and is'nt all that clean as you can see.

Soldering schools require flux removal as one of the last steps. With rosin core solder we used alcohol and a brush.

Denatured alcohol? I assume the cleaned-up rosin is on the brush? What do you clean that with, same alcohol?

[xk49w]

Denatured alcohol? I assume the cleaned-up rosin is on the brush? What do you clean that with, same alcohol?

It doesn't really stay in the brush. Use Q-tips, kim wipes, whatever works until there is no flux residue visible.

[billyz]

May I ask what is the advantage of the separate Cathode resistors and bypass caps on V1 ? since my eyes are not good, Are you using a 33k input grid resistor and common 100k plate resistor ?

Nice looking build BTW .