My SSS is too clean for me. Ideas? Add the FET input?

[martin manning]

Not sure what you have exactly Matt, but SSS has a MV, so there is the capability to lower output volume with an overdriven preamp.

[bcmatt]

Not sure what you have exactly Matt, but SSS has a MV, so there is the capability to lower output volume with an overdriven preamp.

Yup, I do have the master volume and I make full use of it.
Sorry, this is the one amp where I don't necessarily trust that I have a fully accurate schematic... perhaps that should be my goal... make an accurate schematic of what I actually have. It is for the most part the MHartman Layout that he made (I'll try to find it, but I've struggle to know which schematic is closest to it), but then I did map out my Power section more (although I see this doesn't have my Presence circuit):

SSS with Bridge and 229B230.jpg

I'm not necessarily thinking this amp needs to be capable of full-on distortion. I'm happy for this to be my strictly clean platform, but if clean mean absolutely no compression at all where how hard you strum varies the output by 200dB, that's too clean and too dynamic for me. I'm not a compression junkie. I have a Cali76 pedal that I never use (unless I'm trying to use this amp), but that is also because I want a certain medium-to-high level of compression from my amps.... Which I realize that that is sort of the opposite of why the SSS was even invented. But I'm sure I've heard peoples' SSS amps that have a bit of glassy sustained compressed sound straight into the amp.

[bcmatt]

So, I was messing around playing the amp a bit right now.
I used the "Notadumble" in front of the input with the settings pretty high.

20260610_102730.jpg

It definitely brings the signal in the amp up to reasonable levels so that I don't have to try and increase gain by flipping every switch just for that purpose. I actually found myself not defeating the tone stack or doing the mid boost. I even was able to hear pretty distinct differences in the LNFB settings... preferring the middle setting that causes the medium amount of gain.

20260610_102705.jpg

I tried using the Cali76 compressor instead of the FET pedal, and again needing to crank the output, but the FET gave a more pleasing result.
I tried it with my 2 tube Wiggler pedal in the loop sitting right on the amp. It has it's own output control so I could experiment with the idea of turning up the amp's level before the loop and slamming the wiggler harder while dialing back the output of the pedal to sort of be a new Master. This particular pedal is not the answer, but it proves the versatility that a Dumbleator could add if I wanted to ride things higher for a couple more gain stages. (It's something that was a cool addition to my hotcat build where I added a Dumbleator internally). I am thinking about building a Dumbleator style pedal...

So, I think the FET is definitely a must for this amp... so much so that it would be hardwired into the input. I am trying to decide whether to keep the LNFB as an option... I think it might take over the bright switch position because the FET gain control will go above the input. If I feel I want the bright switch, I will probably use a push-pull switch on the volume pot.

I do have a GNFB switch on the back of the amp that reduces the amount, but I actually like normal amount of GNFB as long as I have the extra gain from the FET. The amp is just so starved for signal right at the front... I previously rolled a bunch of tubes through V1 and that was not it. It almost makes me wonder if I'm using a bad pot for volume or something... but maybe this is normal for the SSS? Where do most people run the volume pot when using the normal input on their SSS? With this FET pretty cranked, I'm only backing it down to about 7 to get a useable clean tone.

[bcmatt]

My JFET victims have arrived:

20260611_084254.jpg

I'm processing an outboard Dumbleator Build as well.

[Guy77]

Dumbleators are the best!

Cheers
G

[Richard1001]

I looked at the MHartman schematic you say was used to build your amp. This schematic represents someone's idea of the SSS001. I don't know how this schematic was drawn up, but it looks like some parts of the schematic where filled in by somebody's best guessing. Using this schematic it would be very hard to get some clipping in the preamp.

[bcmatt]

I looked at the MHartman schematic you say was used to build your amp. This schematic represents someone's idea of the SSS001. I don't know how this schematic was drawn up, but it looks like some parts of the schematic where filled in by somebody's best guessing. Using this schematic it would be very hard to get some clipping in the preamp.

I'll have to compare to some of the other versions then.... I wasn't sure if it was maybe close to #001 or #004...
Do you know a good schematic that I should maybe move it more toward?

