Search found 29 matches

by darkbluemurder
05 May 2021, 08:06
Forum: Amplifiers
Topic: ENGL gain trick.. what's really going on?? serious question
Replies: 10
Views: 7494

Re: ENGL gain trick.. what's really going on?? serious quest

My Crate had the 220k originally like your powerball. Bumping it to the 330k/3.3k with 1nf snubber cap across the 330k like in the 530/Savage etc made the amp go into the distortion range I wanted with the right amount of compression for my personal taste. I believe the Mark2c also had a 220k. The ...
by darkbluemurder
08 Feb 2018, 09:25
Forum: Amplifiers
Topic: Be 100 clone (with custom boards)
Replies: 2
Views: 2498

Re: Be 100 clone (with custom boards)

Excellent build quality, very nice!
by darkbluemurder
28 Sep 2017, 06:41
Forum: Amplifiers
Topic: Divided by Thirteen CeeJay Eleven
Replies: 82
Views: 56733

Re: Divided by Thirteen CeeJay Eleven

Yesterday I changed the flaky tube socket and implemented the boost switch which is a nice addition and does what I expected it to do. I used an 18W power transformer and a Mercury Magnetics Deluxe Reverb transformer. I first tried the amp with a 5Y3 rectifier, which gave me 330V on the plates and 3...
by darkbluemurder
27 Sep 2017, 12:30
Forum: Amplifiers
Topic: Divided by Thirteen CeeJay Eleven
Replies: 82
Views: 56733

Re: Divided by Thirteen CeeJay Eleven

Got mine finished but without the boost switch for now. It sounds pretty good so far. I need to replace the V1 socket as it is flaky and does not make good contact to pins 6 and 8 especially. That amp is quite loud and bright - I guess this is due to the 100pf bright cap. I used ceramic caps for the...
by darkbluemurder
20 Sep 2017, 14:58
Forum: Amplifiers
Topic: Divided by Thirteen CeeJay Eleven
Replies: 82
Views: 56733

Re: Divided by Thirteen CeeJay Eleven

The incomplete chassis lay in my basement for more than one year but recently I picked it up again and it is now much closer to finishing. Transformers are wired and the populated board is in. Need to wire the tube sockets, pots and jacks. Then on to final testing. I am looking very much forward to ...
by darkbluemurder
12 Jun 2017, 09:33
Forum: Boutique Stompboxes dissected...
Topic: Barber Electronics - Small Fry [traced]
Replies: 33
Views: 14997

Re: Barber - Small Fry [traced]

Thank you very much for sharing the schematic, that is very useful. I have recently acquired the dual channel version (the Burn Unit EQ) and found that it sounds quite different to the Small Fry. One of the differences is that the Burn Unit has a 25k mid pot which allows for much more midrange. The ...
by darkbluemurder
12 Jun 2017, 09:24
Forum: Boutique Stompboxes dissected...
Topic: Barber Electronics - Dirty Bomb [gut shots + schematic] [traced]
Replies: 83
Views: 40491

Re: Barber - Dirty Bomb [gut shots + schematic] [traced]

I did another variation of the cap mod. I used a 0.0033uf cap in series with a 22k resistor across the volume pot, which is in essence the Rectifier presence control but turned down completely. Like it so far - takes a bit of the fizz off without neutering the tone. Since the presence pot in the rec...
by darkbluemurder
26 May 2017, 08:40
Forum: Boutique Stompboxes dissected...
Topic: Barber Electronics - Dirty Bomb [gut shots + schematic] [traced]
Replies: 83
Views: 40491

Re: Barber - Dirty Bomb [gut shots + schematic] [traced]

Got the answer - it's a cap across the volume pot.
by darkbluemurder
24 May 2017, 10:35
Forum: Boutique Stompboxes dissected...
Topic: Barber Electronics - Dirty Bomb [gut shots + schematic] [traced]
Replies: 83
Views: 40491

Re: Barber - Dirty Bomb [gut shots + schematic] [traced]

Hi, I have an original DB which I bought used. Like it but I have to keep the treble control down at 9.00 - everything above that is too fizzy for my set up. I have read about a "cap mod" for this pedal but could not find any details except that it involves a 2n2 cap. Any input would be gr...
by darkbluemurder
31 May 2016, 12:35
Forum: Amplifiers
Topic: John Mcintyre Fender Bassman Bluesmaker Mod
Replies: 16
Views: 18881

Re: John Mcintyre Fender Bassman Bluesmaker Mod

I tried the Bluesmaker circuit in one of my modded Marshalls and found it rather lame. What it did quite well was clean and semi-clean tones. It also could do crunch tones but not that well. I have changed the preamp to this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qumL2poI7dQ (except for the tone stack whe...
by darkbluemurder
01 Dec 2014, 14:30
Forum: Amplifiers
Topic: Dr.Z For All
Replies: 113
Views: 85179

