Revisit #0183 with 5-piece chassis

[ijedouglas]

After building my last amp with a 5-piece chassis and really liking the results I decided to give my #0183 the same treatment and rebuild it into a new 5-piece chassis. So far I'm loving the results. The amp was pretty good prior to the rebuild (period correct parts (for the most part) and period correct transformers) but straight away I noticed a much clearer top-end and more note definition and separation, This could well be due to slightly different lead-dress but I'm more inclined to believe the thick chassis has something to do with it. I had the same feeling from the last high-plate skyline that I did. Here are a couple of pics:

PXL_20231114_200155105.jpg

PXL_20231114_200158535.jpg

PXL_20231102_192843995.jpg

PXL_20231107_220722151.jpg

PXL_20231108_222912548.jpg

PXL_20231113_211148056.jpg

PXL_20231113_211423787.jpg

PXL_20231114_175849942.jpg

PXL_20231114_175903021.jpg

PXL_20231115_024609778.jpg

[erwin_ve]

Nice Ian!
A rebuildi of this kind requires a lot of motivation I guess...
I'm curious on the thickness of the chassis, what do you think happens to the final result tech wise?

Erwin

[xtian]

Beautiful!

How did you compare the tone, before vs after?

[ijedouglas]

Nice Ian!
A rebuildi of this kind requires a lot of motivation I guess...
I'm curious on the thickness of the chassis, what do you think happens to the final result tech wise?

Erwin

Thank you.

I'm not 100% certain but I think it has to do with the grounds. I know that chassis composition (steel vs aluminum) makes a big difference to the tone and I have to believe a thicker harder chassis would change the tone too. I paid particular attention to repeatedly testing the ground points and making sure that all had 0R between them so that may also contribute.

[ijedouglas]

Beautiful!

How did you compare the tone, before vs after?

Thank you.

Incredibly scientifically ....just joking, I had a pretty good idea of what the amp sounded like in the room before the change so it may well be confirmation bias, but I certainly hear more clarity and note separation.

[GAStan]

01+ Looks GREAT Ian!!!

You sure do set a good example for us noobs to follow.

Metalwork is topnotch, hope you didn't let any blood out like I usually do...

The front and rear panels look really good, did you do them yourself?

[ijedouglas]

01+ Looks GREAT Ian!!!

You sure do set a good example for us noobs to follow.

Metalwork is topnotch, hope you didn't let any blood out like I usually do...

The front and rear panels look really good, did you do them yourself?

Thanks Glenn. Yup, front and back panels are drilled, sprayed with Krylon Black gloss, apply vinyl decals and coat with clear gloss.

[dbharris]

Fantastic work Ian! As always from you, this is a reference build.

-Dan

[bepone]

very nice, i bought U profiles and cut top side Aluminium to size, hope soon i will start mine too

[ijedouglas]

Fantastic work Ian! As always from you, this is a reference build.

-Dan

Thanks Dan

[ijedouglas]

very nice, i bought U profiles and cut top side Aluminium to size, hope soon i will start mine too

I'm interested too hear your opinion once completed?

[ViperDoc]

WOW. Beautiful amp, man.

How did you construct the wood-metal side walls, and how are they connected to the rest of the chassis and with respect to chassis ground? How does the mahogany affect the tone?

[ijedouglas]

WOW. Beautiful amp, man.

How did you construct the wood-metal side walls, and how are they connected to the rest of the chassis and with respect to chassis ground? How does the mahogany affect the tone?

Thank you.

Red oak panels.

Each wood panel has 7 screws. 3 secure the side to the base and then there are 4 screws, 2 from the top and 2 from the bottom through the front and back c-channel. Extremely rigid and strong.

PXL_20231115_024723962.jpg

[Stephen1966]

Beautiful work, as ever!

[ijedouglas]

Beautiful work, as ever!

Thanks Stephen