Did you know Dagnall don't even put the right OT spec in these amps? They put the later C2668 that came into use in the 70's, and even at that, it's a pretty poor C2668 compared to the originals. The right OT should be a C1998 spec one. Metroamp have it nailed down to the exact grades of steel (accounting for variations in quality of steel production over the years), self-lead wires and correct windings, I can't commend them enough.
I actually did not know that, but that is really bad that they can't even get that part right! The new Dagnalls are junk regardless, so I guess it doesn't really matter. The C2668 was introduced with the JCM 800s in 1980 actually. The 2203/2204s from the 70s had the C1998 still. The C2668 is a bit brighter sounding - more 80sish. That amp should have a plexi-spec (the super large ones) or a C1998.
The one I am putting in my SL-X is a C1998. I was going to do a C2668, but I thought about it and I figure with 4 12AX7s of gain on tap, it will be bright enough.
That's the great thing you get from this amp which you can't get with modern amps and loads of compressed preamp gain. The 4th preamp tube isn't connected right now, but it does sound really cool when it's on 8)
Most of the extra gain your hearing in the clip is power amp gain, there's no more gain in the preamp than you'd hear from any old Marshall 1959. I managed to increase the gain through use of less negative feedback, which worked really well. I can't wait to make a clip now with humbuckers in it, that should sound awesome.
The preamp volume is on 10, and I'm varying the guitar volumes throughout the clip to get less or more gain. The post phase-inverter master volume I put in is on 1, and is at bedroom volume.
I have a Marshall Major which is my cleaner amp. The power section beings breaking up with the volume only at 2 if that, and maybe 4 with a strat. I love the way that old Marshalls sound - even modded for more gain with 4 12AX7s, or not.
On my metal amp, the SL-X I always keep a good mix between preamp and poweramp distortion. The poweramp distortion makes your sound, and the preamp makes it sound however you want it to sound.
You should sell modded 1959SLPs to people. I would love one with a quality transformer and a switchable 4th preamp tube so I can go all the way from the old stuff, like Led Zeppelin or newer heavier stuff like Iron Maiden in one old Marshall.
My goal with the SL-X is to make it sound like a hotrodded 1959SLP.... something like a Lee Jackson modded Marshall. With preamp gain but loads of poweramp gain and a mean overall sound. New transformer, I'll have some of the resistors in the preamp raised to clean it up a little, and see how that goes. If that doesn't do what I want I'll have the preamp tubes dropped down to 5.9 (normal-range) volts from 6.5.