Re: Dr.Z For All

Let me know if anybody sees a problem with this schematic. No real problem but I believe the grid stop resistors before the power tubes are 1k5, not 7k5 (7k5 is not a standard value). Would not make a real difference though. Also I think the screen grid resistors are 100R, not 110R - again a neglig...
by darkbluemurder
07 Apr 2014, 13:49
Forum: Amplifiers
Topic: Soldano Avenger 100 - Low Volume - Possible OT Issue?
Replies: 9
Views: 4882

Re: Soldano Avenger 100 - Low Volume - Possible OT Issue?

Does this amp have an effects loop? If yes, try the amp's preamp through another power amp and see if the volume returns. Also try another preamp into the amp and see if the volume stays low.

Good luck,
Stephan
by darkbluemurder
19 Dec 2013, 15:08
Forum: Amplifiers
Topic: I want some Phaez amp schematics!! (update: found one!!!)
Replies: 10
Views: 5992

Re: I want some Phaez amp schematics!! (update: found one!!!

It has many names: Concertina, Cathodyne, split-load, etc. It’s about as common phase splitter type as the LTP and I've seen it used in literally hundreds of other amps besides Oranges. Yes, the Fender E-series, BF Princeton, VHT/Fryette, London Power, Vox Nighttrain and many others. BTW I have set...
by darkbluemurder
18 Dec 2013, 12:23
Forum: Amplifiers
Topic: I want some Phaez amp schematics!! (update: found one!!!)
Replies: 10
Views: 5992

Re: I want some Phaez amp schematics!! (update: found one!!!

bancika wrote:isn't that the same one like in some orange amps? concentrina or something like that
Correct, that is a concertina, aka cathodyne or split load inverter.

I attach a schem which was published at AX84. It's the 18w Daisycutter.

Cheers Stephan
by darkbluemurder
03 Dec 2013, 14:36
Forum: Amplifiers
Topic: Replacing Dr Z Tonestack with Fender?
Replies: 22
Views: 16560

Re: Replacing Dr Z Tonestack with Fender?

Hi, late to the party but What do you think about cutting out the Dr Z tonestack and putting in the Deluxe Reverb Tonestack? Well it really is'nt that simple, considering that the tone stack from the Deluxe was designed to be driven by a triode stage with an approximated output impedande of ca 40k a...
by darkbluemurder
03 Dec 2013, 14:26
Forum: Amplifiers
Topic: #34/36/39 AFD
Replies: 1
Views: 2628

Re: #34/36/39 AFD

I once built a #39 version into my SLP RI which was quite similar to what you have posted but mine had only one gain control, a different interstage attentuator between stage 2 and stage 3, no bypass cap on stages 3 and 4 and a switch where I could add a 10k resistor to the second stage cathode resi...
by darkbluemurder
14 Nov 2012, 15:13
Forum: Amplifiers
Topic: Transformers for a Dr.Z Route 66
Replies: 30
Views: 22484

Re: Transformers for a Dr.Z Route 66

Mato_ZA wrote: What does the orange arrow represent? Shielded wire?
Yes, that's how I would interpret it.

Cheers Stephan
by darkbluemurder
06 Nov 2012, 15:05
Forum: Amplifiers
Topic: Orange OR80 Style Build
Replies: 27
Views: 19284

Re: Orange OR80 Style Build

maybe this is the answer... "It runs 2 EL34 power valves giving approx 80 Watts of that awesome Orange power. The secret (well, not really a secret) of the huge harmonic tone of these old Orange and Matamp amps is the non symetrical driver stage which while being harder on your power vales and...
by darkbluemurder
13 Sep 2012, 15:57
Forum: Amplifiers
Topic: VOX AC15 project?
Replies: 18
Views: 28570

Re: VOX AC15 project?

I would consider buying an 18 watt kit. The chassis is drilled for 3 preamp tubes and 2 EL84 output tubes and a 6X4 (EZ81) rectifier. That would give you a normal channel (with one half 12AX7) and a top boost channel (this needs one and a half 12AX7s). Even the pot and jack locations are at convenie...
by darkbluemurder
12 Jun 2012, 14:09
Forum: Amplifiers
Topic: Bass flubbyness in a Ceriatone DC30
Replies: 17
Views: 7871

Re: Bass flubbyness in a Ceriatone DC30

First up before you do anything at all - contact Nik at ceriatone and ask for his thoughts. My experience with amplifiers like this (no negative feedback in power amp section), is they can be quite flubby in the bass region. To add negative feedback to this amp is not the easiest though, but it wou...