soliciting input re: resistor brands for my first Marshall build

[bepone]

do someone even know how to use spectrum analyser and how to interpret results?

[Stephen1966]

Building by the numbers...hmm!

I can't imagine anyone who ever did that found the sound they were looking for. There are some qualities of resistors we can take to the bank as it were, but the real Q factor is down to your critical listening skills paired with your musical intelligence. You might as well just put together a shopping list of people's favourite types and try them yourself. If there were a magic combination, we would all be rich. Stop looking at the datasheets and peer reviews would be my advice. Just build the damn thing so it makes sense to you.

If you are going to try to clone to perfection it isn't enough to know the manufacturer and type, you have to pin down the production batches as well. And you have to look at the clone as a holistic whole. That's a money pit right there. And where does it get you?

If you are lucky it will be when you realise you have built something that sounds better than the original, but if that was the goal all along...?

[gldtp99]

What kind of resistors did Marshall use, in their prime years, to make Marshall amps ??

Mostly 1/2 watt Carbon Film resistors

When I look inside my '79 Marshall 2104 head (was originally a 2x12 combo) I see mostly 1/2 watt Carbon Film resistors

So when I build Marshall type amps I use 1/2 watt Carbon Film resistors

Last year I built two 25 watt 2204 type heads (that run 6L6GC output tubes at lower voltage) --- one near stock spec and one with a Roccaforte HG100 preamp

I used mostly 1/2 watt Carbon Film resistors and the amps came out wonderfully

Why continue to beat this to death ?

If someone wants to use high dollar resistors, of any type, it's ok with me

[martin manning]

What kind of resistors did Marshall use, in their prime years, to make Marshall amps ??

Mostly 1/2 watt Carbon Film resistors...

Why did they choose that type of resistor? My money is on 1) Better than CC for noise level and stability, 2) Economical, 3) Available.

[Matthews Guitars]

I respect vintage type component choices, and think there's absolutely nothing wrong with choosing vintage NOS parts as long as they're good parts and you're comfortable spending the money oni them.

But I do not believe that resistor brand choice will make or break the amp build. I think that the choice makes for a subtle difference, at best, unless you have installed NOS parts that are actually defective or far out of spec.

The most seductive, sensitive, interactive amp I own is a 20 watt Marshall Lead and Bass reissue, 2061X, made in 2005. ERO capacitors, Yageo resistors. Modern, common parts of good quality. The amp is, as I already stated, highly interactive, and sensitive to my playing, in a way that is absolutely seductive. At a conversational volume level, it doesn't give harmonic feedback and sustain to just notes, but to CHORDS. Yes. Multiple different notes sustaining in harmonic feedback, and preserving their volume relationships, at the SAME TIME. This goes beyond any behavior I would have hoped for. It's...yes...seductive. It's less like feeding an amplifier notes from a guitar and more like having an intimate conversation. The give and take between me, the guitar, and the amp is simply remarkable to experience. The SYSTEM becomes the musical instrument.

If this simple amp build with modern components can do it, I can't believe that you have to have vintage components to get the best out of any given amp.

[bepone]

now start to change resistors all to metal film in this amp.. and let us know, if not, then dont waste our time.

[WhopperPlate]

now start to change resistors all to metal film in this amp.. and let us know, if not, then dont waste our time.

The question to ask : were the Yageo metal film or carbon film ?

[bepone]

those resistors in marshall are carbon film..

[Matthews Guitars]

Film resistors are more stable and lower noise than comp resistors.

CC, CF, MF, that's the progression in terms of lower noise and higher stability.

Some might argue that CC resistors have more "character" but nobody wants to put their money where their mouth is and compare the same circuit with all three of the resistor types using tightly matched values and see if they can tell the difference in a blind comparison.

I've seen NOS CC resistors running 40, 50, even 100 percent above their marked value. And that can contribute to a certain tonal characteristic. Like in an old Fender amp where all the 100K plate resistors have drifted way high. That makes the amp very quick to overdrive.

[WhopperPlate]

Some might argue that CC resistors have more "character" but nobody wants to put their money where their mouth is and compare the same circuit with all three of the resistor types using tightly matched values and see if they can tell the difference in a blind comparison.

And then have no body who hasn’t already heard and felt the difference themselves believe you

[Matthews Guitars]

Prove that the difference you hear and feel isn't due to the resistance value itself simply being a specific value.

Find that magic value. Obtain a different type of high precision resistor with the same value. Swap it in for the magic one. It'll sound exactly the same.

Measure the frequency response curve of the circuit with both resistors. If the response curve is the same, it IS the same.

Believe in mojo and magic all you want, it won't hold up under the clear bright light of a scientific analysis. Component value matter most of all, it absolutely dominates all secondary factors.
and this can be proven if you're willing to see your personal sacred cows put on the chopping block.

[cdemike]

I'm not aware offhand of any direct 1:1 comparisons, but I do think it's a bit of a scarecrow to say no one has thought about the resistors question scientifically. For example: http://www.geofex.com/article_folders/c ... oncomp.htm

[WhopperPlate]

Prove that the difference you hear and feel isn't due to the resistance value itself simply being a specific value.

Find that magic value. Obtain a different type of high precision resistor with the same value. Swap it in for the magic one. It'll sound exactly the same.

Measure the frequency response curve of the circuit with both resistors. If the response curve is the same, it IS the same.

Believe in mojo and magic all you want, it won't hold up under the clear bright light of a scientific analysis. Component value matter most of all, it absolutely dominates all secondary factors.
and this can be proven if you're willing to see your personal sacred cows put on the chopping block.

With so much confidence you must be right

[johnnyreece]

Well, on my last build I used Royal Ohm CFR01W-series 1W resistors from Tayda. They met my requirements: Current/voltage rating acceptable, inexpensive, and long with (reasonably) thick leads. I will say that I did use CC resistors on preamp/PI plates, in case there *is* any magic mojo. I think it sounds good, for whatever that's worth.

[Matthews Guitars]

With so much confidence you must be right

No, I'm just willing to put it on the line for science.

Pick your favorite amp. Remove EVERY passive component in the signal path and measure them with precision instruments. Substitute new components made recently, hand picked from inventory, that measure exactly the same value. Install them as the originals were.

Any parts house will provide hand selected value components for a nominal upcharge. This doesn't require you to buy a roll of 10,000 resistors to find the one 27K resistor that measures exactly 27,673 ohms as does the vintage one you pulled out of your magic amp full of mojo. Buying super precision resistors is a thing. Same for caps.

You will hear NO difference. Be sure to record the amp in both "before" and "after" states. Using identical gear and settings. Better yet, reamp the signal.

Or I'm wrong, in which case I'm wrong in epic fashion and you can laugh all you want.