New Astroid 60 Build

Express, Liverpool, Rocket, Dirty Little Monster, etc.

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passfan
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New Astroid 60 Build

Post by passfan »

So here's a newly finished Astroid 60. The colors on the cabinet are just Me using up the last of my tolex stock. :lol: I added 500pf bypass on the V1a plate resistor and lowered the .1 coupling cap to .001. It's the one everyone lowers, anyway here is some porn, and by the way I love this thing.
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Beerman
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Re: New Astroid 60 Build

Post by Beerman »

That's real pretty fella. Nice work.

I'm just getting bits together at the moment to build one of these...

Just wondering where you sourced your chassis and trannies?

Has anyone brought the fast/gradual switch to the front panel on a push/pull pot? I was thinking of using something like this for the treble or bass pot. Any reason why I shouldn't?
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passfan
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Re: New Astroid 60 Build

Post by passfan »

Thanks mate. Chassis was the housing for the tone banks in a Conn organ. PT came out of a Lowery Organ chassis. OT is one of the Heyboer wound Drakes for the Marshall amps and the Choke is a hammond I had laying around. Check some of the threads for Komet 60 as I believe there is a source for the chassis and iron. Can't think of a reason not to have the switch on front. Not sure if you'd get any interference running it through the same pot as the tone stack though. This is a really high gain design when in fast mode.
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M Fowler
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Re: New Astroid 60 Build

Post by M Fowler »

That amp is sweet very nice work, congrats. :)

How are you liking the amp?


Mark
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ForcedFire
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Re: New Astroid 60 Build

Post by ForcedFire »

That looks great! I like the colours!
passfan
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Re: New Astroid 60 Build

Post by passfan »

The only problem I'm having with this amp is finding a place to open it up. At normal volumes it is the chimiest blues amp you'd ever want. By the time you get it up loud enough to snatch someone by the tail your wife will be wacking you in the head with a broom. I don't even bother to switch it to fast mode at home. I prefer it over any of the other trainwrecks, except for the big bottle Rocket with the octal preamp tubes configuration. I still love that amp. Vibratoking has one of them' and I believe he's building an Asteroid as well. Perhaps he'll lend some thoughts when he's done.
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studiodunn
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Re: New Astroid 60 Build

Post by studiodunn »

Very nice.
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M Fowler
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Re: New Astroid 60 Build

Post by M Fowler »

I got my first complaint by my neighbors in the four years I have lived there. :lol:

The damn thing is too loud, perfect for stage use but then again so are my 18w amps. :)

I turn everything way down for the neighbors now, I didn't realize it was a problem! I'm moving to the country I need volume. :lol:

Mark
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M Fowler
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Re: New Astroid 60 Build

Post by M Fowler »

Has anyone brought the fast/gradual switch to the front panel on a push/pull pot? I was thinking of using something like this for the treble or bass pot. Any reason why I shouldn't?
Beerman I have a post http://ampgarage.com/forum/viewtopic.ph ... highlight= showing I put the fast/gradual switch on the front where it belongs. It would be nice to use Dana Hall's foot switching board but I'll have to put that to use in my original K60 build.

There is no source for a komet clone chassis so just make one or order something close.

Mark
passfan
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Re: New Astroid 60 Build

Post by passfan »

M Fowler wrote:
Has anyone brought the fast/gradual switch to the front panel on a push/pull pot? I was thinking of using something like this for the treble or bass pot. Any reason why I shouldn't?
Beerman I have a post http://ampgarage.com/forum/viewtopic.ph ... highlight= showing I put the fast/gradual switch on the front where it belongs. It would be nice to use Dana Hall's foot switching board but I'll have to put that to use in my original K60 build.

There is no source for a komet clone chassis so just make one or order something close.

Mark
Mark, do you switch over with the amp on and if so< do you get a loud pop as well. I wonder if a couple of 1 megs to ground at the switch would quiet that down ?
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M Fowler
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Re: New Astroid 60 Build

Post by M Fowler »

I switch with the amp on and I get a loud pop as well which from what I have read is common.

Maybe Allynmey can answer some things here he has a lot of knowledge with these amps.

Mark
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Re: New Astroid 60 Build

Post by Beerman »

M Fowler wrote:
Has anyone brought the fast/gradual switch to the front panel on a push/pull pot? I was thinking of using something like this for the treble or bass pot. Any reason why I shouldn't?
Beerman I have a post http://ampgarage.com/forum/viewtopic.ph ... highlight= showing I put the fast/gradual switch on the front where it belongs.
Thanks for your input Mark. Do you imagine there would be any issues with a push/pull pot as compared to a seperate switch? I don't have a switchpot on hand to test - but I imagine that the switch is electrically isolated from the pot.

I like that layout... bias on it's own little board. Nothing under the board in the power supply. Last three nodes in the dropping string where they are used... neat. Intuitive. Did you draw that up or just wing it?

I'm planning on using one of RJ's larger (19.25x8x2.5") chassis. Should be plenty of real estate.
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passfan
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Re: New Astroid 60 Build

Post by passfan »

M Fowler wrote:I switch with the amp on and I get a loud pop as well which from what I have read is common.

Maybe Allynmey can answer some things here he has a lot of knowledge with these amps.

Mark
Well I saw in Merlins book on preamps a 1M ohm resistor to ground on the switched leg side of the switch to eliminate switching pops. I might try it out next time she's open and see.
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M Fowler
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Re: New Astroid 60 Build

Post by M Fowler »

I can't see why you couldn't use that type of switch.

I'm not so sure adding that 1m will work.

I drew up my design on paper on my breaks at work. I still have the notes and I had come up with a few different layouts. I had no height on the Fender chassis to go with standard Komet cap stack besides I didn't care for that layout anyway even if I did have the height. I also decided to get the other 22uf caps on the board where they belong. I also was aware early on that I would need to remove the bias circuit from the center of the cap board and place it in the usual spot for Fenders.

It was a fun project. :)

Mark
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Re: New Astroid 60 Build

Post by azatplayer »

Doh!! You stole my colour for my K50!!!
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