The Amp Garage

I got rid of the bright cap, changed the 1st coupling cap to a .047 from a .022, and used Gee's high cut mod, loosing the Master Volume, but keeping the Tone control. Now it's pretty cool. I think I need a coupling cap half way between the .022 and the .047 to dial in the bass a little better. One i...

I had a 240pf bright cap, which I changed to a 47uf during my lunch break (I also lowered the 220K resistor to the first E-cap to 200K, to lower the gain a little, while I was at it) It's still got too much ice-pick for my taste, but it has diminished with the 47pf cap. The mid-range seems to be a l...

Hey Gee,
Can you tell me how you made the mod you described on your Spitfire. That might be a good way to go as well.
Thanks

Seems like the cut control is the answer. I've built an AC15 as well as a Rocket so I can probably figure a schematic from those. If I want to use the Master Volume pot space for a cut control, can I just measure the Master Volume's pot resistance value, at a setting that I like, then replace the po...

Here's a Spitfire I just finished, based on the Watt's Tube Audio layout. Although it ain't no Rocket, it's a sweet little amp and should prove to be lots of fun. It has Volume, Tone, and Master Volume. Along with the tone control, Bass response is also affected by the relationship between Volume an...

I have both versions of the Zen Drive and an Analogman King of Tone. I typically prefer the sound of a pedal-less amp but those pedals mentioned have their place.

Wow Mark... not a lot of time between idea and reality in your world. Seems like you JUST mentioned you might build one, and now here it is. Let us know how it compares tonally to it's big brother (or sister, I guess, if it's a Wreck).

Looks like I'm leaning more towards the 2 X EL84 Rocket than the Spitfire (although I will probably build both). What would be recommended for PT voltages? Is it best to match the 4 X EL84 PT with 245-0-245, or go with the higher 290-0-290 as seen in other 2 X EL84 amps. How does the voltage differe...

I also just finished a 4 X EL84 Rocket Reverb. The voltages I get match the voltage chart very very closely. My amp is quite clean, well into higher volumes, simply getting thicker, meatier, and more harmonically rich when the volume is turned up. There is no break-up in the 3-4 range, and I wouldn'...

Another nice one from your bench Mark. Keep 'em coming. The face plate is very cool.

I want to build the 2XEL84 Rocket as well, but will wait till one of you experts gets some of the conversion details ironed out. Next up for me is a Watts version of the Spitfire. I'm just waiting on some 18 watt iron from Ken. This is the Rocket Reverb I just finished (actually the tolex and face p...

I do have shielded basses for the 12AX7s. That didn't stop me from loading them with the EL84s. Anyhow, that's water under the bridge. I've got the chassis in a roughed out cab, pre tolex and face plate (haven't decided what to do yet). I'll post a pic later, but for now, I'll just be playing guitar...

Hi mcrracer, I meant to say that I pulled all the EL84s because that's where I was finding the problem. When I flipped over the amp to pull the EL84s, it never occurred to me that they should have been on the opposite side of the chassis than where they were when I was working on the inside (pretty ...

Yup, me too. Grew up racing on all sorts of dirt tracks with my father and brother. Way back when motocross was called "scrambling". Before Honda made a two-stroke. We had lots of bikes. Mostly Bultacos and 500cc and 650cc Triumphs. I remember hanging with some buddies after the races, talking about...

Well with my head hanging low... I'd better come clean. I went to bed last night with wires pulled and schematics and layouts lying all over the place. Woke up early this morning and said "s--t, I put the tubes in the WRONG sockets". The 12AX7s where the EL84s should be, and vice versa. Got up early...