So what's the difference in a "good amp" and a "bad amp"?

[R Baer]

Originally Posted by two fingers

In my world, that's art.

It's called "craftsmanship" and some people still put a value on it. I certainly do!

[D.M.N.]

To provide a look at the flip side of that RCA rat's nest, here's some tidy PTP:

Sunn 2000s (pretty much how it left the factory, only ever been worked on by Mr. Sundholm to bring the caps up to modern standards)

[Passinwind]

Originally Posted by D.M.N.

To provide a look at the flip side of that RCA rat's nest, here's some tidy PTP:

Nope, that's terminal strip construction, at least according to some purists.

[Munjibunga]

If it's reliable and sounds good to you, it's a good amp. If it lacks either of those characteristics, it's a bad amp.

[will33]

Originally Posted by Passinwind

Nope, that's terminal strip construction.

Ya, as far as where all the resistors are connected to. My RCA has a sort of small "bar" or "heavy wire" running through the middle portion of the amp that a lot of parts are connected to/suspended from. Perhaps that's an early version of a terminal strip? Though not entirely so. There are no insulators/separate connections. It's just a piece of metal things connect to that need to be connected. You wrap the part lead around there a time or two and solder it.

[Passinwind]

Originally Posted by will33

Ya, as far as where all the resistors are connected to. My RCA has a sort of small "bar" or "heavy wire" running through the middle portion of the amp that a lot of parts are connected to/suspended from. Perhaps that's an early version of a terminal strip? Though not entirely so. There are no insulators/separate connections. It's just a piece of metal things connect to that need to be connected. You wrap the part lead around there a time or two and solder it.

I'm no purist in this case, but solid bus wire like you're describing is kind of the defining point for many who are, it seems.

I often like to use several of the permutations in the same build for my DIY stuff:

[Mr. Foxen]

Originally Posted by Passinwind

Nope, that's terminal strip construction, at least according to some purists.

Bunch of that is point to point, but the chunky components in the middle need support.

Lead dress though, doesn't make so much odds on low gain amps, but even so, can be done tidy:

[will33]

Originally Posted by Passinwind

I'm no purist in this case, but solid bus wire like you're describing is kind of the defining point for many who are, it seems.

I often like to use several of the permutations in the same build for my DIY stuff:

I don't know enough hardcore tech aboit this stuff to be a purist....I just think it's cool.


But yes, for a hack like myself, handwired stuff is easier to follow/understand. If you got hands in there in the first place to build the stuff, you can get hands in there to work on it. PCB's and sausage fingers don't always work so well together, although my 400 and 800rb's are all PCB amps, I find them easier to work on. Each section of the amp has a dedicated board, that's laid out logically, with some space between them. I look inside my SM400s and it's like "how in the hell am I gonna.....?"

[R Baer]

Originally Posted by Passinwind

I'm no purist in this case, but solid bus wire like you're describing is kind of the defining point for many who are, it seems.

I often like to use several of the permutations in the same build for my DIY stuff:

Very nice work, Charlie! While some people may have it out for the old fashioned hand wired stuff using "outdated technologies", I think this kind of stuff is freak'n cool !

[Passinwind]

Originally Posted by R Baer

Very nice work, Charlie! While some people may have it out for the old fashioned hand wired stuff using "outdated technologies", I think this kind of stuff is freak'n cool !

Thanks Roger, and I hear you there. The 6SL7 and 6SN7s are 40s and 50s vintage NOS, but I designed the gain and EQ stages in Spice. Of course, as always, semi-random tweaks and lots of listening are the key to building something really special, which I feel this thing is. That's an older pic, I've since cleaned it up a bit more as far as wire dress. But sometimes flying leads and other sort of "ugly" layout features like the one tube at perpendicular to the others just plain sound better, IME. Many a Fender tech has learned that lesson the hard way.

[R Baer]

You will have to post a pic of the front as well. It looks like one great piece.

[Passinwind]

Originally Posted by R Baer

You will have to post a pic of the front as well. It looks like one great piece.

PM sent, enough thread derail already.

[BassmanPaul]

Originally Posted by Passinwind

Really? I've seen it done on sub-miniature tubes a fair bit.

Mark Bass uses a pentode this sort of tube type in their amps.

[Bassmec]

Originally Posted by Passinwind

Nope, that's terminal strip construction, at least according to some purists.

That is indeed terminal strip, here is some much nicer 1938 RCA OP-6 terminal strip work:

Mains transformer is removed to change to get Sowter Transformers UK voltage options.