[Richard1001]

I think the filters should be wired more like the other SSS circuits where the high filter is basically made by putting different caps over a 820k series resistors. Gradually increasing treble and mid frequencies. With a larger cap selected on the high filter, the amp can lightly break up. A mid boost or PAB would further add to that. Don't expect high gain on it's own. Putting a tubescreamer or equivalent in front of it (gain low, volume high) will get you a dynamic overdrive sound.
I use a dumblelator in the loop to tame the highs a bit for a smooth lead sound. I don't use my fet input.

The filters you use shunt signal to ground which probably was a guess since the filters can't be clearly seen in the gutshot of the sss001 amp. Doing so, it is hard to overdrive the next stage.

[bcmatt]

I think the filters should be wired more like the other SSS circuits where the high filter is basically made by putting different caps over a 820k series resistors. Gradually increasing treble and mid frequencies. With a larger cap selected on the high filter, the amp can lightly break up. A mid boost or PAB would further add to that. Don't expect high gain on it's own. Putting a tubescreamer or equivalent in front of it (gain low, volume high) will get you a dynamic overdrive sound.
I use a dumblelator in the loop to tame the highs a bit for a smooth lead sound. I don't use my fet input.

The filters you use shunt signal to ground which probably was a guess since the filters can't be clearly seen in the gutshot of the sss001 amp. Doing so, it is hard to overdrive the next stage.

Ya, sorry, I actually use Martin Manning's Adapted filters. I made that change a couple years ago and it made them alot more intuitive with much more even steps. I really like them now... I don't know if they are any different gain-wise though:

Manning Filter Mod.png

[Richard1001]

There is a difference in attenuation. For the filters i use the exact circuit of the original (drawn in Japan) schematic. For the input of the filter switches, the .01 and .001 caps in my amp are in parallel like the schematic. Some people think the amp sounds better when they are in series, but to my ears i like them in parallel.

I made a short clip where i play the amp. There is a tubescreamer (volume boost) in front of the amp (normal input) The amp has relays for mid boost, PAB and on the Fet input. I only use the mid boost when i overdrive the amp for a bigger sound. Both filters are on 5. There is a dumblelator in the loop with a Roland delay. The switch i press is for the lead (volume) boost i build into the dumblelator. (I posted the design a few years ago)

https://youtu.be/1KXW4MAKwT4?is=Necsq6Ocv1h-PyoX

[mikeram]

Richard,

Nice tone and nice playing!

Mike

[j0k3335]

There is a difference in attenuation. For the filters i use the exact circuit of the original (drawn in Japan) schematic. For the input of the filter switches, the .01 and .001 caps in my amp are in parallel like the schematic. Some people think the amp sounds better when they are in series, but to my ears i like them in parallel.

I made a short clip where i play the amp. There is a tubescreamer (volume boost) in front of the amp (normal input) The amp has relays for mid boost, PAB and on the Fet input. I only use the mid boost when i overdrive the amp for a bigger sound. Both filters are on 5. There is a dumblelator in the loop with a Roland delay. The switch i press is for the lead (volume) boost i build into the dumblelator. (I posted the design a few years ago)

https://youtu.be/1KXW4MAKwT4?is=Necsq6Ocv1h-PyoX

Finally, excellent sound with this amp and pedal setup!

[dbharris]

Fantastic playing and tone! Sounds really nice.

-Dan

[Richard1001]

Thanks all for the nice compliment

[martin manning]

There is a difference in attenuation. For the filters i use the exact circuit of the original (drawn in Japan) schematic. For the input of the filter switches, the .01 and .001 caps in my amp are in parallel like the schematic. Some people think the amp sounds better when they are in series, but to my ears i like them in parallel.

I made a short clip where i play the amp. There is a tubescreamer (volume boost) in front of the amp (normal input) The amp has relays for mid boost, PAB and on the Fet input. I only use the mid boost when i overdrive the amp for a bigger sound. Both filters are on 5. There is a dumblelator in the loop with a Roland delay. The switch i press is for the lead (volume) boost i build into the dumblelator. (I posted the design a few years ago)

https://youtu.be/1KXW4MAKwT4?is=Necsq6Ocv1h-PyoX

Great solo!

Tube screamer in front adds to what the FET booster does, as HAD seems to have set the FET's bias point for significant distortion: https://ampgarage.com/forum/viewtopic.p ... 50#p422050

For the record, the modified filters I proposed retain the parallel input caps, but the difference is minimal. The improvement with the modified filters is in the bass-treble balance and in the uniformity of the steps: https://ampgarage.com/forum/viewtopic.p ... 43#p378843