Yes, The switch in the link complies due the barrier between the two sets of spade terminals.Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnH
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Yes, The switch in the link complies due the barrier between the two sets of spade terminals.Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnH
I've been seriously thinking about it!Quote:
Originally Posted by McCreed
Excellent, thanks Marcel. I'll make sure I get oneQuote:
Originally Posted by Marcel
What's the saying - perfect is the enemy of done? Well that is totally what I've been doing with this build. I literally have everything on hand to wire it up but kept getting held up fiddling around with faceplate designs because I don't like the ones that came with the chassis.
I decided that was crazy, and am back at it.
Attachment 43269
A colleague picked up a fantastic 1961 Vibralux and it led me down a bit of a rabbit hole, but it's got me planning a vibrochamp build. I already have the sockets, switches, and caps/resistors on hand, as well as most of the pots and a tag board I think will work.
I figure an upcoming birthday might be a solution to sourcing some or all of the more expensive tubes/transformers/chassis
Attachment 43270
I have an 82 Vibro Champ and TBH, it’s a bit ‘meh’. A lot is down to the 8” speaker. It has got an upgraded WGS alnico speaker in it as the original was terrible and broke up and made farting noises at any reasonable volume. However, it’s designed for a 4 ohm load, so finding a single 10” or 12” could be hard. 2x10” maybe if using an original style output transformer?
Really could do with some built-in reverb IMO, which I’d much prefer to having tremolo.
I can’t see an output transformer in that layout diagram, and all the originals certainly have one.
That's good to know Simon. It seems from what I've been reading that the speakers make a huge difference (unsurprisingly)
I'm not sure what you mean about the layout missing the OT? The wires are either side of the 6V6, unless I'm misunderstanding you?
It definitely isn't the clearest layout though. From what I was reading the circuit never changed, so sometimes layouts fail to mention things like filter cap values or OT values because they are always the same as the original.
I haven't actually gone through the schematic and layout to check yet, but will work from the schematic in any case
Attachment 43272
I should also mention that I'm not particularly interested in getting an amazing playing amp from the vibrochamp build, but really want to have a small relatively simple amp circuit to play around with.
I'm treating the amp builds the same way I have been treating the pedal builds - each one should be more complex than the last, or teach me something new. So, the vibrochamp is pretty simple in terms of components but it has the vibrato and if I build it into a larger box I have room to play around - make a list of amp mods and just work my way through.
For example, I'd like to add reverb. Not because I think it'll sound amazing, but because I'd like to understand reverb circuits better - what are the options, how do they work, how are they each different, what will or won't work with this circuit and why, etc
If I end up with an ok amp at the end, then great! But I have heaps of amps now and really just want to understand the circuits better. I figure worst case I make an awful amp but learn some things, then can strip it down for parts for future builds
If you can’t see that what should be an output transformer on the Triode schematic is a capacitor symbol (one of the big filter caps) and that there are only output wires to it, no input ones (so it’s not just a misused symbol), then can I suggest that for safety’s sake you probably need to read up more on valve circuits, so you get to the point where you can. They are not things to take lightly.
Not being fully up on circuit design is OK if you are assembling a good kit with clear instructions, but if that Triode diagram was supplied with a kit, then it’s bad and dangerous. So you first need to know the difference between good and bad.
Referring back to the original schematics is definitely good, so try going through the Triode schematic following the Fender schematic and see how close they are and where the Triode goes wrong.
Don’t take this the wrong way. I just don’t want you blowing yourself up or electrocuting yourself!
For a small amp, I’d personally either go Tweed champ (a bit more character to the sound IMO) or a Princeton circuit of some sort. I’ve always liked Princetons whenever I’ve played one.
Sorry, but I still don't understand why you think there isn't an OT on that triode layout - there is a 20/20/20 cap can (unlabelled, as I mentioned in a previous post, and which you seem to be suggesting is being used as the symbol for an output transformer?) and there's an OT.
There isn't a picture of the output transformer, but the rubber grommets for the OT wires are either side of the 6V6 with wires clearly shown and labelled. As lots of layouts are set out this way that doesn't seem unusual?
I only picked the layout because others seem to have had good success (with the caveat that the layout is unclear on what filter cap and OT values to use, and has an easy to miss connection on the speed pot). As I've already mentioned, I haven't had a chance to go through the schematic to check but a quick look seems to confirm that the cap can in the layout is the 3 x 20uF 450V caps from the fender schematic.
As this is for a *future* build I'm not particularly concerned about going through it now; will get the 18W build up and running first.
OK I see what you mean. My faulty interpretation. Grommets, not caps. Suddenly it all makes sense.
I just find it weird that the OT isn’t even shown in a dotted outline (or similar) though.
I think I'd add a couple of sockets so that the 4 ohm tap could be used as well. If you want to make it an 'authentic' Vibro Champ, then it should be a 4 ohm speaker
Yeah I agree Simon, multiple OT taps are definitely more useful. I'm pretty sure I saw a vibrochamp OT with 4, 8 and 16 Ohm taps, but didn't bookmark it. I'll have a proper look once I start buying parts/planning.
I got the 18W build all wired up, mostly. I ran out of heat shrink, and also realised I didn't actually have a 240V indicator after all that, so I've ordered those but it means I haven't wired the power switch, IEC socket or OT/speaker jacks.
I've gone through it twice against the layout, and once against a schematic with a highlighter. It seems ok, but I'll wait a week and go back through it with fresh eyes (and will also double check solder joins and look for stray whiskers of wire I may have missed)
Interested to see how it goes, as I don't think I've done the best job at getting short wire runs which are also routed most appropriately.
https://i.imgur.com/fjnV26r.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/bZmdQqm.jpg
Nice work... Looks awesome....
