My JMSig w/ SSS Step Filters Build Thread

[norburybrook]

WOW!!! I just estimated and got a pencil and the saw out!!

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Marcus

[rccolgan]

lol I'm having fun engineering the hell out of this. I can't help but to see how far I can push this design and tone Hopefully it also helps the next person out too since I've gained a wealth of knowledge through the forums as well.

[AdvisableOwl]

You're having too much fun taking all the fun work out of my pet project! Thanks for the great documentation. It really does help though.

[rccolgan]

You're having too much fun taking all the fun work out of my pet project! Thanks for the great documentation. It really does help though.

lol aw man.. next time I post dimensions I'll establish a "spoiler alert" in the title for you lol

[rccolgan]

avoided a bunch of physical mistakes by virtually making them. Building the cabinets begins this weekend. My picture album in my first post in this thread will have real-time updates.

[Aaron]

Nice work!
Did you allow for the fan in the bottom of the amp?

Aaron

[rccolgan]

Nice work!
Did you allow for the fan in the bottom of the amp?

Aaron

I did! By my virtual measurements, 11.75" is the real one and mine is going to be built 1:1 which does include the fan. Good question!

[rccolgan]

Some updates this weekend. My good friend and I started to build the head and speaker cabinets. The pic is a test fit of the speaker and head cabinet.

I also added a 3-way rotary switch for three different NFB resistor values. Stock 10k, 8.2k, and 4.7k. It was really surprising to me how the warmth and feel of the amp changed between each value. I for the 8.2k and 4.7k I sourced some 2w NOS Allen Bradley carbon comp resistors as I couldn't find 2w Beyschlag resistors anywhere when I was looking.

Probably the best $20 I spent on the amp so far is a MOD 9AB3C1B reverb tank. Wow, what a difference. The two spring was good, but the splash had a little too much brightness for my liking and would wash out the guitar when pushing the mix. Now the guitar cuts through with some real depth around the notes. Love it!

[rccolgan]

One head cab done out of two. Inspiration for this cover is from Mayer's "The Search For Everything" tour where he put SSS #004 in black Fender-style tolex cabinet. To keep with the JM Sig theme, I used black carbon fiber tolex instead of Gunmetal like the original Two Rock. Waiting on my suede to come in from The Hide House now to finish up the project

lots of things I've learned by building the cabinets myself (with some help from my buddy with a huge table saw to cut down the 5'x5' sheets)

• I'll leave more room to compensate for tolex/suede/grill cloth

• Cross bar is 1" deep, not .75" as I originally thought. doh! Nothing a little .25" strip can't fix but now I have to shrink my vox grill cover to .25" depth vs .5" since I set the vertical cleat depth at .75".

• Weldwood contact cement is really, really smelly. Local hardware store does not carry Wilsonart H20 so I had to adjust.

Overall - I think I spent more time with the cabinets than with the electronics! lol It's fun learning though.

[erwin_ve]

That's looking awesome! I wish I had such Wood/tolex skills.

[rccolgan]

That's looking awesome! I wish I had such Wood/tolex skills.

You can do it! I never have done anything like this before.. lots of YouTube videos and observations/creative license lol

[norburybrook]

That's looking awesome! I wish I had such Wood/tolex skills.

Erwin, I've made my first cabs with just a jig saw and a cordless drill in my garden. Tolex is quite forgiving so the actual wood work doesn't need to be of cabinet maker quality as longs as it's square and the surface is smooth. I use car body filler to cover screw holes etc.


@rccolgan that looks fantastic. Are you going to do a blue sued one now?


M

[rccolgan]

@rccolgan that looks fantastic. Are you going to do a blue sued one now?

Yup! I put in an order at The Hide House for their garment cowhide suede (2-3oz) https://hidehouse.com/products/index.ht ... ct_ID=1098
I had an amazing (but thicker) hide of a slightly greener (close to the original) turquoise but I goofed up cutting it I also ordered golden-brown suede for the 2x12" combo per #004.

I am lucky that the original Ovation Guitars was located right up the road from my house, literally, and I acquired a 3 foot section of mahogany that they used for their acoustic guitar necks. Since they closed down, there was some leftover stock that ended up in my posession so I'm going to use it for the 3/8" accent piece on the 2x12 cabinet.

[rccolgan]

Finally finished the build! The suede is extremely nice from The Hide House. I bought two hides of each, turquoise and golden brown. It's my first time hearing a Dumble style 2x12 and it's quite nice! Still breaking in the speakers but the deep switch really brings out the warmth. I've had a ton of fun building it and time to actually play! I'm happy to answer any questions you have to help your build along. A couple closing pictures..

[rccolgan]

last couple beauty shots