A SSS Build
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A SSS Build
Hello. My name is Glenn and I'm an Ampaholic....
After several months of saving my pennies-which was actually just stalling and trying to talk myself out of it-I ordered a SSS Chassis from Erwin. Told myself I was just getting one before he sold out of them, I'm going to put it away for a future build.
While saving pennies to purchase the chassis I was reading, at least a few hours each day, about the SSS here on TAG. I've become pretty familiar with it but still have much to learn. I've began to ask questions about it, the schematics and layouts. Hopefully my mannerisms (I've been told I'm "Blunt") haven't upset too many people.
Got a bit impatient waiting for the chassis to arrive and next thing I know I've got multiple shipments inbound from several places for Heyboer Transformers, Belton sockets, 6PS caps, CTS potentiometers, NOS Pihers...well you get the idea...
In other builds I've began my posts by stating what I intended to build which often isn't what I actually finished with. Rather than wasting our time on my intentions I'll just get on with the build and we'll see what I have in the end. So here's my version of a Steel String Singer based on the great amount of information so generously shared by the members here on TAG.
If you're reading this then I invite you to make suggestions, offer advice and/or criticism, ask questions, or just comment on the build. OT is ok but please not too far out there
After several months of saving my pennies-which was actually just stalling and trying to talk myself out of it-I ordered a SSS Chassis from Erwin. Told myself I was just getting one before he sold out of them, I'm going to put it away for a future build.
While saving pennies to purchase the chassis I was reading, at least a few hours each day, about the SSS here on TAG. I've become pretty familiar with it but still have much to learn. I've began to ask questions about it, the schematics and layouts. Hopefully my mannerisms (I've been told I'm "Blunt") haven't upset too many people.
Got a bit impatient waiting for the chassis to arrive and next thing I know I've got multiple shipments inbound from several places for Heyboer Transformers, Belton sockets, 6PS caps, CTS potentiometers, NOS Pihers...well you get the idea...
In other builds I've began my posts by stating what I intended to build which often isn't what I actually finished with. Rather than wasting our time on my intentions I'll just get on with the build and we'll see what I have in the end. So here's my version of a Steel String Singer based on the great amount of information so generously shared by the members here on TAG.
If you're reading this then I invite you to make suggestions, offer advice and/or criticism, ask questions, or just comment on the build. OT is ok but please not too far out there
Glenn
I solder better than I play.
I solder better than I play.
Re: A SSS Build
Found these at Grainger (Edit McMaster, not Grainger).
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Last edited by GAStan on Sat May 18, 2024 2:22 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Glenn
I solder better than I play.
I solder better than I play.
Re: A SSS Build
Hi Glenn, I'm excited to watch this build! I wanted to also drop you a note to thank you, because seeing your post reminded me I forgot to order those doohickeys for my two Erwin chassis.
-Dan
-Dan
Re: A SSS Build
My pleasure Dan, you're welcome. Thank you, it's feedback like this that makes posting feel worthwhile!
Here are the Pihers I ordered from Fran. I spent a couple of evenings cleaning and straightening leads as I watched TV with the Mrs.
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Glenn
I solder better than I play.
I solder better than I play.
Re: A SSS Build
Here's what the build looked like a few days ago. Heater wires done, working on power tubes. Mounted 12v transformer for relay power. Whe I went to mount the 12v rectifier board found it wouldn't fit, caps were too big and interfered with PT. Ordered some physically skinnier caps, now waiting for them to arrive along with some 470k resistors for the power tubes.
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Glenn
I solder better than I play.
I solder better than I play.
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- Location: Denmark
Re: A SSS Build
Nice! This motivates me to pull out my empty Erwin chassis too and get to work. What are the relays going to switch please?
On my previous Erwin-sourced chassis I found those wing nuts stripped super easily after a couple of uses. I ended up drilling out slightly larger holes and using normal chassis bolts and nuts.
On my previous Erwin-sourced chassis I found those wing nuts stripped super easily after a couple of uses. I ended up drilling out slightly larger holes and using normal chassis bolts and nuts.
Re: A SSS Build
Looks great!
Re: A SSS Build
Tim thank you. Hopefully these Mil Spec nuts hold up better. If not I'll have to figure out something else like you did.timrobertson100 wrote: ↑Fri May 10, 2024 5:56 am Nice! This motivates me to pull out my empty Erwin chassis too and get to work. What are the relays going to switch please?
On my previous Erwin-sourced chassis I found those wing nuts stripped super easily after a couple of uses. I ended up drilling out slightly larger holes and using normal chassis bolts and nuts.
Relays are for FET and Reverb. Power light is also 12vdc.
Thanks Dan!
Glenn
I solder better than I play.
I solder better than I play.
Re: A SSS Build
Just clicked these pics. The last pics I posted were actually a few days old so this is the result of a few days work.
Tomorrow, after a good once over, I'll most likely begin on the transformers.
Tomorrow, after a good once over, I'll most likely begin on the transformers.
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Glenn
I solder better than I play.
I solder better than I play.
