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Amp Guts Photos - Official Thread - Lets see those pics

Should we also add Bass Guts to this thread too?

  • Yes, Allow Bass guts, afterall Guts is Guts

    Votes: 223 28.7%

  • No way! Keep 'em seperate

    Votes: 553 71.3%
  • Total voters
    776
#101
P1010001.jpg

Click for larger view....
 
#103
svtb15 said:
That nearly looks Mil-Spec.. wow.. that is perfect wire routing.. I need to get more history on these babys..
Does anyone know why there is a dye over each solder joint on the HIWATT? is it anti corrosion or it it a sort of seal to verify if anyone post factory has messed with it.. Thanks

Very cool Assembly on that amp...
Click to expand...

All it is is the flux from the solder.

Paul
 
#110
svtb15 said:
Does anyone know why there is a dye over each solder joint on the HIWATT? is it anti corrosion or it it a sort of seal to verify if anyone post factory has messed with it..
Click to expand...

Harry Joyce and his team used red laquer, also sometimes blue laquer, in the QA procedure. It indicates that each and every connection is correct, or that the screw/bolt has been tightened per spec. It was not done for reasons of tampering, or the like.
Music Ground (current maker of Hiwatt) continues the tradition to this day. The Audio Brothers versions (maker during the mid-90's), though VERY expertly crafted, did not.

Here's a new Hiwatt internal shot...
IMG_0056.gif
 
#114
The cost of a 200watt tube bass amp is mostly justified. Unfortunately.

#1: Transformers. You cant really use cheap or everyday tube transformers..you can, but you dont get the power or punch in the low end. Lows draw current like you wouldn't believe. Thats why theres a 3rd pretty large tranny in an svt just for the heaters. Current draw during normal operation.

#2: Tubes, the output tubes most common to a bass amp, KT88's / 6550's are or can be the most expensive tubes we buy.

#3: Capacitors....one reason some bass amps suck and others are great is the size of power filter caps. Larger sized caps..more low end and less hum in the audible low end.
many bass amps use 6800uf size caps..change that to 15,000uf and youll notice a difference. Dont go to such extremes in tube amps..they operate differently.

#4: Time..im skipping the cost of resistors and tone caps..as most tube bass amps can be simpler than their guitard bretheren. It takes LOTS of time to devise a good layout. Fender got it mostly right. ANd many tube books teach the importance of layout, including start grounding, and such.

#5: Teaching/Learning Most good books are no longer in print. So you need to go googling for the books. Heres a few:

RCA recieving tube manual
Audio Designers Tube Register
Mullard Guide to tube audio

THeres another 7 books that are very much recommended that I totally forget the names.
 
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#115
demon666 said:
Yeah the elusive 8-Pro. From what I've heard it isn't in production yet and the ones that are out there floating around were all made by LOUD in the USA before the production change to Vietnam. Rumor is there is somewhere between 35-50 of them and they were test amps that went out to endorsee's and such then went back to the factory for refurbishing and some of the dealers got ahold of them. This is only what I read somewhere I don't know for certain if that was the case. It's a really great amp. I've A/B it to one of my SVT's and its pretty darn close to it. You can also see in the amp that there is only 3 tubes not 4 like advertised. Yeah as for as I know it's a class D amp. It's not too heavey but it's no feather weight.
Click to expand...

There are between 100 and 150 of them, all told. Some of that number were not sold, but were various types of proto and development unit, or "consumed" during solving an EMI issue..

They were all made in the SLM Yellville factory, before it closed, but during the Loud era. The Artist Relations folks grabbed most of them, but some were sold through to dealers and end customers.

Weighs about 22 lb, yes amp is Class -D, with SMPS, and works on any mains voltage from 100Vac to 240Vac with no changes or adjustments.

There was a delay shipping them due to solving a problem with a magnetic interaction between one of the inductors and the mains filter...... it put out a lot of EMI because the inductor was bypassing the filter and putting noise directly on the mains... the magnetic shielding wasn't good enough. That was eventually fixed.

Loud hasn't made any more, probably because they don't know how...... There are some tricky bits, and important specifications on certain parts. I'd not want to try to make those with chinese-made parts, lacking oversight and good QC........ been there, done that.

Yes, I do have inside info, but Loud hasn't asked me anything. But at least that design was good practice for the 50 to 200kW wind-turbine and biomass-to-energy electronics I'm doing now.

Loud are in position to make quite a number of 8PROs, if they solve their internal problems, because I know they have an open order with a supplier for a lot of power amp assemblies........ it's a cool amp, and deserves to stay around..... We originally came up with it as an outrageous Ampeg product....,. But I understand there is at least one higher power amp out now.

Pic of an 8PRO proto from way back.. you can see un-coated PWBs, and variously kludged wiring.

8proprot.jpg
 
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#117
I wanted one of those so bad.. I first saw it at NAMM in maybe 05 or 06 . don't remember.. I spoke with the ampeg people and had one on order.. months passed.. no amp. they had 50 put aside as you said and one had my name on it...
But it was the next NAMM that it still was not out yet. I spoke with Dino and the lady AR person ( i forgot her name) and he told me thy had that EMI issue and were working on it.. I

I heard the proto at NAMM .. it is a nice amp... with they would get their stuff together at LOUD...

Is it a real 2400 watts..? can you tell us what the other amp is that has more power now?



Thanks for the photo!


Jerrold Tiers said:
There are between 100 and 150 of them, all told. Some of that number were not sold, but were various types of proto and development unit, or "consumed" during solving an EMI issue..

They were all made in the SLM Yellville factory, before it closed, but during the Loud era. The Artist Relations folks grabbed most of them, but some were sold through to dealers and end customers.

Weighs about 22 lb, yes amp is Class -D, with SMPS, and works on any mains voltage from 100Vac to 240Vac with no changes or adjustments.

There was a delay shipping them due to solving a problem with a magnetic interaction between one of the inductors and the mains filter...... it put out a lot of EMI because the inductor was bypassing the filter and putting noise directly on the mains... the magnetic shielding wasn't good enough. That was eventually fixed.

Loud hasn't made any more, probably because they don't know how...... There are some tricky bits, and important specifications on certain parts. I'd not want to try to make those with chinese-made parts, lacking oversight and good QC........ been there, done that.

Yes, I do have inside info, but Loud hasn't asked me anything. But at least that design was good practice for the 50 to 200kW wind-turbine and biomass-to-energy electronics I'm doing now.

Loud are in position to make quite a number of 8PROs, if they solve their internal problems, because I know they have an open order with a supplier for a lot of power amp assemblies........ it's a cool amp, and deserves to stay around..... We originally came up with it as an outrageous Ampeg product....,. But I understand there is at least one higher power amp out now.

Pic of an 8PRO proto from way back.. you can see un-coated PWBs, and variously kludged wiring.

8proprot.jpg
Click to expand...
 

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