Catching Up - Somewhat Recent Builds

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

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gktamps
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Catching Up - Somewhat Recent Builds

Post by gktamps »

Realized that I have been building amps without sharing much with TAG, so here goes.

This Rocket was my take on the full circuit board designs that other members here have come up with (RJ, Martin). It ended up being a huge PIA for a variety of reasons, mostly because a lot of open chassis space was lost to this huge board. I am a little embarrassed by the appearance, but it sounds fantastic. I decided to use an adapted tube base and socket rather than a switch for the dual-voltage PT. I added a mid control, PI drive control, VVR, PPIMV, fuse for the OT, and some tone circuit mods I've developed for my previous Rocket builds.

Can't say I'd ever use the full circuit board approach like this again, and I'm really glad it sounds so good!

Cheers,

Greg
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xtian
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Re: Catching Up - Somewhat Recent Builds

Post by xtian »

Very organic ! Thx !
I build and repair tube amps. http://amps.monkeymatic.com
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RJ Guitars
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Re: Catching Up - Somewhat Recent Builds

Post by RJ Guitars »

Greg, thanks for that post, it's great to see the final results. That has to be one of the best sounding output transformers I ever had but they never seemed to get popular with so many other options out there. I've been saving one of them for my own Rocket someday... Great job, thanks again!
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M Fowler
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Re: Catching Up - Somewhat Recent Builds

Post by M Fowler »

Looks good to me and glad it sounds great.

Something about those boards of RJ, the ones I have done all sounded great too, not sure if it helps with noise interference or what.

Mark
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gktamps
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Re: Catching Up - Somewhat Recent Builds

Post by gktamps »

Mark, I can't say it's any quieter than my other builds (except for my first ones where I was experimenting a lot), but I chalk that up to the modified grounding scheme I use on my TW builds, and careful placement of the PT and OT if the chassis isn't already drilled. If anything, it may be a little more prone to humming when I get the guitar too close, despite full shielding, but that may be because there is a lot more wire in there than a straight Rocket build.

RJ, now that I've used several different transformer brands and several models, I find myself preferring the Pacific. If I recall, that one I got from you has a slightly different impedance from the ones from Allyn I've used previously. My least favorite has been the Edcor (sorry - I know you like that one).

Thanks, guys,

Greg
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RJ Guitars
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Re: Catching Up - Somewhat Recent Builds

Post by RJ Guitars »

Nah, don't feel bad about what your ears tell you. I don't like the Edcor OT in an Express or Liverpool build myself.... it's probably among my least favorites in the 35 watt style overall. That Edcor OT does one thing very well and that is "clarity"... they never sound muddy to my ears but lack warmth and character. Now I love the 15 watt Edcor OT in all my Sweet 16 or 18W builds and I can't say what would be all that different but they seem to have some great flavor in that smaller size?? I do think Edcor PT's are unbeatable, especially for the price.

That Pacific OT you have would either be a 4.3K or 3.9K primary and it's a 7-layer Dynaco style wind... excellent Rocket OT but has the same footprint as their other OT's so it doesn't just drop in to a standard Rocket that has been fitted for a Dynaco. Pacific has been selling me trannies for a great price recently so no reason not to promote them... they sound good, people like them and they are affordable.
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