New Build - The Vulcan

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Littlewyan
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New Build - The Vulcan

Post by Littlewyan »

This is an amp I built at the end of last year. I have started a few threads about it, but never really posted any images of it or explained the process I went through for tweaking it. So here it is!

It’s a 40W amp running with 2 x EL34s and 4 x 12AX7s. Two channels, Ultra and Classic, footswitch to go between them and a footswitchable solo volume boost. All crammed into a 50W chassis (Can’t make things too easy!).

The Classic channel has a Bright switch and a switch to go between Clean and Crunch. This is basically the same as the Soldano clean switch, it just adds a voltage divider in to cut the signal. This channel reminds me of a JTM45, although with a tad more gain.

The Ultra channel has no switches, I wanted to keep this channel nice and simple. My goal for it was a late 60s Marshall tone on steroids. I feel I’ve finally achieved that now, but it has taken quite a few months, a lot of experimenting and a big learning curve. I’ll explain in another post the process I went through and also hope to get some recordings done soon.

And in case you're wondering, the Avro Vulcan is my favourite aircraft, hence the name :D
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Last edited by Littlewyan on Wed May 20, 2020 9:24 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Littlewyan
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Re: New Build - The Vulcan

Post by Littlewyan »

Some build photographs. I started with a blank chassis from Modulus Amplification. I couldn't find a small chassis with holes for 4 preamp valves, so drew up my own layout and punched my own chassis. You can see my JTM50 at the back of the bench there which I was using as a reference for transformer and valve spacing.
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Last edited by Littlewyan on Wed May 20, 2020 9:22 am, edited 3 times in total.
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Littlewyan
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Re: New Build - The Vulcan

Post by Littlewyan »

Last few stages of the build and the pedal I made up.
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M Fowler
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Re: New Build - The Vulcan

Post by M Fowler »

What a good looking build, just shows what a guy can do at home with spare time!

Mark
ChopSauce
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Re: New Build - The Vulcan

Post by ChopSauce »

Yes, very nice. It seems that Capt. America supports your build, too... :D
joeboo88
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Re: New Build - The Vulcan

Post by joeboo88 »

That’s a beaut Ryan, great job!
harleytech
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Re: New Build - The Vulcan

Post by harleytech »

Nice !!
TUBEDUDE
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Re: New Build - The Vulcan

Post by TUBEDUDE »

Very clean and tidy, nice job. Sound samples?
Tube junkie that aspires to become a tri-state bidirectional buss driver.
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Littlewyan
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Re: New Build - The Vulcan

Post by Littlewyan »

Thanks guys! I'll post some clips when I get time to record them :)

Oh and with regards to the speaker, I've been through a few in this combo! I started with the Eminence V1216, tried a Celestion Vintage 30 and eventually installed a Creamback M65. Still not 100% happy with the combo cabinet, but I think I just have to accept that there are limitations when it comes to a 1x12 Open Back Combo!
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Colossal
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Re: New Build - The Vulcan

Post by Colossal »

Very nice work! Looks great.
Koolaide
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Re: New Build - The Vulcan

Post by Koolaide »

Nice clean work.
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Littlewyan
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Re: New Build - The Vulcan

Post by Littlewyan »

Here are some rough clips I recorded earlier. I'm a newbie to recording so they sound a bit rough! I don't yet have any monitors for mixing so I've been using headphones!

And please excuse the rushed playing!
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pullshocks
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Re: New Build - The Vulcan

Post by pullshocks »

A lot of care in that construction. Very sanitary. I'm going to keep a picture of that in front of me while I do my next build.

Sounds great too.
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Littlewyan
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Re: New Build - The Vulcan

Post by Littlewyan »

Thanks man, I'm going to try and get some better recordings done. So far I've just used a single SM57, but I want to try using a condenser alongside it.
R,i,c,k
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Re: New Build - The Vulcan

Post by R,i,c,k »

Art meets science with those wire runs.

And the heaters on the floor in the corner....anything worth doing is worth doing right. $-)
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