Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: Toe-Knee on March 11, 2012, 03:20:46 PM

Title: An Amp that i recently built for a friend
Post by: Toe-Knee on March 11, 2012, 03:20:46 PM
I wasnt originally going to post this but Brow persuaded me to

The guy who i did this for had a dual recto and was growing tired of it as he just wanted something that was straight to the point and hifi sounding.

So we worked through a list of what he liked/disliked about the DR and if there was anything in other amps that he really liked and came to the conclusion that he wanted something built around the SLO circuit.

The only deviations from the stock circuit is the slope has been adjusted slightly to shift the mids a bit and the heaters have been elevated with a DC reference of 43v this is great as it not only reduces the noisefloor considerably but it also prolongs the life of cathode followers.

Here's a few highlights

Partially populated Preamp PCB
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/9807181/Amps/forum/2012-01-19%2018.40.49.jpg)

Populated power amp with low ESR nichicon electrolytics
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/9807181/Amps/forum/2012-01-24%2018.01.46.jpg)

Almost complete preamp with F&T electrolytics
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/9807181/Amps/forum/2012-01-24%2017.58.24.jpg)

The headshell when i got it needed some slight modifications to make the grill line up with the chassis
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/9807181/Amps/forum/2012-02-01%2019.42.39.jpg)

Front panel
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/9807181/Amps/forum/2012-02-23%2019.29.05.jpg)

Power valve & Preamp Valve heater bridge/ FCT
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/9807181/Amps/forum/2012-02-24%2015.28.28.jpg)

Lamp wiring from the heater filaments
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/9807181/Amps/forum/2012-02-24%2017.07.49.jpg)

Power amp wiring before it got tidied up
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/9807181/Amps/forum/2012-03-05%2016.24.58.jpg)

Preamp Wiring Note the purple wire going to the PCB standoff this is connected to the input jack and is in series with a 0.01uf capacitor which removes any potential RF interference as it enters the amp
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/9807181/Amps/forum/2012-03-08%2015.32.20.jpg)

Tonestack & presence/depth pot wiring
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/9807181/Amps/forum/2012-03-08%2015.34.08.jpg)

Testing before it all gets boxed up
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/9807181/Amps/forum/2012-03-05%2017.47.04.jpg)

Front shot notice the grill is now inline
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/9807181/Amps/forum/2012-03-06%2016.16.59.jpg)

Rear Shot - External bias adjustment, slave out, fx loop
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/9807181/Amps/forum/2012-03-06%2016.17.57.jpg)

Final testing before collection
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/9807181/Amps/forum/2012-03-06%2016.30.27.jpg)
Title: Re: An Amp that i recently built for a friend
Post by: JacksonRR on March 11, 2012, 05:14:16 PM
Looks great! Very clean.

I imagine you lowered the slope resistor a bit if it's for a Mesa owner.....  :D
Title: Re: An Amp that i recently built for a friend
Post by: Toe-Knee on March 11, 2012, 05:17:44 PM
Looks great! Very clean.

I imagine you lowered the slope resistor a bit if it's for a Mesa owner.....  :D

Just a touch. And it's now an ex mesa owner! He said his DR was his dream amp but this is like his grown up amp so the mesa had to go.

Title: Re: An Amp that i recently built for a friend
Post by: 38thBeatle on March 11, 2012, 05:21:22 PM
I admire you guys who can build amps.
Title: Re: An Amp that i recently built for a friend
Post by: Brow on March 11, 2012, 06:16:48 PM
I admire you guys who can build amps.

I do too!

It's a good job I can't otherwise I'd soon end up with a house full of stuff  :lol:
Title: Re: An Amp that i recently built for a friend
Post by: Toe-Knee on March 11, 2012, 06:33:26 PM
I admire you guys who can build amps.

I do too!

It's a good job I can't otherwise I'd soon end up with a house full of stuff  :lol:

Well i'm aiming to have done another 3-4 personal heads before summers out!

It's an addictive habit
Title: Re: An Amp that i recently built for a friend
Post by: dave_mc on March 11, 2012, 07:00:35 PM
I admire you guys who can build amps.

I do too!

It's a good job I can't otherwise I'd soon end up with a house full of stuff  :lol:

hehe same here

that looks awesome, though :)
Title: Re: An Amp that i recently built for a friend
Post by: Dmoney on March 11, 2012, 07:25:15 PM
I admire you guys who can build amps.

I do too!

It's a good job I can't otherwise I'd soon end up with a house full of stuff  :lol:

hehe same here

that looks awesome, though :)

Too late for me...!

looks like a beast!
Title: Re: An Amp that i recently built for a friend
Post by: Alex on March 11, 2012, 08:02:28 PM
Looks great!
I wish I could do that :-(
or at least had the time to try... :-( :-( :-(
Title: Re: An Amp that i recently built for a friend
Post by: Telerocker on March 11, 2012, 11:36:37 PM
I admire you guys who can build amps.

+1. Especially when they look so tidy and clean as from the customshop. Well it is, isnt it?
Title: Re: An Amp that i recently built for a friend
Post by: Toe-Knee on March 12, 2012, 06:39:00 AM
I admire you guys who can build amps.

+1. Especially when they look so tidy and clean as from the customshop. Well it is, isnt it?

Ha I wouldn't go that far. I wish my work was that clean. Thanks to everyone for the nice comments so far.
Title: Re: An Amp that i recently built for a friend
Post by: Attica! on March 12, 2012, 01:02:42 PM
I might be interested in the near future of having you buildme one of these. What clones/types of amps can you do? And whats the going rate? I'd really like mine in that White colour. Its really nice.
Title: Re: An Amp that i recently built for a friend
Post by: darkbluemurder on March 12, 2012, 02:27:24 PM
It's an addictive habit

It definitely is!
Title: Re: An Amp that i recently built for a friend
Post by: Toe-Knee on March 12, 2012, 03:47:55 PM
I might be interested in the near future of having you buildme one of these. What clones/types of amps can you do? And whats the going rate? I'd really like mine in that White colour. Its really nice.

Shoot me a PM and we can disuss things :D
Title: Re: An Amp that i recently built for a friend
Post by: d1dsj on March 12, 2012, 09:59:38 PM
That looks superb, extremely neat and tidy... fantastic work.  8)
Title: Re: An Amp that i recently built for a friend
Post by: Toe-Knee on March 12, 2012, 10:02:43 PM
Thanks guys!