The Amp Garage

Hi Folks, I'm not trying/wanting to start a business developing/producing a product, simply for my own use. I want to build (find/buy, if not too much $$$) an external effects loop with it's own power supply, level adjustments, etc. Not looking to make a "tone enhancer" like a Dumbleator or Clone Of...

Well Folks, It's taken a while to gather up the info to answer the many thoughtful questions. I'm going to reply in the same order as the questions/comments came: @SoulFetish, Below is a schematic with measured voltages to each of 5 nodes: A=OT Center Tap, B=Screens, C=PI, D=Cathode Follower & E Is ...

Hi Folks. I've built an amp that is basically Marshall JCM800/2203, but with a cathode bias 6AQ5 power section. Everything up to the output of the PI is the same as per this schematic. I have a very odd problem. The amp seems to sound quite nice, but is absolutely buried by the rest of the band, unt...

Maybe this will help. I realize the whole power supply will need some work. While I'm not adept at schematic drawing, I'm pretty OK at using Apple's Preview on PDFs and JPEGs.

Thoughts Appreciated
Gene

Hey Folks,

My apologies if my feeble attempt at "tongue in cheek humor" in the title ended up being offensive to anyone!

I think the questions are still fairly valid though?

Just Askin'
Gene

hey Folks, I want to try something of a blending of several Fender amp models and would like comments on whether or not it will work well and why/why not. I want to start with a 5F8 preamp coupled to a 5E3 Cathodyne PI/cathode bias 6V6 power section. I then intend to utilize the presence ala 5F4, bu...

See? Too much fun in my youth!

My Bad,
Gene

@JoshBernstein Interesting that you mentioned "I had accidentally tied both the screen grids and plates of the power tubes to the same power supply node." When looking at the Ceriatone diagram, as well as your pics, I can't see where pin # 3 of the power tubes is connected to anything, except for gr...

@JoshBernstein First, please allow me to apologize in advance for what may sound cruel, as that is not the intention! Long is the list here, of best practices not followed and/or ignored! I estimate that you may not find any one "smoking gun," but instead that you have a stack up of issues. This lis...

Soooo, This is a very interesting subject! Now, please allow the dunce to ask the burning dumb question: What is the most convenient and practical way to convert (at least for the preamp tubes) the AC heater circuit to DC. Even as a dunce, it seems fairly clear that heating with DC could alleviate s...

Well Folks, Here's the PT currently (pun intended) on hand, ClassicTone 40-18085: http://www.classictone.net/40-18085.pdf According to my PT current calculator, it likely 10mA to 20mA shy, for ending up with 368-ish volts at the plates/375-ish volts at the OT center tap. Of course, the calculator I'...

Hi Folks, I know there was already a thread with somewhat similar questions, but I didn't think it polite to hijack. https://ampgarage.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=30538 I'm really liking the concept of building a 5E8-A, but with basically a 5E3 power section, ala cathode bias 6V6. I don't think I'...

I can say that this attenuator circuit does work very well. I built one of JohnH's early designs (does not include the inductors) and it sounds so much better than the Minimass that I had been using previously. I too have a MiniMass and this is generally much better. With that said, the MiniMass wo...

A rotary may work, but if you insist on toggles, I am pretty sure you'll never find such switches. Being the old geezer I am, and having fumbled professionally with all sorts of electronics from dirt cheap to extremely expensive, I am pretty certain. Toggles controlling a set of relays can do what ...

@Guy77 I'm gonna bet that by the time we pass the 21 db and especially 28 db mark, all bets are off for "real" tone! I've been pretty impressed and surprised at 21 though and at only 14 db, the sound is still pretty glorious with all of the several amps tested. JTM30, Tweed 5E3 Deluxe Clone, DSL40CR...