EF86 Special back to EL84 HRM (revenge of the miniHRM!!)

[mat]

Too much time on summer holiday I was playing my EF86 Special and wondered what might I like more than the recent build. I listened the old sound clips of the EL84hrm and thought I might build it this time with a better layout. I used 10thtx's layout for starting point (Thanks Jeff!).

I took the EF86 Special apart- took about 20 minutes. Then built SE EL84hrm again- took several hours during two days. It was an junk box build. I used partly used but quality parts and wire that was left. Then tweaked it for four days and went to rehearsals to record a sound clip.

I had noise problem when artificial heater center tap (2 x 100R) was connected to cathode of the EL84. Moving it to ground everything was noiseless.

The recording setup was ES339 to EL84hrm with a DIY tube reverb on the passive loop (the reverb unit smoothed the sound really good). SM57 on grille and SM58 about one meter from grille. Cab was 2 x 12'' with only Eminence Delta 12A pro connected. Added reverb and delay on the Reaper recording software.

The amp has a switch to bypass the HRM (BIG BOOST) and other side of the switch connects 10k to 1M pot to ground to adjust the boost. It also has switch to add local feedback loop to V2a (or b, don't remember, am at summerhouse). Normal boost and mid boost and bright switches are included.

The tube reverb is essential on the loop to get good sound. I would like to know if someone has suggestion for a hi frequency leak to be connected on the switching jacks of the loop.

I'm going to test the amp with other speakers for the delta pro being so chimeless. The Eminence Legend EM12A seems promising.

The two songs are total nonsense, but I think they will present the amps sound quite nicely.

Be aware, my builds are usually very ugly

picks: https://www.flickr.com/photos/fuzzface1 ... 469577421/

Be aware, my playings are usually very ugly

soundclips:https://soundcloud.com/ef86special/2014 ... /seel84hrm

[rogb]

Nice work as usual Mat, it always good to try new ideas out.
I can't stop tweaking my 2nd gen hybrid

I hope we can meet up, I am over on 1 August for 11 days or so.

It is funny that you should post this, I just put my 86 Special up for sale as I just don't use it any more
My AB763 and #102 combo will probably go the same way...

The 100w 2nd Gen ( probably more like #124 now) Dlator and G Major into TL806 cab does most everything I need at all volumes.

The clips sound very nice. I was playing my 339 today (modded Epi with some good parts and pickups)

Regards and thank you for your inspiration and hard work on our amp journey.
Roger

[10thTx]

Mat,

Good grief, man, that sounds fabulous! You never need to apologize for your playing. Lots of soul and funk in that tone, IMO.

The amp sounds very touch sensitive to my ears. Cool stuff. Really appreciate you posting the sound clips. I enjoyed them a lot.

IF you have a revised schematic that you'd be willing to share, I'd sure love to see it.

With respect, 10thtx

[Dr d]

Very tasteful track! Great tone. Well done.

[10thTx]

Here is the original design from what I remember?

(Mat used a different PT.)

Wondering what the mods are?

With respect, 10thtx

[wokkel]

Be aware, my playings are usually very ugly

soundclips:https://soundcloud.com/ef86special/2014 ... /seel84hrm

Love the sound and playing.

Every time I hear your clips I wonder why you have this pre-swell on your single notes. Is it the guitar, is it in your hands. Or is this an attribute of the amp? I've heard it in many if not all of your clips.

Harald

[Blackburn]

That's a great clip! Your amp sounds really nice and that backing track is wonderful. I'll actually be doing a SE EL84 build soon that will be in the D style vein, but will likely be quite rude. I'm inspired by yours to try to capture the smoothness.

[mat]

Hi Roger, hope to finally meet You. I'll be in Pori to 31th of July. Any chance You to get to Pori Jazz ? Larry Carlton, Suzanne Vega and Bob Dylan + few great Finnish guitarists (http://porijazz.fi/en/program/thursday-17-7) on 17.7. I'll star working at 6.8. Before that I'll drop to see my relatives. I'll try to get to Helsinki few days before my work starts so we can meet. I see You have been very busy builder ! Very nice work. Professional looking amps ! Yeah, I should propably also get rid of the few builds I'm using very occasionally..

10thTx, thank You for Your kind words Check Your PM.

Thanks Dr d

wokkel, I'm not 100% sure what You mean (pre-swell) but it might be the thing that I swipe many times several damped strings while only shooting for a single note. Another thing is the pick angle. To me I never play the pick parallel to the strings - gives a horrible trebly icepick sound

Blackburn, thanks for the kind words. I did the backings with garageband very quickly (as can be heard..). I used a Korg nanokey http://www.gearnuts.com/images/closeup/ ... etail7.jpg for the bass (on one track) and B3 and Rhodes sounds that I bought from garage sale for one euro
Btw, I'll suggest You talk to 10thTx for different D-circuits. Lots of experience in there.

I will be stuck at summer place this month away from my amps. Anyway I took a build with me that is about 1/3 ready. It will be a one tube tremolo/two tube reverb/dumbleator in a box. A question for pros on the forum: what should the order of the circuits be ? dumbleator in -> reverb -> tremolo -> dumbleator out ?

[rogb]

I will be in Helsinki from 1.8-12.8 so we can meet up for sure. Enjoy your holidays and I will see you in August. Can't wait!

[mat]

I will be in Helsinki from 1.8-12.8 so we can meet up for sure. Enjoy your holidays and I will see you in August. Can't wait!

Ok

Btw. Do You recognize my avatar ?

[rogb]

I will be in Helsinki from 1.8-12.8 so we can meet up for sure. Enjoy your holidays and I will see you in August. Can't wait!

Ok

Btw. Do You recognize my avatar ?

No... is it at some music venue? (wild guess)

[mat]

Small blues bar in Soho !

I will be in Helsinki from 1.8-12.8 so we can meet up for sure. Enjoy your holidays and I will see you in August. Can't wait!

Ok

Btw. Do You recognize my avatar ?

No... is it at some music venue? (wild guess)

[arjepsen]

I have an old radio on the bench, that I'd like to make into a sort of bedroom noodling thingie.
At first, I've tried to do a sort of vox ac-4, which actually sounds surprisingly ok, considering it's coming out of an old radio speaker. Though of course the overdrive doesn't really sound that great.
I've been tinkering with it - doing a bit of NFB, so it just barely overdrives on full gain.
However, then I happened to fall across the threads about the ef86 special....
I'm sorta wanting to try it out, however the PT on the radio is a 250 - 0 -250, giving about 300v on B+0. Would this be a problem with this circuit, or would it possibly still sound ok?

[Teleguy61]

Great idea, but you'll do better starting a new thread rather than resurrecting an old one.
You should get a lot of response.
Good luck.

[davescustom]

The two songs are total nonsense, but I think they will present the amps sound quite nicely.

Be aware, my builds are usually very ugly

picks: https://www.flickr.com/photos/fuzzface1 ... 469577421/

Be aware, my playings are usually very ugly

soundclips:https://soundcloud.com/ef86special/2014 ... /seel84hrm

1st-indeed sound really really really Nice!!!

2nd-ugly.... You never seen one of mine!!!

3th-ugly playing..... Way better than mine!!!

Conclusion: congratulations for your sweet sounding "variant" amp.