Thanks for posting the C-Tone info I am sure and hope many people here will find it helpfull!
Thanks Tony. I have been leaning towards 002 for a while, but it would be nice to know how many tubes SRV's had. Out of all the demos I have ever heard the 002 sounds more like SRV's silverface to me. The Sebago Texas Flood and the TAG builds. Also, mhartman's sounds good too, with his LNFB changes. I haven't played any of these amps. I'm just going by youtube videos, and it is difficult to judge with audio clips when it is a different guy playing each time. My first build will certainly be 002, but even if I build the 004 or the Ceriatone, I will install the CF driver.
The heartman amp looks good to me. My guess would be if you used his layout and added the driver section this should get you close. How close I don't know since I have not yet built or played the Hartman amp. So I am in the same boat you are there. The Sebago is a direct copy of the 002 and the same one as I have.
I do have experience with class AB2 and it is awesome! I posted a sound clip on page 2 of my single channel AB763 amp with reverb and without tremolo. It has MOSFET source followers driving the output stage. I don't really describe the bass as more extended, rather more punchy. I would even say tighter. Since I am fighting extended treble, maybe there is more extended treble with AB2, but I think that problem is in the preamp. I put snubbers on every gain stage and I think they are actually causing more extended treble. I don't know how or why.
So my question is why are you adding snubbers to the driver circuit. With this feature having such a large impact on the overall sound of the amp your trying to copy,why modify it? If it's too bright just switch down the Hi Filters.
What are some thoughts on the 002 way of applying LNFB vs mhartmans way of doing it?
Me I am not a big fan of using too many LNFB loops in the preamp. It can make the amp sound a bit sterile and flat sounding. For me 1 in the gain stages and 1 in the reverb section is usually what I like to see
Mine won't be an exact copy of the 002. I don't want 100W, or 150W. Mine will have a Super Reverb size OT with multiple taps so I can reflect the primary impedance for JJ 6V6S, KT66, 5881 or 6L6GC. So about 24W to 60W of power, depending on the tubes installed. I may even do power scaling so 0W to 60W. I already have tinnitus and I don't want any more hearing damage.
Here is my opinion on this. The SSS is a totally clean amp and your not looking for any kind of distortion either out of the preamp or the power amp. My 200W SSS sounds just as good with the volume turned down as it does turned up! feels the same as well. So the question you need to ask yourself is? does a 100W output section sound and respond the same to you turned down as say vs a 22W output section turned up a little. I prefer the sound character and response of the 100w turned down low. But that is something your ultimately going to have to decide!
Hope this helps.
BTW. The main reason for the larger bandwidth associated with AB-2 is your driving the output tubes grids at a lower impedance, Impedance being a function of frequency. V = IZ. (basically)
Tony