The Amp Garage

nickt wrote:

sliberty wrote:I am big fan of transparent speakers with a Rocket. I use a 2x12 loaded with an EVM 12L and a JBL K-120. Killer sounding.

Snap! Used a single K-120 for years then switched to a EVM12L - best speaker on the planet

And together, pure magic

Awesome tones there dude. How did you have the volume set? I ask because your tone did not suffer from my pet peeve about the Express (unmodified) - too much compression. You had none of that problem. Were you set below 12 o'clock?

I imagine that you should be able to source parts ad kits in the UK. But, another option is to buy a Ceriatone kit without the transformers (to lighten the shipping load) and then just get the transformers in the UK.

BTW - if a loud, clean platform is NOT what you want, don't build a HiWatt

I played the 7, 15 and 45 in GC. Hated the 7 - cleans were boring and dirt was awful. The 15 was not much better. The 45 actually sounded OK, but nothing I'd want buy. YMMV

The best way to know for sure is to take the VVR out of the circuit. See if the amp is doing anything odd without it. Raise and lower the volume, etc. f all is well, then I'd say that the MOSFETs and diode need to be replaced, even though they may have tested good. It's a cheap enough circuit that b...

I have an alternate schematic (not the one we typically use here) for the Liverpool which actually references that resistor in a 2 tube system. It suggests using 1.7K instead of 1K. I can only assume that this is because with fewer power tubes, the load on this resistor will be lower, resulting in h...

Both sound good, but to my ear, the H30 is a little warmer.

I've used the Hall VVR in a Rocket, and it worked very well. I scaled the whole amp however. I found it to be very transparent for small to medium reductions in volume (voltage). Of course once you take it way down, things change... Lots of good info in Hall's manual about how to install, and any pi...

I'm curious - what brand pots are in the guitar now?

I don't know where CTS is made, but I would imagine that all he meant was "no Alpha crap" Give him CTS or Bournes pots,a nd he should be happy.

BTW, I use Alphas for my amp builds - as long as you get the 3/8 ones, they aren't crap at all. But there is this perception.....

Congratulations and good luck RJ. I am so jealous. I'm still a few years away from packing it in, and hate the rat race more every day. I hope you have a very peaceful retirement.

They provide more "friction" than the Asian made pots which are commonly used in some guitars. If that is what you are used to, it might explain. Some prefer a little more friction, others prefer a looser feel. I prefer the friction, as it gives me better control over where I want the pot to land. B...

I'm somewhat shocked to hear that CTS pots weren't smooth. I've used them in everything, and never had any complaints about feel. Sometimes I didn't like their taper, but they make so many types, that is why.

I suppose you could try Bourns.

I did a switchable cathode cap on V1 of a 65 Bassman-ish circuit, and it is very noticeable and useful. I consider it a Marshall voicing (my lower value cap is 1uF - I didn't have a .68uF on hand). I don't think switching the other cathodes in this amp would be an improvement. But other amps might r...