My only comment/observation - Looks to me that you have used Jaycar hookup wire everywhere. While it is easy to work with it is also NOT rated for many of the higher voltages found in a tube amp, mostly due to the plastic insulation being too thin.... That being the case I'd go find a small roll of 650V rated stranded wire and replace any wire that typically has more than 20VDC on it. Keeping wires apart from each other and the chassis will for the short term have the same effect.
Good call Marcel, but thankfully its not jaycar wire!
I used this 600V rated wire from tube depot: https://www.tubedepot.com/products/2...de-tefzel-wire
Its nice to use - the insulation doesn't melt when you're soldering
The indicator light came in the mail yesterday, so I finished the wiring.
Got myself all set up to test voltages tonight - plugged in the variac and light bulb limiter, jewellery off, thick rubber mat down on the floor, voltage charts and schematics out, DMM at the ready, lined up all my tubes aaaaand... I don't have a rectifier tube.
I swear I bought one, so maybe it's just hiding somewhere, but I've ordered one in any case.
Sigh.
On the plus side I also got a vibro champ eyelet board in the mail
https://i.imgur.com/phtqpTV.jpg
I also decided today that I need a smaller cab for my 5E3. I think I may have mentioned I was thinking about it before, but it's such a great amp it'd be nice to be able to take it to jam with people, but the only cabs I have are the 2 x 12 I built and the Laney 4 x 12. Both are way to heavy to cart around (the 2 x 12 sounds fantastic though).
I have enough ivory tolex left over, so I'm just thinking about speaker options. A 10" speaker would make a cab the same width as the amp head, which could be nice. I think I'll add small legs to it, like the Ibanez tubescreamer I have. It puts the speaker at a nice height, and looks great.
If you haven't seen the tubescreamer before, it is a great little amp. You can check it out here.
(Here's a pic)
Attachment 43325
Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnH
I totally love the retro-look of that, really cool, can't wait to hear a demo of your 5E3, looks like I'm going to have to seriously look into building a Tweed 5E3 for myself, cause I love the raw breakup tone you can get from driving them, very bluesy sounding.
It lives! And, I have to say, it sounds bloody great. I spent an hour noodling around on it, and can see why people like these so much.
I could crank it a bit too as I was home alone, and don't seem to have any hum issues or oscillations.
https://i.imgur.com/NJF1mDe.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/33WRNKb.jpg
Hooray and well done! It looks great.
Is a sound demo forthcoming?
Looks great. Hope it sounds great too!
With that colour, it should be a "Prince-ton" (get it???)
+ 1 for looking great. I'm in awe. What great skills to have.
Very nice, almost professional looking... Just needs a "JohnH" logo in the corner...lol
Yeah, 15W EL84 tube amps to my ears are super nice cranked... plus you can play them wound up to 10 and still be able to hear things afterwards...
What?Quote:
Originally Posted by Marcel
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I thought this was 5E3/6V6 build??? What did I miss?Quote:
Originally Posted by Marcel
The bit where he finished that Deluxe combo and moved on to an EL84 amp head.
LOL! Thanks Captain O! :oQuote:
Originally Posted by Simon Barden
I'll need to pay closer attention (or not be too lazy to reread through entire threads).
Uummm.. I could be mistaken but to my eyes the pic of the completed amp bottles shows half a 12AX7,two EL84's as finals, a filter cap and rectifier bottle..... If they are 6V6's the photo has some optical size distortion going on as they don't look like any in my 45y in the electronics/tube repair game that I have seen before.
Marcel, you are correct. They are EL84's. I was just confused because the thread started out as a 5E3 build.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marcel
I'll definitely try a demo. I'm not a very confident guitarist, so I'm always a bit hesitant to share anything, but I should get over that anxiety reallyQuote:
Originally Posted by Simon Barden
Ah ha haQuote:
Originally Posted by McCreed
Thanks! I couldn't have done it a few years ago, and I still have an awful lot to learn, but it's been a lot of fun.Quote:
Originally Posted by Trevor Davies
Agreed! (I think my wife agrees too, ha ha)Quote:
Originally Posted by Marcel
Yeah, sorry, I figured I'd roll all future builds into the same thread - it's probably a slightly confusing way to do it...Quote:
Originally Posted by McCreed
I'm really enjoying it - the normal channel is good but the TMB channel is great, and sounds giant with my low tuned guitars. Very glad I decided to build this circuit.
I'm still thinking about a build for my brother's birthday, and am considering building another of these for him. I think it would suit his playing style, and he has requested purple tolex, so at least I know I can buy a pretty good pre-built box for it!
I also have tubes already, plus I bought extras of all the parts so lots of the small parts are on hand. I'll keep thinking about it though so if anyone has ideas for something else worth building, feel free to make suggestions. Ideally I'd like it to be a build where the faceplates and chassis are easily available - I don't mind making a cab, but I don't think I have the time or brain space to DIY the entirety of the build.
Well, I'm sorted for the next little while!
The first of two packages - most of the large parts for the next two builds - another 18W TMB (pretty much exactly the same as the last one), and a Slucky Revibe (which is very well documented here: Slucky revibe)
I've been thinking about a revibe build for a while but was put off by the complexity. It's a well documented build though and I've read so many build threads now that I think I'm cautiously confident, particularly if I go slow, re-read the threads, and ask lots of questions.
Vibrochamp also still in the works, but I need to figure out what I'm still missing for that one.
https://i.imgur.com/dusxCyY.jpg