Re: A SSS Build
Looks great. and reminds me that I have a cab and chassis and lots of NOS 7581as waiting (need transformers)
www.myspace.com/20bonesband
www.myspace.com/prostitutes
Express, Comet 60, Jtm45, jtm50, jmp50, 6g6b, vibroverb, champster, alessandro rottweiler
4x12" w/H75s
www.myspace.com/prostitutes
Express, Comet 60, Jtm45, jtm50, jmp50, 6g6b, vibroverb, champster, alessandro rottweiler
4x12" w/H75s
Re: A SSS Build
Thank Roe. You've done what I intended-put the chassis away for a while and slowly acquire the necessary parts. Guess I'm too impatient...
Glenn
I solder better than I play.
I solder better than I play.
Re: A SSS Build
Nearly finished, just need to build the pedal and its cable.
The amp itself works great!
Finished the amp last night too late to power it up. This morning I used my variac to slowly bring it up sans tubes. Spent several hours bringing it up slowly giving the caps some time to form. First I put 12vac (10%) on it until all caps showed less than .5v difference using the dropping resistors to monitor current draw. The multi section can took the longest. Next I went to 25vac (20%) and did the same thing, then 50vac (40%), 75vac (60%), 100vac (80%) and finally 125vac (100%). My house voltage runs between 120 and 125vac. The FET power was disconnected for this.
Next I connected FET power and installed tubes. Two 5751's and the rest a mixture of 12ax7 and 7025 of various brands. Sovtek 6L6WXT+ for power tubes. Connected my dummy load and turned on power, checked filament voltage then took it out of standby. The power transformer began to make a buzz/rattle sound and I could feel the entire chassis vibrate a bit. Put it back in standby. Checked B+, it was 469vdc. Monitoring B+ I again took it out of standby, B+ dropped to 367vdc. Quickly checked mA reading on 1 ohm cathode resistors, 166mA. 60.7 watts. After triple checking all wiring, verifying resistor values and reflowing some solder joints, then much tube swapping with power tubes and PI & CF preamp tubes I decided to try switching leads as we do for NFB phase. This cured it. I can hear Martin now I'm glad I didn't have a speaker connected
I was able to set bias to 35mA. Voltages looked OK. So I told my son it was ready for a sound check and asked him to get his guitar. While he played I tested all of the controls, all work as expected with one minor exception-the High filter must be turned CCW to increase Treble.
It sounds wonderful! Very clean. Not as loud as I expected but I still need to fine tune the various voltages.
Unable to test FET yet because only way to operate the relay for it is via the pedal I haven't built yet. I'm considering installing a toggle switch for it on the back similar to what an ODS has.
No pictures yet, I'll try to have some up in the next day or two along with a brief synopsis of what I did differently from 002. I'll also record and post voltages.
The amp itself works great!
Finished the amp last night too late to power it up. This morning I used my variac to slowly bring it up sans tubes. Spent several hours bringing it up slowly giving the caps some time to form. First I put 12vac (10%) on it until all caps showed less than .5v difference using the dropping resistors to monitor current draw. The multi section can took the longest. Next I went to 25vac (20%) and did the same thing, then 50vac (40%), 75vac (60%), 100vac (80%) and finally 125vac (100%). My house voltage runs between 120 and 125vac. The FET power was disconnected for this.
Next I connected FET power and installed tubes. Two 5751's and the rest a mixture of 12ax7 and 7025 of various brands. Sovtek 6L6WXT+ for power tubes. Connected my dummy load and turned on power, checked filament voltage then took it out of standby. The power transformer began to make a buzz/rattle sound and I could feel the entire chassis vibrate a bit. Put it back in standby. Checked B+, it was 469vdc. Monitoring B+ I again took it out of standby, B+ dropped to 367vdc. Quickly checked mA reading on 1 ohm cathode resistors, 166mA. 60.7 watts. After triple checking all wiring, verifying resistor values and reflowing some solder joints, then much tube swapping with power tubes and PI & CF preamp tubes I decided to try switching leads as we do for NFB phase. This cured it. I can hear Martin now I'm glad I didn't have a speaker connected
I was able to set bias to 35mA. Voltages looked OK. So I told my son it was ready for a sound check and asked him to get his guitar. While he played I tested all of the controls, all work as expected with one minor exception-the High filter must be turned CCW to increase Treble.
It sounds wonderful! Very clean. Not as loud as I expected but I still need to fine tune the various voltages.
Unable to test FET yet because only way to operate the relay for it is via the pedal I haven't built yet. I'm considering installing a toggle switch for it on the back similar to what an ODS has.
No pictures yet, I'll try to have some up in the next day or two along with a brief synopsis of what I did differently from 002. I'll also record and post voltages.
Glenn
I solder better than I play.
I solder better than I play.
Re: A SSS Build
Today powered up the SSS to get voltage readings and found that the B+ has dropped ~25vdc. In standby it was 468vdc, now it's 440vdc. Taking it out of standby to operate B+ drops to 420vdc. Transformer AC out is 328-0-328 in Standby, 320-0-320 in Operate. Not sure what's going on, voltages were good last time I checked them last night before we played through it for a while.
Fender Twin PT
Pics as promised:
Fender Twin PT
Pics as promised:
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Glenn
I solder better than I play.
I solder better than I play.